Saturday June 8 - MCG
Crowd: 5000 - 8000
Melbourne 2.8
Carlton 1.8 (half time 0.5-0.2)
Melbourne win by 1 goal
Goalkickers: Crohan 1, Ted Cooke 1
Several Melbourne players arrived late and the game didn't start until 3.15, but the delay seemed to help the Reds who finally turned around a terrible start to the season for a win against their old rivals. The ground was heavy due to rain and Carlton were favourites having been in much better form early in the 1878 season, but the home side finally had a win after losses to junior, senior and country clubs.
Melbourne had the best of the early chances. Nicholas missed a chance to give Melbourne the lead after a mark 25 yards in front of goal. He missed, and it inspired Carlton to counter. They attacked strongly but were stopped from scoring a goal by strong Melbourne defence. Down the other end Nicholas missed another chance, as did Longden who ran into an open goal and kicked the ball straight up in the air instead of through the goal.
It took until the second half before Melbourne opened the scoring through Crohan. Carlton equalised from a free kick not long after. When they got their goal the visitors turned it up a notch and terrorised the Melbourne defence for a few minutes without scoring. Eventually Melbourne scored their second through Cooke after a pass from Cooper. Play continued until dusk by there were no more goals.
Best were Longden, Downes and McKie.
Notes
Some sources saying Sherrard scored not Crohan
Media
Argus 10/06/1878
Australasian - 15/06/1878