Australian Football

The A.I.F match in London, 1916

Center ▼

Exhibition game by Anzacs draws large crowd, English critics' opinions generally favorable

For the first time in history, a truly Australian football game has been played before the English public by proved exponents. A short while ago we had news by cable of a great Australian football match in London by representative teams chosen from the soldiers—those on their way to the front and those recuperating after being in the thick of the fighting. The names of a few prominent players were given, together with some sporting press criticisms. Since then all followers and supporters of our great winter pastime—and they are legion— have been anxiously awaiting fuller details, and these have just come to hand by the last English mail.

The organisers and players

In the first place, the organisers (and one paper mentions these as Major C. W. St. John Clarke and Lieutenant Bartram, but there must have been others), are to be congratulated on the enthusiastic spirit which prompted them to carry to a successful issue such a large and difficult undertaking. The ruling bodies here, if they have not already done so, should take steps to thank them, and also the players who took part in the match, for the zeal and patriotism displayed in giving the game such an advertisement. It is a long-hoped-for wish consummated, and the organisers and players have earned the gratitude and thanks of all true lovers of the sport.

For a good cause

The match was played on Saturday, October 28, at the Queen's Club, London, and prices of admission were 1/, 2/6, and 10/. The total amount received as the result of the game was about £300, the whole of which is being devoted to the needs of the British and French Red Cross Societies. The English public had read a good deal of the large crowds which witness football matches in Australia (Victoria in particular), and, this being the first occasion on which two really expert teams had been pitted against one another on English soil, a fair amount of interest was aroused, especially amongst those who, being Rugger or Soccer enthusiasts, wished to compare our game with their own.

Press opinions

All the leading sporting papers devote a good deal of space to a criticism of the match, and, on the whole, they are much more favorable than one would naturally expect from experts in other games who were seeing ours for the first time. Further on I intend giving extracts from the home papers, so that the public here can judge for themselves of the impressions created.

×

Right ▼

The teams

The teams were selected from players in the 3rd Australian Divisional Corps and those from Australian training units, and were composed of the following players:—

Third Australian Division:

Lieutenant Bruce Sloss [Captain] (South Melbourne)

Lieutenant Jack Brake (University and Melbourne)

Dan Minogue (Collingwood)

Carl Willis (University and South Melbourne)

Leo Little (University)

Bill Sewart (Essendon)

James Pugh (Launceston)

Harry Moyes (St. Kilda)

Percy Jory (St. Kilda)

Charlie Lilley (Melbourne)

Les Lee (Richmond)

Cyril Hoft (Perth)

L. Martin (University)

Ted Alley (Williamstown, ex South Melbourne)

Hugh James (Richmond)

Ben Mills (Brunswick)

Jim Foy (Perth)

Lieutenant Billy Orchard (Geelong)

×

Right ▼

Combined Training Units —

Captain Charles Perry (Captain) (Norwood)

Jack Cooper (Fitzroy)

Percy Trotter (East Fremantle, ex Fitzroy)

Clyde Donaldson (Essendon)

Harry Kerley (Collingwood)

John Hoskins

Harold Boyd (Association)

A. S. Cesari (Association)

Charlie Armstrong (Geelong)

James Scullin (South Fremantle)

Stan Martin (University)

E. Maxfield (Fremantle)

Thomas Paine (Northam)

E. Beames

George Bower (South Melbourne)

L. McDonald (Essendon ‘A’)

Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Jackson (Essendon)

H. Moore

Field umpires: Corporal Gray, G. Barry

Boundary umpires: T. S. Hewitt, E. J. Watt

Goal umpires: Lieut. H. Olsson, S. M. Keen

Fine exponents

On looking through the personnel of the teams the first thing that impresses one is the number of fine exponents of Australian football— men who have shown exceptional skill on the fields here before thousands — who took part in the match. That the organisers hit on the physiological moment is evidenced by a glance at the names appearing above. Of course, there are any number of prominent footballers in the Army—enough to form a dozen or more teams—but to pick out a date on which such 36 first-class players as those who took part in the game could be brought together in London must be classed as nothing short of an inspiration.

