Preliminary Final 1961

Preliminary Final, 1961
Footscray vs Melbourne
Saturday, 16 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 86,118

Footscray win by 27 points

Goalkickers: Ron Barassi 2, Laurie Mithen 2, Ray Dawson 1, Robert B Johnson 1, John Lord 1, Geoff Tunbridge 1

Milestones:
Last Game
Robert B Johnson
Ian Ridley
Bob Turner

Despite having lost to Hawthorn in the Semi Final, Melbourne were expected to comfortably account for the Bulldogs. It was not to bed the case, the Dogs were as much as nine goals in front before they took their foot off the gas and let the Demons make the score respectable.

Bulldog Merv Hobbs took a gigantic grab over Trevor Johnson that was dubbed 'Mark of the Century'.

It was the first time Melbourne had failed to qualify for the Grand Final in six seasons.