CARLTON'S SECONDDEFEAT - Four Close Finishes - The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) - 30 Jul 1938 (original) (raw)

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Sat 30 Jul 1938 - The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946)
Page 21 - CARLTON'S SECONDDEFEAT

FOOTBALLERS found the grounds in

1 excellent order on Saturday, and had

a welcome respite from the mud and slush

of the last few weeks. The only slippery

place at the moment seems to be on the

steps of the first four. Last week I pub

lished lists showing the placing of the

clubs, after four, eight, and 12 matches

had been played respectively. Now there

is another change. Collingwood, by its de

feat by Essendon, has slipped from the

four, and Richmond, by its splendid vic

tory over Carlton, is once more in the

four, and with an increased percentage.

Five more sets of matches have to be

played before the semi-finals begin, and

the order is: — CARLTON (44 points),

FOOTSCRAY (40). GEELONG and

RICHMOND (each 32), forming the first

four; Collingwood and Melbourne (each

32), just outside it; Essendon (28), with a

possible if slender chance of reaching the

semi-finals; and St. Kilda (24), Fltzroy

and North Melbourne (each 16), Hawthorn

(12), and South Melbourne (four) bring

Many changes may be expected in the

next few weeks, and there are sure to be

some surprises. Carlton has led through

out, its only defeat having been at the

hands of Melbourne, when, though beaten,

the Blues showed true premiership form

in a courageous recovery, but their play

has never been convincing. They are now

only four points ahead of Footscray, who

seem destined to at last attain their first

objective—inclusion in the semi-finals for

the first time. Those two should be toler

ably safe for first and second positions,

but for third and fourth places there are

five aspirants—Geelong, Richmond. Col

lingwood, Melbourne, and Essendon.

A study of the matches to come leaves

one in a maze. Each week there will

be eliminating contests. On July 30 there

are two games of great importance, Essen

don will visit Carlton and Richmond will

meet Collingwood at Victoria Park. Defeat

would render Essendon's task impossible.

Each week now will bring its own reward

/^ARLTON did not look like a winning

side at any stage in its game with

Richmond on the Punt road ground on

Saturday. The Blues certainly led at

quarter-time by five points, and but for

ragged work in attack might have had

a substantial lead; but you cannot win

matches if you miss easy shots'—you can

not recover the' water which has flowed

under the bridge. The merits of that first

quarter may, I think, be gauged by the

figures, Carlton, 4—6; Richmond, 4—1;

but the Blues had had even more shots

than the points indicate. Carlton was the

faster side in those early stages, but it

Was evident that the absence of Vallence

and Baxter from the attacking lines had

reduced the effectiveness of the team.

Quite early in the game it developed

into a typical Richmond v. Carlton

struggle, In which force was .fiercely

applied and no quarter was given. The

game had not been going long before

there was a brawl near the Punt road

gate, and some blows were struck. It was

very hard and very bitter.

As they crossed over at quarter-tlrae,

Bentley. the Richmond captain, caUed his

men aside, and they stood close together

for quite a while as they listened to his

words of instruction. I don't know what

he said, but, judging by his actions—and

they spoke volubly—his remarks must

have been most pointed, and from the

moment the ball was bounced again Rich

mond assumed control, and by half-time

had created an advantage of 14 points,

and so it went cm. Richmond, playing

splendidly, going straight for goal, bump

ing and being bumped, the "Tigers" gave

such a magnificent display that one could

not realise that this was the side that had

been defeated so convincingly by North

Melbourne and Footscray. Carlton hung

on grimly, but without life, and at the

final change Richmond led by 10 points.

After that it was a procession. Carlton

could do nothing right—Richmond noth

ing wrong—and, taking complete charge,

Richmond won by 20—12 (132 points) to

Richmond was well manned at all points.

It is not easy to separate many of them,

though Dyer was undoubtedly the cham

pion. His strength, speed, and skill were

outstanding. Next to htm Edwards, on the

wing, and Gulnane everywhere, both played

magnificently. Bentley, the captain, de

serves special mention for his leadership

and skill. In addition to playing a fine,

vigorous ruck game, he kicked four goals.

