West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 14 August 1939, page 18


PERTH KICKS BADLY. Easy Win for East Perth. On a slippery, treacherous playing field, East Perth easily beat Perth at the W.A.C.A. ground on Saturday in a game which was one-sided after half-time. Perth lost any chance it had of winning by atrocious kicking at goal. In the first quarter it had at least ten good

chances of gosling and it kicked 2.6. The I goalaneak. A. Gook, won the ball frequently--his marking was good-but he 1 was hopelessly inaccurate; at one stage e he had kicked 1.6 from nine shots. After I half-time Perth was outplayed and failed I to score in the last quarter. East Perth played fast, vigorous football and its defence was markedly superior. Its rnck was strong and its forwards, although I not extravagantly accurate, scored freely I through brisk, open leading and effi- I cdent co-operation. Led by Starr. the backs kept the opposing forwards in sub- I jection after the first quarter. The teams were:PERTH.-Backs: Fitzgerald. Robertson. McCarthy. Half-backs: aiim. Hetherington. RundelL Centres: Lewis. Fodder. H. Ransom. Halt-forwards: Strauss. Henley, McKenzie. Forwards: Hatton, Gook. Haddleton. Rack: Bailer. Oliphant. Gring (rover). Nineteenth man: Coleman (did not play). 4 EAST PERTH-Backs: J. Sweet, Ward. Tho- I nas. Half-backs: H. Smith. Starr. Mussman. Centres: Miller. Rowland. E. Sweet Half-forwards: Broom. Neeson. McEncroe. Forwards: B. Ryan, Gardiner. P. Patterson. Ruck: L. 1 Graham. Pogarty, A. Campbell (rover). Nineteenth man: J. Campbell (did not play). UMPIRE: J. Black. Oliphant's strong rack-work gave Perth an Initial advantage, but erratic play in the forward line spoilt four successive chances at goal. Gook kicked three behinds, Hatton one behind and four shots went out of bounds. Perth was easily the better team, but it was twelve minutes before Grigg scored the first goalj. In contrast. East Perth attacked twice to score Li. East Perth was slug- I gish, but Neeson, with clever marking, kept the forwards on the move. Perth, 1 slightly less troubled by the slippery ground, led at the end of the quarter with 2.6 to 2.4. Bailey was sent to centre half-back to watch Neeson at the start of the second quarter. For a long period the East l Perth centre line held sway and L. Graham goaled but its scoring was not commensurate with its greater share of the ball. Perth lapsed badly. Robertson worked hard to buttress a ragged defence and Oliphant won in the ruck but East Perth held a big advantage and ran to a 28-point lead. Perth's forwards were overwhelmed by the dash of I J. Sweet who for a time dominated the game. Perth scored only one behind during the quarter and East Perth led at half-time with 6.12 to 2.7. Robertson, badly dazed from a kick in the head early in the previous quarter, went to full forward at the start of the third term and at once scored a goal The ball (and McCarthy) were covered in mud and Perth, by dint of hard, slugging play, goaled again. Robertson was able to return to full-back. Perth maintained its run, but missed scoring. and A. Campbell "soccered" a goal for East Perth. With Starr unbeatable at halt-back Perth's attack was checked, but Haddleton goaled to reduce the lead to I 17 points. Wild kicking by Perth enabled East Perth to hold its advantage and the scores at the close of the quarter were:-East Perth. 8.15; Perth, 5.12. With Robertson forced back to goalsneak and Gook at half-forward. Perth could not withstand the pace and vigour of East Perth's finishing effort 011phant strove hard in the ruck and Fitsgerald was brilliant in defence but East Perth's wingmen and half-forwards outplayed their opponents to score two goals early in the quarter and clinch the match. East Perth added steadily to Its total and Perth failed to score. The final scores were: EAST PERTH .. .. .. 12.22 (94pts.) PERTH .. .. .. .. .. 5.12 (42pts.) Scorers.-East Perth: Gardiner, 3.7: 1 Patterson, 3.6; Neeson, 3.4; L. Graham, 1.1: Ryan, 1.1; A. Campbell, 1.1: McEncroe, 0.1 One behind forced through. Perth: Gook, 2.8; Grigg, 1.1; Robertson, 1.0; Haddleton. 1.0; Hatton. 0.1; Hetherington, 0.1; one behind forced through. East Perth had many prominent players but Starr and Patterson were perhaps the most outstanding. Starr shattered Perth's attack with excellent marking and strong (if at times misdirected) clearances. Roving and at forward Pat- 1 terson excelled in open play, gave pace i to the attack and was lively when many other players were sluggish. In a back I pocket J. Sweet was excellent. at times I brilliant, and R. Thomas showed something of his true form. At half-forward i Neeson made the most of numerous opportunities and marked well: Gardiner gave good service in front of goal and

the new player McEncroe, apparently relishing a change in placing, was prominent throughout the game at halfforward. D. Miller played soundly and Fogarty, Smith (second half), A. Campbell, Rowland (in patches) and Ward were others who came under notice. After an indifferent start P. Fitzgerald rose to great heights in defence, showing great skill and courage in withstanding East Perth's second-half barrage. Oliphant worked hard in the ruck and was the team's 'sheet anchor." In the centre Puddey was prominent in most of Perth's movements to the goal and Ransom played cleverly and at great pace on a wing. Hilss did some good work in defence and Robertson played soundly until injured. Bailey (somewhat below form) and Lewis (in patches) were also serviceable players.