Probably not once again during the currency of the war will such a galaxy of football talent be gathered in England at the one time; but this fact should not deter others from following the lead set them, and arranging exhibition matches in order to give the British public a truer insight into the merits of our great Australian game. The more often they see it the better will they understand it, and to understand it is to become enamoured of it

Personal particulars

×

Left ▼

Glancing briefly through the names of the players, I find that in the Third Division team (the winners) there were seven men who took part in the interstate carnival matches in Sydney in August, 1914, viz.:— Bruce Sloss (South (Melbourne), Jack Brake (University), Charley Lilley (Melbourne) [pictured left], Hughie James (Richmond), J. Foy (Perth), Cyril Hoft (Perth), and J. Pugh (Launceston), and at least one. D. Minogue (Collingwood), who would have been included had he been available. These carnival games between the different States were the last occasion on which representative teams were selected, and to find practically eight of its members in one team alone speaks well for the calibre of that particular side.

When, however, in addition to that, you have players like George Little (University's follower and forward, little, if any, inferior to Jack Brake), Carl Willis ('The Winner' writer, 'a promising and clever forward), Billy Orchard (the Geelong centre player, easily up to interstate standard), Percy Jory and Harry Moyes (two of the finest of St. Kilda's 1914 team), Bill Sewart (Essenidon's famous centre man and interstate player), Ted Alley and Ben Mills (Association champions), L. Martin (University), and Les Lee (Richmond), then, indeed, you have all the makings of a high-class side.

Given the necessary opportunities to practise together and to get thoroughly fit, I am doubtful if a team could be chosen, either in or out of Australia, at the present time that could beat this side. I for one would not like to have the task of selecting 18 players capable of defeating them—it would, I fancy, be next door to impossible.

Some of the names in the training unit's team are new to me, but nevertheless they evidently are all fine players, judging from the scores in the match and the manner in which they extended their strong opponents all through (they were actually the lead at three-quarter time).

Individuals

×

Right ▼

Their Captain—Captain Charles J. Perry [pictured right], now a chaplain with the South Australian Division, was a great player of the Norwood Club, and has captained a South Australian team. Jack Cooper (ex-Captain of Fitzroy) was also an interstate player of note, having represented Victoria on more than one occasion, including the Sydney Carnival matches of 1914.

Percy Trotter was equally well-known in Victoria and West Australia. For years he was one of the leading goal kickers for Fitzroy, as well as its champion rover. Later on he went to West Australia, and joined the East Fremantle team. Harry Kerley, one of Collingwood's rising brigade, showed considerable promise and cleverness on the forward lines. Charlie Armstrong, the fair-haired back player from Geelong, was one of that team's finest defenders in 1914 and 1915. J. Scullin, from South Fremantle represented West Australia in interstate games. J. Bower, was a tricky and determined centre player for South Melbourne. Stan Martin, a fine wing player for University, was particularly good with a running drop kick—evidently a feature that took the home critic's eye. The remainder of the team, although not so well known, evidently filled their places capably, and made the team, as a whole, a formidable one.

×

Left ▼

Fast and even exhibition

According to accounts the game itself seems to have been a fairly fast and even exhibition, despite the lack of training, combination, etc. The wind (the day, however, was fine) appears to have played a big part in its blowing as it did, straight through the posts. The Units' team, having first assistance from it, led at quarter-time by: 2 goals 5 behinds (17 points), to 2 behinds (2 points).

At half-time, however, the scores were Third Australian Division, 2 goals 10 behinds (22 points); Combined Units, 2 goals 7 behinds (19 points).

The final result was: —

Third Australian Division Team: 6 goals, 16 behinds (52 points) Combined Training Units' Team: 4 goals, 12 behinds (36 points)

Goalkickers—For the winners: Moyes (2), Willis (2), Jory, and Lee, and for the losers, Armstrong, Moore, Payne, and Maxfield.

