Round 16, 1990
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 21 July
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 19,945
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 5.6 | 9.8 | 13.12 | 15.16.106 |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 7.5 | 9.9 | 17.12.114 |
Melbourne win by 8 points
Goalkickers: Darren Bennett 5, Ricky Jackson 4, Tony Campbell 2, David Flintoff 2, Simon Eishold 1, Greg Healy 1, Garry Lyon 1, Todd Viney 1
Brownlow votes:
2 - Ricky Jackson
1 - Peter Rohde
Milestones:
Nil
After a midseason slump, an away game against the top of the ladder premiership favourites spelled trouble for Melbourne. After conceding the first four goals of the game their season was in grave danger. Three late goals reduced the margin to 10, but Essendon took off again after quarter time, building a 41 point lead midway through the second quarter. Melbourne again recovered late in the quarter, cutting the gap to 15 at half time with the last four goals.
The trend was reversed in the third quarter, where Melbourne missed a chance to drag the margin into single digits before the Bombers surged late in the term, leading by 27. They were out to a 34 point lead midway through the last quarter before the Demons staged a miracle revival. John Northey moved Garry Lyon to the centre, helping give Darrn Bennett the service he needed to kick four goals in 15 minutes, including the one that put his side in front. Ricky Jackson was playing his second game of the year after returning from a back injury and kicked four goals. Seven goals in the last 17 minutes won the game, but even after the visitors hit the lead for the first time all day, Essendon nearly went straight back in front before a simple snap bounced the wrong way. They added another goal to make it safe, registering their first win in four games.
John Northey said "It'll be terrific to sit back in the armchair with a can and have a look at it to see what really happened". He said he had faith in the players despite their recent slump, and called it "a great win with a great deal of character".
Best were Lyon, Jackson and Flintoff. Steve O'Dwyer battled hard with Simon Madden all day, and came out of the game with six stitches above his eye and two lost teeth. Steven Febey suffered a groin injury.
Video
Reserves
Essendon 16.17.113 d. Melbourne 8.9.57
Goals - Seow 2, Cuthbertson 2, Beveridge 1, Keogh 1, Hogarth 1, Morey 1
Best - Cuthbertson, J. Viney, B. Stynes
Under 19s
Melbourne 18.15.123 d. St Kilda 7.7.49
Goals - Lamb 4, McCarthy 3, Stocker 2, Stroud 2, Solyom 1, Goonewardene 1, Sullivan 1, Theodore 1, Lawland 1, Johnstone 1, Aubrey 1
Best - Lamb, Solyom, Capsalis
Notes
Sun 22/07/1990 gives the crowd as 19,875
Media
Sun - 22/07/1990
Canberra Times - 22/07/1990
Football Record R18 1990