Round 11, 1901
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 6 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 5.6.36 |
| Collingwood | 1.4 | 2.8 | 3.10 | 4.11.35 |
Melbourne win by 1 point
Goalkickers: Frank Langley 4, Graham Colclough 1
Milestones:
Nil
After struggling to beat St Kilda a week earlier with a weakened team, Melbourne got some of their key players back and won the game with a flurry - and some luck - in the final quarter. With a lenient umpire both sides took advantage and the game was played roughly. In the circumstances Collingwood were the better team for three quarters and could argue that two goal umpiring blunders cost them victory.
The visitors kicked the first goal of the game after two minutes before Langley equalised, but reports suggested the ball was clearly should have been called a behind. They were the only goals kicked in the first quarter, before Melbourne's task was made difficult by injury to Purse in the second term. After already being felled by a blow in the first quarter, as was Cumberland, he had to play the rest of the game lame. Even worse was McGinis who received a wound from a kick to the ankle so severe that he had to leave the match at half time.
After a second controversial goal umpiring decision when Melbourne was awarded a point before the ball crossed the line, the Magpies kicked the last eight points of the second quarter to lead by that much at half time. They extended the gap by an extra point before three quarter time. Colclough got the first goal of the last quarter, the only one not kicked by Langley for the day, and Melbourne held on to win.
There was a suggestion that Collingwood would protest the result but the result stood.
Best were Moriarty, Young and Langley.
Lists
One point games
Notes
Some sources say the second goal umpiring issue was Collingwood being awarded a point when they should have had a goal
Media
Argus - 08/07/1901
Age - 08/07/1901
Australasian - 13/07/1901