Round 9, 1978
Melbourne vs Essendon
Saturday 27 May
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 28,231
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 8.12.60 |
| Essendon | 3.0 | 7.3 | 11.9 | 15.12.102 |
Essendon win by 42 points
Goalkickers: Peter Johnston 4, Peter Thorne 2, Robert Flower 1, Steven Smith 1
Milestones:
Nil
The Demons looked deadly early on with Johnston kicking three in the first quarter into the breeze. It looked as if they were set to extend their league with the wind in the second term but they kicked just one goal and the Bombers were untouchable.
Johnston had just six more kicks for the rest of the game, and he saved his most comical effort for last when late in the final term when he managed to kick out of bounds on the full from 10 metres out.
Desperately trying to explain what had happened Denis Jones said "It seemed they decided not to run - that's all".
Ex-Demon Allan Davis was one of Essendon's best, and the Bombers used the wide expanses of Waverley perfectly to simply run the Demons off their legs.
Laurie Fowler, Robbie Flower and Henry Coles were the outstanding Demons but they received very little support from their teammates. Fowler had quit the club during the week then patched up his differences and returned. Greg Wells had a corked thigh.
Reserves
Melbourne 17.8.110 d. Essendon 13.15.93
Goals - Walters 7, Hamilton 2, Rae 2, Seaton 2, Begg 1, Mills 1, Moir 1, Whitford 1
Best - Denny, Hamilton, Walters
Under 19s
Essendon 14.13.97 defeated Melbourne 11.9.75
Goals - Mobbs 3, Bickford 2, Elshaug 2, Juliff 1, Lockwood 1, Love 1, McGivern 1
Best - Methren, Cunningham, Elshaug
Video
Media
Age - 29/05/1978
Football Record R10 1978