The 1895 WAFA season in review
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The football season which closed on Saturday week with a regrettable display of feeling between the Rovers and Fremantle his been in several ways the most remarkable the colony has experienced. For the first time the clubs were able to play in enclosed grounds and to command a "gate", but, so far as that consideration has been concerned, it has not been an unmixed blessing, as more was expected from the clubs' committees by the players, and an expenditure in at least one case has been entailed which is hardly commensurate with the proportionate receipts received in respect to the matches.
The Fremantle clubs have been more fortunate than those of Perth, whose ground was flooded on several occasions, and thus the latter lost the receipts of some of the matches which were not played. The Oval has never once been unplayable and consequently the gate has always been forthcoming.
Apart from the considerations of gate money, the enclosed grounds were distinctively beneficial to the public and conducive to a higher standard of play than was possible under the old open ground system.
The season was especially noteworthy for the influx of first class footballers from Adelaide, Melbourne, and Tasmania, which raised the play of the clubs all round, and this, added to the increase of supporters and barrackers from the same source, served to intensify the strong interest in the game which has always existed in the colony.
The style of the play was so improved as to bring football in the colony very nearly, if not quite, on a par with that in the eastern centres, and this was no wonder, seeing that veritable champions from those places had come to take up their abode here.
If the influx could have been confined to the commencement of the season it would have, no doubt, been more beneficial to the game, and would have done away with a good deal of bickering and bitterness of spirit which prevailed between the clubs. The fact that every Saturday no one was certain as to the exact constitution of any of the teams until the men stripped, had a very bad effect, and as nearly every host brought a player, good, bad or indifferent to the colony, the competition between the clubs as to who should get the new men was a very unhealthy one.
There was one particularly glaring case, in which one of the new men gave a sort of acquiescence to the overtures of one club, shilly-shallied, and gave another club still stronger assurances that he would don their jersey, and at the last moment made his appearance in the ranks of a third club, which just then did not need strengthening. What the inducements were to cause this player to be so wavering and fickle the public would like to know.
Without reflecting upon this particular case, a very strong suspicion was aroused that the inducements were more than that of providing the player with a job at his trade, which under the circumstances seems harmless enough. If professionalism is to belong to the game in the colony—which most sportsmen in the colony will depreciate—it would be far better to have it openly recognised by the association than that it should be allowed to exist in a covert manner. All the facts seem to point to some residence qualification as being necessary for players. No doubt the association having seen the evils of the system will deal with this matter next season.
Another undesirable element which served to counterbalance the good features of the season was the disposition to play roughly. Many of the matches, and especially the last one, were disfigured by the unnecessary and illegal use of force, the outcome, it is said, of private difference and personal spleen between the players. This is what all true lovers of the game deprecate in the strongest possible manner. Some of the players seemed to imagine that the game was created for them, and forgot altogether that the public had paid their money to see football, and not to witness the evidence of petty spite. The rough and tumble exhibitions were neither manly nor honest to the public, who, if they wished to see a "mill" would prefer to see it under proper rules.
Much of the rough play was brought about by the prevalence of the practice—which seems to be as bad in the other colonies as here—of crowding upon the ball. When there is so much ruck play it serves to develops a peculiar kind of tricky nose in evading the rules, and in the end it must lead to bad blood. The matter is engaging the attention of the football authorities in the other colonies, but so far no definite scheme has been evolved to make the game more open.
Boundary umpires have been tried in Victoria, but, according to the reports, without success, as the ruck play last season was just as strong as ever. The question is one that is well worthy of consideration by the members of our football parliament during the summer months, as owing to the bad blood and bitter feeling the Australian game is in danger of losing its popularity. Without recourse to further legislation, much might be done by the officers of the club exerting their own personal influence to bring about a better spirit.
The question of rough play naturally directs attention to that of umpiring. I have always maintained throughout the season that the umpiring of Messrs. Duff and Lean has been the best seen in the colony for a long time. Both gentlemen understand the game and were quick in detecting infringements. At the same time they were both a little wanting in firmness. For this latter failing, however, they can scarcely be blamed, seeing how adversely they were criticised whenever the occasion did come to report a team or player to the association. In the case of Mr Duff the association having acquitted him from blame in the Rovers-Imperial fiasco when the latter team left the ground, the delegates ought to have gone further and passed a vote of confidence in him. Knowing that they could not give satisfaction to the delegates, it is no wonder that the umpires were very chary in posing in the position of prosecutors of unruly players.
The season was singularly free from the carpeting of players, but it would have been in the interests of the game and the association had an opportunity been afforded of dealing with some players whose roughness was habitual. The fact is that the central umpire in the game as now played has too much to do and too match responsibility, and, if the appointment of boundary umpires would do nothing else than to relieve this officer of some of his very arduous duties, it would be a distinct gain.
Coming to the play, it will be seen that Fremantle have emulated the performances of the Essendon and won the quadruple crown—four premierships in succession. The question is, will they break the Australian record and win five? The honour has been well earned, although the Rovers have been a veritable thorn in their side throughout the season. The matches between these two clubs were most exciting and interesting up to the middle of the season, when the inclusion of such capable exponents of the game in the Fremantle team as Archer, Doran, and Gibson served to turn the balance in their favour.
As was said before, the system of including new men was bad, but the Fremantle fairly won their honours by superior all round football, their team, especially towards the close of the season, being strong in every particular. In fact, they would have given the best clubs in Melbourne a good shaking up.
To make a choice in regard to the best players of the season, I must give William ‘Pos’ Watson, of the Fremantle, the palm for the best all round play. He was not only cool and skilful in the ruck, but an excellent shot for goal, and withal carrying out the duties of skipper in a highly efficient way. Watson fully sustained the high reputation he achieved in Victoria, and that reputation was unsullied by unnecessarily rough work. Oldham, of the Rovers, and Ryan, of West Perth, were also noticeable for splendid all round play.