Bentley does not suffer attacks gladly, but

he showed remarkable restraint and self

control in refusing to be incited into re

taliation when a burly Carlton follower In

cited him. Titus, who was playing his

200th game with Richmond, celebrated the

occasion by kicking six goals, and playing

delightfully. Harris (five goals) was

elusive, dashing, and clever, and Crane,

except for weak kicking In occasionally.

Symons, especially in the later stages

when he was splendid, Cotter, and Bolger,

despite'some rough handling, did par

Carlton had few men at their top, but

"Mickey" Crisp, who kicked six goals, some

of them gems; Green, on the wing;

Schmidt (centre), in the early stages;

Anderson, and McXntyre deserved better

support than they received.

p BELONG has had many close shaves

^ In its time, none I think, closer than

that on Saturday, when they kicked 14—20

(104 points) to 15—13 (103 'points)

against the travel-stained and battle

scarred St. Kilda team, and won by a

After a long train journey from Perth,

St. Hilda finished their holiday at Gee

long. They reached Geelong on Friday,

and practised (here. They went on to

the field with nothing to loee, and so

played a carefree game. Geelong led all

through, but near the end, as usual, their

attack was weak, and bebinds predomin

ated. Jack Collins, who injured his foot

in Adelaide, and also against Western

Australia, was away, and thus the Gee

long attack was weaker than usual. With

a lead of only. 15 points at the final

change, and the wind against them, the

Geelong men feared the result, and when

St. Hilda for the flrst time took the lead

it looked all over. Geelong, however,

rallied and got in front once more and

stayed there. It is to be hoped that this

escape will awaken the Geelong forwards

to the weakness of their position. St.

Hilda's mistakes in the last few minutes

G. Dougherty by strong ruck work, good

marking, and long kicking earned the

honours for Geelong, Helmer (five goals),

Arklay (three goals), Quinn, Sell wood,

Mahon, Hore, Hawking, Grant, and Everett

St. Hilda had a brilliant centre man

in Sharp, with Killigrew (rover), Fisher

(ruck), and Davis (half-back) as the most

able assistants. Garvin, Wilson, Bayment, j

Maskell, Curyer (four goals), and Mohr

(four goals) also shone. !

■JkTELBOURNE, having lost three I

matches in succession to Essendon,

Richmond, and Geelong, went to Glen

ferrie full of hope, but not unduly confi

dent, for Hawthorn is not an easy team

to beat on its own ground. In the first

quarter scores were level, 3—3 each, at

half time Melbourne led by 14 points, and

had increased its lead to 19 points by

the final change. Melbourne had played

the stronger game, and had won in the

ruck, in the air, and in brilliance. Their

kicking, too, was good, but Hawthorn's

tenacity refused to acknowledge surren

der. The home team made a desperate

effort to save the game, and almost suc

ceeded, failing by only, one point, with the

scores, Melbourne 9—16 (70 points). Haw

Melbourne was best served by Jack

Mueller, his work in defence being very

fine. His return to form at this juncture

means much to Melbourne. Lock, Roberts,

and Gordon Jones supported him' well.

Wartman, La Fontaine, and Emselle

framed a strong centre line, Murnane

also showing great improvement. Smith

(five goals), Fischer (another to recover

form), Furniss, and Baggott were also

Hawthorn's best man was Naismith, who

marked well and kicked three goals. Cart

wright roved with the pertinacity of a

terrier. Williams, Randall, Samblebe,

Barker, Pavey, H. Alblston, Mills, and

1VTORTH MELBOURNE by a brilliant

finish in which it turned a deficit of

20 points at the final change into a one

point victory, showed its opponents how

necessary it is to keep going. When South

had its lead at three-quarter time it

seemed safe, but North battling on made

up its leeway, and took the lead. South

went for a recovery, but It was too late,

and North Melbourne won by 13—18

(96 points) to 14—11 (95 points).

