Round 7, 1989
Melbourne vs Carlton
Saturday, 13 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 36,785
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 5.7 | 7.8 | 11.11 | 12.14.86 |
| Carlton | 1.0 | 4.5 | 7.10 | 11.14.80 |
Melbourne win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Sean Wight 4, Darren Bennett 2, Earl Spalding 2, Greg Healy 1, Danny Hughes 1, Stephen Tingay 1, Graeme Yeats 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Earl Spalding
2 - Garry Lyon
Milestones:
First Game
Luke Beveridge
Tom Kavanagh
A Demons side which had become adept at holding to win close games did it again at the MCG. After swinging the axe at the selection table with five changes - including two new players and dropping Brian Wilson for the first time since 1984 - the Demons burst to a handy lead after a 12 scoring shot to 1 opening quarter delivered them a 31 point lead over the shellshocked Blues. Sean Wight started forward and kicked three goals, but Melbourne also wasted chances, with Garry Lyon kicking four behinds in the first term.
Spalding and Lyon began in attack but switched to defence when the game was on the line and helped deliver victory. Lyon moved onto the dangerous Stephen Kernahan after Jamie Duursma left the field with a shin injury and beat him, while Spalding marked everything that came near him.
The Blues charged hard in the last quarter but with Lyon and Spalding marshalling the defence Darren Bennett was able to mark and goal in time-on to sink the Blues.
Jim Stynes, Brett Lovett and Steven Febey were best. Jamie Duursma suffered a shin injury. Despite viewing video footage of a 36 man brawl during the second quarter the VFL decided not to issue any reports. John Northey said "talking to some of the players, they said it was very physical and one of their hardest games this season.
Reserves
Carlton 22.12.144 d. Melbourne 16.17.113
Goals - Farrell 4, Dean 2, Atkins 2, Wilson 1, Connolly 1, Bailey 1, Chiron 1, Keogh 1, Ahern 1, Howat 1, Morey 1
Best - Bailey, Chiron, Graham
Under 19s
Carlton 14.19.103 d. Melbourne 8.14.62
Goals - Partington 3, Millett 2, Lamb 2, Fanning 1
Best - Schwarz, Millett, B. Stynes
Video
Media
Age - 13/05/1989
Canberra Times - 14/05/1989
Age - 15/05/1989
Age - 16/05/1989
Inside Football - 17/05/1989
Football Record R8 1989
Links
Blueseum match report