Round 1, 1899
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Saturday 13 May
Venue: MCG
Attendance: Unknown
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 1.1 | 9.9 | 12.13 | 16.20.116 |
| St. Kilda | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 3.5.23 |
Melbourne win by 93 points
Goalkickers: Tommy Ryan 5, Jack Leith 3, George Moysey 3, Dick Wardill 2, Fred Elliott 1, George Moodie 1, Charlie Young 1
Milestones:
First game
Fred Elliott (and first goal)
Charlie Illingworth
Tommy Ryan (and first goal)
Arthur Sowden
First MFC game
Dan Moriarty
After two seasons without a win, St Kilda entered the first round confident that they had finally put together a combination worthy of the VFL. They kicked the first goal, but Melbourne equalised immediately from the restart. Nevertheless, St Kilda held a nine point lead at quarter time, with the lead only held in single figures thanks to a saving mark by debutante Illingworth in the dying seconds.
The traditionally hapless visitors looked like they'd turned the corner, but they were routed after the first change of ends. Moodie snapped the first goal of the second term shortly after the restart and Moysey added another shortly after. It wasn't all good news for Moysey, at one stage he was felled by a Cumberland kick that caught him in the face.
After St. Kilda had one player knocked out, their best defender forced out of the backline by a leg injury, another wrenching three of his fingers, they were down to 15 fit players and Melbourne took the opportunity to run riot. The home team finished the second term with eight goals to no score. In the first game under a new 18-a-side rule, the Reds used the extra space to perfection, rattling on another seven goals to one in the second half.
The highlight of the day was provided by Dick Wardill who goalled after running at the last St Kilda defender then casually stepping around him to finish.
Best were Lewis, Moysey and McGinis.
Media
Herald - 13/05/1899
Argus - 15/05/1899
Sportsman - 16/05/1899
Prahran Telegraph - 20/05/1899