Round 5, 1958
Melbourne vs Essendon
Saturday 10 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 41,787
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.0 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 15.12.102 |
| Essendon | 4.8 | 9.10 | 11.12 | 12.15.87 |
Melbourne win by 15 points
Goalkickers: Robert B Johnson 4, Athol Webb 4, Ian Ridley 2, Geoff Tunbridge 2, Frank Adams 1, Ron Barassi 1, Geoff Case 1
Milestones:
Only game
Graeme Wilkinson
Melbourne's unbeaten start to the 1958 season came up against its biggest challenge in a rematch of the Grand Final, and struggling for three quarters they finally overcame the Bombers with a blitz in the fourth term.
If Essendon had kicked straighter in the first quarter they might have built up a match winning lead, but only managed four goals from 12 scoring shots. Bob Johnson was Melbourne's lone winner early, playing a lone hand in the ruck and assisting in two early goals. Other than when Johnson was involved Essendon's defenders smothered their forward line.
The Bombers were more accurate in the second, kicking 5.2 to open up a 23 point lead at the long break. When they kicked the first two goals of the third term, to open up a margin of six goals, the game looked over but that was Melbourne's cue to launch a comeback.
After some rough play the Demons began to recover and by the end of the quarter they had recovered the two early goals and sliced another six points off the gap going into the last quarter. They then unleashed a six goal term to snatch the points. Essendon stopped cold and were overran - conceding nine goals to one in the last 40 minutes.
Best were L. Mithen, Johnson and Tunbridge. During the game McLean was replaced by Rowarth and Thorogood by first gamer Wilkinson.
Essendon's Yeo was reported for striking Ian Ridley. Yeo was found not guilty.
Seconds
Essendon 5.15 d. Melbourne 6.7
Goals - Gleeson 2, Boyle 2, Pinfold 1, Vurlow 1
Best - Gleeson, Marquis. K. Mithen
Thirds
Essendon 13.9 d. Melbourne 6.11
Goals - Wellington 2, Campbell 2, Butler 1, Buswell 1
Best - Campbell, McIvor, Butler
Media
Age - 12/05/1958
Football Record R6 1958