Round 9, 1922
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 1 July
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: 12,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.16 | 5.19.49 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.9.33 |
Fitzroy win by 16 points
Goalkickers: Harry Harker 2, Alf Oldham 2
Milestones:
Last Game
Artie Cambridge
Alf Oldham
First Goal
Alf Oldham (3rd game)
After a surprise victory over high-flying Collingwood a week earlier Melbourne had put themselves into the mix for a top four finish, but ended the first round of the Home and Away season out of the finals spots on percentage.
The win over Collingwood had given fans hope that their side would beat their fellow finals contenders easily, but after taking a comfortable lead into half time they kicked just six behinds for the rest of the match and were deservedly beaten.
Even playing against a weakened Fitzroy side couldn't help the Reds as they were outmuscled and outfought by a tough opponent on a heavy ground. Some fortunate free kicks to the home side early in the game didn't help, and an unpenalised charge on Alf Oldham after he had kicked two goals injured his leg and made him almost useless for the rest of the game. He was also pushed into the goalpost at the end of the first quarter.
Melbourne's lead was narrowly reduced in the second quarter, with Fitzroy kicking their first goals after 0.5 in the opening term. The Reds saved their worst for the second half, not helped by the physical Roys players battering them throughout the game, with many players dropped after they had disposed of the ball. Their style of play overwhelmed the Redlegs, and the lead was taken for the first time early in the third quarter. They went on to win comfortably, with 11 more scoring shots.
Best were Flanagan, Corbett and Dunbar.
Media
Herald - 30/06/1922
Herald - 01/07/1922
Argus - 03/07/1922
Football Record R10 1922