Round 8, 1985
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 18 May
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 16,282
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.2 | 7.5 | 13.9 | 16.10.106 |
| St. Kilda | 4.5 | 4.9 | 6.9 | 7.12.54 |
Melbourne win by 52 points
Goalkickers: Brian Wilson 4, David Cordner 3, Adrian Battiston 2, Ted Fidge 2, Rod Grinter 2, Chris Connolly 1, Alan Johnson 1, Rodney Wright 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Chris Connolly
2 - Sean Wight
Milestones:
First Game
Daryl Bourke
Sean Wight
Barassi reacted savagely to the 45 point loss to Geelong in Round 7 by axing six players from the side, while Peter Giles missed through injury. He handed debuts to two players, and was rewarded with solid games by both. Several of the dropped players had minor injuries, but there's no doubt that if the coach was in a better mood he might have played some anyway.
In a tough and aggressive game the Saints were strong in the opening quarter but switched off after that. They played exactly as a side who had won the last two wooden spoons, and were about to add another, should. By keeping the Saints to four behinds in the second quarter Melbourne were able to get on top and run away to a comfortable win.
St Kilda tried hard but their forward attacks were a case of kick and hope and with gun full forward Tony Lockett held goalless they had precious few other scoring options.
The coach was in a playful mood after the game, munching on an apple in a post-match press conference and offering journalists “something original” he barely suppressed laughter and said: “a win is a win is a win”.
Victory left the Demons out of the five on percentage.
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 20.12.132 d. St Kilda 10.7.67
Goals - Howard 8, Matthews 4, Dickson 3, Armstrong 2, Ward 2, Hutchison 1
Best - Fidge, Louttit, Howard
Under 19s
St. Kilda 17.22.124 d. Melbourne 7.14.56
Media
Age - 17/05/1985
Canberra Times - 19/05/1985
Age - 20/05/1985