Round 18, 1986
Collingwood vs Melbourne
Saturday 2 August
Venue: Victoria Park
Attendance: 16,943
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Collingwood | 2.4 | 6.7 | 9.12 | 13.14.92 |
| Melbourne | 4.5 | 7.6 | 13.8 | 16.9.105 |
Melbourne win by 13 points
Goalkickers: Alan Johnson 3, David Williams 3, David Cordner 2, Greg Healy 2, Danny Hughes 2, Adrian Battiston 1, Robert Flower 1, Garry Lyon 1, Steven Stretch 1
Brownlow votes:
3 - Alan Johnson
2 - David Allday
Milestones:
First game
Len Gandini
Melbourne had played a terrible season and had followed a much overdue win over Fitzroy in round 14 with three straight losses. Still, the chance to mess up the finals aspirations of the old enemy Collingwood was as good an excuse as any to play one of their best games of the season.
The Pies led first but three goals in quick succession left the visitors in front. First Alan Johnson goalled twice, then the umpire missed a David Williams kick clearly being touched and the Demons were in front by 13 points at quarter time. Given that the Collingwood faithful rioted after a one point loss to the Swans a few weeks earlier it was fortunate that the missed decision came early in the game.
The Pies took the lead early in the third quarter but it was the last time they were in front. Leigh Matthews shuffled the deck in the last quarter to try and pull back a 20 point deficit but they could only shave seven points from the margin and Melbourne registered a much needed, and most unexpected, win.
Best were Williams, Battiston and Connolly. Peter Moore (flu) was replaced in selected side by Cordner, Nigel Kol suffered a hamstring injury, and Steven Stretch hurt his ankle.
Reserves
Melbourne 25.16.164 d. Collingwood 13.10.88
Goals - Ryan 5, Dickson 4, Dale 3, Bailey 2, Eishold 2, F. Rugolo 2, Withers 2, Nichols 1, Giles 1, T. Fidge 1, Jackson 1, White 1
Best - Wight, Stoney, Bailey
Under 19s
Melbourne 9.18.72 d. Collingwood 9.13.67
Goals - Lawrence 2, Dann 2, Roe 2, Brodie 1, McCarty 1, Hewitson 1
Best - Hewitson, McCarty, Dann
Notes
Robert Flower was chaired off the ground in what was considered his 250th game, but official records only show him on 248 at the time.
Media
Canberra Times - 03/08/1986
Age - 04/08/1986
The Age - 08/08/1986
Football Record R19 1986