Round 5, 1968
Melbourne vs Geelong
Saturday 11 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 31,862
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.2 | 3.7 | 6.8 | 9.9.63 |
| Geelong | 1.3 | 5.7 | 9.8 | 10.10.70 |
Geelong win by 7 points
Goalkickers: Hassa Mann 5, Stan Alves 1, Brian Dixon 1, Bryan Kenneally 1, Graham Osborne 1
Milestones:
First Game
Denis Clark
The Demons had spent the first month of the season narrowly winning games, but their luck finally ran out when a withering comeback against the Cats fell just short.
After an even first half the visitors opened up a five goal lead in the third term with systematic and purposeful play. At the other end the Demons couldn't convert chances in the forward line and paid the price by slipping behind. It was only late in the term when Bryan Kenneally and Graham Osborne kicked goals that the margin was cut to three goals at the last break and Melbourne were given some hope. The only shining light had been the performane of Brian Roet who had kept the deadly Doug Wade to just three goals.
Osborne missed another chance early in the last quarter, but when Hassa Mann booted the second of two goals to cut the margin the home side was right in it. Ross Dillon marked and had a chance to put them within a goal. Soon, though Brian Dixon finished off a marvelous run with a goal to cut the margin to under a goal.
That was as close as they got though and Geelong held on to victory. Hassa Mann lamented "we must overcome the starts we are giving to our opponents" and said if his team was to challenge for the four they'd need to play for four quarters instead of just flashing home from big deficits.
Best were Mann, Alves and Townsend. Alves (back) was replaced by Denis Clark in the last quarter, and Dillon was replaced by Johnson, also in the last quarter. Feldmann had a corked thigh and Dixon a suspected concussion,
Reserves
Geelong 13.15 d. Melbourne 12.12
Goals - Dowsing 4, Catlin 2, Rhoden 1, Fahey 1, K. Osborne 1, Lees 1, Aubrey 1, Stone 1
Best - Dowsing, Rhoden, K. Osborne
Under 19s
Geelong 10.5 d. Melbourne 9.9
Goals - Callery 2, Colcott 2, Hill 2, Emselle 1, Marks 1, O'Farrell 1
Best - Stanton, Wells, Merveich
Media
Canberra Times 13/05/1968
Football Record R6 1968
Age - 13/05/1968