Melbourne vs South Melbourne
Saturday 26 August
Venue: South Melbourne Cricket Ground
Attendance: 8500
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| South Melbourne | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Melbourne | 0.0 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Match drawn
Goalkickers: Smith 2, R. Kelly 1, Gerald Sheahan 1
After a strong start to the season Melbourne had hit a brick wall with two losses in three weeks, and they were lucky to avoid another one at South Melbourne. They hit the post twice but the home side had the best of the game even without their best forwards, and so could claim a moral victory if not an actual one.
In contrast to their fast start the previous Saturday Melbourne were forced to come from well behind as South opened up a three goal lead at quarter time. They had only had a slight breeze to their advantage, and few of Melbourne's players were up to their usual form.
Without the aid of a stiff wind with which to mount their comeback Melbourne still closed the gap by one in the second term. They went on the attack immediately and got the first goal of the quarter, but South soon restored their three goal buffer. A late goal to the Reds cut the gap back to two, and while their forwards were not getting many chances they were taking them. On the other hand South's forwards were playing poorly and spurning numerous goalscoring opportunities.
They added two more in the third quarter - including one after the bell - to go into the last on level terms, but in a desperate struggle where South had the best of the game neither side was able to register a major and the game ended in a tie.
Despite an injured leg suffered against Geelong a week earlier David Christy was his side's best, alongside O'Loughlin, Fry and Toms. R. Kelly was stand-in captain in the absence of Eddie Fox.
Selected team
Christy, Fry, Graham, Healing, Howes, R. Kelly, B. Kelly, Keane, Lewis, Moysey, Moore, Massey, McRaile, McKenzie, O'Dea, O'Halloran, O'Loughlin, O'Leary, Roche, Smith, Stranger, F. Sheahan, G. Sheahan, Toms, Wilson, Wiseman
Notes
Wiseman and McKenzie did not take their place in the final side. Some sources have Melbourne finishing on 4.4.
Media
Argus - 26/08/1893
Argus - 28/08/1893
Melbourne Punch - 31/08/1893