Saturday September 22 - Friendly Societies' Ground
Crowd: 2000 - 3000

Melbourne 1.0, 1.1, 2.1, 2.4
Essendon 1.3, 1.7, 2.8, 4.12

Essendon win by 2 goals

Goalkickers: Ferguson 1, Finlay 1

Melbourne won the toss and kicked with a strong breeze. They had the ball in front of Essendon's goal for an extended period, and got the first goal through Ferguson out of a scrimmage. Neither team scored in the second quarter, and despite having to defend numerous attacks in the third term Melbourne kept it to a goal each.

The visitors kicked away in the last quarter, with the last two goals of the game.

Best were McKenzie, Fox and Harper.

Selected side
Agg, Brooks, Carah, Comber, Fox, Franks, Ferguson, Harper, Hallett, Hallett, Kelly, King, King, Lording, Lynar, Morrison, Murphy, Madden, McKenzie, McGowan, McNamara, Parry, Strachan, Wiseman (Garton also played)

Notes
Some sources have the scores as either:
Melbourne - 1.2, 1.2, 2.3, 2.4 vs Essendon 1.1, 1.6, 2.6, 4.12
Melbourne - 1.2, 1.2, 2.3, 2.4 vs Essendon 1.3, 1.7, 2.8, 4.12

Media
Herald - 21/09/1888
Age - 24/09/1888
Sportsman - 26/09/1888
Essendon Gazette - 27/09/1888