Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Sunday 2 May 1982, page 26


Melbourne again falls short

MELBOURNE: Luckless Melbourne failed by 10 points to topple their co-tenants Richmond in a thrilling VFL match at the Melbourne Cricket " Ground yesterday.

For .the'second consecutive week the Demons went down by 10 points against more fancied opposition but it is little solace for supporters that Melbourne had 3} scoring shots against the Tigers' 26.

Richmond led at every change but it was full-forward Brian Taylor's three big marks in the last quarter that gained the Tigers the points in an exciting last quarter.

Taylor booted three goals for the quarter and was the only player in the side to score goals in the last term.

Melbourne showed skill and spirit and, without doubt, Richmond was lucky to win.

The Demons were trailing by only four points at the 28th minute of the last quarter.

It was Taylor's third goal — kicked on the siren — that made the margin 10 points.

Melbourne's desperation was heartening for supporters. It prevented Richmond from scoring goals from 19 minutes into the third quarter until eight minutes into the last.

Melbourne's Peter Tossol, playing his

first senior game, started his side's comeback in the second half of the third quarter when he scored, goals with his first two kicks.

Another goal by former North Melbourne player Brian Wilson saw Melbourne trail by 12 points at the end of the third quarter after being behind by more than five goals 15

minutes earlier.

The Tigers looked as though they had the game under control but heroic performances by Robert Flower, Gerard Healy and Michael O'Sullivan in the final quarter almost gave Melbourne the four points.

Fitzroy's David McMahon struggles with Collingwood's Ian

Cooper, (10), and Neil Peart, (13).. -