MELBOURNE ELIMINATED. - Hawthorn's Achievement. - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 15 Sep 1930 (original) (raw)

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Mon 15 Sep 1930 - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)
Page 13 - MELBOURNE ELIMINATED.

Enthusiasts received the greatest football shock

this season when Hawthorn, by sheer merit, upset

Melbourne's aspirations regarding final honours.

Whether Melbourne underrated the ability of its

opponents is problematical, but certainly no

other reason could be assigned for Melbourne's

defeat beyond the fact that Hawthorn was better

able to adapt itself to the prevailing conditions.

The effect of the half-gale was to confine play

principally to the Glenferrie road end, and further

more to upset players' calculations. There was

naturally congestion, yet the game contained

clever passages, particularly by Hawthorn. After

the game the dressing-rooms of the rival teams

provided a contrast. The Hawthorn room was

full of cheering supporters, but in the other there

was a note of despondency. Hawthorn finished

the season as it began it, by defeating a team of

Hawthorn made good use of the wind early in

the term, for its first seven shots produced five

goals. Melbourne's quota was one goal bare. In

the next quarter the bustling tactics of Haw-

thorn's defenders prevented many of Melbourne's

12 scoring shots being taken from favourable posi-

tions. Wittman was too closely guarded to be

effective, while the spoiling tactics adopted

against Johnson prevented the tall fellow from

dominating the air work. Clever low passing by

Harris, Pool, and Hyde gave Cathie a shot that

found the goal umpire and some spectators differ-

ing as to the result. At half-time Hawthorn led

Though never a good game, the match was

interesting, more so after the interval, when the

wind abated somewhat. During the term the ad-

vantage was mainly with Hawthorn, which, as in

the first quarter, scored 5-8, while Melbourne

added 2-1. Both captains, particularly Haw-

thorn's, were changing the disposition of their

forces. Vine had gone forward for Melbourne,

but his kicking was not in keeping with his

splendid marking. Hawthorn momentarily fal-

tered, and its advantage dwindled to four points

following goals from Margitich, Eposito, and

Taylor. The Melbourne defenders, anxious to drive

home the victory, were now gravitating towards

the centre, and twice K. Sharpley was enabled to

run into an unguarded goal and score. The splen-

did play of the Hawthorn defenders, particularly

J. Sharpley, in the closing minutes was the out-

standing feature of the game, which ended thus:—

HAWTHORN, 12 goals 18 behinds (90 points).

MELBOURNE, 10 goals 17 behinds (77 points).

Meade (wing), Harris (half forward), J. Sharp-

ley (back), and Stewart (who followed splendidly

for three quarters), Utting (back), Hyde (forward

and following), Ware (in the early stages), were

players that laid the foundation of Hawthorn's

success. Many Melbourne stars failed to shine.

Vine was about its most useful player, although

his kicking was execrable. Johnson, Murray, Es-

posito, J. Davidson, and Pemberton were the best

Goal-kickers. — Hawthorn — K. Sharpley (4),

Murphy (3), Stewart (2), Harris, Cathie, and

Hyde. Melbourne—Margitich (4), Esposito (2),

Johnson (2), Warne-Smith, and Taylor.