Round 20, 1988
Melbourne vs Footscray
Saturday 13 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 27,026
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 3.8 | 6.13 | 14.16.100 |
| Footscray | 3.2 | 5.5 | 13.8 | 17.8.110 |
Footscray win by 10 points
Goalkickers: Alan Johnson 3, Jim Stynes 3, David Williams 3, Andy Lovell 2, Garry Lyon 2, Brett Lovett 1
Brownlow Votes:
1 - Graeme Yeats
Milestones:
Nil
John Northey was true to his word after suggesting big changes were in store by axing five players, in addition to the missing Brian Wilson who had been carried off with concussion in the Round 19 loss to Richmond. Simon Eishold was recalled to replace Wilson, and players who hadn't been seen for months such as Warren Dean, Peter Rohde and Doug Koop were given their chances.
The Dogs led narrowly at half-time, but a 15 minute blast at the start of the third term saw them kick six in a row to open up a 46 point lead. Simon Beasley kicked five of his nine goals during the third term. Melbourne started the game with Jim Stynes on Beasley, but made a change after he kicked two first quarter goals. The Demons stormed home in the last quarter to get to within two straight kicks of the lead but time ran out before they could steal victory.
Despite the best efforts of Jim Stynes, Sean Wight and Tony Campbell, Simon Beasley booted nine goals - aided by John Northey and his bizarre decision to start Stynes on the champion forward. With Danny Hughes suspended Northey gambled on Stynes and the move failed.
A fourth loss in a row meant that the Demons now only sat a game above West Coast, Footscray and Sydney in the battle for fourth and fifth place. Fourth now was the best they could hope for.
Best were Stretch, O'Dwyer and Johnson. Stretch suffered an eye injury.
Video
Reserves
Footscray 19.14.128 d. Melbourne 8.19.67
Goals - Farrell 2, Fidge 2, T. Viney 1, Newport 1, Turner 1, Tingay 1
Best - Lovett, Bailey, T. Viney
Under 19s
Footscray 14.10.94 d. Melbourne 8.11.59
Goals - Morey 4, Hawkins 2, Beveridge 1, Kennedy 1
Best - Williams, Taglieri, Brook
Media
Age - 12/08/1988
Football Record R21 1988
Canberra Times - 14/08/1988
Age - 15/08/1988