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FOOTBALL NOTES.
Rv MARK WELL.
LAPT AVEEK'S V.F.L. GAMES.
Leaguers, who ushered in this season
with brilliant fixtures four tSaturdays ago,
have found each successive round of games
furnishing more and more convincing evi
deuce of the general equality and of the un
precedented excellence of competing com
panies. Last week's record was most re
markable. It showed conclusively that the
difference between Carlton at one end of
the list, and Collingwood at the other, ate
nothing like so great in play as in posi-{
tion. The Woodsmen were for half the en- j
gagement as able, as active, and as success
ful as tbeir adversaries, and it was only|
their permitting themselves to grow rattled j
owing to the increased pace and forceful
nese of Carlton in the third quarter that led'
to their ultimate failure. Their weakness!
is not, however* organic, but may, and I
dare say will, be overcome by its more
youthful members gaining experience in stiff
encounters, and by closer attention to train
ing. There are amongst them such a num
ber of highly capable men, that one may
safely predict trouble for their opponents
later on. Melbourne gave further proof
of their calibre by pulling off their match j
against a very strong South Melbourne |
combination. Their success in goal-making
was on this occasion phenomenal, and it
won them the match, despite the fact that.;
in all-round play -.the Southerners were
tbeir masters. That University should be
found trouncing the full strength of St.!
Kilda, a week after the latter had romped
home against South Melbourne, was hardly
anticipated; but their magnificent win was
welcomed, nevertheless, by the public. The
pace, power, and concert they exhibited
in acquiring their victory told of
immense possibilities for the year. There,
was presented for the delectation of patrons
at the (leelong-Fitzroy engagement a cha
racteristically brilliant iFitzroy finish that
lifted onlookers to their toes, and won the
maroons a match whieh, until the last quar
ter, seemed as much (Jeelong'e as theirs.
The storing np of reserve force for ase in
emergencies is a precaution the value of
which is recognised in other places as well
a6 Fitzroy. Indeed, it is precaution which
must be taken by every team that reaffy
means to succeed. Fitzroy will this after
noon meet at Carlton a company, which, like
themeelres, is capable of rising to an emer
gency and finishing with a rattle.
CABLTON TllOEOUOIILY BOUSED.
Uarehfcank and Kennedy re-oppearedin
Carlton's team against
land, Heatley, and Pears replaced Hughes.
Hash, and Saddler in Collingwood's eighteen.
The ground at Victoria-park was relentlessly
li.nd; hut the weather was perfect, and the
attendance both large and enthusiastic.
Local supporters were, indeed, in a perfect
heaven of delight during the earlier half of
the game, for the home team exhibited
ability that quite equalled Carlton's, and
.that threatened to lead to an exciting
J finish. There was pace in the game from
J the start, and generally in the opening
quarter the play oscillated between one end
of the ground and the other with pleasing
frequency, though with but little result.
Ten points to Collingwood, who had some
slight help from the breeze, and eight to
Carlton, composed the total for the term,
and each tally included six for a goal. Thus
far there was nothing for either side to
crow about. On changing ends, the Woods
men added a second goal, to which their ad
versaries suitably replied, and, as in the
previous quarter, chances continued to be
gained alternately on either hand, right up
to the interval. Superior marksmanship on
the part of H. Kellv, told, however, in Carl
ton's favour, and tlie visitors without hav
ing had a bit the better of the play were
four points to the good. It was after the
interval that tlie greater power, vim, and
dash of Carlton began to be exhibited, and
it was here the teams drew apart rapidly
in the matter of point-making. Collingwood
lacked the requisite resisting power to cope
with the dark blues' vigorous onslaughts
and, as a consequence, goal after goal
was lioisted until the Carlton lead amounted
to 34 points. Thus in a few minutes were
the hopes of locaj players and supporters
well nigh extinguished. There was really
no reason why Collingwood should have
succumbed in that fatal third quarter. Had
they roused themselves to their most de
termined action, they must have stayed
