Praise for the out-of-bounds rule
I hadn't seen Gerald Brosnan since 1914, when he was in Sydney for the Australian Football Carnival. But he was here captaining the Melbourne Metropolitan board of works cricket team which played against their Sydney Confreres at Waverley Oval recently. He looks fit and well. Though his hair has changed in hue since he won fame as a crack forward in Victoria he has not put on much weight and is still remarkably athletic. He is genial and a conversationalist on Australian football worth listening to. He played ten seasons with Fitzroy, one with Essendon and four in Ballarat as well as figuring in all rep. matches whilst he was playing in Melbourne. He also skippered the Victorians against the West Australians, once, and acted as vice-captain against South Australians. He has kicked over 50 goals in a season, and had the reputation of being able to "kick up a spout".
I was particularly anxious to get his opinion on the now out-of-bounds rule.
A great advantage
"I am heartily in favour of it," he said." In fact I advocated it long before the League or the Council took the matter up, being the only football scribe who favoured the idea. My opinion was formed over 20 years ago when we played a trial match at Fitzroy under these conditions. That game was a great success, and the League at that time was on the point of adopting the idea, but something cropped up, and the matter was allowed to drop.
"Last season, on its first real trial, it commended itself to everyone, and, as the captains and players become seized with the advantages which can be derived from adopting new methods, it will still further open up the play and help to grip the spectator's interest even more firmly than at present.
"For instance, captains still adhere — or did last year-to the old system of two ruck men and a rover. What for? Just to chase the ball around and become tired out. They would have been far better placed, with greater advantage to the side — at least, two out of the three — if they had been put into positions which required strengthening; or else given roving commissions, either in front of the half back or half-forward lines.
Curtail the players
"Possibly, however, it will not be long before the players are reduced to 16. It would be wise to do so at once, as the extra two now only tend to crowd the play. Those who were afraid the new rule would crowd the play in the centre, had their fears dispelled by the actual results. There was as much, if not more, fast, clever wing play than ever before. One thing, I think, it will make the wing man one of the king pins of the game, He will have to be fast, clever, capable, and an accurate pass and kick.
"The greatest drawback last season — the only blot, one might say — was the frequent bouncing of the ball by the umpire. This, of course, was not his fault, but the error of those in authority, who placed an interpretation on the rule which was entirely opposed, both to the spirit and the wording. At first umpire used to free-kick only when the ball was kicked out. Later - possibly on account of the criticism - they were instructed to give a free for the knock-out as well. It was better towards the end of the season; but, even then there were far too many cases of doubt. Continual bouncing of the ball spoils the whole effect which the rule should have. There should not be more than two or three cases of doubt in each quarter.
"Eliminating of all the pushing and jostling - unsightly and unsatisfactorily - while the ball was being thrown in better and more accurate kicking; surer marking; cleaner, faster, and more open play and less roughness are some of the advantages noted from its adoption last season. Later there will be others.
"The days of the slow, weighty, bullocker, are gone. A footballer will now have to be fast, clever and capable and able to kick properly. The little man will have his part just as well as the tall active player. It was a wonderfully fine innovation too long delayed, but it is going to prove of great value to the finest game in the world.
Prominent Melburnians
"Greeves (right), Geelong's centre man, was the outstanding player of the season", Gerald went on, in reply to my question about Melbourne's greatest footballers. "He has all the qualifications for a first class footballer — speed, judgment, ability, both in marking and kicking, and cleverness. With his long stride, his cool actions, and his stand even in repose, he is the exact counterpart of what Dookie McKenzie, Essendon's famous player, was in his best day. "Milburn (Collingwood) and Adams (Fitzroy) were, I fancy, the two most improved players of the year. Simpson (Essendon's wing man) was perhaps the greatest find, though Batchelor (Fitzroy), Donohue, Leith (Carlton), Davie, and Davidson (Melbourne), and O'Halloran (Richmond) were all good.
"Moriarty, as a goal-kicker, fell away considerably on his previous year's efforts, especially towards the end of the season, and there is some talk of his giving the game up. Gordon Coventry was the best of the forwards, though Hagger got most goals. Maher, the best rover, finished the season in great style. Wigraft was possibly the finest follower."
Thurgood the best ever
Asked as to who was the best footballer he had ever seen, Brosnan unhesitatingly replied: "Thurgood (left), on his own! Though known principally as a forward, he could play anywhere. Percy Trotter had two great seasons; no one could touch him."
I here remarked that Billy Strang, the old South Melbournite, had told me that when Trotter had a day out, the spectators hadn't eyes for anybody else. "That's right," Gerald replied. "Of course, there have been many great players. Fred McGinis was most fascinating and effective. Then there was Hughie Gavin, the Essendon half-back, the daddy of them all in that position." He also spoke, of Dick Condon, Peter Burns, Jack Baker, Dick Houston, and others. Our talk ended earlier than it otherwise would have owing to his having to don the pads to bat. A left-hander, he did well during his short occupancy, of the crease, making several fine strokes.
Footnotes
Title: Praise for the out-of-bounds rule. Publisher: Referee (Sydney, NSW, 1886-1939). Date: Wednesday 16 December 1925, p.11. Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/127572932
Comments
This article does not contain any comments.
Login to leave a comment.