Round 5, 1991
Melbourne vs North Melbourne
Saturday, 20 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 22,928
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 9.1 | 15.7 | 20.12 | 28.14.182 |
| North Melbourne | 9.1 | 12.6 | 13.7 | 17.10.112 |
Melbourne win by 70 points
Goalkickers: Darren Cuthbertson 7, Rod Owen 5, Ricky Jackson 4, Darren Bennett 3, Luke Beveridge 3, Earl Spalding 2, Steven Febey 1, Andy Lovell 1, Jim Stynes 1, Todd Viney 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Rod Owen
2 - Darren Cuthbertson
1 - Jim Stynes
Milestones:
Nil
Statistical Categories Led:
Equal highest score in a match, against North Melbourne and at the MCG.
Highest score in Round 5
North entered the match after two 70 point thrashings, with pressure growing on coach Wayne Schimmelbusch. Even their cheersquad couldn't resist a dig, putting up a banner that read 'We've heaps of skill but lost our guts. Wake up Kangas and kick their butts'.
The two sides enjoyed a remarkable first quarter where the two sides shared 18 goals. It was the fourth straight game in which Melbourne had booted 145 points or more, all after their 2.8 fiasco in Perth during round 1.
The two sides were locked together at 56 points apiece at quarter time and it was the precursor of a great match, and redemption for Melbourne who had lost to North by 127 points in their previous meeting. When the Demons clamped down in the second quarter and started to 'man up' on their opponents North couldn't go with them, and chief intimidator was Rod Grinter.
With Jim Stynes dominant in the ruck again, and third game Kevin Dyson feeding off his good work the two combined to pump the ball forward time and time again where more often than not young forward Darren Cuthbertson - who finished with seven goals - was waiting to take the ball while the North defence focused on Darren Bennett.
Peter Rohde took Wayne Carey out of the game after quarter time and after pulling away in the second quarter the Demon midfield were sublime in running away with the match in the the third quarter when they kicked five goals to one.
North gave themselves some chance of a comeback when they kicked three goals in a row early in the last quarter, but Melbourne responded with six goals in the last 11 minutes to register a big win.
The result is the Demons 2nd highest score in VFL/AFL football, 2nd highest score at the MCG and 2nd highest against North Melbourne. Amazingly the only match that topped this performance was another clash against North at the MCG in Round 21, 1986.
Best were Dyson, Stynes and Cuthbertson. Acting captain Stynes said it was some revenge for North's 127 point win in the Round 14, 1990 match when Stynes had led his side for the first time.
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 19.20.134 d. North Melbourne 19.17.131
Best: Spencer, Hickmott, Foot
Goals: Jakovich 5, Heaver 4, Howlett 2, P. Egan 2, B. Stynes 2, Yeates 1, Robins 1, Sullivan 1, Lamb 1
Under 19s
Melbourne 12.12.84 d. Hawthorn 8.14.62
Best: Siderellis, O'Sullivan, Carroll
Goals: Wilkins 6, O'Sullivan 2, Merritt 1, Goldberg 1, Buckley 1, Coote 1
Lists
Highest Scores
Quarter records
Media
Canberra Times - 21/04/1991
Age - 21/04/1991
Age - 22/04/1991
Age - 23/04/1991