Round 19, 1983
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 6 August
Venue: Junction Oval
Attendance: 13,870
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Fitzroy | 6.8 | 12.16 | 21.22 | 22.29.161 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 11.9.75 |
Fitzroy win by 86 points
Goalkickers: Gerard Healy 3, Roger Ellingworth 2, Ted Fidge 2, Michael Reynolds 2, Steven Icke 1, Alan Johnson 1
Milestones:
Nil
Statistical categories led:
Biggest loss at Junction Oval
Needing to top the second placed Lions in the first leg of a horror month to have any chance of playing finals football, the Demons saw their 1983 campaign die with their biggest ever loss at the Junction Oval.
Dominant for most of the first three quarters the Lions were only challenged early in the first term on a windy day by the seaside. Fitzroy had four goals, and Melbourne had two - both through Michael Reynolds. That was as close as the Demons got. Two goals in time on by the home side gave them the advantage and were on their way. Melbourne had held Fitzroy well against the wind, but the Lions managed 6.8 into it during the second term and were already well home at half time.
Despite the lead of more than eight goals Fitzroy made a statement to the rest of the competition with a 9.6 to nothing third quarter. The visitors failed to even get the ball into the forward line until the 24 minute mark.
The week before Bernie Quinlan had broken Fitzroy's season goalkicking record and it was only an inaccurate 5.8 that stopped him from extending the record further. He was left five goals short of 100 for the year.
It was only a merciful last quarter fadeout by the Lions that saved Melbourne from suffering an even bigger defeat. More than a hundred points down at the last change the Demons kicked six goals to 1.7 to drag the margin back under a century but the first three quarters had been the blow which killed their season.
Ron Barassi said "we've got to get a bit of pride back after that and not drift away from doing the hard team things that bring about victories".
Best were Healy, Johnson and Dickson
Lists
Quarter records
Reserves
Fitzroy 19.17.131 d. Melbourne 9.11.65
Goals - Cordner 3, Sutcliffe 1, McCarthy 1, Hamilton 1, Hepworth 1, Barnes 1, Johnson 1
Best - Seddon, Hepworth, Tossol
Under 19s
Melbourne 14.17.101 d. Fitzroy 7.14.56
Goals - Payne 5, Bailey 3, Johnson 2, McCarty 2, Grinter 1, Howard 1
Best - Ward, McCarty, Payne
Reported - Dawson, Grinter and Howard for striking
Video
Media
Age - 08/08/1983
Football Record R20 1983