Round 13, 1960
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 23 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 42,935
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.6 | 3.9 | 4.11 | 6.13.49 |
| St. Kilda | 2.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 6.9.45 |
Melbourne win by 4 points
Goalkickers: Hassa Mann 2, Ray Nilsson 2, Terry Gleeson 1, Clyde Laidlaw 1
Milestones:
Nil
After taking all before them in previous weeks the Demons suffered their first scare for a while when the Saints got within a goal of becoming the first team to beat them on the MCG in 1960.
In a low scoring match on a muddy surface Melbourne were never more than a goal in front at any of the changes, and couldn't get off the leash in the last quarter. With the use of the wind in the first quarter, Melbourne only kicked two goals. St Kilda got their second late in the quarter, leaving the Demons just five points ahead.
Against the wind, Melbourne restricted the damage in the second quarter to one goal each, retaining a five point lead, then battled a strong Saints defence for one goal each in the third. They were first away in the lsat quarter through Mann, but St Kilda wouldn't go away. With seven minutes to play the lead was one goal and Melbourne spent the last few minutes of the match dug-in grimly defending their own goal.
The Saints kicked the last four behinds of the day to cut the margin to four but couldn't find the winning goal. In the end Melbourne's ruck dominance and match winning wing play by Brian Dixon contributed to the result.
Best were Dixon, Trevor Johnson and Clyde Laidlaw. Adams (concussion) was replaced by Crompton at half time. Massey was an unused reserve.
The win left Melbourne a game clear at the top and three games inside the top the top two with five games to play.
Reserves
St Kilda 7.17 d. Melbourne 4.10
Goals - Eastgate 2, R. Rolfe 1, Carroll 1
Best - B. Leahy, Hicks, Strachov
Under 19s
St Kilda 8.11 d. Melbourne 6.9
Goals - Anderson 3, Predl 1, Leahy 1, Hancy 1
Best - Mooney, Weidlich, Anderson
Media
Age - 25/07/1960
Football Record R14 1960