West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Wednesday 3 May 1911, page 8


FOOTIALL. THE AUSTRALASIAN GAME. (By "Mark.") The 1911 coastal season will be officially opened next Saturday afternoon, when .the battle for the premiership laurels will begin Thoe matches set down- for the day are as follow:W.A.C.A. Ground.-North Fremantle v. West Perth.. Fremantle Oval.-South Fremantle v. Perth. Subiaco Oval.-East Fremantle v.. Subiaco. As there ., are now seven clubs in ;the League one team'has to stand down each Saturday.. .The EAst Perthites take first turn at looking on, and in consequence they will not be heard from until next week.. Seeing . that, the teams, have! been strengthened -in nearly all cases and'almdst entirely reconstructed in some, it would be out of place to suggest which are likely to be the best matches on Saturday. They all look equally good, and there's:no knowing how they will end. The Subies appear, on paper at any rate, to be the most improved combination on the coast- since last winter, and as they will be up against the old champions, the; East Fremantles, an excellent opportunity should be afforded for ascertaining the 'extent of their 'improvement, for the blue and whites are said to be stronger than ever. Players and umpires should note that under the amended laws of football, as adopted at the Australasian Football Council meeting in Sydney in November last, the ball shall be bounced within a circle 5ft. in diameter in the centre of the playing arena at the start of each quarter and after the scoring of every goal in a match, and a free kick "shall" be given against any player encroaching within that circle.before the ball is bounced. In Crapp Joe Cooper, and Dolph Heinrichs the League has secured three central umpires who have already proved thei worth on the coast, and in the other central umpire, Lyons, it has got a man with a good reputation from junior circles in Victoria. Whether or not he will live up to it rests almost entirely with himself. All the umpires might do well to follow Crapp's example and announce their reasons for imposing penalties, for very often by remaining silent they find themselves in a false position with players and onlookers who have failed to notice the real reason for punishing a certain player. It doesn't waste much of an uinpire's breath to call out "holding the ball," "holding the man," "round the neck," etc., but it freouently saves him from being condemned by the big body of short-sighted spectators who have formed the opinion. that their man was wrongly punished for some supposed other breach of the rules. Another noint that should benefit umpires, players, and public alike is that of uniformity in the interpretation of the olaying rules, and the best way to secure this is for the umpires to come to an agreement among themselevs as to-how the various rules should be read. In doing so they should bear in mind that when our players meet the Eastern men in Adelaide next August they will have to be prepared for something more lively than the parlour game that seems to be favoured in some quarters over here. Football is a game for athletic men and not for ladies of the male sex, and it should be played accordingly. Leon Wing, who was a member of the Columbia Park boys' team which visited here a year ago under Maior Peixoto, states in a letter to Mr. J. J. Simons that the Australasian game is taking on splendidly in California, where it is being warmly advocated by Mr. Eric Cullen-Ward. Mr. Virgo, of the Y.M.C.A, has undertaken to establish the Australasian game among the young men in London, and to have a team in readiness to meet Mr. Simons's Young Australia League contingent, provided it can make its way to England after trotting through the United States and Canada. Mr. Lionel Boas in Perth and Mr. C. Jeffrey in Fremantle are reported to be doing big work in the matter of organising the Y.A.L. teams in the schools in the metropolitan area. They have now 20 metropolitan schools in the League. The next meeting of the Australasian Football Council will be held in Adelaide on July 27. Notice of business to be dealt with will have to reach the secretary (Mr. Con.Hickey) in Melbourne two months be-fore that date. An Adelaide writer declares that H. Limb, who has joined the Subiaco team, was one of the best forwards in South Australia last year, when he played for Sturt. "Diver" Dunne, Bert Renfrey, F. Golding, and "Bert" Lee, who are all, well known on this side of the Bight, are included