AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great australian game
In 1924 a reunion of 'old footy greats' was organised, with a group of matches played at the MCG for the benefit of the Lord Mayor's charity. 'Observer' and 'Old Boy' of The Argus report.
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The 1888 British Lions rugby tour of Australasia hit a snag when the VFA refused to patronize matches played under 'Australian rules'. Observer of The Argus was not impressed.
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On its 1888 Australasian tour, the English rugby team began to acquaint itself with Australian football. A New Zealand critic was unimpressed, but 'Observer' of The Argus hit back.
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On the eve of the 1909 VFL season 'Observer' of The Argus looks at the state of the game, the position of the clubs, and in particular, League rules on the trading of players.
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'Observer' of The Argus examines the 1895 VFA season, in which Fitzroy claimed the premiership despite lacklustre form towards the end of the year, and proclaims Fred McGinis the best player.
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Throughout the late 1800s the VFA reserved one Saturday during the season for matches in aid of local charities. In 1895, the round saw a novel experiment - the trial of boundary umpires.
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In 1908, Chief football writer of The Argus, Donald 'Observer' MacDonald reminisced on 30 years of football and selected his greatest players and captains.
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In 1910 'Observer' of The Argus reported on the trial of some new rules designed to speed up the game, including reducing the number of players and removing the behind posts.
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In May 1894, in front of a record crowd at the Western Oval, struggling Footscray played above themselves to secure a draw against the highly fancied South Melbourne.
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In the great Essendon team of the 1890s one man stood out above all others. 'Observer' of The Argus reports on a match against Fitzroy in 1894 when Albert 'the great' turned the tide on his own.
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With the cricket season about to end, 'Observer' of the Argus reports on the coming football season, looking at personel and rule changes and rumours of sectarian tension at Geelong.
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In the first round of 1908, University, reigning premiers of the MFA, and VFA power Richmond, made their VFL debuts. The students struggled, but the boys from Punt Road were victorious.
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Rough play and crowd barracking in the first game of the 1889 season between St Kilda and North Melbourne prompts Observer of the Argus to speak out in favour of civility.
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On the eve of the first round of matches in the new VFL competition, Observer of the Argus looks at some of the new rule changes and how they might effect the game.
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In August 1908 the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival was held to commemorate 50 years of the code. Observer of the Argus took the opportunity to look at the game's early years.
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Donald MacDonald
Ranked Seasoned Player ✭✭
Points 153 What's this?
Joined 10th Jun 2012
Last seen 13th Jun 2012
AFL: To be completed
Local: To be completed
Donald Alaster MacDonald (6 June 1859 – 23 November 1932) was an Australian journalist and nature writer. Joined the Melbourne Argus newspaper in 1881, and began writing under the pen name 'Observer'. MacDonald established himself as a cricket and Australia football commentator, revolutionizing cricket reporting by his vivid coverage, also becoming one of the premier football writers of the pre-1914 era.
To be completed
To be completed
