Round 16, 1990
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 21 July
Venue: Windy Hill
Attendance: 19,945
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 5.6 | 9.8 | 13.12 | 15.16.106 |
| Melbourne | 3.2 | 7.5 | 9.9 | 17.12.114 |
Melbourne win by 8 points
Goalkickers: Darren Bennett 5, Ricky Jackson 4, Tony Campbell 2, David Flintoff 2, Simon Eishold 1, Greg Healy 1, Garry Lyon 1, Todd Viney 1
Brownlow Votes:
2 - Ricky Jackson
1 - Peter Rohde
Milestones:
Nil
Having seen their season fall apart in the middle of the year, a trip to Windy Hill to play the top of the table premiership favourites looked like it was going to spell the end for Melbourne's run in the top five - after a year where they had also occupied top spot in the opening weeks.
Not only did Melbourne pull off a shock victory but they did it the hard way. Essendon were 41 points in front in the second quarter before the Demons cut the gap to 15 at half time, and 34 in front at the 11 minute mark of the last before Melbourne booted the last seven goals in 17 minutes to win.
John Northey moved Garry Lyon to the centre and Darren Bennett finally got some decent service to kick four goals for the rest of the term, including the one that put his side in front.
Best were Lyon, Jackson and Flintoff. Steve O'Dwyer battled hard with Simon Madden all day, and came out of the game with six stitches above his eye and two lost teeth to show for it.
Video
Reserves
Essendon 16.17.113 d. Melbourne 8.9.57
Goals - Seow 2, Cuthbertson 2, Beveridge 1, Keogh 1, Hogarth 1, Morey 1
Best - Cuthbertson, J. Viney, B. Stynes
Under 19s
Melbourne 18.15.123 d. St Kilda 7.7.49
Goals - Lamb 4, McCarthy 3, Stocker 2, Stroud 2, Solyom 1, Goonewardene 1, Sullivan 1, Theodore 1, Lawland 1, Johnstone 1, Aubrey 1
Best - Lamb, Solyom, Capsalis
Media
Canberra Times - 22/07/1990
Football Record R18 1990