Melbourne vs Essendon
Saturday 20 September
Venue: Friendly Societies Ground
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Essendon | 1.5 | 1.10 | 1.13 | 2.20 |
Match drawn
Goalkickers: McKinnon 1, Carroll 1
A week after being thrashed by Carlton, Melbourne was again well beaten after quarter time but survived care of poor conversion by the visitors. Essendon arrived with several notable players out, and had to wait until the last quarter to equalise.
Melbourne rushed the ball to Essendon's end for the first behind of the game, but the visitors soon opened the scoring. Melbourne spent the rest of the first quarter on the attack, kicking two goals to take a narrow lead into quarter time. They held on to the lead until the final term, despite Essendon having eight behinds to two.
Best were Aitken, Sheahan and Fox.
Notes
Essendon Chronicle says Essendon kicked 2.22.
Media
Sportsman - 24/09/1890
Essendon Gazette - 25/09/1890
Essendon and Flemington Chronicle - 26/09/1890