in Sturt's list of players again this season. Albert Heinrichs, who was one of the best ruck men ever seen in the West, is at present cattle-droving in the north of South Australia, but he is expected to strip for the Sturts again early in July. At a meeting of the Victorian Football League on April 20 J. Fayle (Richmond) said rule 29 provided that any player receiving payment directly or indirectly for his services as a footballer should be disqualified for any period the League might think fit. He moved that this rule be struck out. It was well known that- payment to footballers had been made in the past, and would be continued in the future. It would be better that such payments should be made openly and without misrepresentation. The motion was defeated by 12 votes to 7. Two years ago (states an Adelaide writer) it was thought football had reached the pinnacle of its popularity in South Aus tralia, and that a falling-off would be

noticed from then on, but the increase of nearly £1,000 in the gate takings last yeas does not seem to indicate any diminution of public support. This season the game will receive a tremendous impetus from the fact that the Australasian carnival is to be played here in August. Th3 magnitude of this carnival seems almost incredible, for nothing of its kind has ever been seen in Adelaide before, except the lacrosse tournament held here last year, and that was but a very small edition of what this promises to be. There will be representative teams present from every State in the Commonwealth-Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmaniabut, unfortunately, New Zealand will be unable to send an eighteen. Besides the State teams it is almost certain all the League clubs in Victoria will be present Two club teams from Western Australiafrom the ccast and the goldfields respectively-have also notified their intention of coming over, and altogether it is anticipated that the number of visiting footballers will exceed 700, and the amount of money distributed during the 10 days the carnival lasts should be over £6,000. There has been no hitch so far in making the arrangements, and the prospects of the carnival being a huge success are exceedingly bright. Referring to the Victorian League and the Victorian Association in last Saturday's "Australasian," "Markwell" declares:"These erstwhile strong and arrogant bodies realise fo-day their utter impotence. Leaguers, though still headed by Mr. A. C. McCracken, who sticks to them in theig trouble, find themselves in 'no end o a muddle. Iike drowning men clinging to a spar, they hang on to the law that makes it an indictable offence to pay a player. What they hope to gain by their pertinacity in this regard-passes understanding, since nearly every man amongst them knows that his own club has been-breaking this law for years, and escaping the penalty only .by the 'most. transparent . shuffling. Their proper course should -have been to annul the law and to do' openly whattthey have been doing on' the 'sly, ano what they fully intend' to keep on doing. Now there is presented the . anomaly of; a body of otherwise sane men hoodwinking themselves with the illusion that they are controlling an amateur sport, whilst it is flagrantly announced in nearly every centre that the men who claim that they earn the gatemoney are to cut it up amonglt them. The League presents a truly pitiable spectacle. Their fellow-sufferers'around the Association table have displayed better sense, in so far as they have wiped out' the amateur principle, but they are- deceiving: only" themselves if they imagine they will be able to tie their players down to.the paltry:payment of five or ten shillings each.per-week. They have :apparently settled the -fate:for time awl for eternity of last year's energetic have apparently- settled: the, fate for time North Melbourne 'secretary, Mr. Andrew Curran, who had the audacity' to' make public the secret of -his idub's inviiicibilitp last year, and who had been-guilty.of the further atrocity of; endeavouring' to .establish a body that; should foster" and control a strictly professional venture.- I sympathise with the sufferer,- .for-,I- feel 'that although he.was oh-a distinctly- wrong .tack he was of ooinion that he was sailing- a strictly honourable course. -I" commiserate Mr. P. Noonan,- his fellow-clubman;, in -his failure to- have cancelled' the' embargo V.F.A. delegates had set upon'the soul of Curran." East Fremantle's new men include. Kruger (from Bunbury aid Midland - Junction), Geggie (from the: Goldfields, -Warriors), Lydon (from -Gwalia), "Burly" :Heaketh (from M' idland Junction) -and Sullivan'. (a goldfields junior, with.'a big reputation as : wing..man). The fresh blood- in South Fremantle.is provided by N.