Round 5, 1997
Melbourne vs West Coast
Saturday 26 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 19,655
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 5.1 | 6.2 | 7.4 | 12.6.78 |
| West Coast | 4.1 | 10.4 | 18.7 | 19.12.126 |
West Coast win by 48 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 6, Anthony Ingerson 3, Alastair Clarkson 1, Steven Febey 1, Darren Kowal 1
Brownlow votes:
2 - David Neitz
Milestones:
Nil
In their first day game of the season, Melbourne won the first and last quarters, but were blown away in-between, outscored 14 goals to two. It was their seventh straight to West Coast, who led by 75 points at one stage in the final quarter. Melbourne finished with five goals to one in the last term to make the margin more respectable.
Melbourne was outrun around the ground, and Neil Balme said "They ran too hard for us". Meanwhile Melbourne struggled to convert chances, with David Neitz playing a lone hand in attack, supported by a clearly unfit Garry Lyon.
Best for Melbourne were Neitz, Clarkson and Stynes.
Glenn Lovett (shoulder) and Sean Charles (hamstring) were replaced in the selected squad by Marcus Seecamp and Darren Kowal. Craig Nettlebeck suffered a shoulder injury and Matthew Febey hurt his quad.
Reserves
BYE
Media
Age - 27/04/1997, 28/04/1997
Football Record - R6 1997