Carlton's advance. That they were capable
of tine force and giiied with pace as great
as Carlton's they proved in the final strug
gle, when they threw their souls into then
work, and kicked 2—1 to their antagonists'
I—1. Judged upon their play in the first
two quarters, and in the last, the magpies
are a far better team than results have so
far indicated. They will most certainly
make themselves properly felt when their
thick sprinkling of freshmen shall have been
trained to their top, and taught their respec
tive parts in the gr-nc-ial scheme of the
team. Against Carbon there was largely
lacking that precision of passing to the man
that has in the past been Collingwood's
strong point.
That Carlton will require a lot of beating'
for the season'6 higke-t honours will be con-'
ceded by all who have seen them reallv in
action. One has hut to read the list of
i champions the team includes to be convinced
of its magnificent capacity. Of the whole
side, as seen at Collingwood, there were
but three, perhaps four, who could be re
garded as Below the average in physique,
and each of these was a star in his own de
partment. _ The remainder were not only
big, strapping, or strong, sturdy fellows;
but every man of them was a finished foot
baller, hardened and fitted for stiff battles
by years of thorough training, and young
enough withal to retain the dexterity of
movement and the flexibility of joint indis
pensable to a tiptop player. There are
amongst them a moderate few who have
been for several years in the. first flight of
footballers; but there is not one that shows
as yet the least sign of failing prowess. A
magnificent body of defenders could he
found in Bed;, Gillespie, and Clark (right
back), and Gotz, Payne, and Jinks or'
C., Hammond, in tbe outer treuches. With
M'Gregor on the injured list the centre
line woe rather below ita best, but Bruce
was as reliable aa ever, and Kennedy had'
always to be reckoned with. H. Kelly,
Marclibauk and Caiac, in that order, were
toweling agents in attack, and for briskness
and pluck, Koockew, Topping, and Gar
diner, the smaller trio of forwards,1
could scarcely be excelled. J
In and about the ruck, too, the team_ was ^
handsomely manned, in the absence of the !
great gun, Johnson, by Elliott, Hammond,'
Jiuks, Marcbbank, Gotz, and Lung. It is
by no means surprising that so hue n team
stands at the top of the tree after four
games, with an unbeaten record. Of the
Colling wood company, Howell is the only
old player who shows a tendency towards
decline. In this game he was, apparently,
unable to get the ball when he was ex
pected to get it; nor did he use it during
the game to anything like advantage.
Either be had entirely lost his football, or
be was wofidly out of form. Nash,
Wilscher, and Duramett, defending;
M'Hale and Gibb, on the centre-line;
Droban, half-forward : and Pears, as rover,
all had dash as well as experience, and
helped their side right well; whilst of the
more recent comers, Huns tan, bade; Her
bert, and Holland, half-back; Ryan,
and Diggle, in attack; and Gyton and
Heatle.v. on the ball, gave highly
satisfactory exhibitions, save 111 that fatal
quarter, wnen most of them seemed rattled.
The umpiring of Coombes was thoroughly
pleasing to all disinterested onlookers.
CHARACTERISTIC FITZROY FINISH.
Every game since tbe start lias found
steady, but certain, improvement in tbe
ranks of Fitzroy, whose team is, as here
tofore, under the care of most able and ex
perienced managers. M'Williams, M'Len
nan, and Owens were included last. week
instead of Duncan, L. Sharp, and Campbell,
and the big freshman, Taylor, was given his
his opening trial. Geelong were without
M'Kay, M'Kinley, and Newling, whose
places were taken by Bell, Stoddart, and
Orchard. This was in some ways an ex
traordinary match. At the first change
Geelong lea by two points; at half-time,Fitz
roy had exactly reversed the order, and,
when the last change was effected, the tal
lies were dead level, 32 points all. Up to
this, there seemed every promise of a stub
born and close finish. There was,
however, a decided alteration introduced,
by Fitzroy during the closing quar-j
ter, for they electrified the crowd'
(which, by the way. was a large one) with j
the forcefulness, stall, and speed of their
movements,- and they cut the ground from
beneath the feet of their antagonists. Gee
long made manful efforts to stem the deter
mined earnestness of their numerous at
tacks; but Sharp and his men were wound
