Round 9, 1951
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 23 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 18,525
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.11 | 5.19.49 |
| Footscray | 6.4 | 9.11 | 19.12 | 23.14.152 |
Footscray win by 103 points
Goalkickers: Alan Daly 1, Bob McKenzie 1, Noel McMahen 1, Jack Thomson 1, Mike Woods 1
Milestones:
First Game
Ron McMahon
First Goal
Alan Daly (3rd game)
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss in Round 9
A series of encouraging performances came to a shuddering halt the week before in a second half fadeout against North. It only got worse against Footscray as the Demons racked up their biggest loss in 32 years, feeling the wrath of an MCG crowd who turned on them with a vengeance.
The Bulldogs had lost three in a row so the match was expected to be close, and Melbourne were tipped to win by many of the newspaper pundits, but instead of a victory which would drag them away from the foot of the ladder the Demons were victim of Footscray's first ever 100 point away win.
The first few minutes of the game gave no indication of what was to come, but when the Dogs stepped their game up a gear they humiliated the home side. Their fast, play-on style had Melbourne in danger that they never recovered from. The damage could have been far greater if Footscray hadn't eased off in the last quarter, only winning it by a point.
Not surprisingly it was Footscray's best ever score against Melbourne, and the highest conceded by the Demons since 1942 when they conceded 30 goals to Richmond. It was Melbourne's first 100 point loss since 1919.
Secretary Jim Cardwell was forced to hose down rumours of player dissention with the methods of coach Allen La Fontaine, instead claiming that the players had been 'angered' by supporters jeering the coach off the ground at three-quarter time.
Best were McKenzie, Daly and Woods. O'Keefe replaced Clarke (injured shoulder) at half time. McKenzie (bruised thigh) was replaced by McMahon in the last quarter. Johnston bruised his thigh.
Seconds
Footscray 10.13 d. Melbourne 7.7
Thirds
Footscray 8.12 d. Melbourne 6.10
Notes
Age 25/06 showed McKenzie being replaced due to a stomach injury.
Media
Football Record R10 1951
Age - 22/06/1951
Sporting Globe - 23/06/1951
Argus - 25/06/1951, 25/06/1951, 27/06/1951