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FOOTBALL NOTES
By UABKWELL.
UX1SVITJXC WEATHER.
Attendances at football matches this day
week were the poorest for the season, and
the reason was evident to the compara
tively few thousands who did turn out to
watcli proceedings. Everywhere soddened
turf, upon which artistic football was ex
tremely difficult, and equally damp em
bankments, where only hardened enthusi
asts could stand the afternoon of bleak cold
west winds and freezing showers, proved
less than sufficiently attractive for the
main body of fine-day football followers:.
It was decidedly the coldest and most un
inviting of afternoons, but to those who
understand the peculiarities of the sport it
was just the land of day upon which sur
prises might be looked for, and, indeed,-it
provided at least one result that was abso
lutely unexpected. Anything is possible
when grass and ball possess in an exag
gerated degree the qualities of semi-liquid
tallow; nevertheless, one would have been
prepared to stake something big against the
chanc-e of Geelong's overtopping Essen
don. But Geelong, who the week before
had succumbedon their own enclosure to
Carlton, did in every respect outplay and
distance Essendon, the mighty and only
conquerors of famed Fitzroy. No bigger
surprise has been provided for the year.
Had St. Kilda sneaked home a point or
two ahead of Fitzroy, the wonder would
hardly have been greater. Essendon were
universally recognised as vastly superior to
Geelong; and, when the news that they
were in trouble came through to other
grounds, it was received with incredulity.
It was, however, a fact that the red and
blacks were being sorely tried, and when
the trial was over, they remained most
soundly beaten on their merits for the day.
Carlton's success against South Melbourne
was not altogether unexpected, for with
Jo. M'Shane directing" affairs, the dark
blues had proved their quality in the
previous match, and South had not
for some few weeks been playing
up to form. Otiier games, both
league and association, paused out as might
have been expected, but in no instance were
the gate receipts for the afternoon enor
mous.
W'OBK DOWN* IK TUE FINAL TERM.
Wind was well nigh as huge a factor as
wet at Victoria-park, where Melbourne,
with a sadly-weakened side (from which
were missing M'Clelland, Herring, C. Gard
ner, Leith, and Boully). entered the lists
against a powerful Collingwood company,
which included once again the much-cen
sored Rowell, and from which Pears was
the only picked man absent. With the wind
on their quarter in the opening term. Mel
bourne made fairish headway, though even \
thus early the favouring conditions were
largely nullified to them by the superior
talent for playing to one another exhibited
by the 'Woodsmen. In the second quarter
there was room for no doubt concerning the
inferiority of Melbourne's ruck and placed
men, for during this period it was only lax
shooting that tent the 'Woodsmen from
running away with tke game. Melbourne's
best concerted -work was shown immedi- u
ately after the interval, when for about ten s
minutes they eclipsed their opponents on
the ground and in the air, ana ran up a
succession of three goals, that put them 10
points to the good. This was, however, al
most their final flutter. Collingwood had
them in trouble for the rest of the term,
and in the concluding quarter the proceed
ings were very onesided, the locals running
up four .goals and twice as many behind!
to nothing, and almost doubling the total
of their adversaries. Only for a brief space
in the second half was the game carried on
with pace, spirit, and something approach
ing evenness; but the men engaged were 1
handicapped by the damp and comfortless
surroundings. Nevertheless, tbere were ?
shown, chiefly by Collingwood, some high
marking, some long kicking, and some .'
expert handling ana passing tbat wouifl
iave been creditable In the best of weather,
T do not remember another ipune . fotf
year in whigli .free-kicks were so freqnenfe ^
out they were invariably for breacbcs JHftt
were innocent of spite, for the tiisafeVflrtar
?conducted in the friendliest possible spirit..":1
Melbourne'* ruck work Buttoned sevcfely
through the absence of Herring, anq tblsii: T£:
defence was not nearly Solid euot«h to
"withstand the jwweriul onslaugbts of Ooi- ;,?..??3
limwod. ? -*'. >v
In the air eeijcdally tbe

vere supreme. Condon and Mona^han did
! . r Trnark between -them, and the

i.prtness with a greasy ball, and lus uit>

liUv last week was quite equal to the be&t

1C had previously shown. Monaghan Tf:|
mit only perfect in theair; his dash., his
fine long punts, and his vigour m tbe
....,.,1[Uk irrearlv enhanced his value to the
team l'limiiim fairly revelled ui Ins

Mirromidings. and none of his °l]j,one^

could prevent his getting the bail. In
variably. too. lie used it to the be^t enw .
passing it to his men with neatness and

Linl.lv commendable accuracy. . Allan on

;iie oposite wine from 1 anam, put in '
very busy as well as a very lucntonou
time, and had a band in most of his side s

successes. lie was an exceeding!) hard ,

;"u, to beat, and. looking back through ,

tlic came. I cannot recall an instance in

whicfi his earnest uess and j

..wire the call m a hand-to-hand en-;
counter. Rowc-ll occupied his

place in the centre, and. though

L-round hampered him in turning, he de
livered himself of , many straight-ahead
brilliant items that were of genuine ser
vice. No man amongst the team s oe
fenders failed to acquit himselt m lire.
«-las=« style, and. awarding the palm to
Monaghan. 1 would place the others on
merit in the following order:-M Cormuk.
Diimuiett. Proudfoot. G. Lockvood. and
Ri'«h. Certainlv the busiest forward wat>

Angus, a man whom the club may reckon ;
a s;ar in everything save niark^niaii- j
ship: and pivinp him generous aid were i
E. Lock wool. Tulloch, and A. }**'*?

