Saturday 8 September - Melbourne Ground
Crowd - 6000
Melbourne 2.4
Hotham 0.5 (half time 2.2-0.3)
Melbourne win by 2 goals
Goalkickers: C. Baker 1, Booth 1
In fine weather a huge crowd gathered to watch Melbourne try and avenge their July loss to Hotham. They had to wait longer than expected when the game started an hour behind schedule due to a late appearance by Melbourne.
Sillett won the toss for Melbourne and elected to kick with a slight breeze, but Hotham had the first serious attacking chance of the game within the first couple of minutes - missing a gettable chance to take the lead.
After five minutes Melbourne had their first decent chance, but in a match already marked by rough play, they failed to convert. Hotham were clearly the better team in the first quarter of an hour, and despite their lightning quick rebounding away from their own goal they were unable to score.
Against the run of play, and with Hotham down one player after having his fingers 'kicked', C. Baker scored the first goal for Melbourne with a place kick from 50 yards after a Hotham played was caught holding the ball. Both teams had their chances to score, but Melbourne got the second goal when Booth scored from a long kick.
The Reds were the better side in the second half. Moffatt was complimented for his marking, but they suffered two serious injuries with Anthony breaking his leg and Webb suffering an eye injury. Despite suddenly gaining a two players advantage Hotham were unable to capitalise and managed just two more behinds before full time.
Best were Moffatt, Lamrock and Booth.
Team
Anthony, C. Baker, F. Baker, Barrass, Bennie, Booth, Cooke, Cooper, Downes, Hopkins, Houston, Lamrock, Longden, Macdonald, McKie, Moffat, Sherrard, Sillett, Webb, Williams. Emergency - Goldsmir and Suhard
Notes
Some sources give the crowd as 5000-6000, and credit Baker with both goals.
Media
Argus - 10/09/1877
Australasian - 15/09/1877