Round 5, 1978
Richmond vs Melbourne
Tuesday 25 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 34,212
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 3.3 | 7.4 | 14.9 | 19.16.130 |
| Melbourne | 5.2 | 6.8 | 6.10 | 8.11.59 |
Richmond win by 71 points
Goalkickers: Steven Smith 4, Peter Johnston 2, Henry Coles 1, Greg Wells 1
Milestones:
Only Game
Peter Garratt
Melbourne entered the ANZAC Day MCG derby with the ledger evened at two wins and two losses, but by 5pm they had well and truly been reminded of their place in the footballing pecking order by the Tigers.
Appropriately it was the Richmond veterans who drove them to the massive win with a second half landslide which seemed inconceivable at the end of the second term. Melbourne should have led at the long break but went in just two points behind. It only took the first few minutes of the third term to show that they weren't going to stay close for much longer.
Despite Richmond coming off a three day break after playing against Geelong on Saturday they showed no signs of fatigue, and with Bruce Monteith kicking all six of his goals in the second half they were irresistible despite rain falling throughout the second half.
Denis Jones described his players as "pitiful", but there had been several winners on the day. Tony Dullard and Shane Grambeau thrashed their opponents in defence and Steven Smith booted four goals.
Best were Grambeau, Coles and Smith. Thorne was a late withdrawal from the interchange bench, replaced by Garratt. Sullivan and Gaunt sprained ankles.
Reserves (played Saturday 22 April)
Richmond 26.17.173 d. Melbourne 16.13.109
Goals - McKellar 4, Walters 4, Clarke 3, Woodman 2, Flower 1, Hunnibell 1, Thorne 1
Best - Code, Woodman, Denny
Reports - Hamilton (striking)
Under 19s (played Saturday 22 April)
Melbourne 23.20.158 d. Richmond 17.18.120
Goals - Sadauskis 6, Hayes 4, Giulieri 3, Lockwood 2, McLean 2, Barkley 1, Bocabella 1, Maynard 1, Quine 1, Todd 1, Wallace 1
Best - McLean, Cunningham, Todd
Media
Football Record R6 1978