The dav was all against liailwood in the ,

ruck, but he worked admirably throughout, ;

and was invaluable in the matter of knock- -

ing the hall out to the rovers and Placed .
men. Fell. Farrell, and lulloeh had like- ?
wise nroduceive terms about the ball. ,
bourne were fairly handled by .Parkin, v ho
placed a hard, but by no means a cool
same on his own account halt-back. He M?t

his team an example of determination the ;
bulk of them would have done well to copy, i
Bowe was the cleverest of detenaers in the i

first half. and. with a broken finger m (
splints after the interval, he frequency ,

came into prominence. Geddes was solid >
enough right back, but I have seen both i
Pur>e and Moriarty to better advantage..

Young's play in the centre was as smart |

and clever as could be; both Sowdeif and i

Cathie showed pluck and persistency on j
the xvings; ljiuifrioy was o-s brilliant a per- j

former a? anv in the match, and Lewis, :

Couttie. and Rainey were his ablest helpers j

forward. Hocking, as rover, made a great:
impression on the game; and Anderson, a

recruit from the Leopold juniors, was com- r
mendably conspicuous following, where the ;
veteran ruck-man Moodie, though lc-ss sue- j
eessful than usual, was neat and exper, at i
hand-passing. Puffiett. a recent addition to ;
the companv. sometimes came under notice i
with work that stamped him as a capable
fooibailer. The match was very ably um
pired by Crapp.

CARL TO X AOAIX VICTORIOUS.

Two successive wins on merit against

teams like Geelong and South Melbourne i
thou'd l>e taken to indicate that «orrall
has succeeded where a number of other
managers have failed; and L have much
pleasure in congratulating him accordingly.
1 congratulate, toos the old club that in
the past did so much to build up football.
\'o one can be more delighted than I am
to see the dark-blues once more a power
in the land, and no one more heartily
desirous to see them continue, as they
bave lately begun, sweeping all before
them. The credit of their coming along I
this season is. I am convinced, due in a ;
high degree to the coaching, care, and at-1

tcniion of the erstwhile famous Fitzroy j
captain, from whom the Carlton lads have j
learned the very useful lesson of playing]

together, and sinking individualism. Most
mrn in TVorrall'g position would nave been
content to do their teaching from the pavi- ?
lion steps. He, however, adopted a wiser i

course, for. despite the hampering of avoir- j

dupois. Ifc has made it his business to prae-|
tise with his charges, and while doing so |

he has been able to pot them up to wrinkles j

that have proved of great ber\ice in emtr

genc-ies. The clubs advance has revived j
the tire of battle in tbe bosoms of many;
old stagers, and amongst tbe enthusiasts
in the reserve tins day wec-k none were
more gratified spectator than .Messrs. -J.
Donovan. J. Gardiner, W. Donaldson, and
George Robertson (the last-named. I am
happy to say. thoroughly recovered from
his recent severe accident). The attend
ance at the match was larger than on any
other ground: find, though there was room;

for perhaps, twice as many more, there ,
ccuid not liave been more enthusiasm shown
in a crowd three times the 6ize. This ie1
?what the revival of Carlton means to foot
ball. The added enthusiasm of a populous
snorting district implies a gain of incal
culable value. Concerning the match itself,
it must be stated that South, with the help
of the strong wind, had the advantage dur
ing the first quarter, wherein they had bad
luck in hitting the post twice. Carlton e
innings in the succeeding term was turned
to somewhat better account, and the side
Jed bv six points into the third utage.
Here "the Southerners just managed to
make up their leeway, and in the final
quarter Carltou, with the wind to aid them,
ran out fairly comfortable winners.

In the matter of absentees the teams
suffered in about similar degree, for H.
jl'Shane, M'Namara, and Rigby were as
much missed by GajSton as were Howeon,
Jjampe, and FogaritSr by South Melbourne.
Rowland, on tbe wing, plaved the game of
the match for Carlton; though his dub
mate, Scott, half-forward, ran lum close
enough for the honour. Rowland excelled
in pace to and with the ball; and-Sfcott
in high marking and lusty kicks. Walton,
half-back, did signal service, kicking off
the ground, a practice Carlton an a team
made much more use of thantbeir
/.dvemrioR. C. Boss and wateon
likewise defended ably, and Field on his
wing, put in a particularly useful afternoon.
The youngster, Webber, repeated his meri
torious first performance half forward. Jo.

