Round 21, 1979
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 25 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 18,436
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 8.6 | 17.16 | 24.17.161 |
| St. Kilda | 1.9 | 7.16 | 7.20 | 12.24.96 |
Melbourne win by 65 points
Goalkickers: Steven Smith 7, Robert Flower 5, Cameron Clayton 3, Michael Byrne 2, Glenn Elliott 2, Greg Wells 2, Tony Elshaug 1, Graham Gaunt 1, Ken Whitfort 1
Milestones:
First game and first goal
Tony Elshaug
50 Games
Graham Gaunt (also with Richmond)
With the wooden spoon finally off the agenda and just a fortnight to go before they could take some relief from a horror season of big beatings the Demons inflicted the sort of defeat on bottom placed St Kilda that they'd been on the end of all year.
For the long suffering Demon fans the second half rampage of 16 goals to five was a welcome relief from being on the end of such runs for the last three seasons. Inaccuracy cost the Saints in the first half and by the time Melbourne sparked the Saints' 23 scoring shot to 14 advantage meant little. They managed just four behinds against 9.10 in the third and the match was over. Robert Flower ran riot in the third term after having an up and down day in the first half, while Steven Smith murdered the Saints at centre-half forward with three goals in the third and two in the last for a total of seven.
Best were Smith, R. Flower and Fowler. Garry Baker was reported for striking but cleared.
Reserves (Played Sunday 26 August at Moorabbin)
Melbourne 13.19.97 d. St Kilda 10.18.78
Goals - Biffin 6, Dellamarta 2, Gordon 2, Hunnibell 1, Lockwood 1, Moir 1
Best - Biffin, Sullivan, Woodman
Under 19s
Melbourne 20.15.135 d. St Kilda 10.9.69
Goals - Parish 5, Juliff 3, Thorne 3, Bardoel 2, Bickford 2, Boyle 2, Greene 1, Moncrieff 1, O'Brien 1
Lists
Tribunal
Media
Age 25/08/1979
Football Record R22 1979