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Round 5 1945

Round 5, 1945
Melbourne vs Geelong
Saturday 19 May
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 7000

1st2nd3rdFinal
Melbourne6.211.312.518.12.120
Geelong2.18.313.615.10.100
Match Statistics


Melbourne win by 20 points

Goalkickers: Fred Fanning 7, Ivan Porter 4, Adrian Dullard 2, Jack Mueller 2, Ron Baggott 1, Gordon Bowman 1, Frank Kennedy 1

Milestones:
First Game
George Bickford
Gordon Bowman
Dick Kennedy

Last Game
Norm Leverton

First Goal
Gordon Bowman

After two losses in a row the Demons blooded three new players and got back into the winning circle with a come from behind victory against the Pivotonians. They started confidently, with superiority in the ruck and the air, and had a 25 point lead at quarter time. Geelong contributed to their lead by kicking poorly into attack, and giving away free kicks when outmuscled in the ruck.

Geelong was much improved in the second quarter, kicking two early goals and six for the quarter before a Fanning goal steadied Melbourne just before the half. The home side's only saving grace in defence was Donald Cordner.

Geelong's small men took over after half time, beating the Melbourne talls for pace and gradually whittling the lead away before going into the last quarter seven points behind. It took two Fanning goals and a strong defensive performance by Cordner to right the ship and allow Melbourne to run away in the last five minutes. The gap was cut to a point early in the last, before Geelong replied. Eventually the pressure took its toll on the visitors, they became ragged late in the match and allow Melbourne to kick away.

Despite the loss it was Geelong's best performance since they came back into the league in 1944 after an enforced World War II break. The win was mainly down to Fanning's strong marking and goalkicking performance in the final term.

Mueller, Dullard and Cordner were best. Downey replaced Molloy (leg injury) in the last quarter.

Seconds
Geelong 16.14 d. Melbourne 15.14

Notes
Sporting Globe gives the crowd as 6000.

Media
Herald - 18/05/1945
Sporting Globe - 19/05/1945
Age - 21/05/1945
Football Record R6 1945