Saturday September 19 - Friendly Societies' Gardens
Crowd: 2000

Melbourne 2.5
Essendon 3.8 (half time 2.5 to 0.5)

Essendon win by 1 goal

Goalkickers: Hubbard 1, WJ Carroll 1

Having pulled off the biggest upset in VFA history against Essendon two months earlier, Melbourne welcomed their visitors for their first match on the new ground and looked like springing another surprise when they led by two goals at half time.

Franks was stand in captain for Melbourne, and Essendon had a slight wind advantage in the first half. They attacked first and got a number of behinds before Melbourne took the ball to their forward line for an extended period, then countered with the first major. Essendon were again wasteful with chances afterwards and Carroll got a second goal before half time.

Melbourne nearly got a third to open the secnd half, but Essendon improved from there and gradually overhauled the home team. They were still 2-1 in front with 20 minutes left but spent the rest of the game on the defensive and conceded two goals. The last came within five minutes of the end of the game.

Best were WJ Carroll, A. Coulson and C. Coulson

Notes
Some sources have the score as 3.16 to 2.9 and half-time as 2.4 to 0.6.

Media
Argus - 21/09/1885
Sportsman - 23/09/1885
Australasian - 26/09/1885
Australasian - 26/09/1885