Round 4, 1920
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 22 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 9986
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.7 | 5.8 | 10.14 | 11.15.81 |
| St. Kilda | 2.2 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.11.41 |
Melbourne win by 40 points
Goalkickers: Vern Rowe 3, Bill Allen 2, Harry Harker 2, George Haines 2, Jack Huntington 2
Milestones:
First Game
George Garlick
Vern Rowe (and first goal)
The Redlegs came out on top in a poor quality match without much to recommend it and improved their record for the season to 3-1. The umpire was criticised for his decisions, and then the players turned the match into an ill-tempered affair in the second half. They were without important players like Brake, Little, Bodington, Tonkin and Shelton but still managed to come out of the scrap on top.
Melbourne used the wind poorly in the first quarter despite having the better of general play, but turned the tables on the Saints in the second and took a 15 point lead into the half time break.
The free kicks dished out for the rough play caused the match to become even more spiteful. Writing in the next week's Football Record a scribe said "I saw things which were a disgrace to the game", and the tone of the afternoon wasn't helped by a sodden ground and heavy ball.
When the 36 men on the field weren't fighting with or niggling each other three-quarters of them were following the ball around the ground, causing the game to degenerate into a scramble. St Kilda were a heavier and stronger side and failed to adapt to the conditions against their lighter and faster opponents.
After a tight first half where there was little to separate the two teams Melbourne built up a match-winning lead in the third quarter. At one point during the term several players came to blows and had to be separated by the boundary umpire, but no reports were laid. St Kilda didn't attack until the end of the quarter and only managed two points
With nothing to lose in the last term St Kilda opened up and for the first time the two sides played attractive football, with the Seasiders winning the quarter but losing the battle on the strength of their poor third term.
Best were ruckmen Allan and Matthews as well as defender Lilley. Haines was amongst the best in the first half and Rowe won praise on debut.
Seconds
St Kilda District 8.9.57 d. Melbourne 7.10.52
Media
Herald - 22/05/1920
Argus - 24/05/1920
Football Record R5 1920