Saturday 10 August - MCG

Melbourne 1.1, 3.1, 4.2, 4.2
Essendon 2.2, 5.5, 5.7, 7.12

Essendon win by 3 goals

Goalkickers: McGinis 1, Christie 1, Fry 1, Sholl 1

The Reds had easily taken care of the once-great Essendon in their two matches so far during 1895, but bolstered by the recently recruited ex-Melbourne player Patrick O'Dea the 'same old' turned the tables on the Reds this day. Their superiority over Melbourne was even more pronounced than Geelong's had been a fortnight earlier in the top of the table clash between the two sides.

An injury crisis didn't help. Moodie, Sutton and McCulloch missed the entire match, Christy couldn't play the second half and neither of Fox or O'Halloran was 100% fit to take the field. But it wasn't the sole cause of the defeat, those who did play tried to be individuals rather than a team and Essendon won in every department. They could have registered an even larger victory if they hadn't hit the post twice and had several other shots marked near goal.

McGinis equalised just before the half-time bell, and it was only in the third quarter where Melbourne showed anything approaching their best form. In contrast their opposition were sure with their kicking and never foolishly punted the ball down the ground in the hope of hitting a teammate.

Best were Moysey, Wilson and O'Dwyer.

Media
Argus - 12/08/1895
Australasian - 17/08/1895