Round 16, 1923
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 1 September
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 10,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 1.8 | 8.11 | 9.13 | 13.20.98 |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 4.4 | 6.4 | 6.5.41 |
Essendon win by 57 points
Goalkickers: Percy Tulloh 3, Jimmy Abernethy 1, Tom Elliott 1, Derek Mollison 1
Brownlow Votes:
Milestones:
First game
Marcus Glasscock
Last MFC game
John Lord
First goal
Tom Elliott (5th game)
Statistical categories led:
Lowest score at Windy Hill
By now absolutely crippled by injury the bottom of the ladder Fuschias were comfortably beaten by the wasteful home side who could have had an even bigger victory if they'd kicked straight.
Melbourne took a surprise lead into the first break with the use of the wind, but it was the result of Essendon booting just 1.8 to open the game. When they got their kicking boots on and kicked seven goals in the second quarter the game was over, and from then on they did as they pleased. Four goals to a point in the last quarter extended the margin to nearly ten goals.
Despite the result the match was an attractive one, with the two sides playing open football. The difference between the two sides was immense, though, and the all but confirmed wooden spooners were beaten easily. They were left having to win at least one game, hope Richmond won none and that their percentage advantage of 3% would carry them over the line.
Coy, Lilley and Streeter were best. It was Essendon's lowest recorded crowd at Windy Hill to that point.
Seconds
Essendon 16.23 d. Melbourne 4.7
Media
Sporting Globe - 05/09/1923
Football Record - R17 1923