Round 17, 1960
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 20 August
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 8000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 3.5 | 3.5 | 8.13 | 9.14.68 |
| Melbourne | 1.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 8.12.60 |
Richmond win by 8 points
Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 4, Alan Rowarth 3, Frank Adams 1
Milestones:
100 games
Clyde Laidlaw
50 games
John Lord
After winning 11 in a row the Demons crashed to their second straight defeat - this time against a side who had won just one game for the season before then. It was the first time in five years Melbourne had lost two in a row. Only Essendon's defeat elsewhere meant that they were still assured of finishing top of the ladder no matter what happened when the two sides clashed in the last round of the season.
Richmond's shock victory raised doubts as to whether the Demons deserve to have been anointed premiers already by many fans and media, but it was no coincidence that once again Melbourne were underwhelming in quagmire conditions. They had been suspect in the wet all year and it came back to haunt them again on an abysmal Punt Road surface.
The Tigers had worried Melbourne throughout the first half with their tenacity and teamwork, and it was only a late goal against the wind in the second quarter that allowed the Demons to go into half time in front. They then fell apart in the third and failed to score with the breeze, allowing Richmond to take a comfortable lead into the last quarter.
Despite a Demon fightback in the last few minutes, and two goals nervously conceded from free kicks, the wooden spooners had done enough to hold on for the four points. With the Melbourne setting up for one last attack on goal, with the margin two points, a loose ball was scooped up Richmond rover Graham Jacobs who kicked a goal. It was Richmond's only goal to the city end all day.
Best were Ron Barassi, Brian Dixon and Tassie Johnson. Gleeson (bruiser knee) was replaced by Leahy in the third quarter, and Ridley (cramp) by Nilsson in the last quarter.
A Fitzroy victory, and the second place finish it earned them, set up the first ever brother vs brother coaching final between Norm Smith's Demons and Len Smith's Lions. Not only had the Lions stormed into the top two but they also took over premiership favouritism in some people's eyes.
Reserves
Richmond 8.12 d. Melbourne 7.11
Goals - Leahy 5, Mann 1, Rolfe 1
Best - Miller, Massey, Pinfold
Media
Age - 22/08/1960
Football Record R18 1960