Round 7, 1958
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 24 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 28,550
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 4.11 | 7.13 | 11.19.85 |
| Footscray | 4.3 | 5.3 | 9.7 | 9.8.62 |
Melbourne win by 23 points
Goalkickers: Ian Ridley 4, Ron Barassi 3, Robert B Johnson 2, Geoff Case 1, Trevor Johnson 1
Milestones:
Nil
A week after suffering their first loss of the season in a one point thriller against St Kilda, the Demons bounced back with a come from behind victory. During the week Norm Smith and his players had held a 'round-table' meeting where problems with the team's play the week before were discussed openly. Several of the players who were under fire bounced back against the Bulldogs.
They had been forced to come from behind the week before as well and had fallen narrowly short, but this time they overhauled Footscray's score and continued on to an easy win. Gale force winds had affected the teams all day, but Melbourne had the aid of the breeze in the final term and used it effectively.
It took until the last 15 minutes for the more experienced Demons, propelled by the wind and Ian Ridley, to take control of the match. The rover contributed four as the rest of the forward line faltered. Athol Webb was held goalless at full forward and resting ruckman Bob Johnson kicked 2.6 from 10 shots on goal - all within 30 yards of goal.
Best were L. Mithen, Johnson and Ridley. Barassi (sprained ankle) was replaced by Fenton-Smith in the last quarter, and Case (bruised thigh) by Kevin Mithen in the last.
The win left Melbourne second on percentage behind the Len Smith powered Fitzroy.
Seconds
Footscray 11.12 d. Melbourne 6.5
Goals - Crompton 3, Dunsford 1, Wilkinson 1, Rankin 1
Best - Cook, Clay, Rowarth
Thirds
Footscray 10.7 d. Melbourne 8.17
Goals - Jennings 3, O'Toole 1, Campbell 1, Anderson 1, Butler 1, Bosch 1
Best - Buswell, Jennings, Campbell
Media
Age - 26/05/1958
Age - 26/05/1958
Football Record R8 1958