THE FOOTBALL SEASON. - THE LEAGUE FINALS. ESSENDON AND COLLINGWOOD WIN. THE ASSOCIATION PREMIERSHIP. NOTES BY (original) (raw)

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Mon 23 Aug 1897 - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)
Page 6 - THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

THE ASSOCIATION PREMIERSHIP.

The Geelong people, having realised their just de-

sire that one at least of the finals should be played

at Geelong, turned out in force on Saturday after-

noon to see Essendon meet the local heroes. A fea-

ture of the Corio ground on a big day is

the ring of vehicles drawn up side by

side round the rink, and from which a good

view is obtained, while a turn or two round the

driving track which encircles the ground seems to

be the correct thing at half-time. The attend-

ance was an effective answer to all that has been

said about Geelong patronage, as something like

£100 was taken at the gates. The ground was in

first-rate condition, the white English daisies which

used to make "Old Mac," of East Melbourne, en-

vious, because he could never get them to grow

on his turf, still ornamenting the cricket pitches.

Both sides had strong teams and the only thing

to be regretted was a stiff south wind, blowing al-

most directly into one goal. Geelong had this be-

hind them at the start and Essendon expected a

hot time, but though Parkin and Quinn were shoot-

ing for goal within a few minutes, they missed

their chances, and the Essendon backs cheered by

their non success started to play a very fine de-

fensive game, keeping a special eye on James, who

seemed to be the only forward man they feared.

About the middle of the quarter Essendon, helped

mainly by the fine marking of Forbes and Collins,

made a rally, which several times brought them

within scoring distance against the wind,but

though Cleghorn had one easy chance no goals were

got. After getting away to the left of the posts

several times Geelong finished the quarter with 11

points to 2 and should have made a better use

of their advantage in that term. The home team

really played their best game in the second quar-

ter, when with the wind against them they lead

Essendon frequently on the defensive, and with the

points 12 to 10 the game had yet to be won. Up

to half-time both sides when defending against

the wind showed a desire to get the ball as often

as possible into the pavilion reserve, but they were

told at half-time that the offence would be

punished strictly, and it was significant that the

ball rarely went out afterwards. In the third quar-

ter Geelong again started missing, and as the

precious minutes slipped by and the goals would

not come. Captain Conway grew manifestly

anxious, and ran Thompson out from the back lines

to help the forwards, though Burns would, I fancy,

have been the better man. Three times James got

close to goal with magnificent place kicks, the last

of his shots. which everyone declared would not

cover the distance, hitting the post near the top,

Kearney, with a close snap-shot, also hit the post

for Essendon later on. White scored the only goal

of the quarter for Geelong, as James was forcing

it along, and it closed with Geelong leading by

practically two goals. "Not enough." said their

somewhat despondent followers, but "Quite

enough" was the cry when immediately on be-

ginning the last quarter Geelong carried it finely

against the wind, and James with one of his place

packs scored a really good goal. It was only a

crush, though, and an ugly one for Essendon, and

thence on the red and black played their finest

game, and never again let the Geelong fellows

reach their posts, Collins cheered them up by

snapping a goal smartly, but Hastings missed an

easy chance. Just as it seemed Geelong would

hold out successfully, the turning-point of the

match came. Cleghorn got fourth goal, and with

12 minutes to play, Geelong had still a six points'

