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football Gossip.
By "Raggles."
The great game between South and Fitzroy was
a hard tussle. The first quarter was a hummer,
the globule buzzing like a Marshall-Hall orchestral
concert. The crowd gaped. Within a minute oi
the start Sotith sent the twin signals Hying. Fitzroy
had not touched the sphere as yet. Bower sent
to Caldwell, who passed it along the daisy chain
to Sloss, Hiskens, Prince, and Gough, who gave it
to Casey, and thfi sixer was scored. Again South
dashed forward, and Deas got second goal. 'Boy
now woke and rubbed their eyes. Campbell then
scored. A flno kick by Holden gave Campbell another
chance, and the goal record was even. The
second act "Saw 'lloy forge ahead, Campbell scoring
his third big point. Up and down the bladder
travelled, each side attacking in turn, and both
barracking brigades howling themselves hoarse ;
but 'Rov went into the lead.
* « » »
South made the third the deciding quarter.
They
started
off to do things.
Luck camc with
them,
lor their third sixer was a lucky
one.
Mortimer
came out of his snell and got a brace of goals,
and the act saw South with a thirteen-point
lead.
1'iiring this act the game got particularly
rapid,
the Southerners bouncing like motor cars all over
the heath ;
but
'Roy is
a team
that
is
novel:
beaten.
With a great rally, they
rapped at
the
door, but failed to get it
opened.
South led by
thirteen points at the final change, and the crowd
saved
up its breath for the struggle,
as
Fitzroy
had the wind advantage.
It
was
a
high-grade
finish.
Tile Maroon bulldogs dashed in to the attack,
and the Southerners were hugging the ropes
for many
minutes.
Shaw got a goal, and
'Rov
were within call.
Often ther brought
the leather
forward, only to hug it too
persistently,
and
penalty kick
'Roy's play
Southern danger,
for holding the
^vcre aggressivo
the
target,
ever,
upheld
r throws in
nd only lose
Bowc-r, of StHttM* r^-^ftefbest mail on
the ground. He sffvWPWttrtlUe all day. He was
clever in the air, and never missed the ball. Caldwell
held the cards over Holden, but Prince finished
down to Buist, who was the pride of the Maroons.
Walsh, defending, was always a lively conundrum,
his dashes always bringing forth applause. Grimshaw,
Pentland, and Thomas also saved the-situation
frequently. Dolphin was a trustv custodian of
the golden gates Mjlne and Belcher did good
work in the crush, where Sloss was not as eflectivc
as usual. Deas also was off his oats, or the
weather didn't suit him. Hiskens. Gough, Casey,
and Mortimer completed a brilliant forward-line.
» * • •
Buist did best for the Maroons, reaching his top
in this game. Next to him, Norris, Walker, and
Johnson put up a grand defence. Walker especially
being as sound as the Rock. Shaw was
always going off like an alarm clock, and both
Parratt and' Reardon pleased the "Roy supporters.
Others who laboured hard were Cooper, Rahilly,
M'Lennan, and Campbell 'Rov, however, play so
even a side that it is difficult to f-pecialise players,
and on their form in this game there is little to
clioose between either side. From a rearward position
last year the Maroons hav^ rapidly pushed
themselves before the limelight. r.nd even if they
fail to find the box seat this year their effort has
been an exceptionally good one.
* * • •
To an excellent attendance Collingwood swept
round the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a calm, determined
manner. They began like a hurricane,
Ryan quickly getting a goal. They soon added
other, sixers, and quickly had the Students hugging
the ropes. The first quartsi settled it. 'Wood
spun the oval forward, glided round the wings,
steered it between the perpendiculars, and four times
repeated the process. Besides Ryan. Wilson got a
sixer, and Lee notched a trio, whilst singles were
uirt cheap. AH th*s time the Students had failed
to score even « solitary. The second quarter
showed no improvement. Two singles were all the
Shop could manage, whilst 'Wood added a sixer
and five behinde. The third act saw the Students
further in the soup. 'Wood got five more sixers,
and at the last change held a tidv lead of eleven
sixers. They raced still further ahead, and the final
tinkle saw them with an enhanced reputation as a
high-grade team, whilst the Students failed to uphold
anything—they played feeble football.
• • « •
The form of the Students cannot be taken seriously.
They are only having a game with themselves.
