Round 18, 1926
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 11 September
Venue: Glenferrie Oval
Attendance: 5,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 1.0 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 11.12.78 |
| Melbourne | 7.8 | 10.9 | 15.12 | 18.13.121 |
Melbourne win by 43 points
Goalkickers: Dave Duff 7, Col Deane 3, Stan Wittman 3, Robert B Johnson 2, Harry Moyes 2, Harry Davie 1
Milestones:
Nil
The Redlegs finished their home and away campaign with an easy win against the side they had registered their largest ever victory against earlier in the season.
Melbourne needed to win to keep their top two hopes alive, but a victory by any margin wouldn't be good enough unless Geelong lost to Fitzroy at home. With the Roys sitting at 6-11 for the season it was an unlikely prospect, and the Pivotonians went on to a comfortable victory which left Melbourne in third.
With nothing to gain with another huge victory the Melbourne players ran away to a seven goal lead at the first change before easing off and letting the Mayblooms get out of their last appearance of the season with a creditable loss.
Despite the casual nature of the game - with the visitors experimenting in several positions - it was still a game with quick play and high marking by both sides, but Melbourne were wasteful in front of goal with attempts to chip the ball around and pass rather than take shots.
Greens, Johnson and Abernethy were best.
Seconds
Melbourne 9.7.61 d. Hawthorn 8.11.59
Goals - Cronen 6, Unknown 3
Media
Football Record 1926 Finals Week 1