Saturday 5 May - MCG
Melbourne 2.1, 2.1, 3.4, 3.4
Port Melbourne 0.1, 1.6, 3.7, 6.9
Port Melbourne win by 3 goals
Goalkickers: McCrindle 2, A. King 1
Before the game, Howard King was elected Captain for the season, with George Strachan as his deputy.
Melbourne won the toss and kicked with the strong southerly breeze, allowing them to open the game with two goals to nil. The wind was already making kicking difficult, before heavy rain fell and made both the ground and ball greasy.
When a poorly performing Port only managed one goal in the second quarter it looked like the Reds were going to win comfortably, but the visitors rallied in the second half, drawing level at three quarter time before running away with the game in the last.
Best were Rusden, Burton and McGowan
Media
Sportsman - 09/05/1888, 09/05/1888