Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 9 August 1926, page 11


FOOTBALL SENSATIONS.

BOGUS IPBBBPHOKB MESSAGE.

TBICKKEER OUTWITTED.

An extraordinary incident of which there does not seem any probability of discovering the instigator occurred during the South Melbourne v Footscray match at South Melbourne on Saturday Just as the tennis had gone on to the field after the interval at half time the telephone bell in the secretary's office lang Mr

1 Morton the secretary of the cricket club answered it and a voice said Dr Bishop is Bpclilmg Will you please tell Mr Johnson the South Melbourne press that his wife in dangerously ill and tell him to come home at once Please make this urgent" Sir Morton at once went to Mr "L "MeTliien the secretary of the South Melbourne Football Club and gave him the message Air McBucn turned to Dr Davy the honorary medical officer of the club and said Do you know Dr

Bishops" Dr Drew replied that he had never heard of a doctor of that name Johnson lives not far from the ground so Mr Mclaren whose suspicions were aroused jumped into his motor car and drove to Johnson s house in Bank street to his great relief in answer to his neck, Alex Johnson opened the door On seeing Mr McBrien at that time in the club Uts Johnson at once thought that her husband Juill met with an accident but in McEuen assured her that there was nothing meng and explained that he had been passing and had called in

to her how she was

The incident caused much excitement in the South Melbourne dressing-room after -the match, the players being incensed at the attempt which had been made to take one of their number on the held Johnson who may not know what had happened until he left the train showed that whoever had thought of the scheme to depute South Melbourne of his son

Mees had some method for he kicked four colors in the second half of the game

The South Melbourne officials were unable to trace the source of the telephone message "but it is evident that who ever sent it did so with evil intent who in cident solves to show the keen in to eat taken in the game and the depths to which people will descend to attain their

ends

DISGRACEFUL SCENES

Police intervention at Geelong

A riotous scene unprecedented in the history of football in Geelong took place at the close of the Geelong St Kilda match on Saturday and the police have intimated their intention of taking action against a St Kilda player, and a man said to be a member of the committee

from the tal I j stages of the game, which was vigorous throughout, spiteful tactics were adopted and it must be said that both sides took part in them the crowd pew angry as the game progressed especially as several Geelong players appeared to receive special ill treatment

Up to half time no exception could have been taken to the nature of the play as although there were spiteful incidents there were no ill effects Eicke was limp ing, but that was the result of an effort to stop another player. and in falling he twisted his leg The scores at the interval were very evenly Kilda having had the best of the second round tel and hail reduced the deficiency of 20 points to one of two points 1 our time in the third term Geelong battled hard and the play was particularly vigorous and was so crowded that many questionable tactics could not be observed by the umpire Then Geelong broke away and St Kilda went at it with greater vigour, May was the first casualty though his injuries were not the result of rough play He had danced about when Hagger was kicking for goal and in his jumping injured the ligaments of his ankle and had to

be assisted from the field and was not able to take further part in the game

Play ing the men seemed to be the tactics adopted by several places in the last term St Kilda was waging a hopeless battle Chambers was interfered with and when he rose from the ground he mentioned to a St Kilda player that it would be well to cut out the rough' Almost immediately another St Kilda player rushed in and Chambers was sent binan ling from a knock the boundary umpire saw the incident and running up to Chambers is alleged to have remarked, 'It is nil light I saw what happened

Just before the game ended Rnjson was bowled over and it was apparent that he was severely injured, and he was immediately

removed to his house which is within the football grounds Building from a broken rib

the final bell then sounded and the St. Kilda men as they raced to their dressing rooms were hooted The spectators departed from the usual custom of his i lying from the Brands as soon as the bell rang but lingered in their places Practically the whole of the St Kilda players had gone through the place when there was a general index Hebburn and Shelton were the last two players to enter the lace It is alleged

that a blow with an umbrella was made at Shelton and that numerous else made use of an offensive expresSion Two more blows were aimed at Shelton who had apparently stopped to speak to the person who had made use of the offensive expression As he did so a picket was wrenched off the fence and a blow aimed at either Shelton or Hepburn It is stated that Shelton wrenched the picket away from the man and was holding it in the way to ward off further blows which were being hurled at him

The crowd swarmed around the players and on to the fences of the lace and there were all the elements of a serious disturbance when Mounted constable Hazel seeing that the police were unable to break through the city which was wedged in so tightly, rode up the race on Ihb troop horse and wrenched the picket from Shelton L cntuully the police bundled all the players into the dressing room where great excitement pi c ailed for some time Several constables also went into the room. The crowd huge ed on for half an hour discussing the prospects of certain players being reported and surprise was expressed when it was announced that the umpires had reported all clear '

the police intimated their intention of proceeding on summons against a St Kilda player and a St Kilda civilian alleged to be a member of the committee while notion is also contemplated in respect to the incident in which Chambers, was as

sociated

The Geelong coiiiiniltccmcn were distressed at the disgi local scene and expressed regrets that such a thing should have happened on the ground. The St Kilda committee also expressed as to go etc and in a statement later the secret use of the club said be regretted that Shelton should have stopped to argue with the cross as he had long as it was no proof that the crowd was in all urge

more 1

'- St Kilda Secretary

Mr T Irvine the St Kd la sect star

said j called u that it had been a good game until half time but in the second half he got a bit willing As the players left the held Hepburn and ethelton who were borne distance behind the rest of the team were the last to enter the reserve on their way to then do casing room They had insults hurled at them by Geelong supporters to one of time more insulting than the lost Shelton replied You would not say that if there was not a fence between us and immediately he was struck the St Kilda pi nets rushed back

and several spectators jumped the fence into the race leading to the dressing room and there was a corner in fight A spectator wi inched a picket off the fence and at t fell off the St. Kilda players In the struggle Shelton pulled the picket from his assistant and was holding it when the police arrived The St Kilda players were hustled 1 into their di assure: room and the trouble w is all over It was unfortunate for the gillie but it was caused by the Geelong li n rachel s and the absence of adequate protection for the purpose 'Our men

said Mr R vine were subjected to much abuse but in the en climate trees Shelton was justified in protesting and in defen I jg himself when he was using ted Some thing should be done to protect the

play is

Police Action

GllfOMT. Sun I am Police action will L taken against line St Kilda pipes It is son stated after he had been injured that a St Kilda plot of land menaced him throughout the match mud and sand 111 get you before its over Rnjson was in jured before the final bell