Round 1, 1898
St. Kilda vs Melbourne
Saturday 14 May
Venue: Junction Oval
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| St. Kilda | 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.4.16 |
| Melbourne | 4.6 | 6.9 | 10.12 | 13.14.92 |
Melbourne win by 76 points
Goalkickers: Jack Leith 4, Charlie Young 4, George Moysey 2, Dick Pirrie 2, Les MacPherson 1
Milestones:
First Game
Eddie Byers
Tom Davey
Les MacPherson (and first goal)
Bob Moore
George Moysey (and first goal)
Dick Pirrie (and first goal)
Bobby Royle
MFC Debut
Denis Lanigan
Last Game
Herbert Fry
After a winless first season, St Kilda opened their second year against a side who only had 17 players available from their 1897 side. They fielded seven new players, while St Kilda had 10. On a hard, dusty, surface, Melbourne's new men came together better. After an early scramble where neither side found gear, Melbourne ran up four goals in the opening term, including three in three minutes to Charlie Young.
The game was won with Melbourne's better skills. Their kicks went to teammates, while St Kilda continually turned the ball over and the pattern continued throughout the afternoon. The Seasiders got the first goal of the second quarter but their rally died out soon after. When Leith scored two place kicks early in the third the gap was more than seven goals.
Best were McGinis, Moysey and Fry.
Lists
Scoreless first quarters
Media
Prahran Telegraph - 21/05/1898
Argus - 16/05/1898
Australasian - 21/05/1898