Round 4, 1938
Melbourne vs South Melbourne
Saturday 14 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 14,569
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 3.3 | 8.6 | 12.10 | 23.15.153 |
| South Melbourne | 3.2 | 8.4 | 14.9 | 15.11.101 |
Melbourne win by 52 points
Goalkickers: Norm Smith 6, Ron Baggott 4, Percy Beames 4, Jack Mueller 3, Lou Reiffel 2, Ron Barassi 1, Richie Emselle 1, Les Jones 1, Ray Wartman 1
Milestones:
First goal
Richie Emselle
South were better in the opening minutes, but they missed easy opportunities and Melbourne gradually worked their way back into the game to take a one point lead into quarter time. The sides traded goals early in the second quarter, and each team kicked five goals for the term.
Each side attacked strongly in the third quarter but Norm Smith wasn't given enough support and despite playing well through the day the Demons turned for home an unlucky 11 points down. Jack Mueller was thrown into the ruck, and he contributed towards a record breaking avalanche in the last quarter.
The Demons kicked five goals in the first five minutes to blow the match wide open, and continued to run away with it. Norm Smith kicked 'just' six goals but had a hand in many of his side's other majors, but it was Mueller's move into the ruck which swung the game. He was the match winner in the five minute burst that won the game.
Best were Jones, Beames and Fischer. Emselle was a late replacement (promoted from 19th man) for the injured Buckley. Regan was 19th man.
Seconds
South Melbourne 18.15 d. Melbourne 11.12
Notes
Herald gives the crowd as 17,000
Media
Age - 13/05/1938
Sporting Globe - 14/05/1938
Herald - 14/05/1938
Australasian - 21/05/1938
Football Record R5 1938