Saturday 7 March - Lavington

North Melbourne 24.10.154
Melbourne 16.16.112

North Melbourne win by 42 points

Goalkickers: Jackson 4, O’Donnell 3, Crosswell 3, Moir 1, Nettlefold 1, O’Brien 1, R. Flower 1, Healy 1, Seddon 1

With Ron Barassi deliberately taking one less player into the game than North, the Demons were short handed during a 16 man melee. Newspapers reported that in the excitement Brent Crosswell and Mark Jackson were seen biffing each other.

Before flying to Lavington, Richard Seddon had been forced to insure the players. He got $1.2m worth of cover for his 21 players, while North secretary Ron Joseph managed to value his side at $2m the same week.

Melbourne was 13 down at half time before North ran away.

The match was played under lights.

Best were Baker, O’Donnell and Dullard. Giles and Hardeman also played.

Media
Age - 05/03/1981
Sun - 09/03/1981
Age - 13/03/1981
Age - 13/03/1981