lead on behinds. Seven of these minutes precious

to Essendon slipped away, and then Campbell got

a place kick a long way out. "Further round,

Colin," several of his side shouted eagerly, for it

seemed the direction would carry it down the wind,

but a magnificent shot put it high up exactly be-

tween the posts and with five minutes to play the

scores were even. Geelong were not long in sus-

pense. Within half a minute. Wright got it, not

quite so far out as Campbell, and another fine

place kick gave Essendon a goal and the lead. It

was the last score, and as the bell rang the Essen-

don fellows and their following cheered wildly in

Though it was an exciting game, it was not a

good one, for Crapp followed the instructions of

the umpire committee and exacted penalties for

every slight infringement—which, in a game of

that character were bound to be numerous. If

then the game was spoiled by over-umpiring, until

the free kicks became irritating in their

frequency, the committee and not the umpire were

to blame, and whether this was the case I leave

it to the spectators to say. That the umpire was

fair, and punished both sides with equal rigour, was

a negative consideration. It could hardly be said

that Essendon played the better game—for Geelong

against the wind in the second quarter played the

finest football of the match, and even their failure

is the ruck would not have lost them the match

but for their faulty shooting. Their ruck badly

needed strengthening all through, for Young was

playing nothing like his usual game, and Joe

McShane suffering from an injured thigh and using

his left foot to kick, was nothing like the

tremendous power he has been in other games of

the season. The Essendon ruck, on the other

hand, played finely, more especially when Vautin

was turned loose after half-time, for his dazzling

rushes and hare-like turns made a wonderful differ-

ence. It was Essendon's ruck play in the latter

stages, and their splendid defence all through, that

brought them out winners, for on the centre line

they were beaten from start to finish. In excuse

for Geelong's bad goal kicking, and many pro-

mising runs on both sides that ended in a fiasco, it

should be explained that the ball was too long, and

made remarkable side shoots when it should have

gone straight ahead. In picking out a few men as

worthy of special mention. Martin, Anderson,

Vautin and Forbes were the four who shone for

Essendon. Anderson not only watched and baulked

James repeatedly, but did a lot of fine play for

himself, while Martin was consistent all through,

and repeatedly saved Essendon's goal. Forbes

worked hard in his characteristic way, and was

always most prominent when the game looked most

critical. The remarkable thing about Vautin's

play was that played he seemed useless, but on the

ball he was the best man on the ground. Kearney

worked in his own hard unselfish way from start

to finish and Collins's high marking and generally

sound play were much admired, while he got two

of the goals. Barry played a clever dodging game.

and though others on the side did well, these were

the pick of the twenty. The Geelong centre line

was very fine, for although both McCallum and

Brockwell were almost at their best, McGuire was

still better while Campbell was manifestly out of

form, he did a lot, however, to check McCallum.

Brockwell made several good runs, but the finest

of the day was credited to Burns, who carried it

from his own goal over the half-line—and many

times during the game the veteran got Geelong out

of an awkward fix. Parkin and James McShane

were the best of the Geelong followers, but Rankin

as rover was not up to the form he has frequently

shown this winter. The three other most useful

men on the side were Flynn, Conway, and Holligan

the Geelong captain, especially, quite astonish-

ing his townsmen with his safe marking.

COLLINGWOOD BEAT MELBOURNE.

It is not going too far to say that on Saturday.

Melbourne and Collingwood furnished the game of

the season, and there was a fair crowd to see it.

the gate being £173/14/, including £19/10/ from

the collection boxes in the reserves. As the crowd

there was a very large one, it would be interest-

ing to know on the authority of the turnstiles

what was the average contribution per head. The

teams were about equally affected by absentees.

ln the game itself, the traditions of both teams

were completely overturned, for Collingwood did

all the work in the first half, and Melbourne, who

generally want a good start before they are seen

at their best, played grandly in the last half, with

a discouraging pile of points to be wiped off. The

ominous thing for the Reds was that Collingwood,

playing against the wind in the first quarter, best

there by three points, and getting the wind be-

hind them, scored four goals to Melbourne's one,

two of the goals, it is but fair to note, being got

after Fry had, through the recurrence of his old

injury, been obliged to leave the ground, and while

Wardill was also absent in search of a new uniform.

his jacket having been form to shreds. Scores of

6—5 to 2—2 at half-time was rather a desolate

prospect for Melbourne. Thus far it had been a

great game, desperate in its intensity, with lots of

the cleverest football and the style in which both

sides picked their men showed discipline and judg-

ment of the best kind. In the case of two of the

goals—those scored by McGinis and Dowdell—it

looked as though the players had really tried to

place the ball to their own men nearer goal, and

got it further than they expected. Collingwood

thought they should have had one more goal from

a dribble, but it was manifestly touched on the

goal line, and not behind it. In the second half.

