Semi Final, 1964
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 5 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 93,010
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 8.7 | 14.13 | 19.20.134 |
| Collingwood | 2.2 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 6.9.45 |
Melbourne win by 89 points
Goalkickers: John Townsend 5, Bryan Kenneally 3, John Lord 3, Barrie Vagg 3, Hassa Mann 2, Ron Barassi 2, Barry Bourke 1
Milestones:
Nil
With the Pies not having lost since Round 10, there was a belief that all four sides left in the finals race were equal. Melbourne shattered it with a massive win. Collingwood had the early running, leading 2.2 to no score in the first quarter, before they were bulldozed. John Townsend played the game of his life with five goals, and his side racked up the biggest ever win in a finals game to that point.
After Bryan Kenneally kicked two goals to put Melbourne in front at quarter time they were never headed again. The Age described the performance as having “stripped Collingwood of its prestige and left it with practically no confidence.” They wrote, “often Collingwood was left so far behind it was chasing shadows that had already disposed of the ball.” It was one of the finest performances in Melbourne’s 11 year finals run.
While Collingwood's forward line was thrashed, Melbourne's equivalent did as they liked. Even John Lord had a sub par performance but still kicked 3.3.
Bob Rose tried to make positional changes combating their dominance by switching his team around, but there was nothing he could do. Even when the Pies got the ball forward their attacks were rarely able to penetrate a steel-trap defence. Ian Graham and Terry Waters were beaten comfortably in the air, while David Norman was thrashed in the back pocket by Neil Crompton.
The lead was out to five goals at half time, but wary of giving the Pies any oxygen for a comeback, Melbourne came out of the sheds looking to put the game away. Everything they did went right, including one passage of play where Graeme Jacobs, Barrie Vagg, John Townsend and Barry Bourke flashed around the members’ wing with a series of unchallenged passes without an opponent getting close, before Vagg finished the good work with a goal. Then Frank Adams, Ron Barassi and Hassa Mann put on a similar exhibition a few minutes later.
Six goals to two in the third quarter extended the gap to 59 points and Melbourne was home, they added another five to one in the last quarter to extended the margin even further.
Best were Townsend, Massey and Dixon. Davis (bruised calf) was replaced by Emselle and Barassi replaced by McLean, both in the last quarter. David and Massey injured ankles, Barassi and Vagg both had blistered feet, and McLean a black eye but all were fit for the Grand Final.
Goakikcing
Townsend 5.2, Lord 3.3, Kenneally 3.0, Vagg 3.2, Mann 2.4, Barassi 2.0, Bourke 1.4, Jacobs 0.2, Williams 0.1, Rushed 0.2.
Media
Football Record 1964 Finals