The ball and its maker

The ball with which the match was played, was made by Corporal C. McMullen (formerly, with H. Fordham, of Brunswick), and writing to the editor of 'The Winner' he says he feels it an honor to have made the first football for the first exhibition match under Australian rules in London. He also made the first football for the Australian Divisions in Egypt, and altogether has made 216 footballs since enlisting, for the amusement of the troops. This in itself is a good record and seeing that all the balls are hand stitched, even the mouthpiece, it speaks well for his industry, and also for his loyalty in devoting his spare time to providing the means of recreation for his comrades. He calls his ball 'The A.I.F. Ball.'

English press impressions

The following extracts from the principal sporting papers in England will give the public here some idea of the opinions formed after seeing our game played.

Sporting life

The majority of the 3000 spectators who were present at Queen's Club on Saturday were Australian soldiers, and they had assembled to witness an exhibition game of football under Australian League rules. Fortunately, the weather, although threatening, kept fine, and the onlookers were able to enjoy in comfort the first game of exclusively Australian football played in the Metropolis for exhibition purposes for a quarter of a century. There have been fugitive matches in this country during the past two years between different units of the Australian military forces, but an attempt had not been made prior to Saturday to interest the public in them. It was encouraging to find a fair number of civilians in the stands at Queen's Club, and especially so in view of the fact that the proceeds are to be divided between the British and French Red Cross Funds.

There is not any need to explain the distinguishing features of the Australian game, as that has already been done in the columns of the Sporting Life. Those who had the good fortune to witness the match will be in agreement that it is a most exhilarating and exciting pastime, and it is played at such a pace throughout that it is unquestionably the fastest outdoor game, with the exception of lacrosse.

With eighteen players on each side, each watched by an opponent, the chances for open, speedy exchanges would appear to be limited, but in practice the reverse is the case, for with no offside for players to worry about, with a ground width of some 120 yards affording plenty of scope for manoeuvring, with free kicks taken without a moment's time being wasted, with players permitted to run ten yards with the ball before bouncing it, and then bouncing it while going at full speed, with the right to knock-off, punt, or dropkick in any direction, and without scrums, and the whistle seldom being heard, it will be understood that the Australian code lends itself to speed work.

Wonderful control of the ball

×

Right ▼

The ball, it should be mentioned, is slightly larger than the Rugby ball, but similar in shape, with the ends more flattened. Some of the players showed wonderful control in their punches, and also in their kicking, but more noticeable, perhaps, than either was the high marking, players leaping in the air to make a fair catch from a pass, and this entitled them to a kick in any direction. Then, again, some of the long kicking to players on the same side was wonderfully accurate, while the pace at which the ball travelled about the field was at times almost bewildering.

There were some fine examples of individual effort, and this was in accordance with expectations, for the Training Groups team included four inter-State players, among them being P. C. Trotter (who enjoys the reputation of being the finest exponent of the game who has ever played), Capt. C. J. Perry (who has captained South Australia), J. Cooper (who has been skipper of Victoria), and J. Scullin. The Division team inter-State players were J. Pugh, C. Hoft [pictured right], and J. Foy.

The Sportsman

The novelty of seeing an exhibition of Australian football—played principally in the States of Victoria and South Australia— attracted a gate of nearly 4000 to Queen's Club on Saturday, the proceeds, largely aided by the sale of programmes by smartly-dressed ladies, being devoted to the British and French Red Cross Societies. It is expected that about £250 will be realised, and thanks are due to Major C. W. St. John Clarke and Lieut. Bartram for their organising efforts and providing football which was much appreciated, especially by the Victorian khaki-clad contingent.

With regard to the game, it is played on an oval ground 180 yards by 120 yards by eighteen a-side. The goalposts are seven yards apart, similar to Rugby, without the crossbar, with additional posts seven yards on either side, which are termed behind posts. A goal counts six points, scored when the ball is kicked cleanly between the posts without being touched. A behind counts one point scored if the ball is touched after being kicked and passes between the goalposts, touches the goalposts, or passes between the behind posts. The ball is similar in shape to a Rugby ball, but slightly larger. Play lasts 100 minutes, and is divided into four quarters, with an interval of ten minutes at half -time.