They are for ever adopting
modifications
in the team.
The players are placed in different
positions each week as though they cut for places.
With Brake and Bennett on the wings, Balfe back
in goals, and Hinmaj> goal sneak, they could produce
quite a cornie opera team.
And the
trouble
is that they look capable in the innocent glee of
their hearts of doing it.
Of the side, Gray, Wilon,
and Elliott aid good work on the] defence lines.
Hurrey,
Balfe, and M'Crackcn
worked
hard
with
Bennett and Nicholas, and Brake was the
noblest
Roman of them all.
Against the poor form showed by their opponents
'Wood contrasted brilliantly.
Sadler, M'JIale,
and
Gibb were clever across the centre.
Hughes, Angus,
Ryan,
and Rowan rucked untiringly,
with
Baxter
and Vernon tricky as rovers.
The "forwards had a
picnic, Iiyau and Lee sharing half the sixers,
but
Wilson and Gilchrist were also busy.
They
have
a heavy task next week in engaging Carlton,
but
as Fitzroy
are no less sorely tried in their game
with Essendon, 'Wood look to have best chance for
fourth place.
«
Carlton rejoiced in the reappearance of their warhorse,
Ford, and
had
in
Harris,
Johnson,
and
armingham.
They now consider they have by no
means
a
losing team.
Spectators
saw
a
goodgame
until tho fina' net. when GeMong, after being
only
tltivc points in th<; rear,
w^re left standing
by the lijims. who, like a loxm of policemen,
got
a move on in the lust
qimiUr.
They played
a
fine ruck.
Elliott,
Barmingliani,
r.hd* Mafchbanks
were doing hard work.
Valentine, as- usual, j-oved
cleverly, with Hughes also taking a turn.
Their
backs were always sturdy
in dcfcnce, with
Dick.
Clark, aud Jamieson at their best.
Clancy, Bruce,
and
M'Gregor
formed
a
wire-netting
barricade
across the centre,
and
Ford's
reappearance was
marked by a sixer.
Eason was one of the best in the Gselong colours.
Grigg
and
Brownless
were
going
when
others
stopped.
Heinz did nothing wrong in. all the work
he put in, Whilst
Slater.
Palmer, Marsham,
and
Martini
were often noticeable.
Geelong's football
is distinctive.
It
is real
good football—full
of
points ; but it is less effective than it looks.
The
players are better on their own than as a team.
* • • •
Melbourne got into a nice, swinging stride, and
had a pleasant argument with their neighbours of
the Park. Richmond's form was disappointing, as
it has been, indeed, of late. They swept round the
ground in a tame manner, hardly seeming to care
whether it shone or snowed, and always looking
for Schmidt, as if the side possessed no other forwards
at all. In fact, to many onlookers Mayfbury
and Maguirc seemed to be in the team for their
beauty only, so far as many of their fellow-players
were concerned, yc<t both these players can get goals
after having to battle for the leather themselves.
• • • •
Melbourne got in at early doors, and quickly held
a thirtcen-point lead, but Maguirc's two sixers—
both brilliant efforts—equalise-! ths scorcs by tho
first change. With the wind. Richmond took a lead.
Heaney was playing brilliantly, soaring often a
chain and a half above the others, and two sixers
came as a result of his efforts. The third act saw
a difference. Melbourne started off to conquer the
world, and four times sent the leather between the
perpendiculars. Starting with a defieit of fourteen
points, they finished the third term two points in
the lead, so that a stirring finish was cxpected.
Richmond started off with a sixer and the lead.
Then Melbourne camc again, and twice sent tho
umpire back to the centre with the sphere. They
had Richmond on the desert sands. Thcv were
satisfied.
• i • <
For the winners, M'Kenzic was the champion of
the tourney. All day the pocket marvel made the
Richmond supporters rub their eyes in wonder at
his cleverness and fairness alike. Hickey (back)
was also one of the men of the hour. Hendrie and
Allan put up a classy exhibition, whilst Tompkins
was another always in the limelight. Jack Lcith
took Pcarcc's place between the posts, his kickingin
being always long and in tho right place. Brcrctoi:
was their most successful goahgstter. foi.'r
sixers coming from his boot. Politz, Kennedy, and
George were at times noticeable, but Bob Monk
nlight be useful if stood between the goals with a
white coat and a pair of flags.
