FOOTBALL MEETINGS. - Melbourne Club's Progress. Membership Figure Expands. - The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) - 25 Feb 1926 (original) (raw)

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Thu 25 Feb 1926 - The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)
Page 12 - FOOTBALL MEETINGS.

Melbourne Club's Progress.

Membership Fieure Expands.

Tteicrring to the sterling performances

of the Melbourne team last season the

annual report of the club to be presented

to members on Wednesday, 3rd -March,

'A positioirin the coveted four was de

servedly earned b.v. fast, clean, clever foot

ball, the team delighting the many thou

sands of .spec! ji tors at our games last sea

son. The team held its place in the leading

iour from the commencement of .the sea

soli, running second for tho best part' ni

the time, and finishing in third nlact at

the conclusion of the first- round. That'

tho team justified its inclusion in tlie four

was demonstrated by the brilliant game

our boys played in the second semi-tin.il

match against Geelong; it was a splendid

exhibition of fast, open football. After

establishing a winning lead in Lhe iiivt

quarter they held their gains in the other

stages 01 the encounter, and wou by 101

points to SO. In all departments the 'team

was at its top, and, despite a strong cross

wind, gave one oi ils best exhibitions of

''To lose tlie services of. CI. Donnelly wan

a severe set-back and disappointment ti.

the club. This fine player received his

permit, to play for Melbourne ut the be

ginning of the season, and after lie had

played in twelve matches and also in one

inter-State game against Western Aus

tralia it was suddenly discovered by the

permit committee of the .League that

he (thiough no fault of his own or of this

club) was ineligible, lu conseriueiice he

had to content himself with looking on for

the remaining and most important part of

the season— a misfortune to our club and a

keen disappointment to Donnelly.

'All of iast. season's fine players, with

the exception of C. Lilley and U. Haines,

are available and eager for Ihe fray, ami

there is a long list of aspirants of some

reputation. 'Encouraged by last season's

performances, the club is determined to

do even better this year, and will make

a bold bid for the nremiorshin.

'\Kach year shows an advance in mem

bership figures. In 1024 there was a slight

increase, and in 102n the figure jumped

from 7!)G to 1171. Xo detailed balance

sheet is issued by the club. From the

following comparisons drawn from the re

ports it is shown that expenditure in the

l!-2o season was i-aOO higher than iu

M.F.C. si, aro matches . . JC J 3 59 .. £1656

Tickets =old ...... 318.. 439

League Dividends, &c... 134 .. 5-'s

Total receipts ? 1812 .. 2644

Expenditure ? 2893 .. 3723

M.F.C. matches . . . . 3495 . . 17'J9

Training operations will commence nt

the M.C.C. ground on Tuesday. Kit.li

March, and continue each Tuesday and

I hursday throughout the season. 'Coach

and trainers will be in attendance. Prac

tice matches will be played on Saturdays,

3rd, 10th, 17th and LNtli April.