Melbourne vs Carlton matches -- 1866 to 1886

 

Background

Melbourne (formed 1858) and Carlton (1864) first played each other in 1866.

They played each other three time each season from 1866-1869, then four times every season from 1870 to 1883.

During the 1870s the pre-eminence of these clubs meant their clashes decided Victoria's premier club in every season from 1871 to 1877.

Only the emergence of Geelong in 1878 broke the Melbourne-Carlton domination.

 

It was not until 1886 that Melbourne and Carlton played each other just twice in a season, regularising this clash among the other fixtures.

 

 

Results of all matches -- 1866 to 1886

 

 

1866

 

30 June 1866

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

Two goals were required to win (until 1869)

 

 

21 July 1866

Melbourne

2

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

18 August 1866

Melbourne

2

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

 

 

1867

 

25 May 1867 /

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

1 June 1867

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

Game commenced on May 25 and resumed on June 1

22 June 1867

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

2

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

24 August 1867

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

1868

 

30 May 1868

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

1

Result: DRAW

Two goals were required to win (until 1869)

 

 

4 July 1868

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

15 August 1868

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

1869

 

12 June 1869

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 2000

 

Carlton

2

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

17 July 1869

Carlton

0

Venue: Royal Park

 

Melbourne

1

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

28 August 1869

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

This match was staged to decide the champion of the colony

 

 

1870

 

11 June 1870

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 2000

 

Carlton

0

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

First time teams change ends at half time

30 July 1870

Carlton

0

Venue: Royal Park

 

Melbourne

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

17 September 1870

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

24 September 1870

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: Large

 

Carlton

1

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

1871

 

10 June 1871

Melbourne

-

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

-

Result: Cancelled

Cancelled - weather

 

 

 

8 July 1871

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

5 August 1871

Carlton

0

Venue: Royal Park; Attendance: Large

 

Melbourne

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

2 September 1871

Melbourne

-

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

-

Result: Cancelled

Cancelled - weather

 

 

 

30 September 1871

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: Large

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

Not a Challenge Cup match. Result revised from 0-1.

7 October 1871

Carlton

2

Venue: Albert Park; Attendance: Large

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

Neutral venue for the decider

 

 

1872

 

1 June 1872

Carlton

0

Venue: Royal Park

 

Melbourne

1

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

29 June 1872

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 3000

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

3 August 1872

Carlton

1

Venue: Royal Park

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

Carlton 16 men vs Melbourne 15 men. Play commenced 3:45pm

7 September 1872

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: Immense

 

Carlton

0

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

Start 3:15pm

 

 

 

 

 

1873

 

14 June 1873

Carlton

1

Venue: Royal Park

 

Melbourne

1

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

19 July 1873

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 6000

 

Carlton

2

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

Venue: Melbourne Ground (Richmond Paddock)

 

 

2 August 1873

Carlton

1

Venue: Royal Park; Attendance: 5000-6000

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

13 September 1873

Melbourne

-

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground

 

Carlton

-

Result: Cancelled

Cancelled - weather

 

 

 

27 September 1873

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 5000

 

Carlton

0

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

1874

 

20 June 1874

Carlton

1

Venue: Royal Park; Attendance: 5000

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

18 July 1874

Melbourne

1

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

2

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

15 August 1874

Carlton

2

Venue: Royal Park; Attendance: 10000

 

Melbourne

1

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

The central umpire considered a third goal had been fairly kicked by Carlton, however the goal had been disallowed by the Melbourne goal umpire who had the final authority under the rules of the time. The Footballer 1875 counted the result as 2-1, but reported in the Argus 3-1. A crowd invasion following the disputed goal brought the match to a premature end.

19 September 1874

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

1

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

1875

 

19 June 1875

Carlton

1

Venue: Royal Park; Attendance: 8000-10000

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

17 July 1875

Melbourne

2

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

0

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

21 August 1875

Carlton

2

Venue: University Ground

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

25 September 1875

Melbourne

0

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 7500

 

Carlton

1

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

 

1876

 

10 June 1876

Carlton

3

Venue: Royal Park; Attendance: 10000

 

Melbourne

0

Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

 

 

 

 

8 July 1876

Melbourne

2

Venue: Melbourne; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

1

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

19 August 1876

Carlton

2

Venue: Picnic Reserve; Attendance: 5000

 

Melbourne

2

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

23 September 1876

Carlton

1

Venue: Picnic Reserve; Attendance: 5000

 

Melbourne

2

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

Melbourne's first goal was disputed.

The disputed outcome of this contest was one of the factors leading to the formation of the Victorian Football Association in 1877.

 

 

1877

 

9 June 1877

Melbourne

1-

1-

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

1-

2-

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

First football game played on the MCG in many years.

 

 

 

14 July 1877

Carlton

1-

4-

Venue: Madeline Street Ground; Attendance: 6000

 

Melbourne

0-

0-

Result: Carlton won by 4 goals

 

 

 

 

 

25 August 1877

Melbourne

0-1

2-2

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 6000

 

Carlton

2-5

2-7

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

29 September 1877

Carlton

2-4

2-9

Venue: Madeline Street Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Melbourne

2-3

3-10

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

Argus 7000; Age: 7000-8000; Footballer: Fully 10000.

 

 

1878

 

8 June 1878

Melbourne

0-

2-

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 5000

 

Carlton

0-

1-

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

Argus: The ground was heavy from recent rains. 'The game was not commenced until a quarter part 3 o'clock owing to the inexcusable unpunctuality of seven or eight of the Melbourne team.'

