Round 6, 1911
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 3 June
Venue: Victoria Park
Attendance: Approximately 9000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 3.2 | 3.6 | 4.10 | 6.13.49 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 4.8 | 5.13 | 5.13.43 |
Collingwood win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Harry Brereton 1, Vin Coutie 1, Mal Kennedy 1, Leo Rush 1, Hedley Tomkins 1
Milestones:
First game
Mal Kennedy (and first goal)
First Goal
Leo Rush (2nd game)
Collingwood entered the match as overwhelming favourites, but if their fans expected their side to win comfortably they were nearly disappointed by their team suffering a surprise defeat.
The battle of the superior Melbourne wings, aided by some clever play by their rucks, and Collingwood's accurate short passing saw the sides nearly level at quarter time - the Magpies leading by four points.
As the first half continued Melbourne added solid marking to their play and it allowed them to take the lead at the long break. The Redlegs were expected to fall away in the third quarter but despite bombardment of their goal by the home side they were unable to take the lead. The visitors began to include more vigour in their play, and as Collingwood's frustration at not being able to take the lead boiled over their players were reduced to a number of violent tactics. The umpire soon cut out the trouble by paying a number of free kicks.
A critical mistake by Monk gifted the Pies their only goal of the third quarter, and they took the lead shortly after the start of the final term.
With four minutes to go and the ball in front of the Melbourne goal Collingwood were paid a free kick and converted to seal victory. At the final bell several members of the crowd were said to have "fainted with excitement." Melbourne had hit the post twice at close range, and it eventually cost them.
Best were Brereton, Hickey and Hendrie - who played the game under the influence of the flu.
Notes
Newspaper reports state that the Magpies kicked the first goal of the last quarter to take the lead, but Melbourne responded to snatch it back. The same report goes on to show that Melbourne did not score in the last term.