RICHMOND'S FIRST GAME. - MELBOURNE DEFEATED. - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 4 May 1908 (original) (raw)

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Mon 4 May 1908 - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)
Page 9 - RICHMOND'S FIRST GAME.

Melbourne sent rather a weak team into the field

against Richmond, for Coute, Park, Strong, Ham-

mond, and Nolan were all, from one cause or an-

other, absent, and Melbourne had the misfortune

to lose their new man, Holland for the match, and

possibly for the season, through a serious injury to

his knee. In kicking the ball he struck a tuft, and

crippled himself so that he had to be carried off

and his knee placed in splints. Neither side gave

an absolutely first- class exhibition of football, and

it was clear that Richmond found difficulty in

forgetting the association practice of not kicking

the ball in the ruck, and were to some extent

handicapped by it. Seeing the two teams in con-

trast like this, I am inclined to think that drag-

ging the ball out of the ruck does not add either

to the pace or attractiveness of the play. Although

Richmond had the wind with them in the opening

quarter, they made such poor use of it, while Mel-

bourne, on the contrary, played such a good de-

fensive game that the Reds looked like winning.

If they had not lost Holland so early in the match

it would have been a much keener finish. In the

first quarter, against the wind, Melbourne got the

goals and Richmond the behinds. As they went

on Richmond played more strongly, and a success-

ful eight minutes towards the close of the second

quarter, when they got a cluster of three goals,

The third was the best quarter of the day, and

saw a still more decided advance in their form.

Condon, their new coach, was urging them to play

straight down the centre, and the effect was soon

manifest. The game was inclined to be somewhat

too vigorous in this term, but the umpire rigorously

penalised offenders till they mended their methods.

When the last quarter commenced Richmond were

10 points ahead, and practically the state of the

game was not altered. Richmond lasted rather

better than the Reds, and just about deserved their

11 point victory. One will need to see them on a

larger ground before estimating their chances in

league company, but their victory on Saturday

was received with the wildest enthusiasm. There

were speeches before, during, and after the match.

The pick of the men in Richmond colours on

Saturdaywere Luff on the half-back line, Heaney

half-forward and following, and Megson in the

centre. Four of their new men shaped very well

indeed, though Condon had not recovered his Col-

lingwood form. The other three were Olson, a

Northcote junior, whose forward work was excel-

lent; Bunn, of South Bendigo, who was first rate

on the half-back line; and Burke, a Collingwood

junior. Schmidt scored four of their goals, and

other good performers were Hill, Lang, and Ma-

honey. Amongst Melbourne's novices Tottey for-

ward and Friend following were both prominent.

Jones got a couple of goals, and is likely to im-

prove, and Donaldson, from Bairnsdale, justified

his trial. Their best man was probably Harris

on the half-back line, though Rigby, Homan, Gar-

diner (who is leaving for Tasmania), Smith, and

Sykes all played good football.