1987 National Panasonic Cup Round 1
Melbourne vs Richmond
Tuesday 24 February
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 6467
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.2 | 6.6 | 9.10 | 13.11.89 |
| Richmond | 1.1 | 3.6 | 8.11 | 10.13.73 |
Melbourne win by 16 points
Goalkickers: Robert Flower 4, David Williams 3, Brian Wilson 1, Alan Johnson 1, Chris Connolly 1, Bret Bailey 1, Warren Dean 1, Steve O'Dwyer 1
Wearing their traditional navy blue and red playing strips for the first time since 1975, Melbourne won the toss and kicked with a strong wind in the first term. It turned out to be a match winning lead.
Having kicked into the wind in the second term and only dropped one point off their lead they were set to run away with the game with the wind in the third, but a five goal run by the Tigers saw them hit the lead before Robert Flower and Steve O'Dwyer goalled late in the term to wrest the lead back.
In cold and windy conditions it was, as usual, Flower who sparked the Dees. He kicked four goals, including the matchwinner and laid another off.
Flower, Wilson and Williams were best, but both Earl Spalding and Warren Dean were impressive on debut.
Speaking after the match John Northey said "Attitudes have changed over the summer. I think the players have changed and now want to be winners".
Media
Age - 25/02/1987
Links
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