Saturday 6 July - Friendly Societies' Gardens
Melbourne 0.0, 1.3, 2.5, 4.8
Footscray 1.3, 1.3, 1.5, 1.5
Melbourne win by 3 goals
Goalkickers: R. Kelly 1, McKinlay 1, Smith 1, J. Benson 1
Melbourne won their third game for the season, all against Footscray. They had won once on the field and once on protest, so the third victory gave them the moral advantage over their opponents for the season.
In front of a poor crowd the game was rough and full of ill-feeling. Late in the afternoon it descended into open violence when Footscray fans rushed the ground and attacked a Melbourne player. At the end of the match they tried to attack the Fox brothers who had to be guarded until the fans had left.
The following Friday, Melbourne lodged a complaint about two Footscray players attacking Fox, but because the charge had not been laid within five days of the alleged incident the VFA refused to hear it.
Melbourne would not win another game until September.
Best were Hallett, Healing and Smith.
Media
Sportsman - 10/07/1889
Australasian - 13/07/1889
Argus - 13/07/1889