Saturday 4 June - East Melbourne
Crowd - 4500
Essendon 2.2, 2.4, 6.7, 7.7
Melbourne 1.2, 2.4, 3.5, 7.8
Match drawn
Goalkickers: Harry Graham 3, Wiseman 1, Wilson 1, Howes 1, J. Graham 1
Essendon had been dominant early in 1892, and were expected to have no trouble with a Melbourne side who lost to a travelling South Adelaide side a week earlier.
Both teams had a number of players unavailable, but on the balance Melbourne were worse off to be missing McKenzie, O'Loghlen, Slattery, Toms and Sharpe. A heavy ground also favoured the Same Old, who had bulkier players compared to Melbourne's speedier lineup.
Captain Aitken won the toss and kicked in a breeze so that he would have use of it in the last quarter, and his defence stood up admirably in the face of constant attacks by the home team. If the forwards had taken the chances offered to them the result of the match could have been far different.
Amidst all the attacks Essendon did finally get one on the board, but the scores could have been levelled not long after if Patrick O'Dea hadn't missed a chance.
As the ball become heavier in wet conditions Melbourne equalised through Harry Graham, but it wasn't long after that the home side took the lead for a second time. Essendon lost a player to injury and Melbourne hit the post when they could have scored and the two sides went into the first break with one goal the difference.
With the wind in their favour Melbourne battled hard to equalise in the second quarter, but they were soon on the back foot again and relying on the hard work of their defenders to keep them out of trouble. Essendon's backmen were also under siege before Harry Graham finally got his second of the game.
Essendon got the first goal of the third quarter almost immediately from the resumption of play, and the term was theirs on the scoreboard despite Melbourne being the better side around the ground. Wiseman's equaliser to make it 3-3 was the cue for the home team to pile on three goals on a row. Essendon's cause was not helped by losing two players to injury
Melbourne dragged the lead back to one goal with plenty of time left, and it was Harry Graham who kicked his third to level the scores again. From there his side might even have won the match. They continued to assault Essendon's goal for no reward, and after Wilson missed a late shot the match ended in a tie.
Best were rucks Fry, Christie and Wilson.