Round 20, 2025
St Kilda vs Melbourne
Sunday 27 July
Venue: Docklands
Attendance: 22,570
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| St Kilda | 5.2 | 11.6 | 15.8 | 22.12.144 |
| Melbourne | 4.3 | 6.6 | 10.10 | 13.13.91 |
St Kilda win by 6 points
Goalkickers: Bayley Fritsch 3, Kade Chandler 2, Xavier Lindsay 2, Jake Melksham 2, Harvey Langford 1, Christian Petracca 1, Kysaiah Pickett 1, Jack Viney 1
Milestones:
First goal
Xavier Lindsay (18th game)
Statistical categories led:
Largest three quarter time lead before losing in VFL/AFL history
An otherwise meaningless end of season match between also-rans turned into one of the most amazing finishes in league history when Melbourne crumbled in the last quarter, setting the all-time VFL/AFL record for the biggest three quarter time lead lost in history.
After conceding the first goal within a minute, Melbourne had the far better of the opening quarter with six of the remaining seven, including three to Bayley Fritsch. The lead was out to 43 points late in the second quarter before two late St Kilda goals kept them in touch. When Jacob van Rooyen missed a shot on the three quarter time siren the margin was a seemingly safe 46 points, before the Saints launched their record-breaking comeback. They goalled within a minute, and kicked nine to nil for the quarter as Melbourne missed multiple opportunities for the one steadying goal that may have made the game safe.
With a minute to play the margin was still six points, before a mark and goal by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera tied the scores. With only eight seconds left the most obvious result seemed a draw but Melbourne suffered a disastrous miscalcuation at the centre bounce and breached the 6-6-6 player position rules by having one too many forwards. From the resulting free kick, the Saints found Wanganeen-Milera on his own inside 50, and he kicked after the siren needing any score to win. He made sure of victory with a goal.
Best were Viney, Gawn and Petracca.
Charlie Spargo replaced Xavier Lindsay in the fourth quarter.
Links
Demonblog match review
Media
afl.com.au - 27/07/2025