Round 22, 1996
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Saturday 31 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 63,196
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 5.4 | 7.5 | 12.8 | 15.11.101 |
| Hawthorn | 3.5 | 10.6 | 12.10 | 15.12.102 |
Hawthorn win by 1 point
Goalkickers: David Neitz 6, Jeff Farmer 4, Alastair Clarkson 1, Matthew Febey 1, Dean Irving 1, Darren Kowal 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow Votes:
1 - David Neitz
Milestones:
Last Game
Luke Norman
Last MFC Game
Clay Sampson
The so-called Merger Match was played against the backdrop of an impending vote to merge the teams. Hawthorn could still play finals, but Melbourne fans knew that if the merger went through it would be the club's last game as the Demons.
David Neitz kicked four goals in the first quarter to get his side off to a fast start, but a seven goal to two second quarter put the Hawks in front at the long break.
Jeff Farmer booted three goals in a five minute burst during the third term, and by the last change the gap was under a goal. In a tense, dramatic last quarter Jason Dunstall - who had already booted six in the second quarter - kicked his 10th goal, and his 100th for the season which prompted a crowd invasion that held the game up for six minutes. Dunstall had a night out against undersized defenders Luke Norman and Andrew Lamprill, who were forced to play on him due to the Demons' lack of tall defenders.
The Hawks needed to win to qualify for the finals and ensure that it wouldn't be their last match ever and they held on to win by the narrowest of margins. Meanwhile Garry Lyon, who had been out injured for months, described the week as "the most emotional of his career".
Neitz, Farmer and O'Brien were Melbourne's best while Todd Viney had 26 touches for the Demons. Andrew Obst (eye), Paul Hopgood (calf), and Craig Nettelbeck (back) were all injured.
Reserves
Melbourne 18.11.119 d. Hawthorn 10.8.68
Goals - Bradly 3, Corrigan 3, Gehling 3, Molloy 3, Parker 2, Doyle 1, Grant 1, McDonald 1, Yze 1
Best - Corrigan, Bradly, Grant
Lists
100th goal against
Notes
Age 02/09 shows Obst having the calf injury.
Media
Football Record 1996 finals
Age - 01/09/1996
Age - 02/09/1996
Herald Sun - 21/04/2001