Round 11, 1945
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 30 June
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 8,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 2.0 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 7.12.54 |
| Melbourne | 3.6 | 5.10 | 8.12 | 9.14.68 |
Melbourne win by 14 points
Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 3, Ron Baggott 1, Don Cordner 1, Ernie O'Rourke 1, Ern Rowarth 1, Bill Scanlan 1, Norm Smith 1
Milestones:
50 Games
Col McLean
First Goal
Ern Rowarth (5th game)
Melbourne's chances of making the top four had almost entirely been ruined by losing six games in seven weeks earlier in the season, but they pulled further away from the bottom group with their second win in a row, travelling to Windy Hill and withstanding a last quarter comeback from the home side.
Essendon could have been closer in the last quarter if they had kicked straight, but 3.7 wasn't enough to get near enough to challenge. Cold and windy conditions didn't help them, but they had been relatively accurate with their nine scoring shots until then.
The victory put Melbourne into a virtual 'elimination final' against Carlton the next week.
Seconds
Melbourne 15.18 d. Essendon 11.13
Media
Football Record R12 1945