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FOOTBALL NOTES.
Bv 11 AUK WELL.
AN EXCELLENT START.
All tilings conspired to make the opening \
day of ihe football season a brilliant sue- i
cc-ss. The atmosphere was blight, clear. '
and crisp, and. save for a stilrish north .
wind that prevailed only up to half-time. ;
the meteorological conditions were perfect, j
Ground and ball were pleasingly dry in
every instance., and, with the exception
perhaps of Victoria-park, where top-dress
ing had lj.een begun a trifle late, the turf j
upon every enclosure was delightfully ?
springy, and therefore suited to the require- ?
ments of the sprinter. An inviting pro-;
gramme for the afternoon had been ar- j
ranged by the league authorities, whose
foresight in this regard was, I am happy to
state, suitably acknowledged by the foot
ball-loving public. Indeed, attendances all
round were such as to gladden the hearts of
club executives, and at Collingwood in par
ticular the "gate"' was enormous. Under
circumstances so inspiriting one was justi
fied in looking for football of a high order,
and. in this connection, too, the opening
contests were brilliantly successful. Players
in most teams had evidently trained assidu
ously during many previous weeks, for the
form all round was good, and staying
powers stood the te.st of concluding quar
ters that were full to the last of vim, ear
nestness. and undiminished pace. More
than cue game furnished a close and inter
esting iiuish that was suggestive of keenly
exciting encounters in the near future.
Mewed in every aspect the opening promise
of the season may be described as eminently
satisfactory.
EARLY REVERSE FOR FiTZROY. j
Most clubs recognise nowadays the ad- j
"visibility of having their forces as well j
equipped as possible at the outset of the |
campaign, and the premiers of last and the;
previous seasons, the sturdy battlers of I
Fuzrcy, had been early engaged in making j
ready for their initial combat witb Colling- ]
wood. They had not. however, succeeded j
quite in striking their topmost form, and !
in one important particular, namely, pace
in getting to the ball, thev were inferior
to the Woodsmen, whose movements
seemed, in comparison with those of Fitz
roy, to be but slightly, if at all, impaired
by the looseness of the surface soil. This
advantage in speed gained Collingwood
the victory in a game that was admirably
contested in other respects. Even in the
matter of speed the disparity between the
teams was noticeable only to close ob
servers, for the play was ever well dis
tributed, and, on the whole, Fitzroy's
chances of scoring were as easy and as
frequent as Collingwood's. It was a
rattling game for an opening match, full
of spirit, and bristling with attractive
episodes, and it was fairly late
in the engagement when Collingwood's
supporters began to be able to contem
plate the proceedings with that tran
quility of mind which is born of assuted
success. At half-time but one point in ad
vance had been registered in Colling
wood's favour, and after the interval
Fit*roy speedily secured a tangible lead,
and missed getting further ahead only
through an accurate and deserving snap
by Descrimes being grazed as it rose by
the finger tip of an opponent. There
after a couple of splendid rallies, pro
ducing a goal api&^e, brought Collingwood
again to the frqpt, where, for the re
mainder of the engagement, they suc
ceeded in maintaining themselves without
in the main exhibiting any very striking
superiority over their antagonists. Their
success as goal-getters was, during the
latter stages, remarkable, as they turned
to full account every one of their half
dozen opportunities, whereas Fitzroy,
from an equal number of chances, notched
only a brace of goals and four minor
points. Collingwood's victory was as
gratifying to the bulk of onlookers as it
was meritorious to the team themselves.
The public will, I think, be justified in
looking to them to cut out the running
in many a stirring engagement for the
year.
P. Leach, the crack centreman of last
season, was an absentee, and Dow stood
down with an injured shoulder, but with
these exceptions the Collingwood eighteen
included all the stars of '99. The vacant
. vane excellently filled bj the
n* Duncan and Brennan, In whom
"lw
emits.
executive have secured moat capable
'« coolness in
W .itsford, tho quality nnd quantity of
\ SV .WOI'k forward and following wore un
liathvood on <lio ball lias boon
r.irc.v seen in belter form. His high
ii!:ii"k;nc was {iio finest oi' iho day, and his
giound play n;i.< a distinct improvement
J'I'jj" p_ivviv-iis efforts-. Ho handled (ho
ban with great frequency, ar.d his ex
'V.'-':,U"#!S .'.> through with il and
i taking his k:ck was a factor in his dido's
success. Panam and Si mo on ;he wings
, Mere very i-arely boat on, and both pave
I v.;;ii;:ii.o aid ; \vJi:!st#Mount:!!nn half-back.
