Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 20 September 1915, page 4


FAST AND FURIOUS.

CARLTON PREMIERS.

NOTES BY OBSERVER.

After a fast and furious game, in which the for-tunes of play varied long enough to work nearly 40,000 people up to the highest pitch of excite-ment, Carlton won the League premiership against Collingwood on the Melbourne Cricket-ground on Saturday. The scores make it look like an easy vic-

tory, but that was not the case. Well into the last quarter there was only a point separating the combatants, and Collingwood, who had looked a

beaten side for the greater part of the game, made

such a wonderful rally that for a time Carl-ton seemed to be demoralised. It was just a ques-tion of which could last longest, and the survivor

was Carlton. Once they had got a goal or so in their favour at that critical stage of the match, it

was simply a question of getting almost as many goals as they wished, because the other side had shot its bolt. While not always skilful, it was one of the fastest and fiercest games seen for many years, and, though no mercy was shown by either side, the play was, on the whole, fair.

The pace was such a cracker from the start that they had the crowd roaring with excitement in less than five minutes, and Carlton, having what advantage lay in the wind, were attacking for the greater part of the first quarter. The first incident

was chance to Sharpe, who was helped by Daykin, but his shot was stopped at the mark. Thus early

in the game the merits and faults of the teams

were discernible. Carlton were playing the stronger all-round side; Collingwood were further handi-capped by a tendency to hold either their oppo-nents or the ball too long. It was chiefly this that gave Burleigh the chance within range which he missed. Then Anderson and Rowell (who were kicking-in beautifully) kept the ball away from Collingwood's posts for some time. In one attack they worked cleverly around the flank, but the rush stopped against McDonald, the sturdy little Carlton back. Valentine was conspicuous in an-other charge, and a fine mark by Haughton gave Daykin a running shot. He failed, but Green came in instantly, and snapped first goal for Carlton. Immediately afterwards Burleigh got pretty close with a shot. The umpire insisted upon a strict game, and free-kicks were rather frequent. It was Hughes who led up to Collingwood's first goal, for

he placed it within reach of Lee, who marked, and kicked it through. The cheering had hardly died out before Gardiner got a chance for a long shot, and it was a fine one, scoring second goal for Carlton; while exchanges between Green, Sharpe, and Daykin gave the lastnamed a chance to score third. The play was full of whip and snap, and, chiefly through McHale and Curtis, Lee got another chance for Collingwood, and, though the angle was a sharp one, he kicked their second goal. Fisher had a try for Carlton before the end of the term, but missed, and the first phase left it—Carl-ton, 3 goals 5 behinds; Collingwood, 2 goals.

The impression that Carlton would win was strengthened in the second quarter in noting how much more frequently and easily they got within range against the wind. Yet Collingwood were quickly at work, for Minogue's efforts gave Dobrigh a chance on the flank, where, with a great dash and a running shot, he scored Collingwood's third goal. Carlton always rose to the occasion. A beautiful exchange of marks along the wing enabled O'Brien to pass finally to Gardiner, who, however, failed in this shot. McDonald, their back, was twice conspicuous immediately afterwards for dashing and defensive football. At half-time Carl-ton had 6 goals 6 behinds to Collingwood's 4 goals

2 behinds.

Well into the third term it still seemed a cer-

tainty for Carlton, though it was noticeable that, while having a slight advantage from the wind, which was gradually veering around, they had to work much harder for their tries. Daykin gave Sharpe a chance, but it was a very bad shot. Hughes and McHale helped Dobrigh, but he too missed. Then Reynolds got a free-kick right in front of the posts, and foolishly tried to pass to a forward, and the chance was lost. Next Daykin and Morris were conspicuous for Carlton, and Burleigh had a chance, which went astray; McGregor was playing effectively as usual in the centre, and Hughes again shone out for his fine work in Col-lingwood's ruck. Curtis had a chance, but his shot was a bad one, and then Collingwood came out with a dazzling rush that for a time com-pletely demoralised Carlton. It was a wonderful attack, sustained right up to the end of the quarter. Hughes, from a free-kick, got their fifth goal, and Dobrigh, with a very fine effort, was close to another. Clancy, too, showed de-sperate dash, and Lawton and Rowan rose to their finest form, the last-named especially playing splen-didly. Collingwood kept up the attack, Hughes gave Lee a chance which failed, Clancy dashed in close to goal and missed, and, after taking a fine mark from Laxton, Curtis, too, just failed. Everyone thought it was a goal, and the players dashed for the centre, but to the amazement of Collingwood, only one flag went up, and there were indignant protests from the players about goal. If not through, it must have been a mar-vellously close thing. A minute later Lee had squirmed around and whipped it through, but to the mortification of Collingwood, the ball had been signalled out of bounds. At three-quarter time the scores were very close, with Carlton 6—8, Collingwood, 5—9, and the onlookers burn-ing with expectation.

It was even for a time in the last term, though an assault, in which Minogue and Hughes figured, was only checked by McDonald close home. Green had a chance for Collingwood, but rather bungled it. There was tremendous cheering when a Collingwood dash, in which Anderson, Clancy, and Curtis figured, ended with Lee, who kicked their sixth goal, and put the side a point ahead. From that point the struggle was a desperate one, and the impression was that the team getting the next goal was certain to win the game. Clancy got very close, and Curtis, from a fine high-mark, also missed, but it looked as if Collingwood were going to carry their rally right through the game. Carlton faces were very serious indeed. Green and Burleigh figured in a dash for them which was checked by Rowell, but soon afterwards Burleigh marked in front, and got seventh goal for Carlton. As expected, it was the turning point. Collingwood had exhausted their effort, and thence on to the finish Carlton were supreme. Gardiner, with a fine shot, scored their eighth goal, Burleigh got the ninth, Hammond the tenth, and just before time Burleigh bagged the eleventh, so that Carlton

won, as they deserved, with scores as follows:—

CARLTON, 11 goals 12 behinds (78 points);

COLLINGWOOD, 6 goals 9 behinds (45 points).

In individual play, McDonald, for his splendid defensive work all through the match, was the best man in Carlton colours, though their half-back line, where Baud, Robinson, and Brown were grouped, was particularly sound. They were almost supreme in the centre, Morris, McGregor, and Challis all playing dashing football. Challis and Saddler fought a very earnest and unsparing

duel on one flank. Others who shone out con-spicuously were Daykin, Burleigh, and Valen-

tine.

Hughes was again the best man in Collingwood colours, his work in the ruck or out of it being exceptionally fine, although he was worried and jostled from start to finish. Next to him stood Anderson, and then Collingwood players take picking. Towards the end of the game, both Dobrigh and Clancy played exceptionally well, and

in the third quarter especially Rowan was abso-

lutely at his best, while Laxton, too, played finely in that term. Powell, although he had not played football this season, filled a gap, and was a safe and valuable man to the side. Minogue worked hard, but was rather below his top form. The game was strictly umpired by Norden.

In attendance, the actual figures for the match showed 39,211 present, as against 30,495 last year, while the gate was £1,469/13/9, as against £1,484 14/3 for last year's final. The difference in the takings is accounted for by the fact that the charges for admission were higher last year, when £567 represented the amount taken for patriotic funds. In the four final games this year, the takings were £3,785/11/9, while in 1914 they amounted to £4,874/4/3, of which £1,932/1/9 re-presented the amount for patriotic purposes.