- Cooper.: (a rek. man from Victoria), E. Henstridge'(a half-back froi Nhill,' Victoria) .-R. Johnson (a irover and forward from Albany),- E?'Lewis (from one of the country clubs), C. Baker (from Boulder), and A. "Edments (from. York). " -North Freinantle's recruits are:--Phil Matson (lately. from Sturt, and- champion back 'man of the WA. teainm in the .J?ubilee matches in Melbourne: three .years. ago), Jim Toohey (half-forward and follower, lately from the Mines Rovers but formerly with North Fremantle), - Oates' (from; the Mines Rovers, -champion -forward of the goldfields. last winter, ,with ,a .record of. 67 goals), Brown (wing 'forward , and - rover, from the Mines..Rovers) - Aisbett (goalkeeper, from the Kalgoorlie- Warriors), Wilding (high marker--and fast back man, 'froml North Fremantle -WA.F.A.),, Trotter (back man from Menzies Mines), C. .-Wright son (seeking' a clearance- from 'East Fremantle), McKenzie,(centre- man. from. Cottesloe, W.A.FA.); and Hislop' (centre man. from the Westrals,: Collie). ':.Geo. Charlton. who was too unwell.to; strip last year..will be with the-team' again, -. The Northl'have lost Newham (still troubled by a:n injury to one of his knees) -?nd,-Geo. Meharry (gone to - Goomalling). - They have- nog less than' four left-foot kickers--Toohey, Oates, Hocking, - and 'Trotter. -Their? .secretary reports that interest in:the-club has: risen so greatlytthat he-has- already disposed of 50 per cent: more membership tickets than he sold-last winter. JUNIOR. NOTES. (By."Onlooker.") FIXTURES FOR -SATURDAY. Midland Junction' v. Leederville Fire Bri-ade, at' Midland (umpire, Cahill);; Victoria Park v. Cottesloe, -at Wellington-equare (uinm pfre, Kelly): South Fremantle v. North Fremantle. at North,Fremantle (umpire, Len nar)'; Glaremont v. Birighton at Claremont (umpire, Mann).. At the present time the prospects' of tbhe 'Association appear exceptionally bright for a'highly successful season. Clubsecresrie? are particularly busy organiising their various teams, while players have settled downi to strict training for the opening matches. The total number of competing teams has th.is year been restricted to eight, and this arrangemen" should help in- a large measure to ensure more even contests. better football, and Is a direct result the usual financial problem should prove less. worrying with

the expected increasel a.enuances.or toe public at matches. th Mr. McLaren has taken up the'secretarial reins whi}h during the previous season had been handled in such a masterly.manner by the retiring secretary, "Mr. Keay,. and the affairs of the Association should lack .little in the way of good management while,.in the hands of.such a capable and enthusiastic gentlemain. An amicable arrangement has been practically agreed to .between the League and the W.A.FA., whereby themany little differences which have croppedup in- previous seasons between these two bodies should be effectually prevented, from making a reappearance. One matter which is at present distutbing Association delegates is the suggestion from the League that the closi?g date for players' transfers be September 1 instead of July 1, as proposed- by the W. A.F'A.' s both competitions commence. on May 7 the adoption of' the Association proposal would allow League clubs two months in which to- arrive at a fair idea as to the capabilities of any Association players, and- this should 'be ample, whereas if September.1 becomes.law W.A.F.A. clubs will' have to quietly submit to the loss of their best' exponents'. until within a week or.so.of their final matches, at which time . ost combinations,.should be in thorough working. order,, and the defection of several of their leading players would seriously injure their chances of premiorship honours. While dealing with-'this question League delegates should be prepared to give and take, and at the same time remember that while they are enabled to select the cream of our players we only get the skim milk in the shape of men who have failed to make good with League clubs. Leederville, Perth City, and Guildford clubs have through various reasons dropped out of Association ranks, while one new club has been. admitted from Midland Junction. The eight' competing teams are 'Cottesloe, East Fremantle, North