Semi Final 1955

Semi Final, 1955
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 3 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 59,215

Melbourne win by 11 points

Goalkickers: Stuart Spencer 5, Robert B Johnson 2, Bob McKenzie 1

Milestones:
Nil

On a wet, muddy day at the MCG, Melbourne were pitted against the Magpies for the first time in a final since 1948. Collingwood had ended their ten game unbeaten run to start of the year, but despite rain and light hail the Demons prevailed when it counted.

In a rare event for 1955 the Demons kicked as any many goals they did behinds, and it helped them over the line in a tight game. Stuart Spencer and Ron Barassi were unbeatable, and with Bob Johnson teaming with Denis Cordner to dominate the ruck the Demons might have won by more on a dry day.

The sun came out early in the game, but the ball was soaked and before Collingwood's first score of the day Bob Rose had to shake water off it before handing it to Neil Mann for his shot on goal.

The Demons were pushed all the way, but the match turned in the second term when a Magpie defender was harshly adjudged to have thrown the ball and Spencer goalled from the resultant free kick. He had missed from the exact same spot not long before. From the bounce the Demons booted another and they were on their way.

Collingwood struck back, and with a margin of just seven points at the last change Melbourne were kicking into the breeze. An early Johnson goal gave them breathing space, and as Collingwood weakened in the last 10 minutes and failed to kick a goal for the quarter they managed to hold on to win. Geoff McGivern held the Magpie leading goalkicker Ken Smale goalless and took several key marks in the tense last term.

Best were Spencer, Melville and McLean. With no injuries Norm Smith was able to take his pick of the list going into the Grand Final.

Collingwood won the free kicks 39-29 and marks 40-38.

Team
B: Beckwith, Marquis, T. Johnson
HB: Williams, McGivern, McMahen
C: McLean, Melville, Case
HF: Mithen, Laidlaw, McKenzie
F: R. Johnson, Webb, Ridley
FOLL: Cordner, Barassi, Spencer
RES: Adams, Gleeson

Media
Argus - 30/08/1955
Argus - 02/09/1955
Argus - 03/09/1955
Argus - 03/09/1955
Age - 06/09/1955
Football Record 1955 Finals