Round 17, 1964
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Saturday 15 August
Venue: Glenferrie Oval
Attendance: 20,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Hawthorn | 3.2 | 6.3 | 9.8 | 10.9.69 |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 6.8 | 6.10 | 10.13.73 |
Melbourne win by 4 points
Goalkickers: Graeme Jacobs 3, Hassa Mann 2, Maurie Bartlett 1, Barry Bourke 1, Brian Dixon 1, John Townsend 1, Barrie Vagg 1
Milestones:
Nil
After suffering their first loss since Round 4 the week earlier, Melbourne travelled to Glenferrie Oval where the Hawks hadn't lost all year and were fighting to keep their finals hopes alive.
The lead-up to the game had been against the backdrop of Glenferrie Oval struggling to cope with constant rain. It was nearly unplayable for Hawthorn's last home game and they hadn't trained on it since. Melbourne was forced to deny they were going to ask the league to move the game to a neutral venue.
In front of their home fans, the Hawks looked good for their 16 point lead at three-quarter time but the next thirty minutes saw them drop their guard and Melbourne took over.
Having been quiet on the wing all day, Brian Dixon was switched to the other side of the ground and responded with 11 kicks in the final term. The Hawks still led well into time on, but with two minutes left Hassa Mann goalled with a miracle kick from an acute angle on the boundary line to put Melbourne in front. The Hawks couldn't respond and their finals dreams were history. Defeat would have dropped the Demons to third and left them going into the last Saturday of the home and away season needing to win at the Western Oval to guarantee a finals berth, let alone the coveted double chance.
The Demons comeback was all the more remarkable considering that Brian Leahy (thigh) was out of the game with injury by half-time. Hassa Mann (depressed cheekbone fracture and strained knee ligaments), Frank Adams (broken nose), Bryan Kenneally (bruised shoulder and groin) and Frank Davis (lacerated hand) all suffered injuries as the Demons hit an injury crisis at the worst time of the year.
The win ensured Melbourne would have the double chance in the upcoming finals series.
Best were Crompton, Dixon and Adams. Watson replaced Leahy in the second quarter. Johnson (eye) was replaced in the selected side by Davis. Anderson suffered a bruised knee and was replaced. Lord replaced Davis on the bench and was unused.
During the match Hawthorn's John Peck broke his club's VFL goalkicking record.
Scoring
Jacobs 3.4, Mann 2.1, Vagg 1.1, Bourke 1.0, Dixon 1.0, Bartlett 1.0, Townsend 1.0, Barassi 0.2, Watson 0.2, Adams 0.1, Kenneally 0.1, Rushed 0.1.
Notes
Maurie Bartlett was not in the originally selected side, nor was he shown as a replacement player during the game.
Reserves
Melbourne 10.8 d. Hawthorn 9.11
Goals - Andrew 2, Carlson 2, Wood 2, Vearing 1, Lord 1, Slade 1, Lynch 1
Best - Foster, Robbie, Leitch
Under 19s
Melbourne 12.14.86 d. Hawthorn 7.12.58
Goals - Schultz 4, Stone 2, Wight 2, Russell 1, Reinholdt 1, Feldman 1, McNab 1
Best - Russell, Jones, Millard
Video
Media
Age - 12/08/1964
Age - 15/08/1964
Age - 17/08/1964
Age - 18/08/1964
Football Record R18 1964