Round 5, 1981
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 25 April
Venue: Victoria Park
Attendance: 30,096
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 7.1 | 13.5 | 16.11 | 21.20.146 |
| Melbourne | 3.1 | 4.3 | 9.5 | 13.5.83 |
Collingwood win by 63 points
Goalkickers: Kelly O'Donnell 4, Gerard Healy 2, Andrew Moir 2, Vin Catoggio 1, Peter Giles 1, Mark Jackson 1, Phil Pinnell 1, Michael Seddon 1
Milestones:
100 Games
Robert Elliott (also with St. Kilda)
50 Games
Don Whitford (also with Fitzroy)
Ron Barassi had taken no prisoners during the week after his side were beaten badly by St Kilda a week earlier. He'd flogged them on the track with five training sessions in preparation for battle against the unbeaten Magpies.
Peter Keenan made his return to the Demons, having eased back through the Reserves after suffering an injury in his first season back at the club, but his return had little impact as Collingwood ran away to an easy win.
Any fears that the hard week on the track might have caused a fade-out late in the game were never tested as the Demons were smashed from the first bounce. By half time Collingwood led by nine goals, and although the visitors rallied in the third term they were still well beaten.
Asked after the game what the result meant for training that week Barassi said "I'll ease it back a fraction" based on the second half improvement.
Best were Smith, Baker and Maynard.
Reserves
Collingwood 18.25.133 d. Melbourne 13.13.91
Goals - Ellingworth 4, Hamilton 2, Hardeman 2, Todd 2, Barnes 1, Bickford 1, O'Dwyer 1
Best - Bickford, Young, Gordon
Under 19s
Melbourne 18.27.135 d. Collingwood 9.11.65
Goals - McCarthy 4, Withers 4, Battiston 3, Cordner 2, Kane 2, Bergman 1, Fidge 1, Whitworth 1
Best - Battiston, Connolly, Fidge