Semi Final 1950 | Demonwiki (original) (raw)

Semi Final, <1950>
vs Melbourne
Saturday 2 September
Venue:
Attendance: 54,817

Match Statistics

Geelong win by 44 points

Goalkickers: Denis Cordner 3, Jack Mueller 2, Stan Rule 1

Milestones:
Last Game
Ken Carlon
Don Cordner
Eddie Craddock
Billy Deans
Shane McGrath
Jack Mueller
Alby Rodda
Stan Rule
Max Spittle

For their match against a side who they'd won two more games than but lost to on both occasions in <1950>, Melbourne's selectors pulled a surprise by selecting Max Spittle on the wing. He had been one of the best players in the 1948 Grand Final and selectors hoped that his experience would help the side despite ordinary form in the seconds. All the experiments in the world couldn't help a side that newspapers described as having "acknowledged defeat before entering the arena".

On a wet day that kept the crowd below a normal semi-final, the flat performance was one of the Demons' worst ever in a final. Nothing was going right for Melbourne against a side who hadn't played finals since <1940>. During the first quarter Shane McGrath lined up Geelong's Bob Davis and instead collected Geoff Collins, breaking his jaw and badly bruising his own elbow. Bob McKenzie broke his toe, then later collided with Billy Deans. Mike Woods was playing with an injured hip, and Noel McMahen a heavy cold.

It took Melbourne 20 minutes to get the first goal of the game, but Geelong equalised shortly after. The Demons had a quarter time lead, and were within striking distance at half time but in greasy conditions with a choppy wind blowing Geelong went up a gear in the third term and Melbourne simply couldn't go with them. The Cordners were winning comfortably in the air, but their rovers and centremen were being outclassed at ground level. Bickford was the only midfielder to win his position on the day.

Jack Mueller was Melbourne's great hope in the forward line, but he struggled for opportunities and was beaten handily by full-back Morrison. Mueller was one of nine players to play his last match that day, a Demon club record that stands to this day. In the last game of a storied career, Mueller kicked 2.2 from seven shots on goal.

Kicking with the wind, Melbourne reduced the margin to 15 during the third quarter, before Geelong recovered to kick four to two for the quarter and be 20 up. Mueller had a chance after the bell but kicked out on the full from a tight angle. Melbourne's last gasp came at the start of the final term, with Denis Cordner setting up a chance for Bob McKenzie, who missed.

Best were Bickford, Arnold and Denis Cordner. Jack Thomson replaced Mike Woods in the last quarter.

After the game, Melbourne asked the VFL to investigate the treatment provided to Collins at the Alfred Hospital. They alleged that he was made to wait three hours with his injured jaw then told to return the next day. He later received treatment at the Melbourne Hospital.

Media
Argus - 29/08/1950
Sporting Globe - 30/08/1950
Argus - 30/08/1950
Age - 30/08/1950
Herald - 01/09/1950
Herald - 02/09/1950
Sporting Globe - 02/09/1950
Age - 02/09/1950
Argus - 02/09/1950
Sunday Herald - 03/09/1950
Argus - 04/09/1950
Argus - 04/09/1950
Herald - 04/09/1950
Argus - 04/09/1950
Argus - 04/09/1950
Age - 04/09/1950
Age - 04/09/1950
Age - 04/09/1950
Age - 05/09/1950