Saturday 1 October - Princes Oval
Crowd: "About 8000"
Melbourne 1.3
Carlton 1.9 (half time 0.1-1.5)
Match drawn
Goalkickers: Hill 1
The two sides brought the football season to a close with their fourth meeting of 1881 - for one win and one loss each as well as a draw.
Conditions were unsuitable for football, hot and with a strong southerly wind. Melbourne kicked with the breeze but as it was mainly going across the ground it didn't offer much advantage - and even spoiled a chance on goal for the visitors.
Carlton got the first behind of the game after Coulthard feigned a place kick then ran to within a few yards of the goal before missing. Lawrence's chance that was caught by the wind was Melbourne's only score of the second quarter.
With 10 minutes before the end Hill got the equaliser from a kick on the run, and the game ended in a draw.
Best were McKenzie, Aitken and Adams.
Media
Argus - 03/10/1881
Australasian - 08/10/1881