Saturday 3 May - MCG
Crowd - "About 1000"
Melbourne 6
Public Schools 0 (half time 1-0)
Melbourne win by 6 goals
Goalkickers: Cook 3, W. Longden 1, Sherrard 1, Crohan 1
A combined side from Scotch, Church of England Grammar and Wesley College. Geelong Grammar were unable to play as several of their best players were training for the public school rowing race.
Melbourne had 20 players, the schools had 25. Bob Sillett captained the reds and were forced to kick into the wind. For half an hour the match was even, with only behinds scored.
Eventually E. Longden provided the ball for his brother to kick the opening goal a few minutes before half-time. After the break Melbourne had the wind and Sherrard goalled. The schools disputed that the ball hadn't crossed the line as it had hit spectators but the umpire allowed it. Crohan kicked Melbourne's third. Cook booted three more to make the margin 6-0. Despite their numerical disadvantage the association club had shown up their younger opponents.
Best were Bennie, McKenzie and W. Longden.
Selected team
Bennie, W. Boys, JV Cook, Crohan, Downes, Fairbairn, Lamrock (vc), E. Longden, W. Longden, Lempriere, Macdonald, Mackenzie, A. McKie, Oakley, Power, Sherard, Simson, Sillett (c), Upton, Waldron, Le Neven (emergency).
Media
Herald - 02/05/1879
Argus - 03/05/1879
Ballarat Star - 03/05/1879
Argus - 05/05/1879
Australasian - 10/05/1879