1975 by Whispering Jack

After a poor season in 1974, hopes were high for improvement in the following year and Demon fans were treated to vastly more competitive side under the reigns of Bob Skilton. Indeed, the team remained an outside chance of making the finals until very deep into the season with some narrow defeats and poor kicking for goal standing in the way of a return to the competition's top echelon.

Round 1 1975

Melbourne v Footscray Saturday 5 April at MCG Attendance 23,422

Melbourne 5.0.30 9.3.57 13.7.85 17.9.111

Footscray 4.1.25 9.6.60 11.8.74 15.10.100

Goals Lyons Wells 4 Alves 2 Baker Brewer Clark Ditterich Flower Hurst Smith

Best Alves Flower Ditterich Fowler Wells Lyons

The club had recruited well in the off season and brought in Tiger's premiership player Laurie Fowler and the Blues' Paul Hurst for the opening game of the season along with local juniors Gary Guy, Marty Lyons and Kim Smith with immediate impact as they upset warm favourites Footscray. Ruck rover Fowler and small forward Lyons were named in the best and the latter kicked four goals on debut in the hard fought 11 point win. Carl Ditterich was best on the ground.

Round 2 1975

North Melbourne vs Melbourne Saturday 12 April Arden Street 14,325

Melbourne 1.1.7 7.6.48 11.7.73 16.9.105

North Melbourne 4.6.30 7.8.50 11.10.76 15.13.103

Goals Ditterich 5 Baker Flower Lyons 2 Alves Giampaolo Hurst Smith Wells

Best Flower Ditterich Hardeman Fowler Wells Giampaolo

The reigning wooden spooners made the football world sit up as they celebrated Gary Hardeman's 150th game with a narrow victory over glamour side North Melbourne at Arden Street coming back from a five goal deficit at one stage in the second quarter. Stan Alves broke the shackles of Brownlow Medallist Keith Greig to kick the winning goal at the 28 minute mark of the final quarter.

Round 3 1975

Essendon v Melbourne Saturday 19 April Windy Hill 22,207

Melbourne 4.5.29 9.7.61 11.10.76 15.10.100

Essendon 3.7.25 7.13.55 14.17.101 16.21.117

Goals Brewer 5 Wells 4 Giampaolo Hurst 2 Flower K Smith

Best Brewer Ditterich Baker Fowler Hardeman Flower

Halfway through the second quarter in their game at Windy Hill the Demons led by 23 points but the Bombers took control and overran them in the second half to record a 17 point win. To make matters worse, Carl Ditterich was reported for striking and suspended for four matches.

Round 4 1975

Melbourne v St. Kilda Friday 25 April MCG 35,328

Melbourne 1.0.6 4.2.26 8.4.52 12.8.80

St. Kilda 5.4.34 11.12.78 15.17.107 18.25.133

Goals Hardeman 5 Wells 2 Biffin Brewer Carroll Keenan Osborne

Best Hardeman Wells Biffin Fowler Lyons Flower

Melbourne went in as slight favourite against the Saints but sorely missed the injured Stan Alves (shoulder) and suspended Carl Ditterich. Ray Biffin and Ted Carroll came into the side along with the returning Des Campbell who had not played since 1970 but it was to no avail as the Saints' brilliance shone through.

Robert Flower was knocked out in a behind the play incident involving Robert Muir as the Demons went down by 55 points.

Round 5 1975

Hawthorn v Melbourne Saturday 3 May Princes Park 11,198

Melbourne 5.4.34 7.8.50 10.12.72 11.15.81

Hawthorn 3.5.23 12.10.82 13.17.95 19.22.136

Goals Brewer 3 Hardeman Lyons Wells 2 Guy Keenan

Best Hardeman Biffin Guy Lyons Flower Wilkins

Ray Biffin and Denis Clark played their 100th games against the Hawks. After leading at the first change the Demons conceded nine goals in the second quarter as the Hawks charged to a comfortable victory.

Round 6 1975

Melbourne v South Melbourne Saturday 10 May MCG 15,503

Melbourne 4.4.28 9.9.63 14.14.98 22.23.155

South Melbourne 6.4.40 8.8.56 10.11.71 13.12.90

Goals Hardeman 4 Brewer Smith 3 Clark Dullard Flower Wells 2 Carroll Guy Keenan Lyons

Best Keenan Biffin Hardeman Flower Clark Alves

The Demons returned to the winner's list with a comprehensive win over the Swans. Ruckman Peter Keenan finished with 20 kicks,15 marks and 18 hit outs in the best performance of his career while the return of Stan Alves gave the team dominance on the wings of the MCG with Robert Flower also starring.

