Round 3, 1981
Footscray vs Melbourne
Saturday 11 April
Venue: Western Oval
Attendance: 13,256
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Footscray | 3.5 | 7.6 | 15.11 | 18.11.119 |
| Melbourne | 0.1 | 8.4 | 12.6 | 18.12.120 |
Melbourne win by 1 point
Goalkickers: Mark Jackson 8, Vin Catoggio 4, Kelly O'Donnell 2, Michael Byrne 1, Robert Flower 1, Gerard Healy 1, Michael Seddon 1
Milestones:
MFC debut
Vin Catoggio
Shane Zantuck
Last game
Tony Barnes
After their encourage Round 1 performance, Melbourne turned in a debacle against reigning wooden-spooners Fitzroy the following week. They travelled to the Western Oval to take on one of the league's other struggling sides, and left with what would be their only win of the year.
Footscray were already battling a raft of injuries, and even regular coach Royce Hart missed the game while in hospital. Stand-in assistant Frank Goode picked a young team, and with a strong wind in the opening quarter they only kicked three goals. Melbourne made no such mistake in the second, booting eight but also conceding four. The roles were reversed in the third, when the Dogs kicked eight of the 12 goals, to lead by 23 points at the final change. When they kicked the first goal of the final quarter things looked grim for Melbourne, but they began to chip away at the lead. In his club debut, Vin Catoggio missed three set shots while kicking two goals, but at the 30 minute mark of the last quarter Footscray still led by a point. Then Shane Zantuck roosted a kick from the half-forward flank to the goalsquare where captain Robert Flower took a big pack mark in the goalsquare and converted to win the game. Flower had been influential in the final term after Barassi had put him on the ball after he'd been well held for most of the day.
In his third league game Mark Jackson kicked 8.1, as Footscray persisted with the same opponent - a late inclusion for a school PE teacher who'd strained his knee at work the previous day - until he'd kicked his eighth.
Ron Barassi said "The first win is always good"
The joy of the victory was shortlived as the Melbourne would not win again until Round 2, 1981, 358 days later.
Best were Jackson, Catoggio and Smith. Crosswell had a cut eye and Baker a corked thigh.
Reserves
Melbourne 30.14.194 d. Footscray 18.10.118
Goals - McGlashan 9, Hardeman 6, Barham 3, O'Dwyer 3, Battiston 2, Gaunt 2, O'Dwyer 2, Ellingworth 1, Korn 1, McCarthy 1
Best - McGlashan, O'Brien, Barham
Newspapers and Football Record both list O'Dwyer twice. One of the goalkickers may have been O'Brien.
Under 19s
Melbourne 17.19.121 d. Footscray 15.18.108
Goals - Bergman 5, Cordner 3, Howard 3, Withers 2, Bell 1, Fidge 1, Sutcliffe 1, Tossol 1
Best - McKaige, Sutcliffe, Bergman
Lists
One Point Games
Media
Sunday Press - 12/04/1981
Canberra Times - 12/04/1981
Age - 13/04/1981
Football Record R4 1981