13 July 1878

Carlton

1-

1-12

Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 7000

 

Melbourne

2-

3-5

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

24 August 1878

Melbourne

1-2

2-3

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 8000

 

Carlton

0-3

0-14

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

28 September 1878

Melbourne

1-3

3-

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

1-17

1-

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

 

 

1879

 

7 June 1879

Melbourne

0-

0-

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

2-

4-

Result: Carlton won by 4 goals

 

 

 

 

 

12 July 1879

Carlton

0-4

1-6

Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 7000

 

Melbourne

1-5

1-17

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

13 August 1879

Melbourne

0-

0-

Venue: MCG; Attendance: Very large

 

Carlton

2-

3-

Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

Played under electric light, play commenced at nearly 8:30pm. (Not counted as an official VFA game)

23 August 1879

Melbourne

0-3

2-4

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

0-6

1-10

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

27 September 1879

Carlton

-

-

Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 8000

 

Melbourne

-

-

Result: Cancelled

Disputes from both clubs over player eligibility resulted in Melbourne refusing to play.

 

 

1880

 

5 June 1880

Melbourne

-

1-5

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 15000

 

Carlton

2-

5-13

Result: Carlton won by 4 goals

2000 sheep grazed the MCG to prepare the ground.

 

 

 

10 July 1880

Carlton

-

2-9

Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 10000

 

Melbourne

-

2-8

Result: DRAW

Match accounts note that among those attending were mounted troopers and "ragged urchins".

21 August 1880

Melbourne

1-5

1-6

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 5000-6000

 

Carlton

1-1

2-7

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

Weather was very wet. The ground was very slushy, and the players had great difficulty maintaining their equilibrium.

25 September 1880

Carlton

0-2

0-5

Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 10000-12000

 

Melbourne

0-3

0-14

Result: DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1881

 

4 June 1881

Melbourne

2-3

4-4

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 12000

 

Carlton

2-6

2-8

Result: Melbourne won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

 

23 July 1881

Carlton

2-3

4-7

Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 12000

 

Melbourne

1-5

1-9

Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

 

 

 

 

 

27 August 1881

Melbourne

2-3

3-6

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000

 

Carlton

0-8

3-19

Result: DRAW

Argus: 'The game, which was one of the best played this season, ended in a draw'

1 October 1881

Melbourne

0-1

1-3

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 8000

 

Carlton

1-5

1-9

Result: DRAW

Argus: 'The day was altogether unsuitable for football, the temperature being very high, and the wind extremely strong and hot from the north. '

 

 

1882

 

3 June 1882

Melbourne

2-4

2-5

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 9000

 

Carlton

2-8

6-13

Result: Carlton won by 4 goals

 

 

 

 

 

22 July 1882

Melbourne

0-7

1-15

Venue: MCG

 

Carlton

0-4

2-11

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

2 September 1882

Melbourne

2-4

3-9

Venue: Melbourne Football Ground; Attendance: 10000-11000

 

Carlton

3-6

3-15

Result: DRAW

Argus: 'The attendance of spectators being larger than has been witnessed at any match during the season.'

30 September 1882

Carlton

0-4

7-15

Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 3000

 

Melbourne

3-8

3-12

Result: Carlton won by 4 goals

Play commenced at 4pm.

 

 

1883

 

2 June 1883

Melbourne

1-3

3-7

Venue: MCG

 

Carlton

3-7

5-7

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

Benefit match for George Coulthard.

 

 

 

28 July 1883

Carlton

0-7

0-10

Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 8000

 

Melbourne

0-5

1-11

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

1 September 1883

Melbourne

1-3

2-17

Venue: Fitzroy; Attendance: 6000

 

Carlton

1-5

1-8

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

Played at the new Fitzroy Cricket Ground.

 

 

 

29 September 1883

Carlton

2-4

2-15

Venue: Prince's Oval; Attendance: 9000

 

Melbourne

0-4

0-8

Result: Carlton won by 2 goals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1884

 

10 May 1884

Melbourne

3-4

3-8

Venue: MCG

 

Carlton

2-5

2-10

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

Argus: 'It has, perhaps, never happened that there has been a larger attendance on the ground and in the stand reserves.'

12 July 1884

Melbourne

1-8

1-17

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 4000

 

Carlton

0-7

0-13

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

30 August 1884

Carlton

4-15

4-18

Venue: EMCG; Attendance: 1500

 

Melbourne

0-0

3-12

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1885

 

2 May 1885

Melbourne

0-1

1-6

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 9000

 

Carlton

3-10

6-13

Result: Carlton won by 5 goals

 

 

 

 

 

27 June 1885

Melbourne

1-5

1-8

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 6000

 

Carlton

1-11

2-14

Result: Carlton won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

29 August 1885

Melbourne

0-3

2-9

Venue: Friendly Societies' Gardens; Attendance: Very moderate

 

Carlton

2-6

5-8

Result: Carlton won by 3 goals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1886

 

8 May 1886

Melbourne

0-1

1-4

1-4

1-7

Venue: MCG; Attendance: 5000

 

Carlton

2-2

3-5

4-13

6-15

Result: Carlton won by 5 goals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 August 1886

Melbourne

2-1

3-1

5-4

6-5

Venue: Friendly Societies' Ground; Attendance: Large

 

Carlton

1-3

3-3

3-6

5-8

Result: Melbourne won by 1 goal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Andrew Robinson

Author: Andrew Robinson (contact: andrew at elitetograssroots dot net)
First created:
14 July 2012
Last updated: 9 December 2024

(C) Copyright Andrew Robinson
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.

 

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