Round 1, 1902
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 3 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.2 | 9.6 | 13.10 | 15.15.105 |
| St. Kilda | 1.3 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 7.9.51 |
Melbourne win by 54 points
Goalkickers: Jack Leith 5, Vin Coutie 4, Jack Purse 2, Les Rainey 2, George Cathie 1, Frank Langley 1
Milestones:
First Game
Ern Hocking
MFC Debut
Les Rainey
50 Games
Dan Moriarty (also with Fitzroy)
With memories still fresh of the debacle in Round 1, 1900 when St Kilda had won their first ever match against the Reds via a protest, the Seasiders ranks had been bolstered by recruits and they were considered a better chance of beating Melbourne in the first round two years later than at any time between.
On an almost windless afternoon it didn't turn out that way. St Kilda had won one of 17 matches the previous season and were on the road to 0-17 for 1902. Despite the margin they weren't humiliated, but Melbourne were just far too good.
Best were Purse, Parkin and Herring. Leith contributed five goals from place kicks.
Media
The Australasian - 10/05/1902