Round 14, 1940
Footscray vs Melbourne
Saturday 27 July
Venue: Western Oval
Attendance: 12,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Footscray | 6.7 | 7.8 | 11.17 | 12.19.91 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 6.9 | 9.11 | 15.20.110 |
Melbourne win by 19 points
Goalkickers: Maurie Gibb 4, Ron Baggott 3, Norm Smith 3, Ron Barassi 2, Sid Anderson 1, Jack Mueller 1, Alby Rodda 1
Milestones:
First Game
Bernie Neenan
Four losses in a row had made Footscray's position in the top four race precarious, and Melbourne's second come-from-behind win in as many games saw them further hurt the Tricolours' chances of playing in September.
The home side were aided by a strong wind in the first quarter and used it to kick long down the ground to advantage, but at first they were wasteful and only managed behinds. They were only three goals to two in front until late in the quarter when they kicked three quick goals.
Footscray's solid defence in the second quarter negated Melbourne's wind advantage, and they only cut the margin to five points at half time.
For the second week in a row the Demons spotted their opponents a huge lead before reeling them in. They were more than six goals down in the third quarter before booting three late goals against the wind to make it interesting in the final term. Footscray battled hard to defend their lead, but with a strong wind Melbourne swept to victory.
Emselle, La Fontaine and Barassi were best. Maher was 19th man. Roberts was a late withdrawal with a leg injury, replaced by Gordon Jones
Geelong's loss to Fitzroy meant Melbourne were left alone on top of the ladder, a game and percentage clear of the Pivotonians.
Seconds
Melbourne 14.16 d. Footscray 13.16
Goals - Dowsing 6, Adams 3, Reid 2, Truscott 1, Sitch 1, Williams 1
Best - Ellis, Dowsing, Daly
Notes
Sporting Globe gives the crowd as 8000
Media
Herald - 23/07/1940
Sporting Globe - 27/07/1940
Sporting Globe - 27/07/1940
Argus - 27/07/1940
Football Record Lightning Premiership 1940