Round 7 1975

Richmond v Melbourne Saturday 17 May MCG 29,131

Melbourne 0.8.8 2.13.25 5.16.46 10.18.78

Richmond 5.1.31 7.9.51 13.15.93 19.18.132

Goals Brewer 4 Alves 2 Flower Guy Keenan S Smith

Best Alves Brewer Biffin Hardeman Fowler Keenan

Melbourne faced up to the powerful Richmond team with an unchanged line up but kicked itself out of the game with eight straight behinds in the opening quarter. They added three more before their first goal in the second term but by that time the game was virtually over with the Tigers leading by six goals. Defender Ray Biffin shaded Royce Hart and veterans Alves and Hardeman tried hard for the Demons but they went down by 54 points in the end.

Round 8 1975

Carlton v Melbourne Saturday 24 MayPrinces Park 19,188

Melbourne 3.8.26 6.13.39 9.13.67 11.15.81

Carlton 5.3.33 6.3.39 9.7.61 16.14.110

Goals Baker 3 Keenan 2 Alves Brewer Flower Hardeman S Smith Wells

Best Sullivan Biffin Alves Brewer Fowler Hardeman

Melbourne had the upper hand for most of their game against Carlton at Princes Park and was still level at three quarter time. However, the hosts were too strong and they ran away with the game in the final term. Best for the visitors were the old reliables in Sullivan Hardeman and Wells while Tony Dullard was reported for striking and suspended for two matches.

Round 9 1975

Melbourne v Fitzroy Saturday 31 May MCG 16,244

Melbourne 7.3.45 9.8.62 11.12.78 18.15.123

Fitzroy 2.2.14 7.5.47 16.5.101 17.10.112

Goals Baker Brewer 4 Alves Ditterich Flower Wells 2 Lyons S Smith

Best Campbell Brewer Wells Flower Hardeman Alves

In a game of fluctuating fortunes at the MCG, the Demons led by seven goals in the second term before letting the Lions back into the game in the next quarter and a half. At one stage led by five goals in the last quarter after kicking 13 goals straight. A late comeback by the Demons saw them pile on goal after goal in the dying minutes of the game to hit the front in time on and record a remarkable 11 point victory.

Best were Wells Campbell and Brewer who kicked four goals. Baker also finished with four after being swung into full forward late in the game.

Round 10 1975

Geelong v Melbourne Saturday 7 June Kardinia Park 13,488

Melbourne 7.4.46 10.7.67 11.11.77 14.14.98

Geelong 2.1.13 5.11.419.17.71 14.20.104

Goals Baker Wells 3 Barham Keenan 2 Alves Brewer Ditterich Hardeman

Best Biffin Alves Ditterich Keenan Hardeman Fowler The Demons travelled to Kardinia Park full of confidence for Carl Ditterich's 200th VFL appearance (including his games with the Saints). They jumped the Cats early going to a 33 point lead at the first break and they held on well in the second to still lead by more than four goals.

The home side turned things around after the break and overpowered the Demons at the end to record a six point victory.

Biffin, Alves and Keenan were Melbourne's best.

Round 11 1975

Melbourne v Collingwood Monday 16 June MCG 42,803

Melbourne 4.2.26 6.6.42 9.8.62 14.11.95

Collingwood 0.6.6 4.11.35 8.15.63 9.19.73

Goals Brewer 5 Flower Guy 2 Biffin Campbell Ditterich S Smith Wells

Best Fowler Brewer Wells Hardeman Keays Dullard

A badly wounded Magpie team entered the Queens Birthday clash as underdogs despite their superior ladder position and the Demons took advantage jumping to an early four goal lead. Collingwood fought back after half time as Melbourne also started to succumb to injury. Peter Keenan had withdrawn before the game, hamstring injuries cost the team Carl Ditterich and Ross Brewer during the game and Ray Biffin was also injured as the team lost its lead and trailed by a point at the beginning of the final term.

The Demons dug deep to kick five goals to one and the resulting 22 point victory left them only a game adrift of fifth place behind the Pies.

Des Campbell was suspended for two matches for striking Rene Kink.

Round 12 1975

Footscray v Melbourne Saturday 21 June Western Oval 14,204

Melbourne 6.4.40 6.6.42 10.7.67 14.8.92

Footscray 3.1.19 7.6.48 13.7.85 20.11.131

Goals Biffin Smith 3 Lyons Wells 2 Alves Baker Hardeman Hurst

Best Hardeman Wells Fowler Keays Lyons Flower

Hit by injury and suspension, the Demons brought in former Collingwood rover Henry Coles and tall man David Kelly for their first games with the club. They started brightly to hold a 21 point lead at the first break but then things went awry.

