Round 1, 1908
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 2 May
Venue: Punt Road
Attendance: 8000-9000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 0.5 | 4.8 | 7.11 | 8.14.62 |
| Melbourne | 3.1 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 7.9.51 |
Richmond win by 11 points
Goalkickers: Alf Jones 2, Jim Fitzpatrick 1, Bill Homan 1, Basil Onyons 1, Jack Smith 1, Bill Tottey 1
Milestones:
First Game
Jack Donaldson
Herb Friend
Alf Jones
Bill Tottey
Only MFC Game
Alex Holland
Last Game
Jack Johnson
First Goal
Alf Jones
Bill Tottey
Melbourne's first game at Punt Road, and first against the VFL debutants Richmond, ended badly for the founding member of the league. The surface was hard and fast, but the visitors were forced to send in an understrength team and were further weakened when new recruit Holland suffered a serious knee injury in the first quarter which ultimately ended his VFL career.
Despite their win Richmond were handicapped by an inability to forget several aspects of play that were successful in the VFA but didn't translate to the league rules. They had the wind in the first quarter but made a hash of it and conceded three goals.
It took until late in the second quarter for the more vigorous Richmond players to kick three quick goals and get themselves back into the game. They then prospered from kicking down the middle of the ground in the third quarter and had opened a 10 point lead, lasting better in the final term to extend the margin by a further point.
Best were Harris, Tottey and Friend.
Media
Herald - 02/05/1908
Argus - 04/05/1908
Age - 04/05/1908
Punch - 07/05/1908
Australasian - 09/05/1908