• • • •
For Richmond, Rec\es, who improves weekly, was
perhaps their best player. With slightly more experience
he should prove a star, for he's a trier
all through, who takes his coat off, and docs business
whilst others sleep. Heaney showed greatly
improved form, whilst the tricky Ma honey was
showy, but not always useful. Thorpe and Incigneri
did good defence work. M'Caehnev, on the
wing, was clever and fast. Herbert and Ohlscn
rucked well, and both Maguirc and Maybury did all
tho work given them, but Schmidt, clever though
lie undoubtedly is. might well be given „ separate
ball for his own particular use. They tried two
new men in Brooker and Woolacott, and the latter
should prove a find.
• » # *
"Never saw them all day," remarked a St. Kilda
supporter after their jnatch with iSssendon. "Oh.
for their team of old. Essondon had them, over the
fence, both shoulders on the mat, counted out, and
coming up the home stretch lame. They're a shining
team !". Of course, Essendon played a grand game,
which made the St. Kilda opposition look even
weaker than it might have been. Almost, every
man camc out and enjoyed himself, and, as luck
went with theui, too, they had a good day.
• • • •
Esswndon made no doubt about winnine their discussion
with St. Kilda, whose executive can hardly
be complimented on their action in keeping tho discontented
players o'Jt of the team after the latter
had the worst of the argument. The eommittco
has shown them that it is possible to scrape up a
side at almost a moment's notice, and. now the
players wish to come back, the managing body
would lose nothing in prestige by allowing the
whole parcel of them to return. The 'Dons were
out for records, and they Undoubtedly improved
their averages. They rested Baring and Cameron
in view of important engagements further ahead,
and settled down to a goal-getting feast.
• • »
The "Dons bounced away at the bell, and were
never headed. They banged cheerfully at the citadel,
and got sixers in wholesale quantities. They
spun the oval through with special precision, so
ihat the game was over after the first quarter of
an hour, and those of the crowd who wished were
able to put on tneir lids and depart for the races.
At quarter-time twelve shots to three was> the tally,
and Essendon's goal record was eight. The 'Dons
were stili not contented. At the change of ends
they still held the cards. Four times they rang
the bell, whilst M'Namara, St. Kilda's latest find,
alone raised the signals for his side, after soaring
high over his opponents. Essendon brought in the
harvest before the rains in the third act, when another
eight sixers appeared ; and their final tally
showed twenty-three sixers to their credit. With
St. Kilda finding the opening five times, the umpire
was kept busy bringing the oval back into the
Lou Armstrong got eight goals, most of them
from fine, long shots. Dave Smith improved the
shining hour by six times pushing the sphere between
the uprights. Busbridge gave of his best,
and will sooa be the "Buzzv" of old. Hanley,
Kirby, and Walker, of the new men, did good work
throughout., the last-named getting three sixers in
his spare time. O'Shea, Serwart. Chalmers (in the
centre), Bowe and M'Leod (back), Ogden and White
also served to show that Essendon had few weak
screws. Amongst the Saints, the most noticeable
were Pierce, Hattam, and Woodcock, although the
last-named always seemed loth to lose possession
of the bladder. Taylor, Sellars. and M'Namara
were a trio of triers, whose efforts deserved more
success.
• • • •
Only two more matches now to complete the,first
rounds and then football will begin in deadly
earnest. Form this year has been strangely inconsistent,
with Essendon shining out in tho first half,
and South coming up solidly in the second, whilst
Carlton. Collingwood,. and Fitzroy were up and
down. There docs not seem to be mueh to choose
bntween Essendon and South, and even money either
is a fair thing. Of course, Carlton and Collingwood
may stili come on. At any rate,- no one
team stands out. in bold relief, so September ought
lo bubble over with excitement, and the crowd yell
itself hoarse when it sees the quartette racing down
the straight in a rapid, whip-cracking bunch. Two
good games are down for desision next Saturday,
and, unfortunately, each within twenty minutes of
the other. Fitzroy iiwet Rssendon in a deathdealing
duel, whilst Collingwood have Carlton as
their opponents. Sr.iith hIsu havi» |> v no (mains an
rasy task jn meeting Gcelong at ilie I'ivot. Down
on their own particular piece of soil, tie Pivotonians
are rather deadly, and. South will have to
ive of their beet to return as winners.
$