up to their topmost pitch, and would not
be gainsaid. Ere the quarter ended thev
had gained three additional goals, struck
the post twice, and secured a further three
points for beliinds. They had Geelong
badly under punishment the while, and per
mitted them to score but a goal and a be
hind for the quarter, Geelong's experience
was similar to Colling-,vood's. They were
knocked out of their stride completely by
the brilliant finish of (heir adversaries. The
maroons may be expected to give a first-late
account of themselves to-daV at Carlton.
Bailes, nominally stationed on one wing,
made himself the most telling factor in the
game, as he not only held control at tbe spot
indicated; but was untiring and invaluable
in helping his fellows all over a wide
area of the field besides. M'Williams,
playing in the centre received heaps of help
from nis sturdy flankman, but M'Wil-1
liams himself was one of tbe brightest stars,
of the team, and did his side great service.!
It was a judicious move to send Beauchamp i
from his old time spot in the centre into the
attacking lines, for he played an artistic!
game in the new position, and kicked;
three goals as well. Along with Bailes, j
M'Williams, and Beauchamp, must be;
named for ' general exeelleucc Tay
lor, Cooper, L. Barker, Johnson,1
Smith, M Lennan, Millis, and Walker;'
whilst of tbe rest of the team it mav be
said there was uo weak joint amongst them.
Geelong were most brilliantly and effec
tively served by Slater, who was eoually ser
viceable defending and in the ruck. Ran
kin again distinguished himself in goal;
Doull, Muran. and Scown formed a centre
line of uncommon merit; Grigg and Eason,
were sparklers up forward; HasselFs roving i
was a highly-finished performance; ana;
Cameron was a most praiseworthy ruck
man. Boyle's umpiring lacked the import
ant element of consistency; and was less
than perfect in other regards as well.
UNIVERSITY ASTONISH ST. KILDA.
It has not taken the students very long
to prove their fitness for tbe highest plane
of football in the land. Following up their
good form of the three previous games, they
last week administered defeat to the most
powerful eighteen St, Kilda could send out.
Ellin, Scott, and Co well were no doubt
missed by the Saints; but ParsonB, C. Bant,
and Kulpa, were capable substitutes, and
were by no means answerable for the side's
being ueaten. Fine pace was shown even
in the opening term, when St. Kilda,
with the breeze against them held
their own in play, though owing
to wild shooting, they dropped a
bit behind in points. University added but
one goal in the second quarter, during which
they found it necessary to devote earnest
and almost constant attention to defence.
Saiuts forced things vigorously enough 'the
while, but only at long intervals were they
able to outplay their adversaries' backs, and
at half-time their lead stood at the equiva
lent to a single goal. The third' quarter
belonged absolutely to University, who
were supreme in every department of play.
They helped themselves to the extent of 8
goals ana 2 behind*, and.they denied their
opponents the consolation of evoi a single
point. Their lead of 26 points at tbe last;
change gave theftiao firm a hold on the';
game that the desperate 8awta, who,spared]
neither themselves nor their -viiitors in]
their efforts to effect a recovery, were ml
tbe end badly beaten. University deserve!
very hearty congratulations: for haying!
drubbedthe vanquish era of Eoutu MeJ-l
bourne; It must now_ be universally ad
mitted that they are first-daw emnjvmy,!
and one that no club on the list wiH we]
justified in hieing without misgivings. I
would warn them, however, air I warned
them in a previous issue, that the bold,
enterprising spirit that puts them in -Hie
lead should be trusted to keep them there.
It suggests lack ofconfidence, audi* an un
doubted . weakness to mass themselves iu
then trenches 'and Invite the enemy to at
tack. In other words, concentrating their
forces back keeps "the play continuously in
the vicinity oftbeirown goal, to the al
most certain adranlag? of the,, other,
fide. The bold, brave poHcyieatortce
I he more becoming snd tbe more profitable.
Individually,and collectively the students
are proving themselves formidable. Seward
is-an ideafruckman. and he is likcwise in
taluable both ^aa^ndei and asa ~
Rate made a most successful rover n
Fogarty, like his brother, did Iris .bcEt'w^
1 on the ball; Sleeman ecfepsed his on
