Round 21, 1983
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 20 August
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 21,192
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 5.4 | 15.10 | 22.11 | 25.22.172 |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 4.3 | 6.6 | 8.9.57 |
Hawthorn win by 115 points
Goalkickers: Robert Flower 3, Peter Moore 2, David Cordner 1, Alan Johnson 1, Frank Rugolo 1
Milestones:
First Game
Frank Rugolo
First Goal
Frank Rugolo
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss against Hawthorn
Biggest loss in Round 21
Their finals hopes already destroyed the Demons were playing for pride against third placed Hawthorn at Waverley. They conceded the equal 17th highest score of any Melbourne side ever.
After a relatively serene first quarter Hawthorn kicked things up a notch, or several, and booted 10.6 to 1.1 against their inexperienced and undermanned opponents. Despite having two Brownlow Medallists in Peter Moore and Brian Wilson alongside Robert Flower on the full-forward line, and despite Moore and Flower both goalling within the first few minutes, the young Demons couldn't go with the Hawks and were slaughtered.
The defence was exposed when Steven Icke had to go off injured in the first quarter, and his replacement Michael Reynolds couldn't cope. Reynolds himself was injured later in the match but the damage was well and truly done already. Michael Tuck, returning from injury himself, had six goals and 33 touches for the day. If the Hawks hadn't hit the post five times and missed a number of sitters it could have been even more ugly.
Barassi said it was his side's "lowest ebb" for the year, and the star studded forward line ended up with just sixteen kicks between them - though those kicks delivered five of the side's eight goals.
Best were T. Fidge, Johnson and Richards. Icke received a calf injury, Reynolds an ankle injury and Flower a corked leg.
Reserves
Hawthorn 24.27.171 d. Melbourne 9.9.63
Goals - Ellingworth 2, Earley 2, Hipworth 1, Rugolo 1, Withers 1, McKenzie 1, Thomas 1
Best - Ellingworth, Withers, Earley
Under 19's
Melbourne 17.11.113 d. Hawthorn 8.7.55
Goals - Johnson 5, Healy 3, Payne 3, Bailey 2, McCarty 2, Fidge 1, Howard 1,
Best - McDonald, Mazurek, Healy
Video
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Lists
Highest score conceded
100 point losses
Media
Football Record R22 1983
"Hawks aim for final pot of gold" - The Age 22/08/1983