Saturday May 31 - Fitzroy Cricket Ground
Crowd - 2000-3000
Fitzroy 4.9
Melbourne 1.20 (half time 2.4-0.9)
Fitzroy win by 3 goals
Goalkicker: Brayshay 1
After twice using the Fitzroy ground for matches during 1883 when neither of the Melbourne grounds were available, the Reds returned as the away side for their first game against the new senior club. They went in as red-hot favourites, but went down to a shock defeat after a display of diabolical goalkicking.
The visitors scored the first behind of many to open the match, and had three up before Fitzroy managed an attack. Melbourne were flat and kept missing shots, allowing Fitzroy to eventually score the first goal of the game. The second followed just four minutes later. Melbourne registered another three behinds but were goalless at the long break.
Brayshay kicked Melbourne's first, and only, goal early in the second half, before the visitors went back to missing opportunities - responding to a Fitzroy goal they kicked four more consecutive behinds. The home side kicked two more goals and had earned a famous victory.
Best were McIntyre, Jones and Plant.
Notes
Some sources have Melbourne's score as 1.22
Media
Argus - 02/06/1884
Sportsman - 04/06/1884
Fitzroy City Press - 07/06/1884
Australasian - 07/06/1884