Round 20, 2000
Melbourne vs Fremantle
Sunday 23 July
Venue: Docklands
Attendance: 16,120
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 8.2 | 12.4 | 20.7 | 25.10.160 |
| Fremantle | 2.2 | 4.5 | 8.7 | 11.11.77 |
Melbourne win by 83 points
Goalkickers: Jeff Farmer 8, Brad Green 3, David Neitz 3, David Schwarz 3, Stephen Powell 2, Adem Yze 2, Cameron Bruce 1, Travis Johnstone 1, Anthony McDonald 1, Russell Robertson 1
Brownlow Votes:
3 - Jeff Farmer
2 - Matthew Collins
1 - Adem Yze
Best and Fairest
35 - Jeff Farmer
31.5 - Adem Yze
28.5 - Alistair Nicholson
21.5 -Daniel Ward
14 - David Schwarz
Milestones:
First Game
Simon Godfrey
50 Games
Stephen Powell (Also with Western Bulldogs)
Statistical categories led:
Highest score against Fremantle
Highest score at Docklands
Despite an earlier attempt by the Demons to transfer the game to Princes Park to minimise their financial losses, the match remained at Docklands and a tiny crowd showed up to see Melbourne strengthen their position in the top four and rack up their then highest score against Freo.
The returning David Neitz, sent forward after playing a majority of the year in the backline, kicked three goals in the first quarter to send the Demons on their way and by the 12 minute mark of the second quarter the game was as good as over.
Freo had kicked the first goal of the second term after coming out six goals behind, but Steven Koops was denied a clear free kick and Brad Green ended up goalling at the other end to restore the six goal buffer. Fremantle never got as close as that again as the Demons toyed with them.
Farmer kicked eight goals, containing three goal of the day contenders - the seventh a serious contender for goal of the season. Gathering the ball 70m out he handballed to space, outsprinted Heath Black, gathered the ball again and finished from 45 metres. He was in a rich vein of form and one of the Demons most important players heading towards September.
Matthew Whelan was a late withdrawal with a sore neck - replaced by Cameron Bruce. Nathan Brown suffered his second concussion in a row, knocked unconscious when accidentally kneed in the head.
Alistair Nicholson was also amongst the best, holding Tony Modra to one goal and four touches just over a year after Modra had kicked ten against the Demons in their last Victorian clash.
Neale Daniher said "It was a good win. They were ready to go today and we didn't really give Freo a sniff."
Media
Herald Sun - 16/06/2000
Adelaide Advertiser - 24/07/2000
Age - 24/07/2000