Round 3 1990
Melbourne vs Essendon
Monday 16 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 59,894
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.3 | 9.5 | 17.7 | 18.14.122 |
| Essendon | 4.3 | 8.6 | 9.8 | 14.11.95 |
Melbourne win by 27 points
Goalkickers: Darren Bennett 4, Steven Clark 3, Andy Lovell 3, Steve O'Dwyer 3, Tony Campbell 1, Simon Eishold 1, Brett Lovett 1, Stephen Newport 1, Jim Stynes 1
Brownlow votes:
3 - Graeme Yeats
2 - Andrew Obst
1 - Steve ODwyer
Milestones:
50 games
Tony Campbell
Melbourne stormed to the top of the ladder, the only unbeaten side after three games, on the back Darren Bennett kicking four goals. It was his worst performance yet in the red and blue after two bags of eight but he could have had more for wayward kicking - ending with 4.6 and four behinds in the last quarter. It was only the second time Melbourne had beaten Essendon in 19 matches and their first at the MCG since Round 18, 1979.
Essendon went into the game with the task of replacing three key players who had been suspended after their 62-point win over Hawthorn the previous week, but the match was close at half-time before two of Bennett's goals and one by Simon Eishold immediately after the restart gave Melbourne the upper hand.
Melbourned kicked eight goals in the third term to turn the game in their favour. The margin was on 17 at the 10 minute mark, before the Dees kicked four without reply. The gap blew out to 52 points at the two minute mark of the last quarter thanks to a Jim Stynes goal but Essendon kicked the last five goals to maintain some respectability. John Northey said "we missed a chance to bury a team that we've had problems with over the years. I suppose it became a good win instead of a hiding."
Best were B. Lovett, Yeats and Stynes. Steven Clark became the third knee injury victim in two weeks, hurting his right knee after colliding with Anthony Daniher in the last quarter. The injury put him out for the rest of the year.
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 22.15.147 d. Essendon 17.4.106
Goals - Farrell 6, Heaver 5, Morey 3, Sexton 2, Scott 1, Ahern 1, Cameron 1, Keogh 1, Seow 1, T. Viney 1
Best - G. Lovett, Heaver, Keogh
Under 19s (Played Saturday 14 April)
Melbourne 25.21.171 d. Geelong 16.12.108
Goals - Schwarz 8, Siderellis 7, Solyom 2, McCarthy 2, O'Sullivan 1, B. Stynes 1, Hopgood 1, Foot 1, P. Goldberg 1, Robins 1
Best - P. Goldberg, Schwarz, Siderellis
Media
Canberra Times - 12/04/1990
Canberra Times - 17/04/1990
The Age - 17/04/1990
Football Record R4 1990