Fremantle, Brighton, Claremont, Leederville Fire Brigade, Midland Junction, and' Victoria Park. Cottesloe, the 1910 premier. team, again give promise of repeating their previous performance, as with few exceptions they expect to put the old eighteen in the field, and this with the addition of several good men from other clubs should materially assist in keeping the.maroon guernseys well in the limelight during the coming season. The East Fremantle Club is composed of a majority of the old South Fremantle players, amongst whom are a-.number of last year's first.flighters, and the fact that the old Easts have taken the club under their sheltering wing should help in a large measure to instil that enthusiasm which.was sadly lacking in their last season's efforts. From all accounts North Fremantle will again make themselves felt when the whips are cracking, though from latest advices they will be without their genial skipper, Sullivan, who I hear will transfer his affections to another associated club. Brighton, last year's runners up, promise to have a much improved team, as a number of likely captures have been added to their already solid combination. Leederville Fire Brigade have already been in action on two occasions, and from the word of their enthusiastic player and delegate, "Jack" Wells, they again expect to be amongst the front division. Recent reputed additions are Jones, a follower from the Guildford team of last season, Wimbridge (a smart wing man), Bell (a player of promise from the country), and Horan (a solid follower .from the old Leederville team). Victoria Park. who performed brilliantly during the early part of last season, are also among the fancied division, and though they will greatly miss the services of "Bert" Oates, their consistent performer on the centre line, through his removal to the goldfields, they have received a number of valuable additions from other clubs, and of these

Hannah, a capture, from a unnior team, shows splendid promise as a follower, while Harrison is another man who catches the eye at practice. Midland Junction are an old Association team, who under the name of Midland Loco at one time carried off the premiership honours, and afterwards entered the League competition under their present name. Now that they have through force of circumstances decided to come back to the fold they should with such a strong following as they undoubtedly have experience little difficulty in putting a first-class team in the field. Little news is heard of the Claremont team which suffered so many reverses during season 1910, but what science was lacking on those occasions was entirely made up for by their splendid enthusiasm, and though fortune seldom smiled on their efforts a full eighteen was always 6n hand to meet its engagements. With such a populous suburb to work on their committee should easily get a good combination together, and this has been done in the past, as witness the old Claremont-Cottesloe team, which at one time carried all before it and numbered amongst its players such men as Turnbull, Frank and "Jim" Tuohy, the two Smiths, and many others who have since made their names in League football. i Next Saturday the first round of premiership matches will be commenced, and some good contests should result in wins f6r Cottesloe, South Fremantle, Brighton, and Leederville Fire Brigade. PERTH CLUB. This club will hold a reunion in the Hibernian Hall, Murray-street, to-night with a euchre party and dance. The committee wish the-members, players, and friends to attend to welcome the new players. Sheridan's Band will render the music. Handsome prizes: are offered, and refreshments will be provided. EAST PER CLUB.- Members' tickets of the East Perth Foottiall Club'. are now available, and can be secured -from any. of the players or officials. of the cluib, or from the'places mentioned in another column. EAST FREMANTLE CLUB. The East .Fremantle Football Club announce a grand picture .entertainment. at the Town Hall, Fremantle, to-night. Y.A.L:; EX-SCHOLARS(SECEION. Attention is directed to the advertisement appearing elsewhere calling for applicants for the positions of central umpires to the first division of the above. Applications should reach the secretary prior to Saturday-. next.DALLEY DALLEY CLUB. A general meeting of'the Dailey Football Club will be held at the W.A.F.L. rooms, Pier-street; Perth, .on Monday. next, at which all members and intending members are requested:to-be present..BOAN .BOAN BROS.'.CLUB. A successful meeting of Boan Bros.'