Collingwood vs Carlton, 7 May 1892 - The first game
The Collingwood club, which has this season been admitted to the senior association, opened its career and the season on Saturday with a match against Carlton, the game being witnessed by over 10,000 people. The playing-ground in the Victoria-park is all that could be desired for football, the stiff clay composing it having been freely top-dressed. An embankment covered with cinders has already been run round the ground, and a grand-stand is being built, so that the new club starts under very favourable conditions.
Locally great interest is taken in the team, the club flag, hoisted for the first time on Saturday, having been presented to the club by its president, Mr. Beazley, M.L.A., while another resident, Mr. Vincent, presented the players with a set of caps.
Collingwood took the field with a team composed largely of juniors though seven of the twenty had played as seniors either in Victoria or Tasmania. In physique they can hold their own with the heaviest, of the older senior twenties. In the absence of Delahunty, who has been elected captain, but was unable to play, Watt, the vice-captain, led the team. Their colours are black and white in diagonal stripes.
First Quarter
In the opening play Markham was conspicuous in defence for Collingwood. Allan early in the game became prominent for his good all-round play, and forced the ball to the Carlton end, where Sutton stopped a rush that was looking dangerous. Collingwood were playing the little marks better than Carlton, and broke the rules less frequently. Proudfoot helped Allan in another charge, and next Strickland, Simpson, and G. Williams were conspicuous by their good work for Carlton. In the ruck Collingwood early showed the possession of two hard workers in Langford, of Tasmania, a splendid all-round player, and Mclnerney, formerly of Fitzroy.
With a rush, in which McOwan and Simpson were the prominent men, Carlton took the ball the length of the ground, and Mathieson scored first goal for the visitors. With Collingwood on the defensive, Jones, Murphy, and McLoughlin in turn came into notice, Murphy especially being invaluable to his side. In addition to working hard, his height helps him in marking amongst the ruck, but he kicks poorly. P. Williams and Roberts were forcing the Collingwood defence when the quarter closed with Carlton a goal to the good.
Second Quarter
On changing ends Langford and Allan did some rattling work in the ruck, and there was loud cheering when Toll kicked first goal for Collingwood. Roberts retaliated with one of his paralysing rushes, and Geddes, who was playing as finely forward for Carlton as was McOwan back, got second goal for Carlton from a close shot.
The game was fast enough for the closing day of the season, and Collingwood had clearly not taken the field unprepared. In a period of brilliant play at this stage Allan, Langford, and Murphy on the one side, and Simpson, Geddes, and Roberts on the other, scored all the honours. One of Carlton's new wing men, Bowen, was also playing a very cool and thorough game. Smith, Langford, and McLoughlin had in turn chances to score for Collingwood, but all missed. Up to half-time Allan and Smith were the workers for Collingwood and McOwan for Carlton, who still kept their lead of a goal.
Third Quarter
After half-time Walton had his hand bound up, his finger having been broken in a struggle, but he still kept command of his team. Murphy twice turned Carlton charges that promised ominous endings for their opponents. Richardson gave Mathieson another chance, but he missed it, and Simpson similarly favoured Roberts, with the same want of success, though the last shot was a good one. A fine kick by Roberts gave G. Williams a mark right in goal, but he missed an easy chance.
Some fine play by Strickland kept Collingwood still on the strain, which was eased in the wrong way when Geddes after a splendid mark got third goal for Carlton. Tothen had two long shots at the Carlton goal, and showed that he could get over an exceptional distance, but he failed to score. Just before the last change Collingwood was being seriously menaced.
Fourth Quarter
Although leading by two goals Carlton were not yet quite safe, as their goal-kicking was not too good. Langford made a bad mistake on the change of ends by racing away with the ball in the wrong direction. Carlton kept it there, and had three close misses before it was got away. When Collingwood did attack they did it with effect, and a fine long kick by Proudfoot just got the ball through, and scored second goal.
Nothing but bad luck kept Carlton from going ahead at this stage, for several good shots for goal were all only slightly astray. Watt set his team a bad example in aiming for goal, and getting as far away from the posts as he well could. From some hard play in front of the Carlton posts Lamley passed to Proudfoot, who failed to get to goal, and this was Collingwood's last chance, though Carlton went very close to a fourth goal from a fine shot by P. Williams just before the bell rang.
Match summary
Collingwood, although beaten, are to be congratulated on playing a fast and fair game, Carlton breaking the rules about twice as often as their opponents all through. The new club's form in this match was superior to that shown by either Richmond, St.Kilda, Port Melbourne, North Melbourne, Footscray, or Williamstown last season, and they promise to be a formidable team in the second flight.
For the winners, McOwan, Simpson, Geddes, Roberts, Strickland, P. Williams, and Sutton were the more noticeable players: while on the Collingwood side Allan, Langford, Murphy, Mclnerney, Lamley, Proudfoot, Toll, and Jones were best.
Hayes, a junior umpire, officiated in the match, and, like some of the junior players, did remarkably well, for although he missed a few breaches of the rules, this is almost inseparable from the present method of umpiring, and otherwise he was fast, cool, and prompt in his decisions, though a bit too quick sometimes in calling the ball up from scrimmages.
The following are the scores:-
First Quarter: Carlton, 1 goal 3 behinds: Collingwood, 2 behinds.
Half-time: Carlton, 2 goals 4 behinds: Collingwood, 1 goal 5 behinds.
Third Quarter: Carlton, 3 goals 6 behinds: Collingwood, 1 goal 6 behinds.
Final Score: Carlton, 3 goals 13 behinds: Collingwood, 2 goals 11 behinds.
Footnotes
Title: "CARLTON V. COLLINGWOOD", 7 May 1892.
Author: Argus Staff Writer.
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria, 1848 - 1957)
Date: 9 May 1892, p.10.
Web: Trove
Comments
Pete McLean 10 July 2012
Due to a fixturing error, Collingwood would have been unable to compete for the 1892 premiership if Carlton had not scheduled an extra match. Clubs needed to play at least 18 games to qualify. The Blues had been supportive of the 'Woods entry into the VFA. This first "extra" match at Victoria Park was in fact Carlton home game, and the Blues donated the gate takings to the new club.
Brian Membrey 13 July 2012
Just for the record, Alf Toll, who kicked Collingwood's first point and then first goal was from Preston. He played in most of the Collingwood matches in 1892, but from what I could trace, did not play after that, although the family continued to reside in South Preston near Bell station for several years hence. The other interesting thing is the advertisements of the match in the Collingwood newspapers were already calling them "the Magpies", perhaps making it the oldest of the current nicknames
Paul DELLA 13 July 2012
Interestingly the Yarra Hotel, a torpie from Victoria Park, and scene of the change rooms for the Collingwood players in their first game against Carlton closed down on May 5th 2012, exactly 120 years after this game was played.
Although the exact date of this game seems to change from article to article, from what i have seen.
Pete McLean 30 July 2012
Paul Della, Saturday May 07 1892, is the date the newspapers had for the the first Carlton vs Collingwood match. See Blueseum (www.blueseum.org ) Pre VFL section 1892 for a write up from a Carlton perspective. Brian Membry, Carlton has been called the Blues since the mid 1860's when they wore a dark blue band on their cap.
james johnson 22 August 2017
Mclnerney is my children's Great Great Grand Uncle. We are continuing on in our researching. James (Stab Punt Jim) Johnson.
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