Saturday July 8 - Melbourne Ground
Crowd: 10,000 - 12,000

Melbourne 2
Carlton 1 (half time 1-1)

Melbourne win by 1 goal

Goalkickers: Fred Baker, Longden

It was the 38th contest between the two sides since 1866, and with Carlton having a good record recently and in 1876 they would have been warm favourites to win again. Instead they were upset, giving the Reds their second win in 13 against the Blues.

Melbourne surprised their visitors by controlling the game with much of the attack in the early stages, and they missed two chances through McDonald before Carlton could regroup and attack. The Reds kept them out and eventually Fred Baker earned them the first goal of the match - but just before half time Carlton equalised.

Buoyed by the equaliser Carlton attacked first in the second half but were unable to get through Melbourne's defence and Longden eventually gathered a loose ball and kick the second goal to put Melbourne back in front. Carlton then attacked desperately but were held out by Melbourne's defence or missed easy chances.

Best were James Bennie, John Bennie and Longden.

Gate receipts for the big crowd were 500p

Selected side
Anthony, Baker, Baker, Bennie, Bennie, Bride, Carr, Down, Forrester, Hopkins, Johnson, Longden, McDonald, McDonald, McKie, Nicholas, Reeve, Sergeant, Sillett, Williams. Emergencies - Booth, Cullen, Moffatt, Wilson

Media
Weekly Times - 08/07/1876
Australasian - 15/07/1876