Saturday May 23 - Saxon Ground
Ballarat Imperial 6.11 (half time 2.4-2.8)
Melbourne 2.6
Ballarat Imperial win by 4 goals
Goalkickers: Ross 1, Collie 1
Melbourne's appearance in Ballarat as part of the VFA premiership season ended in disaster, with a fourth straight defeat to open the year.
Melbourne did well in the first half, but conceded the first two goals. They swiftly equalised in the second but then played loosely and allowed the home side to draw away and win easily.
Best were Carroll and Collie.
Notes
Some sources shown Melbourne finishing on 2.8
Media
Argus - 25/05/1885
Bendigo Advertiser - 25/05/1885
Australasian - 30/05/1885
Australasian - 30/05/1885