After a 1994 season which took them all the way to a preliminary final, Melbourne opened the season against the Cats. They had toppled Geelong in their first game that year and lined up against them again, but this time the game took place on Geelong's home turf and they registered a win.
Gary Ablett was the key figure for Geelong, breaking Doug Wade's goalkicking club record during the course of the day and showing up every time Melbourne got close. He was kept quiet by Sean Wight in the first quarter as the Demons take a one point lead in swirling wind, but kicked three goals in the second quarter.
The Cats were 15 points in front in the third quarter, before two goals in a row reduced the gap to three points. Ablett goalled again, but a late Matthew Febey major made the gap less than a goal again at the last change. The comeback didn't last long, with Ken Hinkley kicking two goals in the early minutes of the start of the last quarter.
Farmer's goal came with his first kick in league football. Ablett kicked 6.6 for the winners.
Best were Kowal, Prymke and G. Lovett.