Round 20, 1968
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 31 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 34,546
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 5.3 | 9.6 | 15.15 | 18.21.129 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 12.8.80 |
Richmond win by 49 points
Goalkickers: Barry Bourke 3, Graeme Aubrey 2, Max Walker 2, Gary Hardeman 1, Brent Jones 1, George Lakes 1, Ted Lees 1, Barrie Vagg 1
Milestones:
Only game
Graeme Aubrey (and first goal)
Last game
Brian Dixon
Hassa Mann
Brian Roet
First goal
George Lakes (9th game)
With Melbourne's season long dead the two MCG co-tenants met with Richmond needing to win and for Geelong to beat St Kilda to jump them into the four at the last minute.
The Tigers played their part, never headed after kicking five goals to two in the first quarter, but when news came from Moorabbin that the Cats were already four goals behind things began to look grim for them. The margin was more than ten goals at the last change before taking their foot off the gas, perhaps with an eye to resting themselves for a miraculous entry to the finals, and let the Demons bring the margin back under 50 points.
As the players trudged off the ground an announcement over the loudspeaker confirmed what many in the ground already knew, the Saints had thumped Geelong and Richmond's win meant nothing.
Another disappointing season ended for the Demons, six and a half games out of the top four and the run without finals appearances now stretching to a fourth year.
Best were Johnson, Walker and Kenneally. Townsend was replaced by Dowsing at three quarter time and Bourke by Roet in the last quarter.
Reserves
Richmond 13.13 d. Melbourne 7.10
Goals - Callery 2, K. Osborne 1, Sampson 1, Catlin 1, Smith 1, D. Clarke 1
Best - Rhoden, Emselle, Catlin
Under 19s
Richmond 17.17 d. Melbourne 9.8
Goals - Allan 3, Wells 2, Cook 1, Stanton 1, O'Farrell 1, Walker 1
Best - Swift, Jennings, Colcott
Media
Football Record 1968 Finals
Age - 02/09/1968