Saturday 18 May - MCG
Crowd: 1000
Melbourne 2
Clifton 0 (half time 1-0)
Melbourne win by 2 goals
Goalkickers: Nicholas 1, Baker 1
Melbourne played Clifton with a five player disadvantage - 20 to 25 - but it was not enough to stop them winning. After a quarter of an hour Clifton opened the score after good work by JV Cook.
Immediately after the restart Clifton kept the ball in front of Melbourne's goal for about 10 minutes but couldn't capitalise. Their older and better prepared opponents kept them out, and Baker got the second goal from a free kick.
Best were Longden, Sandilands and Wills.
Media
Argus - 20/05/1878
Leader - 25/05/1878
Australasian - 25/05/1878