Round 22, 1997
Melbourne vs Fremantle
Saturday 30 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 15,036
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.4 | 5.8 | 12.9 | 18.11.119 |
| Fremantle | 3.4 | 4.5 | 6.9 | 11.13.79 |
Melbourne win by 40 points
Goalkickers: Jeff Farmer 6, Shaun Smith 3, Russell Robertson 2, Adem Yze 2, Alastair Clarkson 1, James McDonald 1, David Neitz 1, Darren O'Brien 1, Robert Pyman 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Jeff Farmer
2 - Paul Hopgood
1 - Todd Viney
Milestones:
Last Game
Alastair Clarkson
Darren O'Brien
Robert Pyman
Last MFC Game
Sean Charles
With the wooden spoon already confirmed the Demons played the role of spoiler, ruining Fremantle's hopes of qualifying for the finals. The Dockers had 18 players on the injury list, but if they'd managed to find a way to beat the league's worst team they could have made their first finals appearance.
The retiring Andrew Obst did a lap of honour around the ground before the match, but it was the young gun Jeff Farmer who was his side's catalyst. Farmer's six goals include four in 13 minutes in the third term before he left the ground due to a hamstring strain.
Fremantle had never won at the MCG, and they weren't going to start on a day when the Demons could afford to win but still secure the prized #1 draft pick.
Hopgood, Farmer and Yze were best.
Reserves
Melbourne 16.11.107 d. Richmond 14.15.99
Goals - Nettlebeck 3, Winterton 3, Bradly 3, Gardiner 2, D. Stynes 1, Sutcliffe 1, Irving 1, Schrama 1, Frost 1
Best - Nettlebeck, Bassett, Irving
Media
Age - 31/08/1997
Football Record 1997 Finals