President - Cohen
Secretary - Angus Cumming
Vice-Presidents - Dr. Ford, Henry Harrison, Byrne, Walsh
Committee - Ben Goldsmith, Bell, Cumming, Robert Carr
Captain - Ben Goldsmith
Vice-Captain - Larry Bell
Leading goalkicker - Austin Loughnan 9
The original North Melbourne and St Kilda teams were promoted to the senior ranks, becoming the fifth and sixth sides in the city to achieve that status at the time.
At the same meeting the rules were amended in an attempt to reduced scrimmages and quicken the game. "Rabbiting" was out, and players were forced to drop the ball when tackled or be penalised. Once the ball hit the ground it could only be kicked and players had to kick goals instead of forcing them over the line. It was decided that umpires would throw the ball in when it went out of bounds but that players couldn't touch it until it hit the ground. Additionally a rule originally trialled in 1871 that said players could only appear for one club a year was formally adopted - with Melbourne the most seriously affected.
The Reds were challenged by Western district clubs Belfast (now Port Fairy) and Warrnambool to send teams to play them, but declined as players would be absent from the city for too long. The only unusual country trip was to Maryborough in August.
The first scratch match under the new rules took place on Saturday 9 May. The first game of the season was meant to be against Southern on Saturday 25 May, with a Queen's Birthday game at Ballarat on the Monday. Southern didn't turn up, and Ballarat called their match off due to the ground being in a poor state. Melbourne instead played their first game on the following Saturday against North Melbourne. There was supposed to be a return game but North refused to play.
With home games played on the Melbourne Ground, outside the MCG proper, the club had two trees removed from the playing area. In previous years, the ball would often be trapped in the branches of the trees.
There was a small balance available to the club at the end of the year.
Matches
| Date | Opposition | Result |
| 30 May | North Melbourne | WIN |
| 6 June | Albert Park | LOSS |
| 13 June | Hawthorn | WIN |
| 20 June | Carlton | LOSS |
| 27 June | Richmond | WIN |
| 1 July | Sandhurst | WIN |
| 4 July | Albert Park | WIN |
| 11 July | St Kilda | WIN |
| 18 July | Carlton | LOSS |
| 25 July | Richmond | WIN |
| 1 August | St Kilda | DRAW |
| 8 August | East Melbourne | WIN |
| 15 August | Carlton | LOSS |
| 22 August | Maryborough | WIN |
| 29 August | Albert Park | WIN |
| 5 September | Geelong | WIN |
| 19 September | Carlton | LOSS |
| 26 September | St Kilda | WIN |
Players
William Aitken, William Barker, Larry Bell, James Bennie, John Bennie, John Booth, James Byrne, Charles Carr, G. Cullen, Angus Cumming, Raleigh Davidson, J. Dowling, Charles Forrester, John Forrester, M. Fowler, William Freeman, Ben Goldsmith, P. Goldsmith, H. Hammill, F. Haynes, Tom Hepburn, Tommy Horan, Charles Ireland, Irons, Henry Jennings, Charles Jenvey, J. Johnson, Billy Kneen, Edward Longden, Austin Loughnan, Andrew Loughnan, R. Marshall, McArthur, Miller, Moore, Norman, Oliver, Henry Ryan, Henry Samson, E. Scott, Bob Sillett, Stokes, Francis Strickland, Walter Thomas, Edwin Towle, George Watson, Charles Wheatland, W. Williams, Samuel Wilson
Goalkickers
Austin Loughnan 9, Angus Cumming 8, Edwin Towle 5, Andrew Loughnan 3, Ben Goldsmith 2, Billy Kneen 2, Bob Sillett 2, Larry Bell 1, Raleigh Davidson 1, Irons 1, McArthur 1
Notes
Some sources also have Charles Forrester as captain.
Links
Blueseum 1874 page
Media
Sydney Mail - 22/08/1874
Advocate - 16/05/1874
Australasian - 23/05/1874
Australasian - 30/05/1874
Leader - 20/06/1874
Australasian - 01/08/1874
Age - 27/04/1875
Australasian - 01/05/1875
"Origins of Australian Football: Volume 1" by Mark Pennings
"Origins of Australian Football: Volume 2" by Mark Pennings