CLUB PROSPECTS - STRONGER AND FASTER TEAMS - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 22 Apr 1921 (original) (raw)

Fri 22 Apr 1921 - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)
Page 3 - CLUB PROSPECTS

STRONGER AND FASTER TEAMS

Much remains to be done before the

clubs can consider themselves justi-

fied in announcing the composition of

their teams for the season. Men are

being tried by every club, and al-

though, somo of the aspirants for

League honors have been politely told

that they are not good enough play-

ers the majority will not know their

fate until next week. There is a

general opinion that the teams will

be faster and heavier than last year's,

and that the public will have no cause

for complaint of hard, solid battles.

I have obtained the latest official in-

formation relative to the different

clubs, and this is set out hereunder.

Naturally, as they were the premiers

of last season, interest is centred

in Richmond. There has been

a rush of claimants for inclusion, but

it is a case of many being called and

few chosen. They regret that Dave

Moffatt, their burly follower, has retired.

He was the hero of many a

hard-fought battle, and had much to

do in winning the championship for

the Tigers. They had been building

on the hope that they would be able

to replace him with J. Campbell, one

of the leading men in West Australia

football. But they were dismayed by

the action of the West Australian

people in refusing him a clearance.

Unlike our League, the ruling body in

the West allows a player the right to

appeal, and Campbell is taking his

case to that court of appeal. Bettles

is giving up the game. Hope is entertained

that Ogilvie will be permitted

to re-appear, and that M'lntosh

will be on the field when the season

Among those who have been training

are N. Digby, half-back from

Richmond Juniors, and a son of an

old Richmond captain; C. Nott, a

forward from Hawthorn; M. Kelly,

follower and half-back from the

Richmond district; Doug. Hayes, a

rover from Richmond Digger' team,

which was undefeated last season; J.

Barnett, a rover of promise from

Burnie, Tasmania; B. Barnes, half-back

from Richmond District; and

Jack Huggard, a brother of Frank,

who has been one of the stars of the

team. Billy James, the little rover,

has gone back to Kyabram.

There had been expectations that

there would be another James in the

field, for St. Kilda had granted a

clearance to J. James to Richmond.

But the Umpire and Permit Committee

last Wednesday refused him a

Having completed 10 years' service, J.

Jackson has decided to retire, although

it is said that occasionally he might

have a game with the Hawthorn team.

Alec. Mutch, the sound defender, has

also retired, preferring to go in for um-

piring. If he carries out the duties of

that very difficult position as well as he

has played the game, football will be

all the better for his entry into the

ranks of the umpires. It is likely that

Utting will not be in the uniform, and

Percy Wilson has gone across to coach

and captain tho Melbourne team.

The experts and crljftcs at Victoria

Park have pronounced the colts who

have been showing their paces and

powers as a splendid lot of recruits.

Coventry, from Diamond Creek, has

been showing magnificent drop-kicking

ability, and Hammond, a 5ft. 8in. and

11st. man, has proved himself a clever

and tricky centre; while there are opin-

ions that Milburn, the wing centre from

North Melbourne, is faster than Bill

Twomey, and that he has shown better,

judgment. Milburn is indeed a dash-

ing player. Murphy, a heavyweight

follower and half-back from Ivanhoe;

Corfield, a fast half-back from Prah-

ran; and Neil Mau, from Vermont,

have impressed, the critics. There was a

rumor that P. Rowe would not be play-

ing, as he had gone to Sydney, but it

has pleased the folIowers of the Mag-

pies to hear that that was merely a

holiday visit, and that Rowe will be in

the colors when the war gong sounds a

fortnight hence. He is in rare dashing

There was a slight hitch in connec-

tion with the election of the players

on the general, committee, but finally

the following were chosen for the posi-

tions::— L. Hughes, P. Sheehy, C. Pan-

It steadied the old stagers and made

them sit up and take notice last Sat-

urday when the new players beat the

old—that is, the team of last year—at

South Melbourne. There has been

more than the number of applicants for

inclusion in the South Melbourne team

than usual at this time of the year,

and there are so many promising lads

that more than usual difficulty will be

experienced in making the final choice

from the boys who scored 12 goals 6

behinds against the older men's 8

goals 4 behlnds last week.

Victor Belcher has retired from the

club with honor after many years of

splendid service. He has entered the

ranks of the umpires, and a testimonial

is being arranged for by the South

Melbourne club. T. Tynes has gone to

Tasmania, and C. Turner, the back

man, is at Ultimo, and it is not known

whether he will be able to play for

South this season. Those of the last

season who have been showing really

tip-top form in the practise matches

are Stan Wootton, Tandy, O'Halloran,

Allison, and Woods. The last-named has

been appointed coach. He should have

some good material on which to work.

