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 the 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 each scored one goal in the third before Essendon kicked away in the final term.

Best were McKenzie, Fox and Harper.

Team
Agg, Brooks, Carah, Comber, Fox, Franks, Ferguson, Harper, Hallett, Hallett, Kelly, King, King, Lording, Lynar, Morrison, Murphy, Madden, McKenzie, McGowan, McNamara, Parry, Strachan, Wiseman

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