Round 22, 1991
Brisbane Bears vs Melbourne
Sunday 18 August
Venue: Gabba
Attendance: 6,480
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Brisbane | 2.2 | 5.8 | 8.10 | 13.13.91 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 7.6 | 9.9 | 15.13.103 |
Melbourne win by 12 points
Goalkickers: Luke Beveridge 5, Brett Lovett 2, Earl Spalding 2, Stephen Tingay 2, Steven Clark 1, Simon Eishold 1, Allen Jakovich 1, Andrew Obst 1
Brownlow Votes:
1 - Luke Beveridge
Milestones:
Last MFC Game
Steven Clark
The Demons travelled to the Gabba with their finals aspirations hanging by a thread after being thumped by Collingwood a week before. Despite their second fright from the Bears that year, and Brisbane being the first team to effectively hold Allen Jakovich since his mid-season rampage had begun they got over the line in front of a paltry Gabba crowd to stay alive.
Without Darren Bennett, dropped to the reserves due to a shin injury, the flu and indifferent form, Jakovich had no protection and despite having five scoring shots on Mark Zanotti registered just 1.4.
The Demons led at every change, but after Brisbane hit the lead for the third time in the last quarter it took another flu victim in Jim Stynes to take command of a centre bounce and drive his team back into attack. Jakovich had a dirty day but his one goal for the day was the one that put the Demons in front with eight minutes left - two more goals to Stephen Tingay and Brett Lovett put the result beyond doubt.
Despite being just in front of Fitzroy on percentage in the wooden spoon race the Bears had nearly toppled Melbourne twice that year. The win left the Demons just outside the top six on match ratio, and with the bye in the last round they were vulnerable on percentage. John Northey said: "We really are grasping at straws, but I suppose being in with a chance is better than nothing".
Best were J. Stynes, Obst, S. Febey. Steven Clark was reported for striking and suspended for three matches, it would be his last game for Melbourne.
Reserves
Melbourne 28.21.189 d. Brisbane 11.11.77
Best - Heaver, Howat, Lovell
Goals - Stroud 6, Bennett 5, Heaver 3, Gorozides 3, Robins 2, Flintoff 2, Capsalis 2, Owen 1, Keogh 1, Howat 1, Lovell 1, M. Febey 1
Under 19s
Melbourne 18.20.128 d. St Kilda 0.9.9
Best - Lemon, Sullivan, Carroll
Goals - Harwood 4, McCarthy 3, Siderellis 3, Aubrey 2, P. Goldberg 1, C. O'Brien 1, Pinches 1, Fafatoulis 1, Coote 1, Lemon 1
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 19/08/1991
Canberra Times - 19/08/1991