Australian Football

Sydney Football Club, 1886

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To the players and supporters of the "reds," season 1886 must long be remembered as being one of exceptional interest, as not only has the club retained its high position, but in this instance the team has eclipsed all previous records by emerging from its season's performances without a solitary defeat. This is in itself an honour no other club of note in the colony can claim. Ae will be seen in the appended analysis, 14 matches were played, 12 of which were won and two drawn.

Fifty-two goals were kicked (being the highest yet attained in any one season), as against 11 lost, averaging 3.7 goals per match for, 0.8 against. No less than 18 of the team have scored for the club, G. A. Crisp for the third year in succession heading the list with 10 goals to his credit. Then come in succession— W. Goer and C. Fairfax with six each; Sullivan, Glenister, and Kelly, four each; Butler, three; Hurley, O'Meara, Bolton, and Chalmers, two each; W. Graham, Tobin, Booker, M'Kellar, Murphy, G. Graham, and Brewster, one each.

The meetings with their time-honoured rival, East Sydney, have, as usual, created considerable excitement, but the matches of the season have undoubtedly been those with the premier club of the Northern district, Wallsend, the reds in each instance being victorious. The last of these created great excitement, over 4000 people assembling at Wallsend to witness the struggle for premiership.

Considerable alterations have been made in the personnel of the team, the club suffering severely by defections since last season, the list of absentees being both a long and heavy one. Of the acquisitions the principal are Elliott, Booker, Chalmers, Evans, W. Graham, O'Meara, and Maiden. Some of the old hands have shown very good form, and had it not been for their exertions, the club would not have been able to boast of its present pleasing record.

G. A. Crisp (who was instrumental in having the game introduced into Sydney) has lost none of his old form, and this year wins the club trophy for best place-play; this player has secured no less than 46 of the 223 goals registered by his club since its formation. W. Goer, the respected skipper of the team, richly deserves that honour, and has done excellent service both in that position and as an all-round player.

D. J. Sullivan has shown a further improvement in his play, and deservedly wins the club's trophy for best all-round play. G. S. M'Kellar, W. Butler, W. G. Graham, W. J. Bramley, L. Oswald, H. Chambers, W. Kelly, and W. Glennister have each and all been prominent in their several departments.

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William Goer was a Carlton captain before moving to Sydney

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In the intercolonials with Victoria and Queensland, as well as the annual interprovincial match, the reds were strongly represented, W. Goer, in addition, acting in each instance as captain. The club team also defeated the Queensland representatives by six goals to one, this being the first occasion on which the representative intercolonial team has been beaten by a New South Wales club team.

The club's fourth annual picnic and sports meeting passed off with great eclat, the entrances for the various races and the attendance generally being greater than in previous years. The principal event was, as usual, the New South Wales champion drop-kick, open to the members of all football clubs, and was, after a keen contest, won by L. Oswald, of the Sydney Club, who propelled the ball just 60 yards.

Daring the season two visiting teams have been the guests of the club, viz., the Queensland representatives and the Wallscnders, who were each entertained at a dinner. The annual soiree, which generally closes the season, at which the club sports trophies are presented, was held a short time back, and was marked by great enthusiasm.

The following is the team's analysis for the past season:—

The following is the club's analysis since formation:—