Round 14, 1954
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Saturday 31 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 26,708
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.2 | 9.5 | 11.11 | 16.14.110 |
| Hawthorn | 3.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 5.3.33 |
Melbourne win by 77 points
Goalkickers: Noel Clarke 3, Robert B Johnson 3, Bob McKenzie 3, Frank Adams 2, Geoff McGivern 2, Laurie Mithen 2, Stuart Spencer 1
Milestones:
Nil
The Demons entered a virtual elimination final against Hawthorn with their chances of playing finals hanging on by a thread, but after an even first term they ran away with an easy victory and took fourth place on the VFL ladder.
For neutrals it was an uninteresting game with much of the play on one wing due to a cross-wind, and with Hawthorn unable to break through Melbourne's defence. Down the other end they conceded their first score of over a hundred all season. The difference was aggressive pace and better teamwork from the home side.
Melbourne had to come from behind to take a slender lead into quarter time but from there they kicked 12 goals to two. Only resolute defence by Hawthorn stopped them from conceding an even larger score, but they were powerless to attack against a dominant Demon half-back line, registering only four scoring shots in the last three quarters.
Best were Melville, McMahen and Marquis. Lane replaced the injured Spencer during the last quarter and Christie replaced McGivern also in the final term.
Seconds
Melbourne 14.11 d. Hawthorn 10.10
Best - Ferguson, Case, Johnson
Thirds
Melbourne 12.6 d. Hawthorn 2.6
Media
Sporting Globe - 28/07/1954
Age - 30/07/1954
Herald - 30/07/1954
Herald - 30/07/1954
Age - 31/07/1954
Sporting Globe - 31/07/1954
Age - 02/08/1954
Argus - 02/08/1954
Age - 04/08/1954
Football Record R15 1954