| wingnun; (Srey showed .spTendfd°
amongst the bocks after half-time- H « ^
1 K. f7u-dni>r were two of thf>bri<rl.fL'< 5V an«
E. Cordner were two ofthe.brightesl nwJU?
in the field; and Browning acquitted
admirably amongst the forwards. St
. were indebted for excellent support ta rn
Stewart half-back, Lever in goal C
back, J. Stewart <m the wing M'NanH
and Mornssey ou the ball and in attirS"
and Berwick roving. The big follow^
Cumberland, gave valuable help durfS
the engagement, but he figured much fen
conspicuously than in the match acainS
South Melbourne.. He bumped up a®
heavier ruckmen in last week's game and
as a rule, they kept him well in hand,' Tut
loch administered the rules firmly and witfe
absolute impartiality, and though the rata
of going was fast and many of the bumr«
severe, there was no bad feeling engendered
on either band.
SUPERIOR MARKS ItAXSHIP VTK6.
South Melbourne sent out their strongest
team for the year against Melbourne, the!*
eighteen including for the first time Fra&Iq
and Ghent, who had been found to
have been illegally disqualified, and
Drane, whose services on the wing
were much appreciated. H. Purse wag
away from Melbourne, and Coutie officiated
as captain. The match was remarkable in
many ways. Throughout the greater part
of the afternoon, there could exist no doubt
concerning the superiority of South's plag
and system; nevertheless, the headway
made by the team was amply counters
balanced by the great accuracy of Mel.
bourne's goal-ktckers,Tea times, prior to the
last change of ends, did the latter aim at
the opening, and once only did they fail to
bring up the two flags. . Their miss ram;
from the easiest of all their chances, and re*
suited in a poster. South's shooting was
rather above the average, and would have
won most games; but Melbourne's was
superb, and, after the first quarter, the lab
ter assumed the lead. They were eight points
ahead at half-time, and five points at the
last change. Then came the crucial period
of a really great game. Conquest quickly
increased the gap with a further goal, and
the Southerners at once roused themselves
to renewed -activity. Playing with rare
spirit, the Hillsmen stormed Melbourne's
goal, which, with a neat kick by Kerr, they
succeeded in capturing. Again and again
they bore down overwhelmingly upon tnor
adversaries' defenders, and rour times, in
rapid succession, they crossed the goal-line;
but outside the. posts. Melbourne's grip
seemed weakening, and a further goal
by Casey gave South the lead by five
points. But the gallant reds were fai- from
beaten. They rallied in thrilling fashion,
swooped down upon South's goal, twice
carried it by storm, and with an interven
ing behind, were soon eight points to the
good. South answered with another mighty;
effort and a goal, and then before the bail
could be bounced in the centre, rang out the
final bell on Melbourne's hard-earned vic
tors' by just two points. The whole game
had sparkled wtth brilliant episodes, and
the last few minutes of jt had aroused more
enthusiasm than had been witnessed for
years on the M.C.C. or any other football
ground of the metropolis. South's loss was
attributable to bad fortune, not poor foot
ball: whilst the magnificent marksmanship
of Melbourne merited a particularly high re
ward. 1 do not know that it did not ab
solutely deserve the win h gained.
Amongst the successful company, Pearee,
in goal: Harris, half-back: B right, on the
wing; Nolan and Donaldson, following;
Norman, as rover; and the for wards
Onyons (3 goals). Smith. Coutie (2 goals),
Conquest (2 goals), and .Tones (2 goals)
were specially prominent members. Franks
tired quickly in jjhe ruck for South; but
Ghent, roving and placed, was ever' useful*
The best man on the side was, however,
Bicketts, who handled the ball most effec
tively, and who picked his men with un
failing accuracy. Others of the side who
earned much more than a word of praise
were Drane and Wade, on the centre-line;
Anderson, half-back; Belsher. Caiuerou, and
Callan, in the ruck; and Kerr, forward,
where, with fewer opportunities, he al
most rivullcd Ric-ketts for chief honours lit
the match. Wregge umpired satisfactorily,
EVEN* CAME FIRST IUI.F.
Misfortune robbed Richmond of their
finest pair of ruckmen, Lang and Hard;man,
and of their captain, Panam, in their im
portant fixture with Essen Jon, who were,
themselves, minus a couple of good men,
Sewart, and M. Shea. Helped slightly by,

