Round 5, 1941
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 31 May
Venue: Victoria Park
Attendance: 15,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 3.1 | 7.3 | 14.7 | 19.13.127 |
| Melbourne | 8.2 | 19.7 | 22.9 | 26.11.167 |
Melbourne win by 40 points
Goalkickers: Norm Smith 6, Ron Baggott 3, Percy Beames 3, Les Gibbs 3, Jack Mueller 3, Adrian Dullard 2, Maurie Gibb 2, Roy Dowsing 1, Allan La Fontaine 1, Jack O'Keefe 1, Ray Wartman 1
Milestones:
First game
Ron White
First goal
Les Gibbs
The two sides met again a week after playing in the final of the Lightning Premiership, which the Magpies won in extra time. Melbourne had their revenge in thumping fashion - booting what stands as their equal 14th highest in VFL/AFL competition. The half-time score of 19.7.121 is still Melbourne's highest ever and was earned with pace, dash, high marking, quick handball and the creation of an extra man which bamboozled their opponents.
The Demons dominated the first half on the way to their record half-time score, but Collingwood fought back admirably to reduce the 76 points margin to a more acceptable 40 by the final siren. Mueller's domination in the ruck helped Melbourne get off to a good start, but after several opportunities were fumbled the Pies went the other way for the opening goal. The visitors got their first via a Smith intercept mark, and they added six more before the Pies kicked a consolation at the end of the term.
After an 11 goal to five quarter, the Dees extended the gap to 76 points at half time. Collingwood kicked four goals in a row to open the third quarter, aided by Melbourne's unwillingness to replace the injured Beames due to a lack of other roving options. They cut the gap to 50 at the last change, still too far away to do any damage but saving themselves from what looked like a brutal beating.
Jack Mueller was Melbourne's stand-out, dominating in the ruck and constantly giving his forwards chances - when he wasn't up front taking marks and kicking goals himself. Smith and La Fontaine were also amongst the best. 19th man Dowsing replaced Beames (knee) in the third quarter.
It was also to that point the highest score ever kicked against Collingwood, the second highest total of goals in a match, the third highest number of points in a match, the fifth highest losing score of all time and Melbourne's second highest league score
Seconds
Collingwood 15.22 d. Melbourne 9.11
Notes
Sporting Globe gives the official crowd as 12,513
Lists
Highest Scores
Media
Sporting Globe - 31/05/1941
Argus - 02/06/1941
Football Record R6 1941