Saturday May 2 - MCG
Crowd: "About 9000"
Melbourne 1.7
Carlton 6.14 (half time 0.1 to 3.10)
Carlton win by 5 goals
Goalkicker: Affleck 1
In their first engagement of the season the reds travelled to the MCG to play the side who the MCC had kicked them out in favour of because Carlton were likely to make more money through gate receipts. Eventually the matter was resolved and Melbourne returned home as tenants rather than visitors.
One of the Carlton recruits from Brunswick picked up a number of possessions because he was wearing a jumper with red through it and Melbourne players thought he was a teammate, but that was hardly an excuse for being thrashed so comprehensively in the opening encounter of the year.
Carlton had the wind and made the most of it, kicking four behinds in a row before captain George Aitken rallied his troops, but despite the captain's good work in defence they conceded another behind before scoring one of their own.
The 'home' side eventually broke through for two goals, and as Melbourne sagged Carlton grabbed another to go into half time with a commanding lead.
In a stroke of bad luck for Melbourne the wind died down during half time, leaving them without the same advantage Carlton had but they still pushed forward for the first behind of the second half. Affleck eventually got a goal for Melbourne, but not until the blue team had already added one to their half time score and it didn't take them long to get the fifth and sixth.
Best were George Aitken, Bailey and Coulson.
Notes
Some sources show Carlton finishing on 6.13 and McCrindle kicking Melbourne's goal.
Selected side
Aitken, Affleck, Bailey, Coulson, A. Coulson, C. Carroll, Collie, Franks, Morrison, Moss, Mitchell, McCrindle, McAllister, Plant, Ross, Rush, Spooner, Taylor, Tuckfield, Willis. Emergencies - Ulbrick, Garton, Hillar
Media
Sportsman - 29/04/1885
Argus - 04/05/1885
Sportsman - 06/05/1885
Australasian - 09/05/1885