Round 21, 1997
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Friday 22 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 32,935
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.2 | 3.6 | 6.8 | 8.14.62 |
| St. Kilda | 7.1 | 9.6 | 13.8 | 17.12.114 |
St. Kilda win by 52 points
Goalkickers: Jeff Farmer 2, David Neitz 2, Russell Robertson 2, James McDonald 1, Jim Stynes 1
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Milestones:
Last game
Andrew Lamprill
St Kilda moved to top spot on the ladder with a big win, set up by Jason Heatley kicking five of their seven goals in the first term. In response, Melbourne only scored one major and the game was effectively over. It was the second week in a row they'd given up a six goal lead in the open term. Again, the Demons held on to avoid a massacre despite injuries to Shaun Smith (knee), Andrew Lamprill (broken collarbone), Jeff Farmer (hamstring), and Glenn Lovett (broken collarbone) during the match which left them with less than 18 fit players. They were already short on tall players, having lost Leigh Newton and David Neitz to injury during the week.
Best were Hopgood, Stynes and Robertson.
Reserves
St Kilda 12.13.85 d. Melbourne 9.9.63
Goals - Tivendale 3, Saddington 2, Schrama 1, Sutcliffe 1, Goodale 1, Pesch 1
Best - Goodale, Clarkson, Lamaro
Media
Age - 22/08/1997, 23/08/1997, 24/08/1997
Football Record R22 1997