Round 20, 1985
Melbourne vs Essendon
Saturday 17 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 22,193
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.1 | 4.4 | 10.5 | 15.7.97 |
| Essendon | 8.2 | 12.6 | 14.9 | 17.10.112 |
Essendon win by 15 points
Goalkickers: David Cordner 4, Ted Fidge 3, Alan Jarrott 2, Stephen Newport 2, Mark Withers 2, Darryl Cox 1, Peter Moore 1
Brownlow Votes:
2 - Alan Johnson
Milestones:
150 Games
Alan Jarrott (also with North Melbourne)
After being thoroughly demoralised through the second half of the season, and with Ron Barassi entering his last three games as coach, Melbourne were just happy to give the Bombers a fright and they did - albeit only once the game was already well and truly over.
Essendon's eight goal first term killed the contest and by half time they were more than eight in front. It was only in the third term that Melbourne finally sparked against their far superior opponents and made a game of it. They made further headway in the last term but the margin was too big to deal with it.
With nothing left to be gained from berating his side, a tired Ron Barassi described the effort as “fantastic”, and “really strong stuff”. He called the comeback “a show of real Demons spirit”. Barassi was especially pleased that his old sparring partner Shane Zantuck stood up for younger teammates in a series of skirmishes.
Best were Zantuck, Johnson and Newport
Video
Reserves
Melbourne 13.8.86 d. Essendon 7.15.57
Goals - Grinter 4, Payne 3, Parish 2, Ward 2, Bailey 1, Smythe 1
Best - Grinter, Hutchinson, Rugolo
Under 19s
Essendon 6.15.49 d. Melbourne 2.11.23
Goals - Campbell, Roe
Best - Smith, Edwards, Stynes
Media
Canberra Times - 18/08/1985
Age - 19/08/1985
Football Record R21 1985