-Football Club was held at the Imperial Hotel: on Friday last. - There was a good attendance; and Mr. L. Andrews-was appointed hon.,sec-. retry. The blub'will be prepared to arrange mnatines- with any' Wednesday afternoon teams.. BRITISH . ASSOCIATION GAME. (Notes liy "Unomi." -,Interest in the opening matchesa4 the season in soccer circles; was very keen, and despite the disagreeable chaiacter of., the •w ather the -attendances at" the ILeague? -games were fair. Results were, as a rule, of.a close character, .with the.exception of. Wanderers' heavy defeat' of 5 to 1, the oddd goal' in . three divided the vanquished -from the victors. "-The outstanding achievement of the afternoon was undoubtedly that of Australs,'-iwh compelled- the- Wanderers to ::play second fiddle to the tune of five gpals to-one. It. was generally conceded thaT Austra'? would have to extend themselves in order to get points from the Loco Wanderers, but, if report speak truth, 'they won,.with consummate ease. .The. Loco halves could make nothing - of. the Australs' vanguard, consequently their own forwards got. little sup-port;: and a large share of the work was thrown on the backs. .The result, is a set' back- t the Waiderers;, and a disappointment to those .interested, who' were led to expect better things..- On their-behalf it must -be admitted that the. Australs- found them o na decided off day which materially: asaistec- the - difference in the ;scores. However,- football is an uncertain game at; 'all-times, aid as every-team cannot lbe a. winner it: is :well that the'vanquished ones should accept their defeat with' equanimity. The squally weather was unsuitable for senri ois'football;. and second rate 'teams never. hadsa better opportunity of snatching a surprise victory. Saturday's losers can therefore. console themselves by thinking that the, elements had more to do.with" their defeat than their opponents. The bad luck which-pursued Perth last season has not yet forsaken them. They-were without ..the services of their. goalkeeper,' "Pat" Savage, who is an inmate of a private hospital suffering, from a back ailment, from which all will wish him a speedy recovery. With this handicap Perth are reported as having put 'up a good game against Training College, the lattdr'just scraping home by two goals to one. 'Though defeated Skipper Harper has every confidence that Perth will render a good account of themselves once they are properly settled in -their places. Most of the recruits have proved a success, sa with the-return of Savage and the inclusion of a hustling- forward they should possess a fairly balanced combination. The Rangers-Fremantle. hbut was not productive of anything very exciting. - In fact a. supporter of one of the teams was very emphatic in stating that it was one of the poorest expositions of football he has seen in the-State, and'he-is by-no means a bad judge either. It is needless to' state that mv.informant's oaninion ,nann nnt ,nin-idA

with that ..of "Alf" Fisher, who is highljr elated at .the Rangers' success. At any. rate, there is nothing like a good start, and the two points may be very. useful to the Rangers at a later period of the contest. I had the pleasure of. witnessing the match between the present champions, Claremont, and the runners-up, City United.. The liersonnel of the Claremont team is very much altered, o6nly five of last season's team taking the field. The absentees were the brothers Gomme and Smallwood, Pakett,and "Billy" Bennett. The latter,- who is just recovering from a prolonged attack of typhoid fever, is not likely to assist his side this year. The vacant places were filled by four juniors and two new men,. Simpsoen and Cockerell, who are. players of no mean ability. The former is a rare shot. The latter is splendid. at half, has a fine com-, mand of :the iball, and knows the proper time to-dispose of it. . He would help his side further by. dropping back to the assistance: of the defence when .under pressure. The only face 'new to the United ranks is Jones. At inside right' he shaped fairly well. but want" of condition told against him,, and many more, long before the end of hostilities. On paper. the City United appears to the writer to be the strongest team in the competition. They are a sturdy lot-of experienced--players,' and having a knowledge of each other's play one will expect to see them well ahead. At the same time they will have to play much better than they did on Saturday to annex the blue ribbon. There