Saturday 4 June - MCG
Crowd - 5000-7000
Melbourne 2.1, 2.2, 3.4, 4.7
Geelong 2.3, 4.5, 5.7, 7.8
Geelong win by 3 goals
Goalkickers: McCrindle 2, Dodds 1, Wiseman 1
After two wins in a row it was hoped that Melbourne could give the strong Geelong team a run for their money, and while they kept it close they were unable to win. Had the team not given away so many needless free kicks they might have been closer - at one point they had the Pivotonians under attack when one of the players gave a free away in the centre of the ground.
A large crowd showed up based on Melbourne's midweek victory over Tasmania, with one unofficial bookmaker in the crowd offering the visitors as 6/4 favourites. Unfortunately for the bookie he made the offer as an MCC committeeman walked past and was ejected from the ground.
Melbourne started the afternoon well, kicking the first goal through McCrindle within two minutes of the kickoff. After a near miss where a shot was touched through by the home defenders Geelong soon equalised, and went in front with a second goal. McCrindle got a second from a difficult angle to level the game going into the first change.
Geelong were the better side in the second quarter, scoring two goals to nil and demonstrating far better team play than that of their opponents. A late shot on goal to Melbourne appeared to be a goal but was only paid as a behind and they went into the long break two majors behind.
Immediately after the resumption of play Melbourne had the better of the game, with Dodds cutting the margin to one on his side's second attack of the quarter. They were dominating the play when Brown gave away a free kick in the middle of the ground which halted their advance. From there Geelong took over, kicking the fifth goal and controlling the game.
Two early goals in the last term finished the game as a contest. The rattled Melbourne players "seemed altogether unable to hold the ball, and there was a lot unnecessary jumping into the air when players were entirely without opposition." They also missed easy chances, one through Dodds almost on the Geelong line. Wiseman got a consolation goal late but the game was already over.
Best were Griffith, Wiseman and Bailey.
Team
Baird, Bailey, Burke, Burns, Brown, Carnegie, Dodds, Edwards, Ewing, Franks, Fox, Griffith, Hallett, Johnston, Kelly, Millard, McCrindle, Spooner, Strachan, Smith, Thompson, Tuckfield, Wiseman
Media
Herald - 03/06/1887
The Australasian - 11/06/1887
The Australasian - 11/06/1887