Round 12, 1989
Melbourne vs Geelong
Saturday 17 June
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 38,128
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.8.20 |
| Geelong | 1.3 | 5.4 | 11.8 | 13.11.89 |
Geelong win by 69 points
Goalkickers: Greg Healy 1, Steven Stretch 1
Brownlow Votes:
Nil
Milestones:
Nil
In horrendous conditions at the MCG, Melbourne's stars fell apart as Geelong handed the wet better to register a a big victory against a fellow finals contender. The condition of the ground was so poor that during the week the Reserves game had been moved to the Junction Oval.
After a big win over Hawthorn just five days earlier, a flat Demon side were thrashed everywhere. They conceded a big score for a wet day, their forwards managed just two goals and the lauded ruck combination of Jim Stynes and Steve O'Dwyer were slaughtered. Twice in the third quarter Stynes received a free kick in defence and kicked it straight to the opposition. After the second time he was dragged.
Melbourne beat the premiers in similar conditions but were comprehensively thrashed. After staying within striking range at half time, despite just one goal, John Northey benched Steve O'Dwyer at the start of the third quarter, but his attempts to play smaller didn't help and Geelong kicked six goals to nil.
Best were Healy, Stretch and Johnson Garry Lyon was struck in the face behind play by Geelong's Gary Ablett. He needed 12 stitches to three wounds on his mouth and chin. Ablett wasn't reported on the day but self-reported to the league's investigations officer and was suspended for three weeks. He blamed close checking from Lyon for his actions.
It was the first time the Demons had been held to two goals since Round 15, 1978.
Reserves (Played at Junction Oval)
Geelong 14.9.93 d. Melbourne 9.11.65
Goals - Dean 2, Yeats 1, Kavanagh 1, Connolly 1, Bailey 1, Farrell 1, Flintoff 1, Ahern 1
Best - Yeats, Bourke, Rohde
Under 19s (Played at Junction Oval)
Richmond 5.12.42 defeated Melbourne 3.11.29
Goals - Lamb 2, Keipert 1
Best - Fedorik, Heaver, Putamorsi
Media
Canberra Times - 17/06/1989, 18/06/1989
Age - 19/06/1989, 15/06/1989, 19/06/1989, 23/06/1989, 22/07/1989
Inside Football - 21/06/1989
Age - 22/07/1989
Football Record R13 1989