Round 7, 1944
North Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 17 June
Venue: Arden Street
Attendance: 12,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| North Melbourne | 3.5 | 6.12 | 8.17 | 15.20.110 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 12.10.82 |
North Melbourne win by 28 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 8, Bob Herbert 1, Doug Heywood 1, Hughie McPherson 1, Jack Minnis 1
Milestones:
First Game
Jack Compton
Last Game
Jack Doherty
Don Hewson
Melbourne stuck with the more favoured North through an even first half before the Shinboners pulled away and furthered their credentials as a possible top four team. They gained the advantage by winning the toss, and had two opportunities turned back by North's defence before the locals counterattacked for the first goal. After a slow start they began to build a lead, before Fanning broke through for two goals to give his side the lead. North hit back with two of their own to take a seven point lead into quarter time.
Melbourne got the first two goals of the second quarter before rain ruined the high marking that had been a feature of the game. North livened up and kicked five points in a row before finally breaking through for another goal. From there they had all the better of the term, extending the margin to 19.
North missed two opportunities early in the third quarter, and in a hard fought quarter the smaller North players were in control. A Melbourne rally eventually found two goals for Fanning, then Heywood added another to level the scores. The Demon comeback was thwarted when they conceded a goal on the bell to go into the last change eight points down.
The Demons were once again led in attack by Fred Fanning, but couldn't find any other multiple goalkickers. Fanning couldn't do it all on his own and North got the points. They kicked multiple goals at the start of the last quarter to quickly kill the game off, with seven goals to four to end the game.
19th man Dowsing replaced Hewson (broken blood vessel in thigh) during the second quarter.
Seconds
North Melbourne 17.15 d. Melbourne 15.13
Notes
Sporting Globe gave the crowd as 10,000
Media
Herald - 16/06/1944
Sporting Globe - 17/06/1944
Weekly Times - 21/06/1944
Football Record R8 1944