Cazaly, of St. Kilda, has joined up

with the Southerns, who expect

great performances from T. Nadort

half-back, who was captain of the pre-

mier team last year in the Bendigo

League's competition. He is a fine

mark and a cool, clever player. H.

Atherton, a follower, also hails from

Bendigo; M. Brown, follower, from the

Civil Service; H. Butler, from Melton;

W. Condon, rover, and Joe Scanlon, fol-

lower, from the Catholic Young Men's

team; W. Clohesy, back, from Haw-

thorn; Bobby Gibb rover and half-for-

ward, and Ted Marsh, forward, from

the Leopold team; H. M'Donald, fol-

lower, and A. Nicholson, half-back,

from South Melbourne District; Bert

Sutton, centre, from Williamstown; and

F. Laird a forward from Paddington

(Sydney), have all been showing really

excellent football in the training and

practice games. C. Sypott, half-for-

ward, from the Civil Service; V. Wild

ing, and Woodfield, have also displayed

good form. Others who are demonstra-

ting in order to catch the eye of the

match committee are J. Mitchell, half-

back; J. Rogers, a wing man from the

Savings Bank; and Phil Lee, a for-

It is good to know that the severe

injuries sustained last year by King

and Atkinson have left no bad effects,

and that both men are training hope-

ful of striking that fine form which

was of such great benefit to the

Maroons. Strawbridge, who went to

Prahran last season; has returned, and

it is expected that W. Stone will be

able to come down regularly from

Pakenham to take the field with his

old team, under the captaincy of

Percy Parratt, who has been appoint-

ed coach. M'Grath, the rover, has re-

turned to Ballarat, and has been

granted his permit to play again for

the South Ballarat team. This sea-

son's new players, will be taken from

the following:— C. Dolitz, follower,

from Dimboola; N. Wilson, follower,

late of the A.I.F.; Don Payne, fol-

lower, from Rupanyup; J. Moffatt,

follower; E. Kelly, follower; A. Flegg,

half-forward (the three from Eldo-

rado); T. Hassett, half-back and J.

Cahill, half-forward, from Brunswick;

T. Wilson, rover; from Bunyip; J. Ste-

vens, follower; N. Long, half-back,

and J. Piper, half-forward, from Pres

ton; Welsh, rover, from Northcote; J.

Elliott, half-back and centre, from

Brunswick, who was classed as the

best player in the last two practice

matches; N. Cockram and T. O Keeffe,

followers, from Northcote; J. Johns,

follower, from Rainbow; J. Roche,

follower, from South Australia; H.

Collins, A. Browning, H. Devine and

J. Mawley, Fitzroy Juniors; L. Mont-

gomery, back, from Ballarat; R.

Canty, follower, from Gordon; An-

drews, wing, and Hamilton, follower,

from Coburg; W. Reidy, follower,

from North Adelaide; F. Richardson,

follower, from South Australia; H.

Carter, rover, from Bendigo; Morris-

sey, a follower, from Hamilton; Wal-

ton, also a follower, from Wonthaggi;

A. Key, from Carlton District; H.

Cooper, from South Morang; H.

Prowd, from Yan Yean; , and the Hunt

ington brothers, from Coburg. A.

Wood, the sturdy Melbourne player of

many years ago, and M. Green have

been appointed to represent the club

at the League table; and W. M'Gil-

vray and L. Wigraft are now the play-

ers' representatives on the commit-

tee, on which S. Laver has been ap-

pointed in place of E. Buisst, who did

not seek re-election,. Fitzroy's head

men are hopeful of gainlng a higher

place on the premiership ladder than

As ever Mr A. A. Manzie, Melbourne's

secretary, is full of cheery optimism.

"I'm not going to talk of premierships,

or even the first four, but wait and

see," he said to me this week. They

have a list of 70, to select from. The

weeding out process will be entered

upon next week. It will not be difficult

in many cases to decide who should be

informed that they will not be wanted

on the season's voyage. .There is excel-

lent material for building up the team,

and Percy Wilson, the newly-appointed

coach (who has been also appointed

captain by the committee) is pleased.

George Haines, last year's skipper, who

found the responsibilities of that office

affected his play, is giving every assist-

ance to the new captain. Between

them they should work much-needed

improvement into the team.

Melbourne men always stick closely

together and H. Odgers is the only old

player who will be absent this year.

