Round 3, 1979
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 21 April
Venue: Lake Oval
Attendance: 14,429
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 2.3 | 8.4 | 13.8 | 18.10.118 |
| Melbourne | 2.7 | 6.11 | 10.13 | 16.15.111 |
South Melbourne win by 7 points
Goalkickers: Phil Carman 6, Andrew Moir 2, Greg Wells 2, Henry Coles 1, Carl Ditterich 1, Robert Elliott 1, Robert Flower 1, Graham Gaunt 1, Kelly O'Donnell 1
Milestones:
First game
Kelly O'Donnell (and first goal)
John Wallace
A week earlier Phil Carman had been roundly vilified for conceding ten free kicks in the match against Geelong, but despite being on the end of seven more against the Swans he more than showed his value to the team with six goals.
The reason for Melbourne nearly upsetting the Swans was as much the performance of Carl Ditterich as it was Carman's goals. Even Carl's ex-teammate, and now South coach Ian Stewart, ran onto the ground to congratulate him after the match - labelling it the best game he'd ever seen Ditterich play.
The match opened in bizarre fashion with Stewart ordering his team to kick against the strong breeze in the first quarter in the hope that it would strengthen throughout the day and they would have use of it in the final term. It was a risky decision, and had Melbourne kicked better than 2.7 in the quarter it might have cost the home side the game.
Midway through the second quarter they had kicked 2.11 from 15 shots on goal with Carman having missed three and given away all of his seven frees against. It was looking like another dark day at the office for Fabulous Phil before an electrifying last quarter where the wind stopped dead - nullifying Stewart's meteorological gamble - and he kicked four goals from 10 marks and 10 ten kicks.
Greg Wells levelled the score in pelting rain three minutes into the last quarter. Unfortunately Ditterich and Carman couldn't find enough teammates to join in their masterclass and the Demons fell just short. Demon officials later complained about Carman's treatment at the hands of the umpires, citing several marks that they believed he held but was not paid.
Best were Phil Carman, Carl Ditterich, and Robert Flower. Robert Elliott (concussion) was replaced by Andrew Moir at quarter time.
Reserves
South Melbourne 15.14.104 d. Melbourne 8.17.65
Goals - Fitzsimmons 3, Roberts 2, Walters 2, Code 1
Best - Hunnibell, Ellliott, O'Keefe
Under 19s
Melbourne 14.13.97 d. South Melbourne 10.14.74
Goals - Denko 4, Bardoel 3, Cumming 2, Maynard 2, Hape 1, Juliff 1, Thorne 1
Best - Moncrieff, Maynard, Todd
Media
Age - 23/04/1979, 09/07/1979
Football Record - R4 1979