On Saturday 7th June 1884 Rosedale played their first-ever match against Traralgon; the Traralgon team were to travel to Rosedale by train so they met at the Traralgon Station at 11.30 that morning.

The opening of the railway line made playing football a lot easier for towns along the “line”.  The Rosedale team consisted of twenty players; Bulger, Shiels, Greenwell,  Cairn, Sarah, Crowe, Keon, Ryan, Bowman, Simmons, Rowley, Sullivan, Brooks, Beatty, the two Allen brothers, as well as the four Marren boys.

Traralgon arrived at Rosedale but only had fourteen players, but they decided that the spirit of the game was the important point and commenced the game.  By the halfway mark Traralgon had their full team on the oval.  Rosedale won the match by two goals to one.  Behinds weren’t counted until 1890.  Players kicked out when the ball missed the goals, this was termed the kick-off point.

Rosedale made the return journey to Traralgon in July 1884, but before the match could start small trees had to be removed from the playing area.  Traralgon, using their ground better than Rosedale, were able to win 4 goals to nil.

It seems that the home side always had the advantage as Rosedale at home won the third encounter 5 goals to nil.