Round 7, 1960
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 4 June
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 32,500
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 1.3 | 3.7 | 5.10 | 9.15.69 |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 6.5 | 8.10 | 10.11.71 |
Melbourne win by 2 points
Goalkickers: Robert B Johnson 3, Ron Barassi 2, Alan Rowarth 2, Neil Crompton 1, Clyde Laidlaw 1, Laurie Mithen 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Ian McLean
The two top teams in the competition came together at Windy Hill and any suggestion that the Demons of 1960 were a spent force were dismissed with their fighting victory. Essendon went in favourites, and could have won but fell narrowly short.
In a rare occurrence for a Saturday during that year the day's matches were played in firm conditions without howling breezes, and the two sides turned on a game befitting the good weather.
While Essendon threw the game away with poor forward play, Melbourne had an edge in class across the ground which put them in a winning position.
With the Bombers taking 43 minutes between their first two goals they were left with a comeback to mount. They got the first goal of the third quarter but then fell 25 points behind.
After three and a quarters of being the better team Melbourne looked home deep in the last quarter until a late charge by the Bombers bought them back to within a goal. The visitors defended grimly for the last three minutes and held on to victory.
Ron Barassi was the key to saving the game in the last three minutes, winning five of six throw-ins andbottling the ball up on the boundary line. Earlier in the game he had kicked two goals and been involved in several attacking moves in the first half.
The victory put Melbourne a game clear at the top of the ladder with a healthy percentage advantage.
Best were Gleeson, Beckwith and Barassi. Barassi (bruised shoulder) and Case (ankle) both suffered injuries but were not replaced. Trevor Johnson and Ian McLean were on the bench.
Reserves
Melbourne 12.13 d. Essendon 12.7
Goals - Turner 4, Avery 2, Sheppard 2, Jeffrey 1, Leslie 1, Richards 1, R. Rolfe 1
Best - Leahy, Sheppard, Crunden
Under 19s
Melbourne 15.8 d. Essendon 8.14
Goals - Anderson 6, Carroll 4, Leahy 2, Groves 1, Papst 1, Predl 1
Best - Innes, Bourke, Anderson
Media
Age - 06/06/1960
Football Record R8, 1960