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, and several more in their side playing under duress, but were still a chance of September if they could beat the league's worst team. Freo's injury crisis meant White and teammate Steven Koops were recalled with just one WAFL match between them in two months.The retiring Andrew Obst led the team out and did a lap of honour around the ground before the match, running through a banner with the instruction "Don't Ever Mention Our Nightmare Season". As Obst's career wound down, young gun Jeff Farmer was his side's catalyst with a then career best six goals.
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. A small crowd saw their fourth win of the year, while thousands were locked out of a packed Princes Park for a crucial game between Carlton and Richmond.
The first half was poor, with both sides committing a string of unforced errors, and the first three set shots of thesecond quarter going out on the full. The match fired up after half time, powered by Farmer kicking five goals in the third quarter. His first came when future Demon Scott Chisholm fumbled while bouncing, and saw the ball go between his legs and into the hands of Todd Viney to set Farmer up. He got four in 13 minutes before leaving the ground with cramp, not returning until midway through the last quarter. Jim Stynes took on a ruck division including future teammate Jeff White and won comfortably. Neale Daniher was also in the Fremantle coaching box as an assistant, before being appointed Melbourne's senior coach less than two weeks later.
Greg Hutchison said "The players were aware there was nothing hanging on the result. They could easily have just gone out and said 'let's get on the drink a bit earlier' but, to their credit, they worked extremely hard".
Best were Hopgood, Farmer and Yze.
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 - 25/08/1997, 31/08/1997, 01/09/1997
Football Record 1997 Finals