Round 12, 1897
Carlton vs Melbourne
Saturday 24 July
Venue: MCG
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Carlton | 1.1 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.6.18 |
| Melbourne | 2.0 | 3.6 | 5.11 | 5.16.46 |
Melbourne win by 28 points
Goalkickers: Jack Leith 2, Jimmy Russell 1, Wally Steele 1, John Timothee 1
Milestones:
First Game
Jimmy Russell (and first goal)
Eddie Sholl
Last Game
Lew Massey
First Goal
John Timothee (4th game)
Carlton's home match at Princes Park was transferred to the MCG due to wet conditions, and given that they'd lost the previous meeting between the two clubs by 81 points on that ground they did a good job to restrict the damage to just under five goals.
With Melbourne's team playing as individuals the 'away' side opened with vigour and were in the game until half time before the home forwards - despite bungling a number of chances - finally started working together well enough to register a score large enough to confirm victory.
Best were McLeod, Mitchell and debutante Russell.
Notes
Newspaper sources make no mention of a ground switch due to wet weather and suggest dry conditions.
Media
Argus - 26/07/1897
Sportsman - 27/07/1897
Table Talk - 30/07/1897
Australasian - 31/07/1897
Links
Blueseum match report