Round 5, 1912
Melbourne vs Carlton
Saturday 25 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 7,209
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 0.0 | 3.1 | 7.2 | 8.2.50 |
| Carlton | 0.6 | 2.8 | 2.10 | 5.14.44 |
Melbourne win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Harry Brereton 5, Herb Joolen 1, Bernie Nolan 1, Hedley Tomkins 1
Milestones:
First game and First goal
Herb Joolen
50 Games
Alf George (also with Essendon)
After a disappointing loss at Geelong, Melbourne returned to the MCG and improved their record for the season to 3-2 with a hard fought win over the Blues.
In one of only four games where Melbourne has failed to score in the first term and gone on to win, the Reds went in as underdogs after two straight defeats but lifted themselves over the line in a close game with accurate goalkicking. Their cause in the first quarter wasn't helped by rain which affected the skills of players, but failing to score didn't cost them when Carlton only managing six behinds from their scoring shots.
Carlton had the first goal of the second quarter from a speculative soccer kick which rolled through, but that encouraged Melbourne to liven up. They got back into the game with goals from Brereton and Joolen. There was an element of luck, the first goal of Joolen's career came via a kick off the ground which went through the legs of a defender.
The rain eased during half time, and the third quarter was played with fierce intent by the two sides. Despite free kicks being paid all over the ground the home side pushed ahead with 4.1 to 0.2 in the third term. Going into the last break 22 points in front the home side split the first two goals of the quarter with the Blues before withstanding a strong comeback, with the visitors controlling the ball and finishing quickly but missing chances to punish Melbourne on the scoreboard. Late in the match several Carlton fans jumped the fence to remonstrate with Joe Pearce after he knocked over Fen McDonald, and a policeman was forced to intervene. McDonald joined the Demons a year later, and both he and Pearce were killed during the Gallipoli landings during World War I.
Best were Nolan, Politz and Francis.
Lists
Scoreless First Quarters
Notes
Some sources say Pearce was chased across the field by a dozen Carlton supporters after the last quarter incident, and Leader says one of the Carlton fans struck Pearce.
Media
Age - 27/05/1912
Argus - 27/05/1912
Leader - 01/06/1912
Links
Blueseum match report