Morcom was the best man In the North

Melbourne colours, with Findlay (four

goals). Baker, Anderson, Forbes, Green,

Bitch (till injured), and Kennedy as next

For South Len Thomas and Jack

Graham stood out above their fellows.

Pratt (five goals), Moore, Patterson.

Humphries, Smith, and N. Matthews were

jXXJTSCRAY, by its convincing victory

over Fltzroy, left no doubt In the

tinds of even the most pessimistic of its

ipportcrs that it has an undeniable

dance for the premiership. Its pace,

xength, and football sense make It a

ery strong combination, its only weak

ess is inaccuracy in that most essential

ictor, goal kicking. The team is very

t, and at last there seems to be a pro

sect of Jim Cassldy, the veteran trainer,

chieving his first League premiership,

jr which he has waited so long. The

Lde is well-manned at all points, and is

laying exhilarating football. After an

ran first quarter Footscray being slow

> find its feet, the tricolours took charge

nd won easily by 18—2 (129 points) to

In a side in which there were no lag

ards, Footscray had three champions in

lorrlson, Spargo, and Bennett. Next to

tiem ' were Ware, Ollivcr (four goals),

[ickey, and the three Ryans.

Fltzroy's best man was Murray, until

ijured. Dawson, Treweck, Curclo.

Levillc, Ryan, Denning. Sharp, and

IcKenele worked hard, but the side gen

ESSENDON has often benefited by a

trip to Tasmania, and returned from

its visit to Launceston and Hobart last

week invigorated and rejuvenated to face

the mighty Collingwood team. The match

was played at Essendon, and the Dons

won by 17—17 (119 points) to 17—16 (118

points). It was only a point, but that

made all the difference. It. compensated

for the defeat earlier in the season by

Carlton by a similar margin. Collingwood

is feeling the loss of such champions as

Albert and Harry Collier, Jack Regan, J.

Knight, and Percy Bowyer. The game was

well played, plenty of pace being shown,

and were was some rare dash, and a good

use of strength and weight. Collingwood

led at the first change by a bare goal, but!

by half time had established a winning

lead of five goals. Essendon, improving as i

the game proceeded, had reduced the de

ficit to two goals at the final change. The j

last quarter was strongly contested, but

Essendon, showing the greater stamina,

gradually wore Collingwood down, and

won a very fine match by a point.

Hugh Torney was Essendon's match

winner. his ruck work being outstanding.

Dick Reynolds nipped in and out,

and was a most hripresslve rover and for

ward. Tom Reynolds (five goals), Watts

(four goals), Bryce (three goals), Exelby,

Bell, Maltby, Wilson, Cahill. Webster, and

lippiatt all contributed their share to the

For Collingwood Fothergill shared the

individual honours of the day with Torney.

He kicked six goals himself, and earned

many others far his mates. Whelan

played splendidly in the centre, and Woods,

Balfour, Ryan. Doherty, and Pannam

did well. Todd was also busy, but kicked |

MAX. CARPENTER, of Victoria, gained

three penalty goals, Australia's full

score, in the first test match on Satur

day on the Sydney Cricket-ground, against

the All Blacks Rugby Union team from

New Zealand. The AH Blacks won by

The visitors found the weaknesses of

the Australian combination and exploited

them to the fuU. It was obvious from the

beginning that part of Australia's plan

was to stop the AH Blacks inside backs

at all costs, but it was also clear that the

All Blacks before had anticipated this,

and they changed their methods.

A surprising feature was the failure of

the Australian scrum. It was expected

that Australia would win a greater share

of the ball from the set scrummages. A

record of the scrummages from which the

ball came cleanly showed that New Zea

land won 24 and Australia 15.

V. Wilson, the Australian captain, was

a conscientious leader and a hard worker,

but showed no outstanding ability in

countering the AH Blacks' tactics.

The hero of the All Blacks side was C.

Saxton. the half-back, who was the smal

The semes were:—New Zealand: Sax

Ion, 2; ParkhUl and Sullivan, tries; Tay

lor, 3 goals and 2 penalties. Australia:

Carpenter, 3 penalty goals.