Round 2, 1993
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 3 April
Venue: Princes Park
Attendance: 13,076
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 4.6 | 9.12 | 13.17.95 |
| Footscray | 6.3 | 8.7 | 10.9 | 15.13.103 |
Footscray win by 8 points
Goalkickers: Glenn Lovett 2, Andrew Obst 2, Steven Stretch 2, Sean Wight 2, Greg Healy 1, David Neitz 1, David Schwarz 1, Jim Stynes 1, Stephen Tingay 1
Brownlow Votes:
1 - Andy Lovell
Milestones:
100 games
Todd Viney
First goal
David Neitz (2nd game)
After starting their season at Waverley, Melbourne was forced to play a home game at Princes Park before the MCG. They started poorly, going into the quarter time break three goals behind, and were out to 25 points behind at half time. They lifted their intensity after the break, cutting the gap to three at three quarter time. They looked to have the game won in the last quarter before Tony Liberatore goalled at the 30 minute mark while the Dogs were leading by less than a goal.
Melbourne struggled through the game with a decimated forward line, lacking the injured Allen Jakovich and Garry Lyon. With Darren Bennett unable to win a reprieve from the Reserves, Neil Balme started the game with Sean Wight in attack. The lead changed hands several times early in the last quarter, with Melbourne wasteful in gifting Footscray goals with failed kick-ins from Haydn Robins and Steven Febey. Late in the quarter Peter Rohde was running forward but had his handball intercepted, leading to a goal at the other end.
The Demons were criticised for turning the ball over with excessive handball, but Neil Balme said "Handball's one of the most dangerous weapons in football. It's bad handball that we don't want". He said his side had taken a step forward from Round 1.
Best were Schwarz, B. Lovett and M. Febey. Phil Gilbert injured his hamstring and Sean Charles suffered a cheek injury.
Notes
Age 04/04/1993 gives the crowd as 13,157
Reserves
Melbourne 18.15.123 d. Footscray 11.6.72
Goals - Bennett 9, Kowal 2, Sullivan 1, Cuthbertson 1, Grinter 1, Pickering 1, Lamb 1, Hilton 1, Burgmann 1
Best - Goodwin, Bennett, Pickering
Media
Age - 04/04/1993, 05/04/1993
Canberra Times - 04/04/1993
Football Record R3 1993