i,„i- more by their own brisk
,,lP/V'i!wn(1on put up three goals before

pt?lH ■ n1.'r,nf1 n>Unf time linn nan.

pt''V ■ ,'^,1 (|l)jie realised what was happen

oP^^rfs, however,

jne. X7ic

admii-iihly guarded for the rest of the term!
an,l 1.1)0 Kichmonoites, themselves, grew
Jnonii,H<a»,i'y more aggressive. The second
Quarter found the new team doing better
,v0)k nil round, and sporing faster than
Jissemlon. ond at the interval the scores
wen* ci] in I. Had Richmond not shot poorly
tlicv might have established a sound lead

.n (lnV lonn; for jthey had many more
1!1 ( Iimh they allowed their opponents.
A u'iih fiirlton at Colhngwood, so it was

wilh tic Hod and Blacks agaihst Richmond,
n'lio first half flattered Richmond's sup
„oV(ei'i= with the notion that their men had
I -vat chance of making a name for them
-alfPS. I' ut the second had notion^ started
6<ipnS tl'i'il notion was rudelv dispelled.

S.lon's forcefulness and dash just swept

r day. Richmond, striving daunt
?n°i„ i iniat a much superior combination,

KU^l l»>t a goal in each of the last two

Vwhilst their adversaries compiled 6
m1-' and HI behindB.. There can be no
iCbt'thal Richmond were severely handi
canned through the absence of their two fine
fXu-eti and there can likewise be no
doubt that their display in the first half
before their ruckmen tired was well up to

loaenr standard.

jTccendon. for the first tune for the year,

' „Pw forward, P. Shea, in his true
form and placing as was his wont in W.A.,
where ha was the recognised champion of
Jhe "oldlields. He was greatly in evidence

'it),r ],;< skill in attadk, both before and
uft-er the interval. In fact, be was almost
the onlv Kssendonian who shone during
both halve* of the game. Those who rose
to IiHi excellence during the later stages
were Ihislwidgc. Griffiths, Johnson, George,
Londerean. 1). and L. Smith, Belcher, Arm
strong ""and Martin. There was a long
period in 1 iie earlier half when Condon was
doing splendid execution on behalf of Rich
mond and throughout the day his help was
invaluable. Little Mahoney, too, was as
bright as a button from first to last, and
took a deal of stopping. Other Rich
mondite= well worth a line were Bums,
Meg-son. O'Connell, Luff, Stainer, Bourke,
Law-on. H ill. and Bowden. The match was
intelligeiillv umpired by Bain, a man here
tofore unknown to fame outside junior
circles. He did so well in this game that
be is .iiistilicd in expecting other engage
ments for the year.

V.F.A. ENCOUNTERS.

