Round 10, 1988
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 4 June
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: 61,163
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 3.1 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 10.11.71 |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 5.4 | 9.8 | 12.12.84 |
Melbourne win by 13 points
Goalkickers: Brian Wilson 5, Jim Stynes 3, Ted Fidge 1, Greg Healy 1, David Williams 1, Graeme Yeats 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Brian Wilson
1 - Steven O'Dwyer
Milestones:
Last Game
Ted Fidge
The match was originally slated to be played at Victoria Park but was moved in mid-May when it became clear the two sides were going to be near the top of the ladder by the time it was played. Pre-match wisdom had the Collingwood forward line being the difference between the two otherwise evenly matched sides, but that didn't count on the brilliance of former Brownlow Medallist Brian Wilson - and the chance that the Pies forwards wouldn't fire.
Danny Hughes fought another chapter in his long term rivalry with Brian Taylor and won, while Brett Lovett, Sean Wight and Steven Stretch were also dominant. Nevertheless the Pies had the first three goals on the board and looked like they were cruising. Melbourne got their first at the 22 minute mark of the quarter then piled on two more to snatch a narrow lead at the break.
The two sides remained close all day and just six points separated them at the last change but with Wilson running riot and the Pies forwards botching simple chances it seemed Melbourne were going to run away with the game. Then they inexplicably stopped and allowed the Pies back into it, luckily they weren't up to the task and Melbourne held on to win. Wilson was the only forward to fire all day, and his two late goals rose above a tactical decision by both teams to play loose men in defence. John Northey praised his side for persisting when they were struggling to break through Collingwood's defence.
Best were Wilson, Stretch and Johnson. Ted Fidge was reported for striking in his first match of the season and suspended for six matches. He never played VFL football again.
Reserves
Collingwood 16.13.109 d. Melbourne 10.12.72
Goals - Sparks 2, Flintoff 2, Johns 2, Lovell 2, Koop 1, Howat 1
Best - Lovell, Duursma, Sparks
Under 19s
Collingwood 17.16.118 d. Melbourne 18.7.115
Goals - Sadiku 7, Putamorsi 4, Heaver 2, Power 2, Beveridge 1, Dent 1, Tinsley 1
Best - Beveridge, Suduki, Putamorsi
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Football Record R11 1988
Canberra Times - 05/06/1988
Age - 06/06/1988