Semi Final 2, 1897
Geelong vs Melbourne
Saturday 28 August
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: 4000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Geelong | 0.3 | 2.8 | 4.9 | 5.16.46 |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 4.4 | 5.6 | 5.7.37 |
Geelong win by 9 points
Goalkickers: George Moysey 2, Fred McGinis 1, Wally Steele 1, Charlie Young 1
Milestones:
First Game
Harry Hughes
Only Game
Gerald Sheahan
Last Game
Alf Healing
After a narrow lose the previous week when they had come from behind to almost pip Collingwood it was Melbourne's turn to falter late in the game - with the key difference that they allowed the opposition to win.
The game had been moved to the neutral ground to provide a game for fans from the northern suburbs instead of playing two major games side-by-side at the MCG and East Melbourne. It was not a resounding success with fans, and many of the 4000 who attended came from other suburbs.
Melbourne went into the game without key players Fry, Moodie or Strahan and had to persuade the retired Gerald Sheahan to take the field at the last minute to fill their squad. On the other hand Geelong had their best 20 available, and despite the strength mismatch the game was a fast one. The metropolitan side had the luck early, with three goals from snap shots while Geelong registered just three behinds from four easy shots to go into the first change 17 points down.
The visitors kicked the first goal of the second quarter, and when their defence finally cracked and allowed McGinis to restore the big lead they sparked and restricted the deficit to eight points at the half. After an even third term the gap was cut to three at the final change.
Geelong pressed strongly at the start of the last quarter but shots from difficult angles were failing to score. They eventually got ahead and stopped a last Melbourne attack to confirm victory before adding an extra goal.
Best were Moysey, Herring and McLeod.
Media
Argus - 30/08/1897