Round 7, 1974
South Melbourne vs Melbourne
Saturday 18 May
Venue: Lake Oval
Attendance: 11,204
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 4.9 | 7.12 | 11.14 | 13.16.94 |
| Melbourne | 4.3 | 8.5 | 9.6 | 11.10.76 |
South Melbourne win by 18 points
Goalkickers: John Tilbrook 6, Greg Wells 2, Garry Baker 1, Shane Fitzsimmons 1, Kevin Moore 1
Milestones:
First Game
Neil McMullin
First Goal
Kevin Moore (7th game)
The first visit of Bob Skilton to the Lake Oval in enemy colours couldn't have come at a worse time for the South champion. His side were already a game and a half last, and a loss against the Swans would see them sink even further to the bottom without a win. The lost extended their winless streak to 15 games.
For the fourth time that year the Demons went down by three goals or less, but the result still left them winless. Skilton described it a "disgraceful effort" and suggested his players were complacent after running Collingwood to ten points a week earlier.
Best were Clarke, Brewer and Alves. Osborne (hamstring) was replaced by Fitzsimmons in the second quarter and Biffin (concussion) by McMullin in the last quarter.
The match was played during one of the wettest weeks on record. Up until Wednesday afternoon it was the heaviest rainfall in a single week since 1900.
Reserves
Melbourne 21.11 d. South Melbourne 11.11
Goals - Scott 5, Wood 4, Smith 3, Kerley 2, Pagnoccollo 2, Williamson 2, Dunn 2, McSpeerin 1
Best - Wood, Scott, Chamberlain
Under 19s
South Melbourne 16.9 d. Melbourne 9.10
Media
Age - 20/05/1974
Football Record R8 1974