The field umpire, or referee, starts play by bouncing the ball in the centre of the ground surrounded by some of the chief forwards. This also happens after a goal has been obtained. On the ball going out of bounds it is thrown in by the boundary umpire. The ball may not be carried more than ten yards without bouncing, and it must be disposed of either by a punch or a kick. It may not be thrown. Should a player be held with the ball in his possession a free kick is given against him, if held, having got rid of the ball, he receives a free kick. There is no offside, and in every case a player is marked or watched by one of the opposing side.

Long kicking and marking are two of the distinctive features. When the ball is caught from a clean kick of over ten yards the player is entitled to a free kick in any direction. If the angle is favorable he tries to drop or punt a goal, but if badly placed he endeavors to kick to a fellow player. There is much keen competition in jumping in the air to make a catch, and in this phase are very expert.

The game is very fast, very open, very spectacular, and needs plenty of stamina and pace. The ruck men and rovers are required to be up and doing all the time, and on account of the strain they are changed and given fixed positions every quarter. There is also plenty of work for the field umpire who requires to be very quick to keep up with the play. Corporal Gray acted as umpire for one half of the match, and was then relieved by G. Barry.

Australian football is said to be “the outcome of a combination of British Association and Rugby football.'' It has some points of resemblance to Rugby, much more so than to Association. There is the marking, or 'high marking,' as it is termed, running with the ball, and the kicking chiefly, the drop or punt, though in some instances a player making a catch, signalled by the umpire's whistle, elected to take a place-kick. There is no passing or tackling as the Rugby man understands these terms, but a player running may be jostled or charged. There is none of the brilliancy of the three-quarter movement, the hand-to-hand passing, or the rugged forward rushes one sees in the best class Rugby. Still, it is a robust sport, which can easily be very rough and boisterous. On Saturday it was well played, although owing to lack of practice the goalkicking was not of the best.

Weekly Despatch

×

Left ▼

Football— Australian fashion— drew a big crowd to Queen's Club yesterday afternoon, when a team chosen from the Third Division beat the representatives of the Combined Training Groups by 52 points to 36. It was the first time that the fast Australian game had ever been played by skilled exponents in London, and the onlookers could be readily grouped in two classes. There were the partisans in slouched bats over hard-bitten Anzac faces, who had come to 'barrack' for or against the 'Fighting Third,' the only Anzac Division which has not yet seen active service. There were also curious sportsmen and sportswomen of all kinds, who had come out to get a glimpse of the game of which so much has been written here at one time and another. [Les Lee pictured left].

The 'barrackers' made a good deal of fun. One of them opened proceedings by loudly shouting, 'The Third has declared war on Germany, and beaten Greece by a short head.' Later on, any man in a blue uniform—the Third wore blue—was roundly abused as a 'blooming neutral.' The Anzacs got a lot of fun out of this aspect of the game, and left the ground at the end exchanging the quotation 'roared by one partisan of the losing side, 'Peace ‘ath ‘er victories the same as war.'

The section of the spectators unfamiliar with the Australian, game agreed that it was fast rather than exciting, and had more admiration for the splendid condition of the men, their untiring energy through a long and trying game, and the huge drop kicks, of which they all seemed capable, than for the game itself as a rival to Rugby. As a matter of fact, though played by two teams of high-class footballers, yesterday's game was by no means an adequate example of football as played in Australia. The teams had not played together, and the concerted action, as well as the brilliant individual effort that concerted play makes possible, were lacking to the exhibition.

A strong wind blowing from goal to goal gave an immense advantage to the side playing with the wind, and all the goals and, most of the minor points were scored at the north end of the ground. But Australian football, owing to the absence of the puzzling 'off-side' rule and the infrequency of any checks in the play, proved its possibilities as a game to draw a crowd, and all who were at Queen's Club were able to understand the gates of 40,000 which the game produces in its native land.

