Round 6, 1997
St. Kilda vs Melbourne
Sunday 4 May
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 21,104
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| St. Kilda | 6.5 | 9.8 | 14.12 | 17.19.121 |
| Melbourne | 0.3 | 2.7 | 4.9 | 4.11.35 |
St. Kilda win by 86 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 2, Robert Pyman 2
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Milestones:
First Game
Alistair Nicholson
Last Game
Nick Pesch
On a wet day at Waverley, the Saints won the battle of the league's bottom sides and helped set of a crisis at Melbourne. They had five goals on the board before the Demons got their first, and led by seven goals at half time. New president Joseph Gutnick did a radio interview where he declared that there would be "radical" changes to come at the club. He reportedly demanded board members sack Balme at half time, before the interview.
The President refused to give his unqualified support to Balme as coach, and for the first time Balme's position came into question. In later interviews he was quoted as saying "no one is safe". Hassa Mann retired during the next week and was replaced as CEO by Cameron Schwab. Schwab and Garry Lyon met with Gutnick to express their displeasure at the incident. It was believed that the board was split 7-5 in favour of Balme, but the issue wasn't put to a vote. After meeting with Schwab and Lyon, Gutnick said Balme had his support for the rest of the season.
Robert Harvey tagged Jim Stynes out of the game and got 25 possessions of his own, and St Kilda players were winners right around the ground as Melbourne struggled desperately to kick four goals. Stynes and David Neitz were the most dangerous players left after a raft of injuries and were both shut out of the game. They were still the side's best players but without much competition.
Asked how he was feeling after the game Balme said he was "always very optimistic and positive about footy".
Best were Viney, Neitz and Matthew Febey. David Neitz and Todd Viney were each fined their match payment for wrestling. Andrew Obst was reported for striking but found not guilty.
Video
Reserves
St Kilda 15.21.111 d. Melbourne 4.7.31
Goals - Newton 1, Hardie 1, Lamprill 1, Goodale 1
Best - Winterton, Ward, De Crespigny
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age - 04/05/1997, 05/05/1997, 06/05/1997
Football Record - R7 1997