The leaders of association clubs thus far
are Esscndon, and, if they manage to keep
their stars going to the end. there can, I
fancy, be no bigger certainty than that
they will annex the premiership. There is,
of course, a long way. and a hard one to
travel to the end of August; but some
thing unexpected will have to happen if
they are to be supplanted. They played
a moderately ereu first-half against Pres
ton last week, and, when they set them
selves earnestly to work in the later "stages,
they played all over their opponents.
Trotter, though scarce recovered from an
attack of influenza, bagged five goals, and
hit the post twice; ana Barlow gained four
goals, besides showing in other ways the
finest football of Hie match, whilst
Gough, Madden. Wright, H. and W. Pain,
Rennetf. (Jieffers, Monagle, and Muuday
did very valuable service. Preston's
liest players were Ogden, Brown, E.
Yeoman*. Hannen, White, Hendric, Mason,
and lion aid; and the team were heavily
handicapped through the unavoidable ab
sence of S. Hail, Punch, and Lambert.

Up to the last change of ends, Prahrani
played second fiddle to Williainstown, who
were on their own ground, and in first-rate
fettle. In the last term it was the men

from Toorak-pnrk that made the pace and
gained the points: but they had timed their
run too late; ana had not nearly made up
their leeway when the bell called botn
teams off the field. W. Outen was, accord
ing to anticipations, chosen captain of
IVillirnustown, in the place of M'Kay, who
had expressed a desire to be relieved of the
pflicc. and the change had no ill effect upon
the form of cither man. Allcv. Monar,
Fail child, J. and A. Caldwell,* Reitman,
Garbutt. Johnson, Gibbs, Addison, and M.
Outen, likewise shaped admirably. Prahran
received most satisfactory support from
Brown. Ncill, Smith, CulJen, Carlson, Tur
ner. Royland, Johnson, Watts, Rourke,
Bennion, and Busbridge.

A close and intensely exciting, but,
withal, friendly finish, was seen at Port

'Melbourne, Where Northcote were returned
•victors by four points. But even this small
j margin is-disputed by the Portomen, who

claim that they are entitled to a coal they
I kicked close on time. If their claim be al
lowed by the authorities, the match will be
: theirs, as well as the goal. The game wbb
jfast, open, friendly, and full of system. It
j was an exhibition creditable to both teams,
and it marked a decided improvement in the
; methods of Northcote, whose finest players
iwere Vernon, Cheswaas, Cole, Davidson,
.Pratt, Sheehan, and Corlett; whilst Frank
i lyn, W. Brennan, Sampson, Simmonda,

I Clark, Brereton, Ward, and Paeh were

well to the fore on Port Melbourne's be

half.

Brighton have to record another reverse
.sustained in consequence of their lack of
.staying power. Leading North Melbourne
as they did at three-quarter time by nearly
{four goals, they should have staved off de
.feat; but they broke up badly, when North
came at them in the final term, and tbey
were ultimately put through by five points,
lit was a very creditable win for the
| Northerners, amongst whom Keating,
, Hardy, H. Darby, Moran, Lewis, Sweefcmau,
M*Vee, and Armstrong were the chief per
j formers. The losers were Without G.
Robinson, who was hurt against Williams
town ; and their leading players were Ken
nedy, Laxton, W. and h. Robinson, Cant,
Young, Ellis, and Dangerfield.

Footscray gained a substantial victory
over Brunswick, cbiefly because of their bet
ter pace and Bystera. The Bruns
wickers were better in attack than
elsewhere, and they were . for _ the
occasion the victims of an undeniably
higher combination. Cotton, Marmo,
Borthwick, Neylan, A. Gregory, M'Kinley,
Hansen. M'Cartby, Elliott, Launder, and
Sevier did excellent work for the victors;
and Stancliffe, Leeds, Monohan, J. Johnson,
Fisher, C. Johnston, H. Balfe, H. and L.
Braid, and Whitfield showed finest form for

Brunswick.

$