The same old Essendon
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Nearly 100 old Essendon players assembled at the Essendon Cricket-ground on Saturday during the Essendon v. Fitzroy match to put back the clock, revive old memories, and revel in a reunion. The backs may not be as straight, the joints may not be as supple as they were then, twenty, thirty, forty years ago, but as Mr. Frank Reid, the former secretary, who held office for 29 years, said on Saturday, "Once a Don always a Don," and the veterans thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
There was keen rivalry as to who could trace his connection back the furthest, and the honour was conferred by general acclamation on Charlie Watt, who was described in the Footballer of 1878 as "a rising young player, one of the goal sneaks; plays with great coolness, first-rate mark, and very straight kick." Major-General Fred Hughes claimed to have played with Essendon in 1872, but he was first known to the senior game at St. Kilda in 1876, and after three seasons transferred to Essendon in 1879, where he was described in the Footballer as "a most useful man, plays very hard and with remarkable judgment, follows splendidly, a fine kick, and unerring mark." He was subsequently captain. I think Fred Hughes and G. A. Stephen, who played with Geelong in 1876, can claim to be the oldest living Victorian senior footballers. If anyone else has a claim I would be glad to hear from him. Strange to say, F. G. Hughes and G. A. Stephen have lived within a few yards of one another in St. Kilda for very many years.
The next to these in seniority was "Eskie" Duckett, described by the Footballer as "The Hawthorn Grammar School boy, a wonder for his size, follows grandly, handles the ball well, and is a splendid kick." He first played with Essendon in 1882. Fred Pitcher, who played in 1880, was prevented from attending at the last minute. It is a long way from Deepdene to Essendon to see a football match for a man who played for his club more than 60 years ago.
Next in order came H. and C. Tindale, one of whom showed me his membership ticket for 1885. Then I met Alex Dick, captain of the first Essendon team to win the premiership. That was in 1891, and it was not until 1895 that the topmost position was lost. What a leader Alex Dick was! He guided his men with great skill, and his word was law. Three others of that team present were George Vautin ("The Tasmanian Nugget"), Wolfe Parsons, and the Rev. C. H. Zercho, who was a fine high mark and long kick.
Two splendid specimens of strong athletic manhood were Bill Busbridge and Mick Madden. What a great half back Bill Busbridge was—strong and fearless, but never using his weight to undue advantage. Mick Madden was famous for his very light curly hair and his tremendous hands—he could pick up a football one-handed, not by the tapered end but at Its widest girth. And then I saw Ted Kinnear, who was right-hand man in 1902 to Tod Collins, who was as good a cricketer as he was a footballer.
With them were "Son" Barry, a most artistic rover, who bowled a "googly" long before Bosanquet invented it, and George Martin. What an asset he would be to Essendon as a ruck man today. Bill Griffiths was there also, and "Pimp" Wright and George Hastings, two great centremen. Another ruck man I saw was Paddy O’Loughlin, a trier if ever there was one. And here are two who shone on the wing, Billy Davies and Bert Laxton—they were solid as well as being dashing. Then came Ramsay Anderson and his son Keith, the old Camberwell Grammarian, in uniform from one of the camps. There was not much of Ramsay, but what there was was good.
The last Essendon v. Fitzroy game I saw at Essendon was in 1924: that famous match which was the fiercest I ever saw, I think, until I witnessed that famous battle between CoIIingwood and Carlton at Victoria Park a few years ago. That day at Essendon was recalled to my mind as I saw Clyde Donaldson walking through the crowd. I asked him, "Do you remember the match and your clash with Goldie Collins?" and he replied, "Will I ever forget it?".
There had been rumours of trouble all the week, and when Syd Barker was addressing the Essendon team before the match, he said: "Have you heard what they are saying— that we are a lot of 'squibs'? What are you going to do about it? I don't ask any man to do what I would not do myself; come on” and giving a hitch to his trousers and running his hands through his mop of fair hair, he led his team on to the field. Everyone seemed to sense there was trouble brewing, and there was a hum of excitement in the crowd.
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As soon as the ball was bounced it began, fists flew like hails, and there were several stand-up fights. For the first 20 minutes it was almost a free fight, and no one squealed, not even the umpire. Gradually the fire went out of it, but there was intermittent fighting all over the field. I saw several of that team on Saturday, Clyde Donaldson, Charlie Hardy, Vince Irwin, and Roy Laing, all looking fit and well. As they passed, all keen to see Essendon win again, I noticed Greg Stockdale, who kicked 10 goals on the opening day on May 8, 1923; Jacky Garden, Bert Armstrong, George McLeod, Harry Gregory, Edward "Diddy" Shorten, Malcolm McCrae, Colin Sinclair, "Torchy" Adams, and Garnet Campbell. There were others, I know, but one could not see them all. One to whom I must specially refer is Gerald Brosnan, who played with Essendon before he went to Fitzroy and became famous.
Naturally they talked of the "same old Essendon," and were keen to see the old colours to the fore once more, but they were exasperated at the mistakes, the weakness of the high marking, the ineffective kicking, and the lack of system and set plan. Essendon has some brilliant players, and some not so brilliant, but the side needs steadying. There is not that complete understanding there should be.
Too much is asked of Dick Reynolds, but they are not the best use of him. Over and over again I saw him in the thick of it, going up for marks with the big fellows instead of waiting for the ball to come out. There is too much running, too little kicking, and a lack of solidity which is fatal. The big fellows are too slow. It was close co-operation and keen understanding which made Essendon in those glorious days between 1891 and 1894. Dash is a great asset, but it must have solidity and sound lines on which to build if success is to be attained. Pace is not everything.
Footnotes
Title: IS IT THE SAME OLD ESSENDON?
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic: 1864-1946
Date: Saturday 17 August 1940, p.15 (Article)
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