Saturday September 19 - Royal Park
Crowd - 8000 - 10,000

Carlton 1
Melbourne 0 (half time 1-0)

Carlton win by 1 goal

The Blues won their fourth straight game over Melbourne for the year to end a premiership season on a high.

Melbourne weren't given much hope due to a weakened team. Their captain Goldsmith couldn't play and James Byrne came out of retirement to lead the club. They also had a number of other crucial players out, but were surprisingly competitive.

Carlton kicked with a gusty wind to start the day, but Melbourne almost got the first goal of the game after a fumble from the kick-off. Cumming narrowly missed, and Carlton soon settled down as the game degenerated into a series of scrambles. Much of the time the ball was kept on the wing and out of bounds.

Andrew Loughnan missed a simple place kick and Raleigh Davidson another shot to put Melbourne in front with the wind causing havoc as it blew dust into the eyes of players. Carlton eventually capitalised on a defensive error to take the lead going into half time - and it would prove decisive as the only goal of the day.

As the players returned after half time a hailstorm fell. After Melbourne registered a number of behinds, Edwin Towle kicked what seemed to be a goal but the ball bounced off a small boy behind the line and into the arms of Austin Loughnan who appeal for a goal. He could have simply kicked it through to claim the major for himself but instead threw the ball away after the umpire denied him and Carlton kicked it away.

Melbourne continued to attack in the pouring rain and missed several chances, but couldn't find an equaliser before the game was called off at 5.15 as interest flagged in the wet conditions.

Booth, Forrester and Andrew Loughnan were best.

Media
Advocate - 26/09/1874
Australasian - 26/09/1874