M'Phnne, Marr. aj^Talsh followed infine

style, and Snell agnttx, acquitted himself ad
mfrably roving. 8out« a best work was
done ny Worroll in1^lQ^J?'faere Pjeass,
dtJio & figured in signal ser

e. Alley roving imd i^ced^came ofcen

Iter notice. D. Adamson, Oarbutt/and A

In dkenee: Bindley.

^ ^ <mt U* w ft?

ma^ tiad an equal go with

1I?.Pn, ^re praise

s the team
jparria umnired

>n giving

} to give, the * chance, and they were
j ben ten badly in every +ertu -save tue hurt,
i when, with an enormous lead, their op
ponents were warranted in letting them go
!a bit. W. Naeaniith (3), B. Sharpe (2),

, Brosnan. Jenkins, Trotter, Wilkinson,
; Ji'iSpeerin, Shea, and Drolmn nuide up
i amongst them Fi tzroy's dozen goals, and
: IViker and H. Smith divided St. Kilda's
! two. Alone with the goal-makers, all oi
I whom did other good work as well for Fitz
' roy, must lie named Clarke, Hutchinson,
! aud Burtlett, who distinguished themselves
: respectively m the centre, half-forward, and
! on the wing. St. Kilda were famously
i served bv Matthews, B. Sandford, Hogan.
M'Kay. Tvinder. and the men who kicked
i their goals. Fitzroy experienced their fit'st

l.it of bad luck for the .season, when, just

lief ore half-time their most accomplished.
forward, Brosnan, sprained his ankle badly.

The team could have better afforded to lose j

the match than miss for a month the
services of 60 fine a player.

j GEEI.OXG smi'RISE THEMSELVES.

Whatever hope Geelong supporters may
have entertained concerning their team's
ubilitv to make Essendon bustle was dis
pelled when it became known that Bums,
Donaghy, and Woods were out of the team.
With dismal forebodings the company, thus
weakened, entered upon the task that every

man of them deemed hopeless. Essendon j
liad first say with the wind, but shaped so
poorly that" Geelong were seen frequently
attacking; and the outcome of the term was
but moderately in Essendon's favour. In
the second quarter onlookers were treated
to a sterling exhibition of brisk and clever
play on the part of Geelong, who, "to the
surprise of the crowd, seemea to have their j
antagonists at their mercy. Buchan,j
Forbes, and Young kicked goals; and. but j
for ridiculous misses. chiefly by Bennion, (
the visitors' credit balance at half-time must
have been enormous. As it was they began
the third quarter 18 points to the good: aud
playing even better than they had played
before the interval, thajri^aCba$^«veral
determined Essendp^<pistwi©ifsji ?ij>drver
mitted the red ajty

single goal, froip Jf-taagnificent place

by Hiskens. Di'iring thf^red ternC Essen
don made despetate efforts'tb'tecovS* them

selves, but their-fiercest attacks were foiled j
by the steady ekti£ef>Geelong's- defenders,
who often succoeBB^'iul'traif^ferfiiig the
fight to Essendon's territory* .3* was a fast

and exceedingly earnest struggle to the end,
of the engagement, aud Geelonp eventually !
came through victoriously on their merits, j
Their win. as has been shown, was a j
genuine surprise to themselves and their j
supporters, and it was on that account the j
more welcome. That they were decidedly j
the better team for the day is proved by
the totals; but these furnish only a
moderate notion of the degree in
which they excelled their adversaries
in srpeed. in clever handling, and in con
cert. During the greater part of the en
counter Essendon were almost totally
eclipsed by their superior brilliancy.

Bailift", the Geelong wing man, played the
game of the match and of his life. Mahoney,
{lie talented little rover, surpassed his pre
vious jierformances for the cluK and ran
an excellent second to Bailiff. ^ oung had
not an equal in the ruck, where Buchan was
a very active agent for two quarters.
M'l-iean filled the place usually occupied by
Burns, right back, and filled it to perfec
tion. Reed did splendid defence work;
and Newling, Rapkin, and Pincott, in that
order, were a powerful half-back line.
Bowey and Holland, on the wings, had the
call respective!v against Kennedy and Yol
lugi. though each of these played skilful
football. Forbes, forward and roving, was
always quick, cool, and forceful; and Potter
was a remarkably clever youngster in front
of goal. For Essendon, the brunt of the
fight had to be borne by the backs, and
amongst these Gavin, with his fine mark
ing. stood out in huge relief. Barry, Ander
son, M. Collins, and Mann found more
than enough to ao, and did it passing well.
T. Collins., however, failed to play in any
thing approaching bis usual form. Hastings,
in the centre, did as much and as brilliant
work as any in the team; and Peppard,
forward and following, was frequently ef
fective. Hiskins was kept fairly quiet by
Pincott; Kinn^ar made the most of his
few chances forward; and M'Kenzie and
Griffith, though less efficient than is their
wont, were persistent battlers in the crush
about the ball. This engagement saw Es
sendon at their worst, and their miserable
display was unaccountable, as thev were
practically the same company that had the
week lief ore performed so well again&t Fitz

roy.

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