For the goal kicking championship figures speak for themselves— Thurgood's performance of 53 goals entitling him not only to the championship of this colony, but of Australia. Thurgood also showed that he is a fine all round player, being equally serviceable back as forward, yet I cannot but regret that his play was at times marred by exhibitions of temper. His habit of giving a forward spring in the air for marks regardless of the players around needs some checking in the interest of life and limb.
Watson, of Fremantle, has second position, and Cooper, of the Imperials is third on the list. There is no doubt that the last named is a wonder for his inches, and he has the distinction of beating Thurgood is a private contest. Watson, of the Rovers, was also clever in getting the ball and putting it through. The West Perth cracks, J. R. Davis and Duffy, fell much below their form of last season. A. Watson, of the same club, being practically the only reliable man in the team at the end of the season.
In selecting the best follower the task is a difficult one, but I give my vote in favour of Covacevitch, who was a most consistent worker throughout the season. After his, but not far removed, comes Gibson and Fischer, whose injury in the middle part of the season was a severe blow to the Rovers. Fisher not only worked like a Trojan himself but infused the same spirit in others. After these two I should name Archer, Moorehouse, Price and Hobbs. For centre man I must give the palm to Finlay, who invariably got hold of the ball when it came to him, and was undoubtedly the best placed man of the team. Plant (Fremantle) and Bertram (Rovers) were also conspicuous in the centre. Amongst the forwards Callen and McKenzie were about the best altogether, the former spoiled his work by selfish play.
In the defensive work there will be much difference of opinion as to who should have first place amongst Morgan (West Perth), Kennedy and Todd (Imperials), Geddes, Clarke, and Whelan (Rovers), and Doran, Chadwick, and Byers (Fremantle). The cleanest work, combined with splendid marking, I think was done by Morgan, while Whelan was the best of the full-back.
On the wings there is also a multiplicity of good men to pick from. Liddelow (Rovers) was, perhaps, the fastest of the lot, but for genuine football Musgrove (Fremantle) and McPhee (Imperials) stood out above the others, the former being the most reliable. Spencer of the Imperials, Watts (Fremantle), and J. Bishop and Fraser (West Perth), were also up to a high standard of play.
Regarding the Fremantle, it was noticed that several of the old players had to take comparatively a back seat. Preece in the early part of the season, had not opportunity to train to do himself justice, and the popular Teddy only at times came up to his 1894 form. Fay was not as prominent, while Farrant did not have the speed nor skill which he displayed in former seasons. "Carbine" Shaw was an exception to the rule. He not only exhibited the charm which distinguished him in 1891, but at time played with splendid judgement. Garey was at times very useful, but often the pace was too much for him.
In the Rovers team Hussey, towards the end of the season, showed quite his best form. Arnold was a very cool, useful player, while Austin was always reliable. Clarke, the skipper, showed all his old ability in handling his man while playing a good game himself. Castieau was as serviceable at back, but the injuries he received during the season did not serve to improve him. The club secured late in the season the services of a most prominent junior in Abbott, who should develop into a really first-class man.
The West Perth, although they morally defeated both Rovers and Fremantle early in the season, fell away to the very lowest position at the end. Internal dissension was the cause of the whole trouble, and I cannot help thinking a certain apathy on the part of the committee. The club's record this season is a very poor one, although they possessed several men who would strengthen any team. Besides the players already mentioned Charlie Brown, in the early part of the season, McGann, and E. Bishop rendered a good account of themselves. The departure of the first-named for Coolgardie was a great loss to the team.
Junior football has never been so interesting as during last season, owing to the formation of a Second Junior Association. The East Perth fairly won the first junior championship, with North Fremantle a good second. Guildford at times showed excellent form and had the team had a little more weight they would have been nearer the top lawyers. Next season, however, if they should not join senior ranks, they must have a big say in junior football.
Amongst the second juniors the Unions have generally held their own, although at times the Carltons have troubled them. Some good contests have also taken place between the Perth and Fremantle clubs, and if at times they allowed their angry passions to arise, the play of the second juniors his always been well worth watching.
Rugby football has never been so prominent as during this season, and several games have been played which attracted much attention from the public. Especially was the last match between the Zingari and Swans, in which the former just won the premiership, an exciting exhibition. The devotees to Rugby are an increasing force in the colony, and the supporters of the Australian game had better look out. With few more such exhibitions as was witnessed last Saturday week the public must feel strongly inclined to patronise some other form of the game in which party feeling does not degenerate into law-breaking.
The following were the principal goal kickers for the season:-
A. Thurgood (Freo), 53
Watson (Rov), 19
J. Watsen (Freo), 16
Cooper (Imp), 14
A. A. Moffatt (Rov), 9
J. R. Davis (WP) 8
C. Sidebottom (Rov), 8
W. Rigg (Rov), 8
O'Hara (Freo), 8
Griffiths (Imp), 8
T. Preece (Freo), 8
Watson (WP), 7
Cullen (Freo), 7
F. A. Fischer (Rov), 5
Duffy (WP), 5
Grant (Freo), 5
The recent football fracas
The West Australian Football Association met at Fremantle on Saturday night, when four players reported by the umpire were dealt with. The meeting decided to disqualify Cullen (Fremantle) for three playing Saturdays next season, and Bertram and Castieau (Rovers) for one Saturday. The charge against Watts (Fremantle) for fighting was not pressed, the player having been assailed. Plant (Fremantle) was not formally charged by the umpire with striking Liddelow (Rovers), as the umpire did not witness the assault, but the association decided to call upon him to give an explanation at a future meeting.
Footnotes
Title: Review of the season 1895
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