Round 4, 1952
Footscray vs Melbourne
Saturday 10 May
Venue: Western Oval
Attendance: 20,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Footscray | 2.3 | 5.6 | 5.10 | 6.16.52 |
| Melbourne | 2.5 | 4.7 | 8.16 | 10.16.76 |
Melbourne win by 24 points
Goalkickers: Bill Smeaton 5, Jack Thomson 3, Denis Cordner 1, Geoff McGivern 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Colin Love
Footscray started hot favourites against a Melbourne side who had won one game the previous year, but with Charlie Sutton out injured and both Ted Whitten and Bill Scanlan lost before half-time the Bulldogs fell apart in the second half and let the Demons run away to a comfortable victory.
In Scanlan's absence, Denis Cordner ran riot in the rucks, and with Bill Smeaton firing up forward with five second half goals they levelled their record at 2-2.
Footscray led at half time before Melbourne booted four goals to none in the third term to take a match winning lead. They had shuffled their side to allow Woods to move into the ruck and assist in the domination of that area, and Noel McMahen played a key role in the comeback when he took Woods' spot at half back.
Four goals in front at quarter time, Smeaton got two goals in a row at the start of the last quarter to end the contest.
He kicked five of his side's six goals in the second half, and while Footscray had their chances in the last quarter they were inaccurate and couldn't bridge the gap.
Best were Cordner, Clarke and Collins
Seconds
Melbourne 19.16 d. Footscray 10.15
Goals - Mueller 10, Unknown 9
Thirds
Melbourne 15.15 d. Footscray 10.7
Media
Argus - 12/05/1952
Sporting Globe - 14/05/1952