Round 5, 1964
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 16 May
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 27,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 2.0 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 7.11.53 |
| Melbourne | 1.6 | 2.10 | 5.18 | 10.25.85 |
Melbourne win by 32 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 2, Barry Bourke 2, Hassa Mann 2, Barrie Vagg 2, Ray Groom 1, Graeme Jacobs 1
Milestones:
First Game
Rob Foster
First Goal
Graeme Jacobs (2nd game)
Despite shocking inaccuracy, the Demons second half performance reinvigorated a season that looked to be slipping away just a week before.
Essendon had demolished Geelong the week before and started the match of the day as favourites, but looked anything like a championship team on home soil. Coach John Coleman had eased off on them in training as a reward for the win over that Cats but the move failed. They led by six points at the long break, but Melbourne had controlled most of the play and their rucks were surprisingly on top against Essendon's strong big man division. The Bombers' roving stocks were also hurt by the late withdrawal of captain Jack Clarke with injury. Norm Smith heaped further misery on them by switching Hassa Mann from his named spot in the centre to rover and moving first year player Graeme Watson into the middle. The move was planned before Clarke’s withdrawal but added further pressure to Essendon’s roving stocks. Watson was also a success, thrashing his opponent in the middle.
Three goals to one in the third term gave the Demons a lead and they help on to win, moving to 3-2 for the season.
Best were Anderson, Crompton and Watson. Neither of Melbourne's reserves Matthews or Foster were used.
Runner Sam Allica was cited by the VFL for illegally delivering messages to players other than the captain or vice-captain for the second time in the first five games.
Reserves
Melbourne 10.9 d. Essendon 6.13
Goals - Carroll 5, Bartlett 2, Wood 2, Slade 1
Best - Carroll, Vaughan, Bartlett
Under 19s
Melbourne 13.18 d. Essendon 9.7
Goals - Schultz 4, McNabb 4, Reinholdt 2, Russell 1, Osborne 1, Coutts 1
Best - Stewart, Minton-Connell, McNamee
Media
Age - 18/05/1964
Age - 20/05/1964
Football Record R6 1964