<. oi:(,oii vi-viij;, and A. Leach amongst (he
| lorwj-.rds. shewed 110 deterioration in the
jcapac.ty tli.u ha* heen theirs for years. (»!
i the reinaiiiiiitr members Williams, Proud
itooi, and (VHvieu back, Tulloch in (Ik
I centre. Smith forward, and Fell following,
a., earae tivquently and deserviuglv under
..notice. Fur Fit;:roy Drohan on tiie wing
I recommenced as brilliantly as ho finished
j the year before, and on the day'- play he
; was entitled to rank high amongst the star:,
jot the engagement. Potter played-a solid,
manly game. lleserimes forward and on
the ball was a conspicuously fine performer:
.and Clarke in the centre. .Jenkins. J. ])al
_ ton. H'ekey, and Sioan back, Kiernan and
, M'Snerrin roving and forward alrer
jiiately. and 31. (irace following, though
; net at their top, gave very valuable aid.
, Robinson, too, earned mention for his per-,
! sistent and generally successful efforts on
I the wing. I nipire Reenan's connection J
! \v' tbe game was distinctly beneficial. He
jdealt fairly but firtiily with transgressors,
who. it is pleasing to note, were not
numerous.- nor in any case very grave of
lenders. A nent little pavilion has been
erected iu the reserve for the use of ladies,
and the executive have in hand other im
provements, which, when completed, will
t;«ui to the comfort of visiters to Victoria
park.
DOUBLE DISASTER.
W right. Harry. Cleghorn, and Jackson,
ot last season's team, were, for one t> as on
or another, unavailable last week, and Es
sen.ion s executive were not sanguine con
cerning their chances against South Mel
bourne. who were said to be sending info
".lie field a particularly strong and well
traiped company. Stuekey, who had de
termined to retire from football, and who
turned up merely to look on, -was induced
at the last moment to fill up a gap, and to
icsume command for the dav. His pre
sence in the team filled Essendon's fol
lowers with high hope;;, and as lie passed
tnrcugh the wicke* gate he was greeted '
with round# cf cheers. Other vacancies
were supplied by Peppard from Melbourne
.Tumors. Leahy from Kilmore, and Jones
of the Garrison Artillery. South Mel
bourne were minus Trinmi. of last year's
cracks. ai:d they bad in the midst Hose
from the Pembroke, Gudan from Baliarat
Kobertson from Port Melbourne, and Ver
non; whilst F. Waugh, after two years'
absc-nce, was renewing his connection' with
the team. The meeting took place at East
Melbourne, and South, who won the toss,
had hrst help of the big breeze, which blew
almost straight into the railway goal. Thev
however, failed to turn their" opportunity
to _anv account, chiefly because Essendon's
detenders, ablv led and directed bv
S rue key} proved immensely strong and un
mistakably in earnest. The only tally in
ttie opening term was a goal secured bv
Essendon against the wind. Overwhelming
advantage accrued to the home team when'
ends were changed, and goal upon goal
to their credit went up with rapidity uutif
at the interval the one-sided record' read;
-Essendon.^8-4; South Melbourne, no
tb.ng. The Southerners* finest efforts were
made during the th;rd quarter, when thev
put up 19 points to nothing; but thev
found the task of recovering the ground
they had lost at the start an tmpo^ble
one. Unfortunately for them, defeat was
painiuhy associated with disaster. The
game was not in any sense a rough one,
tnough in the early stages the wind had
tended to confine play* to the lower half
ot the ground, and players were at times
too closely packed in conseauenee. It was
however, cot whilst the crush was thickest
that damage was done, but in the second
ha!r, wbc-n the wind was weak and the
play comparatively open. South's first
great misfortune was encountered
when the ex-Portsman. Robertson,
spramed his ankle, and had to be carried
off the ground. Their second lose was a
veritable calamity, for it robbed them of
their finest back player, their newlv-elected
skipper, G. Davidson, who. failing awk
wardly, and by the purest accident, wag un
lucky enough to break his leg. This re
grettable mishap occurred late in the con
cluding term, a minute or two after Gullan
the Baliarat recruit, had renewed an old in-!
jury to his knee. The disabled men will.
under even the most favourable conditions
hardly be fit to play again this vear, and
their being incapacitated so earlv, and in
one fell swoop, is singularly unfortunate for
South Melbourne. As I have shown, Es
sen don s superiority had been established
before these accidents took place, the ex
planation being that in the second term
the forwards of the victorious foam were
as much ahead of the Southerners' backs
as in the opening quarter their backs had
proved superior to the Southerners' for
wards. In short, Essendon, as a team
played the finer football. *
Highest merit in the match falls to Fitz
patrick for a splendid exhibition forward,
and for securing three goals most cleverly.
