Round 21, 1978
Melbourne vs South Melbourne
Saturday 26 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 13,488
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.5 | 6.10 | 9.13 | 15.16.106 |
| South Melbourne | 4.5 | 6.9 | 9.14 | 11.19.85 |
Melbourne win by 21 points
Goalkickers: Henry Coles 3, Ray Biffin 2, Tom Flower 2, Barry Norsworthy 2, Ken Roberts 2, Robert Flower 1, Andrew Moir 1, Greg Wells 1, Chris Woodman 1
Milestones:
Nil
Having won their first match for five months a week before the Demons turned to the role of spoilers in destroying the Swans chances of making the finals. South needed to win to stay in the hunt and would have gone in confident against a side that despite their victory over Essendon were still on their own three games last.
Tom Flower to the wing and Barry Norsworthy from rover into the middle were winning moved by Jones and the coach could barely contain his glee in the rooms after the match.
A Reform Group had been handing out leaflets at the game demanding big changes in the Demons administration, including sacking Jones as coach and he gleefully stomped their literature into the ground in the rooms after the match.
Best were Baker, Coles and Smith. It would be Jones' last win as coach.
Reserves
Melbourne 19.17.131 d. South Melbourne 11.20.86
Goals - Walters 8, Mills 3, Code 2, Maynard 2, O'Keefe 2, Wallace 2
Best - Walters, Rae, Giuleri
Under 19s
Melbourne 16.13.109 d. South Melbourne 14.12.96
Goals - Angelis 5, Barkley 2, D'Ambrosia 2, Sadauskas 2, Boccabella 1, Elshaug 1, Juliff 1, Mehrten 1, Mobbs 1
Best - Elshaug, Thomas, Green
Media
Age - 28/08/1978
Football Record R22 1978