The Doggies were in the ascendancy by half time and after a brief fight back by the Dees early in the third quarter when Marty Lyons goaled twice, to restore Melbourne's lead, it was all Footscray which went on to record a comfortable 39 point win. Gary Hardeman, Greg Wells and Robert Flower were named the Demons best.

Round 13 1975

Melbourne v North Melbourne Saturday 28 June Waverley 12,631

Melbourne 0.2.2 2.5.17 5.6.36 6.10.46

North Melbourne 3.5.23 5.8.38 9.11.65 11.14.80

Goals Alves 3 Baker Dullard Hardeman

Best Hardeman Alves Fowler Keays Flower Smith

The cut-off date to recruit players from other clubs was the end of June and Melbourne recruited Bomber Ray Smith who trained with his old club on Thursday but was named in the Demon team to play North that night.

The Demons were outclassed all day by the team that was destined to win its first premiership later that year going down by 34 points. Best for Melbourne were Hardeman, Alves and Fowler.

The club also bade farewell to two previous boom recruits in Graham Molloy and John Tilbrook making their last senior appearances in the red and blue guernseys.

Round 14 1975

St. Kilda vs Melbourne Saturday 5 JulyMoorabbin 14,584

Melbourne 0.3.3 2.5.17 3.9.27 6.13.49

St. Kilda 6.1.37 8.5.53 12.6.78 15.11.101

Goals Giampaolo Keenan 2 Alves S Smith

Best Alves Keays Giampaolo Fowler Smith Flower

Stan Alves celebrated his 200th game in overcast and wet conditions with a good performance that saw him named as his team's best but the task of winning was well beyond the capacity of the injury riddled Demons whose finals chances were slipping away. They were never in the hunt and succumbed by 52 points against the Saints at Moorabbin.

Round 15 1975

Melbourne v Essendon Saturday 12 July MCG 16,040

Melbourne 3.3.21 7.9.51 15.14.104 19.20.134

Essendon 3.5.23 6.7.43 10.11.71 16.13.109

Goals S Smith 6 Hardeman 5 Campbell Giampaolo 3 Keenan Wells

Best Giampaolo Hardeman Keenan Smith Lyons Guy

Melbourne kept its slim hopes of a finals appearance alive with a win over the Bombers who had taken part in the "Battle of Windy Hill" a week earlier. The Demons brought in two first gamers in Colin Graham and Barry Ough (it was his only game) and took half a game to warm up before hitting their straps to win by 25 points. Youngster Frank Giampaolo and veterans Gary Hardeman and Greg Wells were their team's best.

Round 16 1975

Melbourne v Hawthorn Saturday 19 July MCG 18,829

Melbourne 3.4.22 7.12.54 11.14.80 15.17.107

Hawthorn 4.5.29 8.8.56 10.12.72 17.17.119

Goals Hardeman 4 Coles 3 Alves 2 Dullard Fitzsimmons Giampaolo Keenan S Smith Wells

Best Hardeman Biffin Alves Fowler Lyons Keays

Hawthorn was on top of the ladder when the teams met for the second time in 1975 having lost only once to that time. They had won their previous encounter by nine goals and were red hot favourite to win but the Demons extended them all the way and even held the lead at the final break before falling to the pressure of their more experienced opponents. Leigh Matthews kicked a miracle goal late in the day to secure the result. Hardeman, Fowler and Keays were their best.

Round 17 1975

South Melbourne v Melbourne Saturday 26 July Waverley 11,427

Melbourne 3.4.22 7.5.47 10.11.71 13.13.91

South Melbourne 6.2.38 6.4.40 7.5.47 11.9.75

Goals Coles 3 Fitzsimmons Flower 2 Alves Campbell Giampaolo Hardeman S Smith Wells

Best Smith Giampaolo Wells Coles Alves Sullivan

Melbourne was still an outside chance to make the finals and their victory over bottom of the table South Melbourne was just the tonic they needed. It was a rare win for the club at Waverley - just their fourth in eighteen starts at league headquarters. Ray Smith played his best game in his brief career to date with Melbourne.

Round 18 1975

Melbourne v Richmond Saturday 2 August MCG 25,211

Melbourne 6.2.38 7.6.48 13.10.88 19.13.127

Richmond 1.5.11 5.10.40 10.14.74 12.18.90

Goals Alves 5 Keenan 4 Coles Ditterich Fitzsimmons Giampaolo Smith 2

Best Ditterich Alves Wells Flower Fowler Biffin

Melbourne caused an upset to win by 37 points over co-tenant Richmond with Carl Ditterich starring on his return to the fold after six weeks on the sidelines with a leg injury. He was an important factor in the team's bright opening that had it 35 points in front after 25 minutes and although the Tigers staged a fightback to reel in the lead halfway through the third quarter, the Demons rallied in the last to win comfortably. It was little wonder that club officials later claimed that they would be in the five had the rugged big man not missed 10 games during season due to injury or suspension.

