Saturday June 30 - MCG
Crowd: 6000-7000
Melbourne 4.9
Geelong 4.4 (half time 0.4-3.3)
Match drawn
Goalkickers: Conway 2, Aitken 1, Stiffe 1
After three straight wins over senior clubs, Melbourne were checked by their visitors from the country but still escaped with a draw after being well behind at the half.
The lead for Geelong had much to do with the strong breeze they kicked with in the first half, and for the first few minutes they battered the Melbourne goal without reward. The locals played terribly into the wind, misjudging the new ball and being continually unable to pick it up cleanly. Melbourne scored first behind, and had another good attempt on goal foiled by the opposition defence.
Gameplay was made difficult by the fact that the new ball hadn't been soaked in water to soften it before kick-off. After a series of behinds for both sides Geelong scored first goal, and with the wind stopping them from attacking with any success the home team conceded two more.
With the wind in the second half Melbourne went forward first and got a behind, before Aitken scored his side's opening goal. At 3-1 down the match between an exciting one from there, and the use of the wind allowed Melbourne to score a second through Conway. Geelong, however, got one against the run of play to restore the two goal buffer.
Conway had another to bring the score back to 4-3 before Thewlis plucked the ball from a scrimmage and scored the equaliser. There was no further scoring but Melbourne were unlucky not to win in the end.
McKenzie, Conway and Booth were best.
Notes
Some sources have the half time score as 3.4-0.4 and the final as 4.7-4.4
Media
Argus - 02/07/1883
Sportsman - 07/07/1883
Tasmanian - 07/07/1883