Round 18, 1949
Melbourne vs Essendon
Saturday 20 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 58,436
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 11.10.76 |
| Essendon | 5.1 | 7.2 | 12.9 | 15.11.101 |
Essendon win by 25 points
Goalkickers: Bob McKenzie 4, Colin Love 3, Lance Arnold 1, Denis Cordner 1, Ray Harvey 1, Len Toyne 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Adrian Dullard
Ray Harvey
Melbourne started the second last game of the season behind Essendon on percentage and needing a win to get back inside the top four.
In front of a record home and away crowd, despite looming rain, the match was played in a near finals atmosphere. Both teams put on a game befitting the occasion. Essendon kicked with a slight wind advantage in the first quarter, and thanks to three early goals from John Coleman they were 17 points up at quarter time. At the other end, third gamer Colin Love goalled with his first three kicks on either side of quarter time. Melbourne stormed back to take a two point lead into the long break despite conceding the first goal of the quarter after Jones and McGrath ran into each other, leaving John Coleman to kick an easy fourth.
Dominance across the centre and in the ruck helped make up for a lack of pace, and during heavy rain Melbourne attacked hard throughout the third quarter but lost opportunities due to weak forward play. Essendon took the conditions better, hitting back with two goals in a row and building a match-winning lead. They kicked 5.7 to 0.1 for the quarter and were 29 points in front. After struggling on the half-forward flank Bob McKenzie was given a turn at roving and nearly turned the game, booting four goals to start the last term. The margin was too much to overcome and Essendon recovered to win.
Ultimately defeat was fatal, North Melbourne came from behind to beat Geelong and make it impossible for Melbourne to pass them. The only hope was making up a win and seven percent on the Bombers in the final round. Even with a game against wooden spooner Hawthorn to come, it was a near impossible task.
Bickford, Dockett and Jackson were best. 19th man Spittle replaced Harvey (leg) at three quarter time and Rollason was an unused reserve. Billy Deans was reported for striking during the third quarter but found not guilty.
Seconds
Essendon 9.13 d. Melbourne 7.8
Lists
Tribunal
Notes
Herald gives the official attendance as 58,336
Media
Age - 16/08/1949
Sporting Globe - 17/08/1949
Argus - 19/08/1949
Sporting Globe - 20/08/1949
Sporting Globe - 20/08/1949
Age - 20/08/1949
Herald - 20/08/1949
Argus - 22/08/1949
Football Record R19 1949