Round 1, 1919
St. Kilda vs Melbourne
Saturday 3 May
Venue: Junction Oval
Attendance: "5000 to 6000"
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| St.Kilda | 3.5 | 7.8 | 9.12 | 12.14.86 |
| Melbourne | 2.0 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 9.4.58 |
St. Kilda win by 28 points
Goalkickers: George Haines 3, Jack Huntington 2, Gordon Coulter 1, Teddy Johnston 1, Herb Matthews 1, Eric Tonkin 1
Milestones:
First game
Gordon Coulter (and first goal)
Jack House
Con Kenney
Bob Love
Percy Love
John McMahon
Eric Tonkin (and first goal)
First MFC game and First game as Captain/Coach
George Haines
100 games
Bill McKenzie
Melbourne returned to league ranks after three years away during World War I, but with a side half made up of new players who hadn't been at the club when they snapped a 13 year finals drought in 1915.
In an otherwise poor, scrambling game it was a creditable display given where their club had come from but the Reds were second best all day. St Kilda - with only two new players in their side - attacked strongly with a slight breeze in the first quarter and kicked the first goal. Eric Tonkin kicked Melbourne's first goal since their return, and the Redlegs were only 11 points behind at the first change.
With St Kilda dominating Melbourne's second string ruck duo of debutant Coulter and Herb Matthews, the visitors were forced to recall Bill Allen from resting in the backline but they could do nothing to stop the rampant Seasiders who took a 31 point lead into half time.
Despite giving up another nine points to be be 40 points down at the last change, Melbourne contributed to the best football of the match being played during the third quarter - before holding their own in the last quarter and more than doubling their score to claw two goals back from the deficit.
Allan was Melbourne's best in the ruck, with Love, Tonkin and Walker also good. Captain-Coach Haines suffered an injury to his shoulder.
Media
Argus - 05/05/1919
Football Record 1919