Round 17, 1959
Melbourne vs Geelong
Saturday 22 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 21,646
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 8.8 | 13.13 | 17.18.120 |
| Geelong | 2.3 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 9.12.66 |
Melbourne win by 54 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 5, Alan Rowarth 5, Geoff Tunbridge 3, Frank Adams 1, Robert B Johnson 1, Hassa Mann 1, Ian Ridley 1
Milestones:
Nil
Having gotten their season on track by beating Carlton in a top of the table clash a week earlier, the Demons confirmed themselves as a top two team with an easy win over lowly Geelong. The game proved an excellent trial for the upcoming finals series, with warm weather and early football with a finals intensity.
After a tight first quarter the Demons pulled away in the second before keeping the visitors goalless in the third. The only time Melbourne threatened to play like the side who had won three of the last four premierships was during the third when they were riled by tough play and kicked several goals in a row.
By the time Geelong got it back together in the last the damage had already been done. They had lost their full-forward in the first five minutes of the game, and their half-forwards were being well held well. They attempted to take control by shuffling their team in the second but the game turned against them due to Melbourne's individual dominance.
It was Melbourne's fifth straight score of over a hundred points against the Cats.
Barassi, Rowarth and Mithen were best. Thorogood (thigh) was replaced by Crompton in the last quarter, and Fenton-Smith (thigh) was replaced by Tassie Johnson also in the last quarter.
Seconds
Melbourne 9.21 d. Geelong 5.14
Goals - Brenchley 4, Milner 2, Wilkinson 2, L. Mann 1
Best - Gleeson, Turner, Milner
Media
Age - 24/08/1959
Sun - 24/08/1959
Football Record R18 1959