Melbourne's third straight win to open the year broke a hoodoo which had seen them not win at Brunswick Street since 1921. Victory in the first three games was the first time Melbourne had achieved such a feat since 1899.
The home side was handicapped by missing some key players, but were thumped in both the opening two quarters and the damage was too great to make up in the second half. When the game was played in the packs Fitzroy did well but Melbourne had their measure in open play. The best football of the day came in the third quarter when the home side made a valiant effort to bridge a five goal gap but they'd left themselves too much work and Melbourne further extended their advantage in the last.
Best were Taylor, Dunbar and Johnson. Abernethy's five goal haul came while playing in the unfamiliar role of full forward. Barnes hurt his thigh and Thomas bruised his ribs.
The score was Melbourne's highest ever against Fitzroy to that point.