Saturday 28 May - MCG
Crowd: 2000-3000

Melbourne 4.11
Hotham 2.5 (half time 3-2)

Melbourne win by 2 goals

Goalkickers: Billy Stiffe 1, Power 1, Dave Aitken 1, Murdoch McKenzie 1

Played in front of a 'fair' crowd, Melbourne had the better of the first half then added a sealer in the second. They had dominated the first 15 minutes before Billy Stiffe scored the first goal of the day.

The home side used a pace advantage to get on top before Hotham regroup to use their little marking to work themselves back into the contest. They equalised but Melbourne quickly had another two, a goal to the visitors before half time reduced the margin to one but a McKenzie goal soon after the restart gave Melbourne their two goal buffer back.

Best were Aitken, Adams and Thewlis.

Media
Argus - 30/05/1881
Australasian - 04/06/1881