Melbourne started with great dash, and, playing

a faster game than Collingwood gradually wore

the Magpies down. It was a fine manly exhibition

on the part of the Reds, and it was hard luck in-

deed for them that a few points had yet to be

cleared away when the last bell rang, and Colling-

wood, heartily thankful for a "let off." had won

their first game on the Melbourne Cricket-ground. It was such a game as one might watch for a week

without tiring, the one discernible fault a ten

dency to crowd on to the ball- being easily ex-

cusable in so exciting a struggle. That Melbourne

had the best of it all through the second half is

shown in that they got 2—3 to 1—3 in the third

quarter, and three goals bare as against Colling-

wood's 1—1 in the last term.

With a fine exhibition of combined play it often

happens that the individual is in subjection, but

this was not the case on Saturday, What could

be finer for example, than Moysey's handball.

which helped Melbourne distinctly to two of their

goals. Once Moysey and Sholl exchanged it from

hand to hand a half-dozen times—the Collingwood

men powerless to stop them—and, finally. It went

still without a check them Moysey to Leith, via

Robinson and Young, and closed with a fine goal.

McLeod made one beautiful run, carefully shep-

hered by McGinis and others, and another series

of exchanges between Monahan, Condon, Kaye,

and Gregory was amongst the prettiest bits of the

day. Collingwood had again reason to congratu-

late themselves on finally discovering Hailwood's

true position in the ruck, where both his weight

and skill were a tremendous force in the first half.

All things considered, though, Sime was about the

cleverest man Collingwood had on the ground, for

through his opponent, Sheahan, was the faster of two

filrers, the Magpie had dodgy twists in flight that

were most puzzling, Pannam, on the other flank,

whipped Watson unmistakably, and there was some

slashing play about the centre, where Strickland's

dash and unvarying accuracy in playing out to his

own men were fine, indeed, but not so fine as the

repeated dashes of Lewis, who played the best

placed game on his side, and was second only to

McGinis to general efficiency. Condon, contrary to

custom, played his best game in the first half, but,

like several others on the side, was unable to carry

it through to the finish. Indeed, the unmistak-

able fact that the Collingwood men had then been

outlasted somewhat modified the joy of their sup-

porters in the victory. Little Dowdell was as

clever as a kitten, always in the thick of it, ever

doing something smart and daring, and getting

two of the goals scored by his side. Of the backs

Dow and Monaban did excellent work, and Proud-

foot was even more safe than usual. Smith and

Gregory were also valuable players. Melbourne

missed Moodey from their ruck, especially when

Fry had to abandon them; but the splendid work

of the other followers, notably McGinis, Moysey,

and Wardill, was good enough for any ruck that

ever stripped. Both McGinis and Wardill took the

risks in sticking to the ball as long as there was a

chance, but suffered for it very slightly in free

kicks as compared with the general benefit to their

side. A great factor in their play was Leith's

success as a goal-kicker, for he scored four of the

seven goals, and his kicking was, indeed, fine.

Robinson, as usual, played a most determined

game, while fine work was done on the half-back

line by Herring, Healing and Wood, and yet fur-

ther home, by McLeod. Young was also very

smart forward. McCoy is again to be congratu-

lated on the nice judgment and accuracy with

which he umpired the game.

PORT MELBOURNE THE PREMIERS.

The association season is practically over, for

in beating Richmond so decisively on Saturday

Port Melbourne gained a position from which, they

cannot possibly be displaced, and, as events

have so long indicated, they are the un-

mistakable premiers of the V.F.A. How

they stand in relation to league teams

is a problem which they themselves are very

anxious to put to the test, and may do so in a

game with South Melbourne for the benefit of

McKay's widow and children. Port Melbourne, at

any rate, are willing to cry off their last match

against Brunswick to play this or any other game

that may be arranged with the same object. The

Ports in their game against Richmond excelled, as

usual, in quick passing, high-marking, and above

all, in the smart work done by their forwards.