The Times

Over 3000 people watched a football match at Queen's Club on Saturday between a team from an Australian Division and another representing Training Details. The game was played under Australian rules, and was a novelty to most of those present. The ground is oval, running to 120 yards in width and 180 yards in length. The goal posts have no cross-bar, and, as long as a ball is kicked through them the height does not matter. A penalty goal can be dropped, punted, or placed, and in passing the short kick is much used, the off-side rule being non-existent. All the rules are designed with the object of making the game a fast one, and it has certainly the look of being that. There are four quarters of 20 minutes each, and after the first and third there is merely a quick change round and no interval.

The spectators were also treated to their first exhibition of Australian 'barracking.' This barracking is a cheerful running comment, absolutely without prejudice, on the players, the spectators, the referee, the line umpires, and lastly the game itself. On Saturday it was mostly concerned with references to the military history of the teams engaged. When a catch was missed, for instance, a shrill and penetrating voice inquired of the abashed player 'D' you think it's a bomb? It's not, it's a ball.' On one side there was a colonel [Jackson] playing among the backs and the captain of the other side was a chaplain [Perry], and a popular one, to judge by the cheery advice that he got from the privates on the line and in the stand.

The men playing on Saturday were not used to each other, but though the team thus lacked combination the game was fast, and there were some excellent displays of high marking and kicking for goal. The division eventually won by six goals and 16 behinds (52 points) to four goals and 12 behinds (36 points). All the gate money and profits from programmes went to the funds of the British and French French Cross Societies.

Mr. E. A. Bland

The London correspondent of 'The Winner' [E. A. Bland] is one of the leading sporting writers in England, and his opinions carry considerable weight. Writing on November 2 to this paper he says: —

It was interesting to be at Queen's Club on Saturday to see the first exhibition game of Australian football played in this country by class teams for well over a score of years. Since the arrival of the Anzacs soldiers of the King there have been odd matches here and there of the Australian game but nothing at all comparable in importance with Saturday's game. This was between teams representing the 3^rd Australian Division and the Combined Training Groups, and the proceeds were devoted to the British and French Red Cross Funds.

A critical crowd

Many famous players figured in the two teams, and every man seemed imbued with the desire to show the possibilities of the Australian national game. Probably they realised that the crowd was a critical one—that is to say that portion of it which consisted of lovers of Rugger and Soccer. There was another portion made up of staunch Anzac adherents of both teams, amid their enthusiasm was a thing to remember.

Events of the game

×

Right ▼

It will be chiefly interesting I suppose to give a resume of English opinions on the game, but before doing that I will briefly indicate the events of the game. It must not be overlooked that these were scratch teams which had had few chances of getting together, but with such a galaxy of stars the individual play was at times brilliant and spectacular. The 'high marking', which seemed to be the feature of the game which attracted most attention, was extraordinarily good. My own impression as I came away from Queen's Club was that the game was faster than either Soccer or Rugger. The scene shifted with almost kaleidoscopic quickness. There was, in fact, a general consensus of opinion that the game was one of many obviously good points. [Hugh James pictured right].

Hard to follow

Rather less favorable criticism have also appeared, and one critic commits himself to the opinion that 'our own games of Association and Rugby need fear no serious opposition from Australian native football,' and goes on to admit that he found it difficult to follow the game. I dare say most of us did who were making a first acquaintance with it.

Getting opinions

I made it my business to solicit the opinions of the crowd; there was a general opinion among those present that the game was surprisingly fast. But I could not agree with the criticism quoted above that the game, as demonstrated on Saturday, is open. It struck me as being just the reverse. With 36 men on the field the ball was nearly always the centre of a big cluster of players, and the various moves in the play were not easy to follow; certainly not so easy as in Soccer. But, let it be added, that is merely a firsthand impression, and probably most games appear involved, complex, and a little bewildering to an onlooker making a first acquaintance with them.

