Saturday June 16 - MCG
Crowd: "Over 12,000"
Melbourne 4.10
South Melbourne 2.9 (half time 4.3-0.5)
Melbourne win by 2 goals
Goalkickers: John Rickards 3, Ulbrick 1
The home side had won their first game of the season on South's ground the previous month, but South started as favourite in the return. Poor kicking saw the visitors miss a number of shots, but Melbourne were overcame the odds to clearly be the better side until the game was already won.
With the use of the breeze Melbourne got the early breakthrough, putting South on their heels with a goal in the first few minutes to Ulbrick. In less than 10 minutes they were two in front courtesy of the first goal from Rickards. South were shocked, and despite playing a decent game they were forced into the tactic of kicking the ball out of bounds when their goal was in danger. Their tactic met with consternation from the crowd, and it was useless against a dashing Melbourne side who were wiping out memories of the horrible 1882 season with another win.
Rickards got another goal to complete his hat trick by half time. South were beaten by then, using more questionable tactics to try and put Stiffe off his line when he was taking a shot on goal. It led to tempers fraying, but he did miss the shot.
The second half saw South on top, but they had left themselves too far behind. Melbourne slipped away as the game went on, their exertions from the first half leaving their tank empty. Two goals in the last few minutes of darkness made the margin more respectable.
Best were Booth, Collins and Conway.
Team
Aitken, Booth, Bower, Collins, Conway, Cunningham, Morris, Murphy, Mackenzie, McDonald, McIntyre, Patterson, Plant, Pohlman, Rickards, Rush, Strachan, Stiffe, Thewlis, Tuckfield, Ulbrick
Notes
Some suggest a crowd of 7000.
Media
Argus - 16/06/1883
Argus - 18/06/1883
Sportmsan - 20/06/1883
Australasian - 23/06/1883