Up to half-time Richmond played a very fair game,

but afterwards they had nothing to do with the

issue—and once the ball got past their half-backs

a goal for the Ports followed almost as a matter

of course. In connection with this part of the

game the most remarkable feature was that Mor-

ton, who for the first time in his long career

played as a forward, got six goals, while Daly

scored three, and by the time the season closes

will probably have bagged 50 goals for his side.

Cullen, who has just returned from West Australia,

showed his old form, but McGee was absolutely

the pick of the side, with Monagle, Pollock, and

Freame, as usual doing a let of good work.

Parker maintained his place as the best man of

the Richmond team, other noticeable players being

Bahen, who did remarkably well on the wing,

Ryan, Clarke, Watson, and Backhouse. There was

a disturbance at the finish in which some of the

crowd took part, but I am not sufficiently familiar

with the details to say exactly where the blame

In the game between Williamstown and North

Melbourne victory went to the better side, for, ex-

cept in the third quarter, the Williamstown men

showed the better game. The play then was par-

ticularly good, though at other times too rough

to be altogether a pleasant spectacle. Up to half-

time the home team had walked over their op-

ponents completely, a fact that did not in any way

improve the northern temperament. For the

winner, Worroll was the best man on the field

with Warren, Fagin, Scott, Riley, W. Hall, McWil-

liams, Barnes and Guthrie all playing good foot-

ball, Gibbs got three goals for the winners and

Dyson two. For the losers, Graham, H. Launder,

Williams, Grierson, E. Launder, Quilligan, Mont-

gomery, Rolent, and Taylor did best. At Foots-

cray the home team and Brunswick played a good

close game, in which the goal-kicking of both

sides was under the average in accuracy.

Match. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Final. Pts.

Essendon .. .. .. 0-2 1-1 1-1 5-5 35

Geelong .. .. .. 1-5 1-6 2-11 3-11 29

Collingwood .. 1-4 5-5 6-8 7-9 51

Melbourne .. .. 1-1 2-2 4-5 7-5 47

Match. Qtr. Qtr. Qtr. Final. Pts.

Port Melbourne . .. 2-4 5-4 8-7 13-9 87

Richmond .. .. .. .. 2-1 3-2 3-3 3-3 21

Williamstown .. .. 4-3 5-4 9-6 9-7 61

North Melbourne. 0-0 0-2 1-2 2-5 17

Footscray .. .. .. .. 0-1 0-4 1-6 3-10 28

Brunswick .. .. .. 0-4 1-5 1-7 2-8 20

North Melbourne .. .. li 0

VICTORIAN JUNIOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

Results of matches played on Saturday :-Albert-

park v. Fitzroy Juniors-Won by Albert-park, 3

goals 8 behinds (26 points) to 3 goals 5 behinds (23

points). Albion United v. Richmond City-Won

by Richmond City, 9 goals 4 behinds (58 points) to

2 goals 5 behinds (17 points). West Melbourne v.

Collingwood Juniors-Won by West Melbourne, 2

goals 3 behinds (21 points) to 2 goals 2 behinds

(20 points), Royal-park Crescent v. Preston-Won

by Royal-park Crescent, 3 goals 8 behinds (26

points) to 3 goals 5 behinds (23 points).

POSITIONS OF CLUBS TO DATE.

A football match at Strahan to-day excited much

local interest, and brought 500 spectators from

Zeehan. The King and Queen clubs contested

for a prize of £100, either cash or a trophy

of equal value. The Queen won by 5 goals 5 be-

hinds to King's 1 goal 6 behinds.

The football match, Wellington v. Auckland, was

won by the latter to-day by 11 points to 3. This

is the first time for 20 years that Wellington has

been beaten on its own ground in an inter-