Saturday 15 May - MCG
Crowd - 2500

Melbourne 0.3, 0.3, 1.4, 2.5
South Melbourne 1,1, 1.2, 2.9, 3.9

South Melbourne win by 1 goal

Goalkickers: Baird 2

After two straight losses to open Melbourne's season a small crowd turned out at the MCG to see them crash to their third defeat in a row.

Melbourne opened the scoring through Baird, who kicked a behind out of a scrimmge and they attacked again not long after but were turned back by South Melbourne's defence who countered and scored the first goal of the game. The home side had their opportunities for the rest of the half but could only add behinds and went into the second half a goal down.

The home team had the best of the game at the start of the second half, and had the first scoring shot again. Baird eventually goalled for Melbourne from a mark and equalised the score.

South Melbourne went on the attack from there, and had the Reds on the back forward. South had several attacks before finally breaking through for a second goal. Shortly after the start of the last term they added another. Baird got a consolation goal late in the game but they couldn't find an equaliser and were beaten again.

Melbourne had proposed appointing boundary umpires but South did not agree.

Best were Bailey, Carroll and Dickeson. Kerrigan replaced O'Bern in the selected side.

Media
Argus - 17/05/1886
Sportsman - 19/05/1886
Sportsman - 19/05/1886