Larkin, T. Colling, and Officer were stars
in the same department. Amongst the
backs, Gavin was easily first, though the
whole defending sextet were well worth
mention. Stuckey and the fresh man, Pep
pard, rivalled each other in excellence on
the half-back line, and Stuckey, as usual,
handled his team meet skilfully. Hastings
shone out lustrously in the centre; Groves
and Leahy were very capable wing men;
and Scott and T. Couins half forward, M.
Collins defending, and in the last quarter
Jones following, were consistently able
players. The most serviceable combination
in the vicinity of the ball consisted of
O'Loughlin and Martin following, with
Griffith as rover. These three were given
to acting in concert, and their influence
upon the proceedings was unequivocal.
South's strongest section was the centre
line, across which HowBon, Windley, and
Vernon played lovely football. Davidson,
Adamson, and Robertson worked hard de
fending, and Jennarett was the pick of the
men placed forward, where' Iampe was
brilliant but inconstant, and where Gollan
put in eome first-class work after the inter
val. Pleass began a point or two below his
best, but unproved at every torn, until io
the end he was rather more in evidence
than any other player in the match.
After the first few minutes Crapp um
pired well enough, but hie opening efforts
might truthfully have been designated an
instrumental SOJO." Fei&ape .lie deemed it
advisable to be strict at the star^ a very
excellent precaution against sntwe
but one that iscapable of i
everyone. , * * ^
iMRtfPOINTIIEWIP AT
the form shown by heir men in
looked confidently for a In .mailt
'' irv Iv > ("tvionii in the opening match..
<TmiS "tu". ai^n:Voiiili»out Co.
Iiini thai from the J»mU> ("£!
; ,.1-iM.r til,' ^'I'VIO'S ot .10. ,M Mi.uio, ion
Thompson, were i|ii:i kor tn tiie 1' u , ,'
, , , tW.v.\md ,.a~.;d wi h greater |
ihan .heir dark blue ;nl~-|
Till' <>;!o »r;ik sivtion in the VIM.-.ih iom ,
initv w.u- riplu ioi ward, ami H vv ,1;". ;
alone (\;rlio!iiai^ had a .junec of "'""'"P
That r>ev t> the lull availed tliCTw l\u of.
!wi op/ornumi.s ,n this
,!no 1 npi-iy to iho luilMail! pay o \\ahon.
who was tin uli'.lij" 'ho host iii" j ^ ?
s-iiio. liotwis.'i-ianditig that at times he iai
rii-i) hand-passing t" nnreimnierauve excess.
Thompson. light hark, likew:>e i is
thiguished hin'si'it. saving lu-- t-11 .
quontiv wit); line hijih marks, and kli;1lv111'
HiapniiK'cntlv: whi'ct Sharkey, another m«h
defender. leii't pliant aid. >>. ^u'kt'f;
the captain, did remarkably weil in a.l P;'rl*
of the field. Morri.-on was nlwaye
ami energetic: ;:nd (.\>;isid:,*:e and H.
M'Shane wciv a consistently useful couple
The on!v freshman who showed out well
was Rowland*. who proved liimsef a foot
Iv.llcr all over. On tho otJier hand, t»ee
long had reason to he delighted wth Mncial '
of their recruits. Powell, the ex-1'vWU^cray
iie. dropped into his place right '1;ick, ,
iie seems suited to a nicety, and where lie |
marked and piayed in a style tnaj recalled:
the prowess which yeai> ago Ins Jamous (
brother, Ned. was u.vustomcd to display j
in the interests ot Kssendon. Donaghy
astonished his Carlton comrades ot las^.
v«r with his eool adroitness on the halt-,
liack line; Herman. a sturdy block ot a .
youngster, was exceedingly bii^} (ot"
ward, and Ilardiman acquit ted him
self like a vcttran amongst the tollowers.
Of the older phi vers, none put in more
brilliant work than M'Callum. who, when
in form, as was his case last week, has
scarcely an equal in N ietoria. Rankin s dis
play as rover was also a treat to witness;
and 1'aimer and Baillift on the wmg>. j
Leahy back, and Hol'icran forward were
too speedy for the men against them. E.
Lock wood (forward) jiassed to Ins men
right ably, and showed consummate skill
in all tave coal-getting. In the ruck, Jim
M'Shane, while patiently enduring h:s full
share of hard knocks, earned the palm for j
sound and useful work; and the evergreen
P. Bums enacted with great abilitv the
dual parts of captain and player. Gibson
umpired the game splendidly.
ST. KILDA HAVE ARRIVED.
