Saturday 23 May - Melbourne Ground
Melbourne 2
Emerald Hill 0
Melbourne win
Goalkickers: J. Moodie, James Byrne
Having not won a match against a senior club in 1867 Melbourne finally achieved victory in their second showing of the new season. They came into the game in better condition after already playing a game, against opposition in their first game of the season. For the first 20 minutes, the home side had the opposition goal under attack but couldn't score, before a brief rally by Emerald Hill also failed to produce a goal.
After an hour Melbourne goalled first, causing Emerald Hill to play defensively to try and avoid conceding a second before the end of play. Their tactics succeeded, helped by Bell missing two shots as wind started to affect kicking , before Byrne scored the winning goal shortly before time expired.
Henry Harrison was in the selected team but did not play as he instead led Geelong in their game against Carlton two days later. Tom Ireland was also a withdrawal from the selected side.
Selected team
L. Bell, Bennie, Bruford, James Byrne, Harry Chadwick, Clark, Colville, Disher, Finlay, Charles Forrester, William Freeman (c), James Green, Henry Harrison (DNP), Hepburn, Tom Ireland (DNP), Leach, T. Moodie, Moodie, David Ogilvy, Thomas. Emergencies were Barnes, Copeland, Fitzgerald, Harrison, Hurst and M'Lennon.
Media
Argus - 23/05/1868, 25/05/1868
Age - 25/05/1868
Leader - 30/05/1868
Australasian - 30/05/1868