Round 16, 1928
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Saturday 11 August
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 6,547
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.3 | 3.10 | 5.13 | 12.16.88 |
| Hawthorn | 1.4 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 9.10.64 |
Melbourne win by 24 points
Goalkickers: Stan Wittman 5, Robert C Johnson 3, Bert Chadwick 1, Jimmy Davidson 1, Bill London 1, Ivor Warne-Smith 1
Milestones:
First game
Clem Carr
Last game
Harry Coy
Only game (and first goal)
Bill London
With Richmond snapping at their heels for second place after a win the previous Saturday, Melbourne looked to have an easy win on the cards against a winless Hawthorn. The home side took their opponents too easily at first, and a tiny crowd saw the visitors lead at three-quarter time.
It didn't help Melbourne that Vine missed most of the first half after an early injury, before returning after half time when Tymms was unable to continue. Taylor had to leave the field midway through the third quarter with a head injury after colliding Corbett, and debutante London suffered a knee injury. Taylor reappeared for the last quarter with his head bandaged up, and the home side ran over the top to win by what was eventually a comfortable margin.
Hawthorn would end the season winless, but Melbourne's struggle to beat them showed that they weren't in top form at a crucial point of the season. The Reds stayed in third, but with two games left and an inferior percentage to Richmond they needed to keep winning to ensure themselves a top two spot.
Best were Wittman, Warne-Smith and Chadwick.
Reserves (Played Saturday July 21)
Hawthorn 17.18 d. Melbourne 8.13
Goals - Unknown
Best - Young, Driver, Banks
Media
Sporting Globe - 11/08/1928
Football Record - R17 1928