Business matters have called him to

Sydney. Bob Corbett, the centre and

half-back, is working at Ballarat, but

by arrangement is training with the

Golden Point team, so that he will be

in complete form for the opening match

against Essendon. A. Tulloh, a for-

ward from the University, has been de-

lightlng the followers of the Fuchsias

with his fine kicking with either foot

and by his general play. The other new

men whose chances of inclusion are

considered excellent are: J. Flannagan,

from Ballarat; H. Coy (back), from

Port Melbourne; Lethlean, follower and

forward; Thomas, an ideal half-back

from Oakleigh; F. Mercovitch, Carlton;

Lyons, a follower and a police con-

stable; L. Wallace, a rover of the Val-

lentine stamp, from Warragul; R.

Buckway, centre or forward, from

Maryborough; T. Elliott, forward and

follower, from Tungamah; C. Wilson,

follower, from Brighton; H. Jones,

rover, from Albury; F. Willett, a high

mark, from Ararat; M. M'isaac, fol-

lower, from Mooroopna; T. Lord, fol-

lower, from Footscray; W. Gillam and

G. Keady, two good all-round men,

from Murchison; and W. Martin, back,

The M.C.C. are entertaining the

players and committee at a compli-

mentary smoke concer in the pavilion,

Owing to the requirements of the

Railway Department, the East Mel-

bourne ground will cease to be the

headquarters of the Essendon Club at

the close of the season. They hope

to obtain a new home before that

time, and whether it will be at North

Melbourne, at Essendon or elsewhere,

has yet to be determined. The City

Council is anxious to have the club

on the North Melbourne ground, and

there is eagerness among many of

the citizens of the north to have it, ho

that the North Melbourne club should

merge into the League. But Essen-

don people are equally desirous of

seeing the old Red and Black com-

bination on their pretty reserve. I

hear also that the Victoria Park

trustees have offered that ground, al-

though it is not likely that it would

be occupied by two League clubs—

Collingwood and Essendon. So it

will doubtless be a choice between

North Melbourne and Essendon.

Last year's players are all available

with the exception of Tom Fitzmau-

rice, who has been transferred to Syd-

ney. They have secured a fine fol-

lower in Beckton, from Essendon, who

should fill the gap. Wardley (an

Essendon Digger footballer) is show-

ing good promise, is a centre-half-

back, and should strengthen that

position. Hunter (a Newmarket boy)

is likely to develop into a handy play-

er. Stockdale (who played in the

last two matches last season) is the

makings of a first-class footballer. He

has been in town for a few weeks, and

shows fine form already. Maynard,

from Essendon (A.), a fine dashing

player, full of vim and determination,

should be an acquisition. Smith, a

centre-wing player, from Williams-

town, a fine, clever player, with pace,

should hold his own on that line.

Bradley, a big follower and forward

from Apollo Bay, Is regarded as a

likely player. Woodfleld, a centre,

from the Wllliamstown team, with

weight and pace, is pleasing the cri-

tics. Members will be pleased to

learn that Fred. Baring has started

training, and is showing some fine

form already. He has hopes of be-

ing able to get more training this

season than last; with Baring in form

the following division will be greatly

strengthened. Oliver and Morrissy

(local Juniors) are likely recruits who

have been showing out well in prac-

tice matches. Thorne (of Maffra),

who plays centre-wing, shows pace

and knowledge of the game.

Of the younger players who com-

menced last season, viz., Donnelly,

M'Lean, M'Fadyean, Gardiner, and

Faulkiner, who in their matches gave

promise, have been showing out to

advantage, and should make good this

season. Percy Ogden has been ap-

pointed coach and captain, and R.

Laing vice-captain, with the entire ap-

proval of all concerned. All the

senior players have commenced train-

ing, and are looking forward to the

start of the season, and are fully de-

termined to place the team in a much

higher position on the list than that

gained last season, as a final rally on

From a managerial point of view,

everything is going along smoothly,

and any little differences that have

arisen have been satisfactorily settled,

and all are working harmoniously in

the best interests of the club. Mr W.

Raper has been re-elected president,

Mr F. G. Reid hon, secretary, Mr L.

M'Naughton treasurer, and Messrs W.

Fleming and Reid delegates.

