Round 19, 1979
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Saturday 11 August
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 12,827
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 6.5 | 7.10 | 7.18 | 8.25.73 |
| Hawthorn | 1.2 | 6.6 | 10.10 | 14.11.95 |
Hawthorn win by 22 points
Goalkickers: Robert Walters 3, Michael Byrne 1, Robert Flower 1, Greg Hutchison 1, Andrew Moir 1, Ken Whitfort 1
Milestones:
Nil
Having turned the biggest fiasco in league history into a shock victory over a finals contender in the previous fortnight the Demons went back to Waverley - the scene of the Fitzroy massacre two weeks before - to take on a Hawthorn side who had seen their finals hopes wrecked.
With a howling breeze in their favour the Demons opened up a 33 point lead at the first change and even found time to spark a brawl that involved all but two players on the ground. Unfortunately the effort in the first quarter was followed by three quarters of the most wasteful football ever seen on the ground. From then on they kicked just 2.20, including 15 straight points between the nine minute mark of the second quarter and the seven minute mark of the third.
Through sheer weight of points rather than goals the Demons took the lead back in the last quarter but despite having three more opportunities to extend their lead they missed all three and Hawthorn easily swept home on the back of four straight goals to end the day.
Carl Ditterich handicapped himself by staying in the back pocket all day despite several poor decisions costing his side goals and it was suggested after the match that he was thinking of hanging up the boots to concentrate on coaching full time.
Best were Gaunt, Fowler and R.Flower
Reserves
Hawthorn 13.7.95 d. Melbourne 9.14.68
Goals - Elshaug 2, Gull 2, Denny 1, Dullard 1, Flower 1, Maynard 1, Woodman 1
Best - Elliott, Denny, Sullivan
Under 19s
Melbourne 10.18.78 d. Hawthorn 9.9.63
Goals - Cochrane 3, Sier 3, Bardoel 1, McKissack 1, Moncrieff 1, O'Brien 1
Best - O'Brien, Richards, Cochrane
Media
Age - 13/08/1979
Football Record R20 1979