Round 8, 1998
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Sunday 17 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 57,425
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.3 | 9.6 | 13.8 | 17.12.114 |
| Collingwood | 5.5 | 8.10 | 13.12 | 16.15.111 |
Melbourne win by 3 points
Goalkickers: Shaun Smith 5, Travis Johnstone 4, Jeff Farmer 3, Brent Grgic 2, Todd Viney 1, Jeff White 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Jim Stynes
1 - Brent Grgic
Best and Fairest
38 - Brent Grgic
36 - Jim Stynes
22 - Travis Johnstone
21 - Todd Viney
20 - Steven Febey
Milestones:
Rising Star nominee - Travis Johnstone
After having had their five game winning streak snapped at the hand of Richmond a week earlier, the Demons got their season back on track with a thrilling victory over the Magpies.
In a relatively high scoring match which ebbed and flowed throughout the day, the two sides traded the lead at the end of each quarter before Melbourne opened the final term with four straight goals. The margin blew out to 21 points with ten minutes left before the Magpies stormed home.
With the lead whittled back to a couple of points Anthony Rocca seemingly won the game for the Pies but his kick hit the top of the post. His brother Saverio then had a flying shot around his body which missed and the Demons held on to win thanks to Andrew Leoncelli who won the ball on the Member's Wing and held it long enough to run the clock down.
Brent Grgic played his best game after being shifted from the backline to centre half-forward. Also in the best were Stynes, Johnstone and Viney. Jeff Farmer injured his hamstring.
Neale Daniher said "This is probably a bit dishonest, but I told them: 'I don't care if we win, lose or draw, they've got to come off and be able to look each other in the eye at the end of the game'. They were terrific. It was just a really big game for us, as a club that's struggled in the past to play in a big match against fantastic opposition and win one."
Daniher had welcomed President Joseph Gutnick into the coaches' box for the day, and Gutnick saw a narrow victory.
The match featured James and Anthony McDonald lining up together against their brother Alex for the only time in an AFL match.
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 23.16.154 d. Collingwood 17.9.111
Best - Longmuir, B. Williams, Ward
Goals - B.Williams 7, L. Williams 5, Longmuir 4, M. Collins 2, Robertson 1, B. Collins 1, Nettelbeck 1, Cann 1, Anderson 1
Media
Age - 18/05/1998
Age - 18/05/1998
Football Record R9 1998