Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 8 July 1895, page 6


THE LUCK OF FOOTBALL.

Carlton is the lucky team this season, North Melbourne just as emphatically the unlucky one, and the luck held when on

Saturday they met on the Melbourne Cricket-

ground. So close was it to a draw that the ball had only lodged in Langley's arms in time to give him the right to a shot for goal when the final bell rang; and both sides held their breath while he took a forty yard's punt and scored the winning goal for Carlton. North Melbourne missed several good chances for goal, and the only addition in this way to their poor record was got from a free kick. The game itself was never worth watching, for neither side could do much in clever handling, though both might have done better had they devoted themselves more to correct football and set less value on such feats as seeking to bluff the umpire for the sake of small gains. In this way they managed to make Ryan's position a very unpleasant one. Four men were promi-nent in the bulk as playing a sound and correct game, viz., O'Dea and Sicily for the North and Blake and Armstrong for Carlton. It was the young Carlton captain's birthday, and he celebrated it in true footballers' form by setting his side a splendid example in ruck play, this, with the victory gained, leaving Carlton much pleased with the day. Sicily was almost as good as Blake in the ruck, and with his return to form the North's ill-luck may leave them. Little Arm- strong played another of his pretty games, on the wing, and was the best placed man in the match. O'Dea's play was only affected by the fact that he could not hold a slippery ball with his usual tenacity when going up for it in a crowd. Carlton were strong on the centre line, for Patterson best Travis, and Hannah was clever and fast as usual on his side of the ground. Rolfe was always thorough in his defence. Aitken improved greatly on last Saturday's display as a rover, while Woodhouse-who was at his best-

Balharry, and Frost, were all of great help to Blake as followers. Others who shaped well were Giles, Smith, and Melville. The North Melbourne team was far from being a strong one. Manton, Morrison, and Noonan were left out, pending an inquiry by the committee this week, and Rolent, Taylor, Cox, and Shannon were prevented by either illness or accident from taking any part in the game. Several new men were tried-viz, Hassett, who played with the team some time back; and three juniors in Bitton from Hawthorn, Arthur from Toorak, and Prott, a local colt. All four played very well for a first match. In addition to the two Northern men already named H. Launder was prominent as a rover. Currie active in the centre, Tuckwell decidedly useful in defence, Reid better on the ball than when placed, and Grierson clever on the wing. Sicily missed two easy chances to score, and Taylor one.