were flashes of good individual play, but collectively the team were a bit disappointing. They lacked decisiveness in their tactics. Sometimes as many as four players would chase an opponent, which shows a lack of understanding. amongst themselves. With this fault remedied and.a plan formed before taking the field the team should do much better. The game in brief started with Claremont attacking, T. McCreery finishing with a feeble shot which Bennett cleared. After a few minutes' defence Claremont returned to the City's end, when Simpson, and then Kirkpatrick, had hard luck with consecutive shots, which struck the crossbar. A. Bennett then fielded a fine drive from Simpson in a masterly ,fashion. Four-fifths of this half. was contested in United territory, and though Claremont had many likely openings they fadled to score. The second half opened sensationally, Simpson scoring for Claremont within a minute. City United retaliated by notching two points, which Knight converted, the three goals being scored within five minutes. For a time the trend of play favoured the teams alternatively, but eventually the United showed signs of distress. Claremont tried hard to equalise, but they. found "Goalie" Bennett invincible. - On the only occasion he was beaten the post was there to assist him. The closing minutes were decidedly Claremont's, and had "Tommy Mc" plied the wings instead of trying to weave through several opponents the result may have been somewhat different. On play the reds were due at the least to a draw. To strike the crossbar and post three times is evidence that the fates did not smile on them.' In addition to the players aforementioned Hill, Cotterill, Hobbs, and O'Grady showed fine form. Of the United, Wallis has improved since last year. Claridge cleared well, but his lofty kicking told against his side more often than otherwise. flhe wing halves were frequently in the picture, but roamed too much. The forwards were very weak. "Vic" Allan never raised a sprint, and Knight was passable. Bower as outside left was of little use to his side during the game. He was in every position but that cf goalkeeper-and his own. consequently with Nunn retired through injury, the front line was entirely disorganised. A special meed of praise is due to A. Bennett (goalkeeper) and W. Davis (centre half). To my mind they stood between City United and a draw, or a probable defeat. I have not

seen the former keep so well. The latter, though vigorous, showed splendid football tlroughout the game. The Junior Association open their season on Saturday next with the League C'up'competitions in the respective divisions. The sincere sympathy of all soccerites is extended to Mr. Frank Smallwood in his late sad bereavement in the loss of his wife, whose demise took place last week at Claremont. SATURDAY'S FIXTURES. Following matches have been arranged for Saturday next:Division I.'-Perth v. Subiaco, Esplanade; Claremont v. Training College, at Claremont; Fremantle v. Loco. Wanderers, Fremantle Park; Rangers v. Australs, Wellington-square, west ground. FIRST ROUND'FIXTURES. Division II.--Claremont v. Training College, 'Rangers v. Cottesloe Hotspurs, Fremantle v. Y.M.C.A., Claremont v. Cottesloe Hotspurs, Rangers v. Y.M.C.A., Fremantle v. Training College, Claremont v. Y.M.CA., Rangers v. Fremantle, 'Cottesloe Hotspurs v. Training College, Claremont v.' Fremantle, Rangers v. Training College, Cottesloe v. Y.M.C.A., Claremont v. Rangers, Cottesloe Hotspurs v. Fremantle, Y.M.C.A. v. Training College. Second round same as first. Division III.--Claremont "Bl" "v. Modern School No. 1, Rang rs v. St. Andrews, Modern School No. 2 v. Claremont "B 2," Reserves v. High School, Claremont `"B1i v. St. Andrews, Rangers v. Claremont "B 2," Modern School No. 2 v. High School, Reserves v. Modern School No. 1, Claremont "B 1" v. Claremont "B 2," Rangers v High School, Modern Schbol No. 2 v. Modern' School No. 1, Reserves v. St. Andrews, Claremont "B 1" v. High School, Rangers v. Modern School No. 1, Modern School No. 2 v. St. %ndrews, Reserves v. Clareniont "B 2," Claremont "B 1" v. Rangers, High School v. St. Andrews, Modern, School No. *. v. Claremont "B 2," Reserves. v. Modern School No. 2, Modern School No. 1 v. St. Andrews, Reserves "B" v. Claremont "B 1", High School v. Claremont "B 2," Moderii School .No. 2 v. Rangers,: Modern ,School No.. 1 v.. High School, Modern School No. 2 v..Claremont No. 1, Raingers v. :Reserves "B,"' Claremont No.-2 v. St. Andrews. " Second "round san~e as first.