Round 15, 1952
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 2 August
Venue: Glenferrie Oval
Attendance: 9,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 2.2 | 3.3 | 7.3 | 9.3.57 |
| Melbourne | 3.5 | 5.11 | 11.11 | 12.13.85 |
Melbourne win by 28 points
Goalkickers: Noel Clarke 4, Bob McKenzie 3, Alan Krause 2, George Bickford 1, Geoff McGivern 1, Jack Thomson 1
Milestones:
Nil
With their finals hopes reduced to nothing more than a mathematical longshot the Demons had nothing to lose at a ground they were traditionally poor at, and won comfortably with more direct and quicker play than their 11th placed opponents.
Inaccuracy haunted the visitors early as the Hawk defence blanketed the dangerous Clarke. As Melbourne got on top on the second Hawthorn were forced to implement tougher tactics, but despite disrupting the Demons their own chances suffered.
The two sides kicked ten goals without a miss between them in the third quarter, and the Hawks did not register a behind after half time.
Best were Wilson, McKenzie and Bickford. Despite being played in an unfamiliar role at full-back Noel McMahen also won credit for his performance. Johnston (thigh) was replaced in the selected side by Beckwith. Ron McMahon was another reserve.
Results elsewhere meant the gap between the Demons and fourth place closed to eight points with three games to play. A miracle could still get them into the four, but with two of the contenders playing each other on the last day of the season their window of opportunity was rapidly closing.
They needed to win their remaining three games and hope that Carlton and South Melbourne lost two each - the Blues were playing two fellow finals contenders and South had to play the Demons so at least some part of Melbourne's destiny was in their own hands going into a match the next Saturday against Footscray.
Seconds
Melbourne 10.12 d. Hawthorn 10.5
Goals - Unknown
Best - Stanes, Lane, O'Keefe
Thirds
Melbourne 14.11 d. Hawthorn 5.4
Media
Age - 01/08/1952
Argus - 01/08/1952
Argus - 04/08/1952
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206213201|Age] - 04/08/1952
Age - 04/08/1952
Football Record R16 1952