Chairman - Henry Harrison
Secretary - RH McLeod
Committee - Eddie Fox, George Hallett, Henry Harrison, Scott, Arthur Hunt, RH McLeod
Captain - Eddie Fox
Vice-Captain - George Hallett
Leading goalscorer - W. Smith (26)
The VFA adopted stern anti-professionalism measures, setting the penalty for players found to be paid to a 10p fine and disqualification for the rest of the season. A limit was put on the value of trophies that could be awarded to them in order to try and prevent backdoor payments.
In March the struggling club came under the management of the MCC again. The Cricket Club paid off the debts that the footballers had run up in their horror 80's decade. R.H McLeod of Scotch College - and formerly of the recently disbanded University club - was appointed Honorary Secretary of the club. McLeod brought a number of his ex-University players, and the club's list was subjected to gymnastics and thorough training under the direction of experts.
The first scratch match of the season, the first 20 vs the next 23 was played on Saturday 12 April. The top side won 7.4 to 2.2.
On-field the prospects of the club were increasing. After having finished second last in 1889 and almost gone out of business, the Redlegs rose to eighth and won six games. If the club delegates had agreed to a proposal to split the league into two divisions it's almost certain that they would have started the season in the lower ranks. The won eight, lost nine and drew four - scoring 76 goals and conceding 94.
Part of the reason given for the still relatively poor performances of the side was the irregular attendance by players at training. Players who didn't show up couldn't be left out as they were generally important members of the squad.
The club lost 294p, 7s, 4d for the season.
VFA season
| Date | Opposition | Result | ||
| 3 May | Carlton | LOSS | ||
| 10 May | Port Melbourne | LOSS | ||
| 17 May | Williamstown | WIN | ||
| 31 May | South Melbourne | WIN | ||
| 7 June | North Melbourne | LOSS | ||
| 14 June | Footscray | DRAW | ||
| 21 June | Geelong | LOSS | ||
| 28 June | Richmond | WIN | ||
| 12 July | Essendon | DRAW | ||
| 26 July | North Melbourne | LOSS | ||
| 2 August | Port Melbourne | WIN | ||
| 9 August | Geelong | WIN | ||
| 16 August | Fitzroy | LOSS | ||
| 23 August | Footscray | WIN | ||
| 30 August | Richmond | DRAW | ||
| 6 September | Williamstown | DRAW | ||
| 13 September | Carlton | LOSS | ||
| 20 September | Essendon | DRAW | ||
| 27 September | St Kilda | LOSS | ||
Other Matches
| Date | Opposition | Result | ||
| 26 April | Public Schools | ? | ||
| 24 May | Ballarat | WIN | ||
Players
William Aitken, Bain, Bridges, Robert Byers, Billy Carroll, R. Clough, N. Cohen, Arthur Connelly, Darcy, Fred Drury, Evans, Eddie Fox, Herbert Fry, Ed Griffith, George Hallett, William Hallows, Alf Healing, Howie, Humphries, F. James, Jarrett, Jones, James Kelly, Richard Kelly, Eyre Lynar, Lew Massey, McCormick, M. McDonald, Jim McKean, McKinnon, Hugh McLean, G. McLeod, Mitchell, Arthur Neale, Frederick O'Rourke, Harry Orwin, Fred Prior, Robert Ramsay, M. Ross, Shaw, Fred Sheahan, George Slattery, William Smith, Stiffe, George Strachan, Eddie Toms, W. Tulloch, J. Williams, Joe Wilson
Second 20 players
Beveridge, Brooks, Colles, Foley, Grey, Halesgrove, Hyam, Hyam, James, Jordan, Kay, Kerrigan, Letty, Molineux, McGillicuddy, McDonough, Hurst, Hanson, McGuigan, Wright, Morris, Reilly, Woodman, Richards, Sheehan, Mahon, Tulloch, Tyler, Thompson, Taylor, Sheppard, Bragge.
Goalkickers
W. Smith 24, Richard Kelly 13, Billy Carroll 8, J. Wilson 4, William Aitken 3, Ed Griffith 3, H. McLean 3, McKinnon 2, R. Byers 1, Connelly 1, Herbert Fry 1, George Hallett 1, Jarrett 1, AJ McKean 1, G. McLeod 1, Shaw 1, Eddie Toms 1
Ladder
| Position | Team | Win | Draw | Loss |
| 1st | South Melbourne | 16 | 1 | 2 |
| 2nd | Carlton | 13 | 2 | 4 |
| 3rd | Essendon | 10 | 5 | 4 |
| 4th | Fitzroy | 11 | 1 | 6 |
| 5th | North Melbourne | 9 | 4 | 6 |
| 6th | St. Kilda | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| 7th | Geelong | 9 | 2 | 8 |
| 8th | Melbourne | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| 9th | Port Melbourne | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| 10th | Footscray | 4 | 1 | 13 |
| 11th | Richmond | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| 12th | Williamstown | 2 | 2 | 14 |
Second Twenty
| Date | Opposition | Result | ||
| 26 April | Star of Abbotsford | ? | ||
| 3 May | Carlton | ? | ||
| 7 June | North Melbourne | Unknown | ||
| 14 June | Footscray | 1.4 - 3.4 | ||
| 20 September | Essendon | 1.5 - 6.18 | ||
Second 20 players (incomplete)
Beveridge, Courtney, Champion, Collis, Foley, Farrell, Hyams, Hyams, Jordan, Kay, McGuigan, Mahon, Ryan, Reilly, Sheahan, Tulloch, Woodman, Johnstone, Holesgrove, Mort, Poore, Mullen, Proctor
Notes
Game may have been played against South Ballarat on 19 July.
Media
Australasian - 14/12/1889
Argus - 18/03/1890
Age - 12/04/1890
Herald - 12/04/1890
Australasian - 03/05/1890
Sydney Mail - 24/05/1890
Independent - 21/06/1890
Age - 19/07/1890
Age - 02/08/1890
Australasian - 11/04/1891
Links
VFA Results and Tables