15 May - Melbourne Cricket Ground
Crowd: 1000

Melbourne 2.24
East Melbourne 0.4 (half time 0.11-0.1)

Melbourne win by 2 goals

Goalkickers: Roberts 1, Young 1

The East Melbourne club had risen to the ranks of a 'senior' VFA side for the first time in 1880, and their first assignment in the association was a clash against Melbourne. The game had originally been scheduled for 13 May.

The home side had battled to a nil-all draw against junior side South Yarra in terrible conditions, so it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that the new side could cause an upset victory - but Melbourne would have had a huge win if they could convert their opportunities.

The first behind of the day came after Melbourne turned back the first attack by their opponents, and there were many more to come. East Melbourne only managed one single behind for the half while Melbourne botched 11 chances. McDonald even missed a goal from six yards directly in front.

After half time the home side missed another six chances in a row before Roberts finally opened the scoring. Young added another one later.

Best were McKenzie, E. Longden and W. Longden.

Notes
Some sources have Melbourne's half time score as 0.15. Weekly Times gives the crowd as around 500.

Media
Weekly Times - 10/04/1880
Argus - 17/05/1880
Australasian - 22/05/1880
Weekly Times - 22/05/1880