Secretary: William Freeman
Captains - William Freeman, Henry Harrison
Leading goalkicker: Donald Campbell 2
The first scratch match of the season was played on Saturday 11 May between sides pictured by Harrison and Freeman. The later would elected secretary at the team's annual meeting that afternoon. A further game was played the following Saturday but numbers were reduced due to heavy rain the two previous days having an impact on turnout. Further scratch matches were played on 29 June and 13 July.
Freeman captained the side in the early games of the season, with Henry Harrison also captaining the side later.
The Challenge Cup which had been played for over the previous two seasons was not a part of the season as South Yarra refused to put it on the line in any of their matches after having earned the right to hold it after defending it three times during 1866.
In their worst season yet, Melbourne didn't score a goal in their first four matches of the season, or win a game until early August.
A match against Civil Service on 17 August was not played. It was originally announced as being postponed but the fixture was never fulfilled.
The season ended on 21 September with a match between combinations of Melbourne/Carlton (north) and South Yarra/South Melbourne (south). The northern team won courtesy of goals by Carlton players C Hillsden and F Hillsden who had both guested with Melbourne during the year.
Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
24 May | Geelong | LOSS | 0-2 |
25 May | Carlton | DRAW | 0-0 |
8 June | South Yarra | DRAW | 0-0 |
22 June | Carlton | LOSS | 0-2 |
1 July | Geelong | LOSS | 0-2 |
6 July | HM 14th Regiment | LOSS | 1-2 |
20 July | South Melbourne | DRAW | 1-1 |
27 July | University | DRAW | 0-0 |
3 August | HM 14th Regiment | WIN | 2-0 |
10 August | South Yarra | DRAW | 1-1 |
24 August | Carlton | DRAW | 0-0 |
31 August | South Melbourne | DRAW | 0-1 |
7 September | South Yarra | DRAW | 0-1 |
14 September | HM 14th Regiment | LOSS | 2-2 |
Players
Bald, Wilton Barfoot, L Bell, John Bennie, F. Bruford, James Byrne, D. Campbell, Donald Campbell, John Colville, Copeland, George Dana, Ferguson, W. Finlay, Andrew Fleming, Charles Forrester, J. Forrester, William Freeman, W. Gaggin, C. Gair, J. Green, Harry Guy, Henry Harrison, Hor. Harrison, Tom Hepburn, Hetherington, Charlie Hillsden, Frank Hillsden, Hinton, J. Holland, James Horan, W. Hurst, de Courcey Ireland, James Ireland, Richard Ireland, Tom Ireland, J. James, George Kennedy, Locke, Mack, T. McLaughlin, J. Moody, T. Moody, Morell, Newman, O O'Brien, J. Oswald, Ryan, E. Stephens, James Stodart, P. Sullivan, W. Thomas, Richard Wardill, G. Waugh, R. Waugh, T. Whyte, H. Woolley, J. Wright
Goalkickers
Donald Campbell 2, L. Bell 1, William Freeman 1, J. Green 1, Ryan 1
Media
Argus - 11/05/1867
Argus - 13/05/1867
Leader - 29/06/1867
Leader - 17/08/1867
Age - 16/09/1867
Argus - 23/09/1867
Australasian - 28/09/1867
"Origins of Australian Football: Volume 1" by Mark Pennings
Links
Blueseum 1867 page