Round 19 1975

Melbourne v Carlton Saturday 9 August Waverley 30,328

Melbourne 1.4.10 2.13.25 5.19.49 11.23.89

Carlton 2.5.17 3.7.25 5.8.38 7.9.51

Goals Ditterich 3 Alves Giampaolo 2 Campbell Fitzsimmons Hardeman Keenan

Best Alves Wells Ditterich Clark Hardeman Wilkins

With Ditterich back and firing and their other experienced players in form, the Demons were now on a roll and charging towards the finals. Their shock win over Carlton despite some wasteful kicking for goal, lifted their supporters' hopes for a return to finals football for the first time in more than a decade. They were once again just a game outside the five and while their percentage wasn't great, their good recent form was putting them back in the race.

Round 20 1975

Fitzroy v Melbourne Saturday 16 August Junction Oval 13,181

Melbourne 3.1.19 6.5.41 9.7.61 13.11.89

Fitzroy 6.7.43 8.13.61 12.20.92 13.22.100

Goals Giampaolo 3 Ditterich Hardeman Wells 2 Alves Coles Keenan Wilkins

Best Fowler Alves Biffin Wells Dullard Wilkins

The Demons were expected to win well against the lowly Lions who were out of the finals race but were ferocious early and, despite a failed last gasp fightback by the visitors, they prevailed to score a well-deserved win by 11 points.

The dream of making the finals was effectively over for Melbourne.

Round 21 1975

Melbourne v Geelong Saturday 23 August MCG 11,022

Melbourne 2.0.12 3.5.23 4.9.33 8.16.64

Geelong 3.4.22 6.8.44 9.8.62 10.10.70

Goals Biffin Hardeman Wells 2 Keenan R Smith

Best Alves Hardeman Wells Fowler Biffin Sullivan

The season might have been over but there were still some milestones to celebrate. Against Geelong at the MCG, Peter "Crackers" Keenan played his hundredth game, Robbie Flower his fiftieth and Denis Clark his last.

The Cats were struggling at the time but, as had happened more than once this season, the Demons failed to get out of first gear in the early going. They trailed at every interval and by the final break they trailed by 29 points having kicked only four goals.

Coach Skilton moved Ray Biffin to full forward and he responded with two early goals. When Ray Smith drifted forward to boot a goal in time on the margin had been cut back to one straight kick but the Cats were saved by the bell.

Again, it was veterans Alves, Fowler and Hardeman who were the team's best.

Round 22 1975

Collingwood v Melbourne Saturday 30 August Victoria Park 26,940

Melbourne 5.1.31 8.1.59 11.4.70 15.7.97

Collingwood 3.6.24 8.7 55 8.10.58 14.14.98

Goals Sparks 4 S Smith 3 Keenan 2 Alves Ditterich Fitzsimmons Hardeman Walley Wells

Best Biffin Fowler Sparks Alves Wells Flower

Melbourne brought in first gamers Greg Hutchison and Glenn Walley for the dead rubber game against the traditional rivals but despite their accuracy in front of goal, they missed by the slenderest of margins.

Playing in only his fourth game, John Sparks booted four goals.

The end result for season 1975 was that Melbourne finished in tenth place with 9 wins and a percentage of 93.6 but it could have gone much better had things gone its way.

Laurie Fowler won the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy for the club best and fairest, vindicating hid recruitment from the Tigers.

The Melbourne Under 19s rose from fourth to make the Grand Final and went down to Richmond by 5 points in a close tussle.

Melbourne 3.5.23 7.9.51 10.13.73 12.17.89

Richmond 2.4.16 6.8.44 10.11.71 13.16.94

Goals Walley Withers 3 Counsel Munday 2 Arundale Hutchison

Best Hamilton Walley Withers

S. Young was reported for striking with an elbow.

Team

B: Colin Sampson, Peter Hamilton, Murray Black

HB: Greg Pimm, Peter O'Keefe, Mark Alves

C: Shane Young, Geoff Delaney, Barry Tippett

HF: Chris Munday, David Arundale, Greg Withers

F: Geoff Campbell, Glenn Walley, John Counsel

R: Brian Ross, Greg Hutchison, Mark Davidson

19/20: Stephen Ellingworth, Paul Tobin