Round 22, 1978
Melbourne vs Collingwood
Saturday 2 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 40,285
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.5 | 9.9 | 13.10 | 19.11.125 |
| Collingwood | 8.3 | 13.6 | 20.7 | 24.12.156 |
Collingwood win by 31 points
Goalkickers: Tom Flower 5, Ray Biffin 4, Robert Flower 2, Greg Hutchison 2, Andrew Moir 2, Barry Norsworthy 2, Henry Coles 1, Maurice Wingate 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Gary Cooke
Last MFC Game
Peter Johnston
Last Game as Coach
Denis Jones
With the wooden spoon already 'secured' Melbourne had nothing to play for against the finals bound Magpies other than pride.
The two sides played a freewheeling, high-scoring game which clinched the double chance for Collingwood and would, unbeknownst to him at the time, be Dennis Jones' last match at Melbourne coach. He described his first season as "constructive", but was swept out of the job when the Wayne Reid administration took office at the end of the year.
Melbourne's best were Hamilton, Baker and Norsworthy. Robert Flower was concussed and sprained his ankle.
Reserves
Collingwood 28.20.188 d. Melbourne 11.20.86
Goals - Besanko 2, Fitzsimmons 2, Maynard 2, Wallace 2, Code 1, Cunningham 1, Walters 1
Best - Thompson, Beck, Giulieri
Under 19s
Collingwood 31.35.221 defeated Melbourne 4.6.40
Media
Age - 04/09/1978