Melbourne vs Carlton
Saturday 17 July
Venue: Royal Park
Attendance: Unknown
| Final | |
| Melbourne | 1 |
| Carlton | 0 |
Melbourne win
Goalkicker: Charles Carr 1
A large crowd gathered to see Melbourne take on the previously unbeaten Carlton. The game started an hour late, at 3.15pm, while waiting for players from both sides to arrive. After an hour of exciting play Melbourne scored a controversial goal which won them the match, and status as the new champion club of the colony.
They were awarded a mark after the ball had clearly been touched. Carr scored his goal from the mark and Carlton argued for 10 minutes before the game could start again. The umpire, a neutral appointed by both sides, deemed that no protest was made before the goal was kicked so it stood. Carlton to kick a goal for the day and at 5.15pm Melbourne were declared winners.
In September captain Henry Harrison wrote to the Australasian newspaper claiming that instead, however, of giving up their laurels in a manly, straightforward manner, the Carltonians impugned the fairness of the central umpire in a most uncalled-for manner, and by such conduct set a very bad example.
Media
Argus - 19/07/1869
Leader - 24/07/1869
Australasian - 24/07/1869, 11/09/1869