High physical standard

Another fairly general impression must have been that Australian football requires a high standard of physical fitness, for both strength and agility are incessantly called for. In this respect the game is more akin to Rugger than to Soccer, where mere ball cleverness and trickiness may counter-balance strength. Let it be understood, however, that these impressions are those of one new to the game—it appeared to me as more interesting to give such impressions than to quote the opinions of those who have an expert knowledge of Australian football. How the game appeared to those of us who know our Soccer and Rugger—that is the point.

A few remarks

Here are a few remarks I made a note of as I passed in and out among the crowd: 'It's more exciting than Association—not the same-ness about it we get in a lot of our League games'

'A game for the expert, what are they all up to anyhow?'

'This high marking business is clever, and it's good to watch'

'The field seems too crowded, don't you think?'

Want to see more of the game

Striking a general average among the many opinions passed among Rugger and Soccer enthusiasts, the general public and the press, I think one may say that the general trend of opinion was favorable. We should all like to see more of the game, and that, desire will, no doubt, be gratified during the coming months

Criticism reviewed

×

Left ▼

In reviewing the criticisms of the English writers, one is struck by their absolute fairness. Each admits his inability, owing to lack of knowledge of the laws controlling the game, to give, on first-hand acquaintance, a reliable opinion; yet all seem to find something to praise, some good point to extol, or some feature which might improve their own particular game. The two particular points that came in for general commendation were the long drop-kicking and the fine high marking; and, strangely enough, whilst these are perhaps the two most attractive features of our game, yet one would hardly expect to find these specially prominent in such a match, where the players had hardly any practice, and were practically untrained. I am inclined to believe that whilst these two features did not attain to more than the ordinary, as we know them, the London people, seeing them for the first time, would naturally think them specially attractive and give them undue prominence.

Fastness of the game

A third point on which all seem agreed, 'that the game is very fast,' might also be included in the above category. That two untrained teams under difficult conditions could play a really fast game is highly improbable. Fast it might have been in comparison with Rugby or Soccer, but I do not think the Australians present would describe it as such after seeing some of our games here. Would that these same English critics could have seen some of our best exhibitions here three or four seasons ago? They would probably then have gone into ecstasies over these three particular features.

Mixture of both styles

A few describe the play as open, whilst some are of the opposite opinion, and possibly the match contained a fair mixture of both styles. Even here, when two good, highly-trained, even sides meet, we often get a fairly crowded game. Eagerness, close guarding of the opponent, and sometimes the 'poor' umpire are contributory causes to this style of play, which certainly takes away from the game as a spectacle.

Game hard to follow

One candid critic, after saying that 'Our own games of Association and Rugby need fear no serious opposition from Australian Native football,' goes on to admit that he found it difficult to follow the game. This is not to be wondered at—in fact the wonder is that any of them understood it at all seeing they were having their first look at it. The different laws and rules, even the technical breaking of which might mean a free kick, must have been utterly confusing to the majority of the English public.

I know how Soccer and Rugby (the latter especially) appeared to me on making my first acquaintance with them. I could make nothing at all of them. And my position was not nearly as bad as theirs, because I recognise that our game is more intricate—there are more laws and rules that one can break—than in either of the older games. As a matter of fact, many of our players, and even some of the rulers themselves, contend that we have far too many rules, by-laws, and interpretations in our game, and I am firmly of the opinion that one has to be brought up in an atmosphere of Australian football before one can thoroughly understand it.

Pace and stamina

All are agreed that the players are required to possess both pace and stamina, and so they should; but only in a secondary sense. The two qualifications are of no use unless a player first of all has quickness—both in decision and action, a sure pair of hands, and sound judgment—in getting to the ball, and also in getting rid of it, &c., &c. I know several men possessing both pace and stamina who are very indifferent players.

Criticisms please

Taking the criticisms as a whole, however, I am more than pleased with them. The impressions on first acquaintance are generally favorable, and one is led to hope that these same critics will have further opportunities of witnessing our game in London. If they should I am confident that they will see more to admire in it on each occasion.