Round 17, 1936
Footscray vs Melbourne
Saturday 29 August
Venue: Western Oval
Attendance: 13,000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Footscray | 1.4 | 4.10 | 5.14 | 8.17.65 |
| Melbourne | 3.4 | 3.7 | 8.14 | 9.18.72 |
Melbourne win by 7 points
Goalkickers: Maurie Gibb 2, Eric Glass 2, Ron Baggott 1, Les Jones 1, Allan La Fontaine 1, Lou Reiffel 1, Norm Smith 1
Milestones:
Nil
Footscray usually troubled Melbourne at the Western Oval no matter how they were doing, and found the visitors desperate for a win. Melbourne needed four points to all but confirm their finals spot before a clash with confirmed top two side Collingwood in the last round. They were almost tripped up at the ground again, before confirming their first finals appearance since 1928. Ragged forward play cost Melbourne in the first quarter, playing against a tricky wind that interrupted passes. It took Gibb kicking over his head to register the third goal, but it was their last with the use of the wind before quarter time.
The home side attacked strongly in the second term but struggled to get past Jack Mueller, and when Footscray had chances they were inaccurate. Melbourne entered the last quarter with a three goal lead, but Footscray had the aid of a strong wind. They peppered the goals for the first 20 minutes of the quarter before taking the lead by a point. Melbourne battled back to kick a point to level the game and another to go ahead before a goal finished the contest.
Best was Allan La Fontaine. Deague was originally 19th man before replacing Taylor (thigh) in the starting lineup. Furniss became 19th man but was not used.
Seconds
Melbourne 8.20 d. Footscray 6.14
Goals - Munday 4, Adams 2, Oakley 1, Roberrts 1
Best - Munday, Kelly, Jones
Media
Herald - 28/08/1936, 28/08/1936, 29/08/1936
Labor Call - 03/09/1936
Football Record - R18 1936