Round 7, 1988
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Saturday 14 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 34,773
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.6 | 7.13 | 9.18 | 15.21.111 |
| Hawthorn | 4.3 | 6.6 | 12.10 | 13.12.90 |
Melbourne win by 21 points
Goalkickers: David Williams 4, Brian Wilson 3, Andy Lovell 2, Tony Campbell 1, Steven Febey 1, Greg Healy 1, Alan Johnson 1, Jim Stynes 1, Graeme Yeats 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Brian Wilson
2 - Brett Lovett
Milestones:
First game and first goal
Steven Febey
Eight goals from Jason Dunstall wasn't enough to save the Hawks as Melbourne gained some small measure of revenge for their 1987 Preliminary Final heartbreak.
The relief was immense. John Northey charged on to the ground at the final siren and cheered his team off the ground. Despite fielding his weakest side all year, Northey had masterminded a win over the side that had tormented him the last time they had met. He had thrown Danny Hughes into the forward line and Tony Campbell down back, but it was the performance of Brian Wilson that was the most impressive. Ricky Jackson too was breaching Hawthorn repeatedly with his blistering speed.
Hughes was sent back to the defence to tackle the red hot Dunstall but like Sean Wight, he had no answers. The Hawks had other winners around the ground, and were still in front in the last quarter, but Melbourne had too many winners. Chris Langford was strong at centre half-forward after Dermott Brereton went off injured but his move back into defence in the final term robbed the Hawks of much of their drive.
Ten points down at three-quarter time, Wilson lifted the Demons into a winning position, and David Williams who sealed the deal with four final term goals after being moved from the forward line onto a wing. It lifted Melbourne to the top of the ladder for the first time since 1971. A thrilled John Northey ran onto the ground at the final siren and cheered his players up the race. He said his players were "out for a bit of revenge" for their last meeting with the Hawks.
Steve O'Dwyer and Jim Stynes won the ruck duels comprehensively, and fittingly it was Stynes - the villain of September 1987 - who kicked the sealer.
Best were Alan Johnson, Brian Wilson and Steve O'Dwyer. Danny Hughes was reported for striking Robert DiPierdomenico in the third quarter and suspended for two matches.
Video
Reserves
Hawthorn 25.21.171 d. Melbourne 15.17.107
Goals - J. Viney 3, Normington 2, Sparks 2, Fidge 2, T. Viney 2, Spalding 1, Eishold 1, Johns 1, Bayes 1
Best - T.Viney
Under 19s
Melbourne 19.12.126 defeated Hawthorn 16.10.106
Goals - Tinsley 4, Power 3, Camilleri 3, Beveridge 2, Minchington 2, Kelly 1, O'Hearn 1, Tingay 1, Keipert 1, Walker 1
Best - Tingay, Minchington, Bourke
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Canberra Times - 15/05/1988
Age - 16/05/1988
Football Record R8 1988