Years of monotonous reverses have failed
to dash the spirits of the .Sainte, who last |
week took up the cudgels with added zest,
and practically, if not actually, adminis
tered defeat to Melbourne. With becoin
ing frankness they attribute their resusci
tation to the advent amongst them of cer- ]
tain Collegians, every man of whom ap
pears cut out for football. One of these !
very valuable allies, Sandford, whose name
appeared a couple of years back on the
Geelong list, has been raised to the dignity
of commander, and the success of his
initial venture in the new role has charmed
his composite following. We may, I think,
look to St. Kilda's holding up their end
with gallantry against the cracks in many ]
future combats. Their admirable draw,
which in all probability will be altered
to a win when the league adjudicate upon 1
the question of Ward ill's disputed behind, |
has proved them a capable team, and
should they to-day succeed in beating
South, they will have to be recognised as |
genuine aspirants for the premiership. At
any rate, now they have almost won a
match, and that against the mighty red
legs, no further question should be raised
by cavilling critics concerning their right
to representation on tbe league. In the
true interests of the sport let us hope that
last week's good game may be the fore
runner of many successes that shall en- j
title the Saints to claim upon merit a
place high up amongst the best of teams.
Their more conspicuous members against |
Melbourne were M'Gregor, M'Kay, and
Robertson on the ball, Pearee in the centre
and roving^ O'Hara, M'Grath, Curran, and
Muirhead in defence^ Spilker on the wing,
and Clough, Sandford, and Sutherland in
front of goal. Melbourne whose executive
kept Leith and Lewis idle, to make room
for a couple of juniors, owed endless
thanks to M'Ginis, Cumberland, and
Moodie for time and again coming valiantly :
to their rescue. Puree, Bowe, Langley,
and Gardiner donned the classic colours for
the first time, and bore themselves bravely
enough in their novel environment. Ryan,
Pirrie, and Sowden were very active for
wards, and W&rdill, who captained the
side well, also exhibited judgment and
capacity as a player. Freame s umpiring
gave satisfaction, save for the instance in
which it is alleged he allowed Wardill to
score a behind from a mark obtained sub
sequent to the ringing of the bell.
V.F.A. ENCOUNTERS.
Had association delegates desired they
might have made their opening programme
more attractive. There were content, how
ever, that Footscray should epoil Essen
don Town's chance of notching a win for
a start; and they carefully pitted Williams
town, another strong team, against the
Brunswickers, to whom more considerate
treatment might have been accorded. Two
of the games were fairly well contested.
At Port Melbourne a spirited attempt was
made by Prahran to down the locals, and
their efforts, though unsuccessful, afforded
full employment to the Portamen, and
ample entertainment to a goodly crowd of
onlookers. Excellent football was shown
on behalf of the locals by M'Gee, Penning
ton, Garbutt, Peers, Miller, Pollock, and
Hickey; and M'lnerney, Lyons, West
brooke, Dunn, Conquest, and tbe brothers
Brown shaped meritoriously for Prahran.
Richmond gained a wejl-deserved win
against North Melbourne in a match that
w«b productive of good and attractive foot
ball. He superiority of the victors lay
in fteir greater expertaess in picking up
the ball, and their oooler judgment in dis
posing of It. Wind was a factor in the
game, and each side succeeded, when aided
by it, in topping its opponent's register.
This circumstanoeaerved to keep specta
tors' interest from flagging; and during the
final term, whilst Richmond were gamely
wiping out a pretty heavy North Mel
bourne lead, interest grew into excitement,
which amongst the Northern barrackers
changed into unmistakable chagrin as
the end approached, with r Rich
mond Balling Becnrdr on to vic
tory. Then it was that disappointed
local howler* began to vent their spleen
the umpire, whose administration of
Kwe haa beeh moBt |ust all through.
_ 'Mified him tothetodwith tOr
i«nti bt forciblei, if «ot elegabt invective,
andthwtiboblea «ver«®eanotherinthar
MX
order was nfiown during tlie progress
Of"tlic match Ity I'arl;ot\ the iiichmond
cli;ti!iii!;i!i, .-.ihI Undd, Hiiln'n, .mil Hrtck
inniM' ui liic .-ante tcmtn were liirs mo«t able
allien. For the vanquished Northerners
first o1;;kx g-iwcs were played by Logge,
Noonan. Smith, M'Sweciiey, and Ktiliey.
; j'notsi i ;iv's was a writable walk-over
i/it.-iiD.-'i the Kssi'iidon freshmen, and ISruiis
[Avit-k, tthey struggled gamely, Lad
hut a poor chance against (he forces of
iWilliams!own. This afternoon two of Die
lour fixtures pive promise of in
teresting combats, 1'urt Melbourne may be
trusted to try their hardest to beat*the
Toutscniy premiers, and ]\'«>rth and Wil
liams! own are evenly matched enough to
warrant tho anticipation of a close and ex
citing finish.
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