Round 4, 1949
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 7 May
Venue: Lake Oval
Attendance: 12,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 1.4 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 8.11.59 |
| Melbourne | 1.0 | 2.2 | 5.6 | 7.9.51 |
South Melbourne win by 8 points
Goalkickers: Bob McKenzie 3, Adrian Dullard 2, Lance Arnold 1, Eddie Craddock 1
Milestones:
Last game
Bob Stone
Having just opened their account for the new season at the third attempt, the Demons travelled to South Melbourne hoping to level their record at 2-2 but fell narrowly short.
On a heavy ground affected by a week of rain, seven goal hero of the previous week, Lance Arnold, managed just one goal. Not for the first time in 1949 Melbourne showed that they were missing the influence of Norm Smith and Jack Mueller on their 1948 premiership forward line.
South kicked with a slight wind advantage in the first term, but both defences were on top so they were only able to break even at a goal apiece. Melbourne got the first goal through McKenzie, and it took until late in the term for the home side to register their first major. The wind should have helped the Demons in the second term, but South's fast, play-on style blew them away with five goals to one in the second quarter.
An early goal after half time was immediately cancelled out by South, but the Swans didn't score again for the rest of the term while Melbourne put on another two goals to reduce the margin to 15 at the last change. Melbourne attacked desperately at the start of the last, but were unable to breach South's backline and soon conceded a goal that left them 21 points down. Arnold's only goal cut the gap to 16, but a pair of subsequent chances were missed and time got away from the visitors. McKenzie got a goal near the end to cut the margin to eight but it came too late to trouble South.
Best were Dockett, Collins and Denis Cordner. McGowan was a late replacement for Woods (flu). Bowman and Roscoe were unused 19th and 20th men. McMahen had an injured ankle.
Seconds
South Melbourne 11.13 d. Melbourne 9.13
Thirds
South Melbourne 10.7 d. Melbourne 0.11
Media
Record - 07/05/1949
Herald - 07/05/1949
Record - 14/05/1949
Football Record R5 1949