Although meetings were held since

last season with the view to healing

old troubles, which have kept St. Kilda

down, and although it was intimated

that all was peace and harmony at

St. Kilda, matters are not as they

It is stated that discontent is smoul-

dering. That is a pity. Surely past

experience is sufficient to show that it

is necessary for all to pull together if

success is to be gained by any club. An

attempt has been made toward a good

start, and Eicke, Woodcock, Cubbins,

Dawson, Mayes, Collins, T. Lowry and

Deagan have been asked to train, but

Eicke has been training with the junior

league team. Schmidt has attended

training regularly. Dave M'Namara,

the old champion kick, has also been

invited to train. It is stated that

either he or R. Williams will be elected

captain. J. James tried to transfer to

Richmond, but as the League refused

him permission, he will probably con-

tinue with his old club. Cazaly has

gone to South Melbourne, but J. Came-

ron, who is now in business in Shep-

parton, may be able to resume play.

Arrangements are being made with the

Goulburn Valley League with that ob-

There was a feeling of satisfaction

when it was known that C. Gambetta,

a star forward from Bendigo, was like-

ly to play, but that feeling gave way to

one of disappointment owing to the

Leagne's refusal of his permit on Wed-

nesday night. New players are J. Jen-

kins a follower from Tasmania; L.

Polinelli, from Dunolly; J. Hill, Beech-

worth; Gleeson, Castlemaine; Sewell,

formerly of the Garrison Artillery,

Queenscliff. Others seeking inclusion

are B. Carr and Do Garis, Prahran;

Howell, Brighton; Keiley, formerly of

Collingwood; Brown, Rae, Hartley,

Callender and Tasker, lads of the St.

Mr E. L. Jones is now the president,

with Mr A. Curran as secretary and C.

Ricketts as coach. The trio have been

hard working to place tho club on a

Never before has Carlton been so

rushed with recruits as has been the

case this season, and the committee

will have a hard task to avoid mis-

takes in their final selection, especi-

ally as there is not much room for

changes from last year's representa-

tion. In the practice games Clover's

marking has been exceptionally bril-

liant, and the other young players of

last season—Hisklns, Wittman, Bick-

ford, Stephenson, and M'Latehie are

showing improved form. It is not

likely that Carter will be in the uni-

form, as he is now in business in

From the Ovens and Murray dis-

trict, where they have made a fine

reputation, Eric Johnson, follower

and half-back, and his brother Tom,

a forward and rover, are coming to

Carlton next week. Clyde Hill, the

star of Mooroopna, will be given a

trial on Saturday week. M'lntyre, a

ruck man from Gouiburn Valley; C.

Blackman, half-back from Brunswick

Juniors; Rogers, follower and half-

back from North Melbourne; Water-

man, a Coburg forward; and Dillon,

a Hawthorn Digger, half-back and

follower, have been working well.

Clive Heatley, the University cap-

tain, will fill the centre position,

which has been a weak spot since

M'Gregor, the champion, retired; and,

on practice form, A. Duncan, a ruck

man from Romsey, is expected to be

one of the best. Frank Maher, an ex-

captain in the A.I.F., Is down from

Lilydale, and his football makes his

claims strong for the post of second

rover. H. Morgan, the old South Mel-

bourne and Footscray goal-shooter,

has returned from West Australia,

and is living in Carlton's district. He

has been training. J. Watson, back

and wing, from the district team, has

been kicking superbly, and show-

There are others doing nicely on

training nights, and Carlton's com-

mittee is satisfied that the Dark Blues

will have a side that will take a lot

Essendon v. Yarraville, at East Melbourne.

Melbourne v. Melboumo Juniors, at Albert

South Melbourne Old v. New Players, at

Fitzroy— Maroon v. Blue, at Fitzroy.

North Molbourne v. North Melbourne Ju-

niors, at North Melbourne.

Port Melbourne—Red and Blue v. Maroon,

Preston v. Combined Churches, on Preston

Essendon League juniors v. a combined

banks team, on the old Brunswick ground,

Collegians v. Melbourne Swimming Club, on

Y.M.C.A. team (Melbourne District Asso-

ciation) v. Sandringham Club, on the Ama-

Hawthorn Football Club will play a prac-

tice match on the Glenferrie sports ground

South Melbourne District play Metropolitan

Farm, at Werribee. Train leaves Spencer

Brunswick will play a practice match

against Coburg at Brunswick Park.

The Fitzroy Juniors will play a practice

match at Meri Park against the Northcote

The Victorian Rugby Union will play a

practice match at Albert Park. Dressing

Deep Rock Football Club will play a prac-

tice match with Abbotsford Juniors. Old

and intending players are requested to at-

The Yarra Borderers (22nd Battalion) will

meet Richmond Diggers at Surrey Paddock.

Borderers have vacant dates on April 30, May