Australian Football

Match Report

MELBOURNE PREMIERS

STIRRING SUCCESS

ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES

"The Best Team Premiers"

By OLD BOY

The football season for 1926 closed on Saturday in a blaze of triumph for the Melbourne team, which won its first premiership since 1900 by such a brilliant, forceful exhibition of the game as to leave no doubt that it was the best team of the year. It has always been conceded that in pace and skill Melbourne has been the equal of any team in the League, but there always seemed to be lacking that determination, that "will to win," of which so much has been written and said. In the last few weeks, however, the Melbourne players have come into their own, and have developed an ability to withstand the bumps of a vigorous game, which previously they had not seemed to possess. They have in the semi-final and final games displayed brilliance of a high order, and have also shown that they can give as well as take. It so often happens that a team in attempting to add the attribute they want to what they already possess seem to lose the substance in grasping at the shadow; but the increase of force in the Melbourne game did not affect their pace, and they developed a system which was irresistible. They rose to a higher pitch than we have known since that famous Carlton team which carried all before it 20 years ago.

THE PLAY.

The ground after all the rain was in surprisingly good condition. The central patch of black turf, and a square in front of the Richmond goal, were a little sticky, but all the conditions were in favour of a good exhibition. A slight breeze favoured the Richmond goal, and Chadwick, winning the toss, decided to have first use of the breeze. The bright sunshine and the packed stands made the scene a gay one, and there was a hum of excitement in the crowd of nearly 60,000 spectators as the teams came out, which added to the interest. The general opinion was that if Melbourne could reproduce the form they had shown against Collingwood a fortnight before, and against Essendon, there would be a stirring contest, for Collingwood had set their hearts on the premiership, and were very confident.

Early Impressions

As the teams took their places it was in- teresting to notice the disposition of the players. Vine, the new man in the Melbourne team, was given an encouraging cheer as he took his place beside Poulter. Vine, standing 6ft 2½in., and weighing 13st. 6lb., was an ½in. taller, but 1lb lighter than Poulter, and they were two very fine specimens of the Australian athlete. Shannahan was given the task of looking after Wittman, and it was curious to note that before the ball was bounced they were shoulder to shoulder. Shannahan's instructions were "don't let him get a yard away from you," and he was determined to carry them out to the letter. Johnson, at centre half-forward, was opposed by A.Collier, and it seemed as if Tyson was courting trouble by giving Johnson an advantage of 5in. in height. Some time after, when Johnson was marking almost without opposition, Tyson, with his 6ft and his old head, took on the task of stopping Johnson himself, but the only man who really had any success there was Syd. Coventry. On the other half-forward wing Davidson and Wilson were opposed, and from under the Collingwood man's guernsey one could catch a peep of red flannel, the sign of his recent attack of bronchitis. Across the centre Milburn and Taylor were on one flank, Harris and Collins on the other, while in the centre Beveridge and Warne-Smith were the rivals; but Syd. Coventry had instructions to assist there as a loose man, instead of being in the ruck all the time, and this move kept Warne-Smith quiet for half the game. In the second half, for some extraordinary reason, Beveridge was moved to the half-forward line, and Warne-Smith had Cheswass to look after him. It is not too much to say that Warne-Smith was a dominating factor in the Melbourne play after half time.

The Best Players.

In a side when all did so well it is almost invidious to single anyone out on the Melbourne side. Some men however, had the greater opportunities. Thus Johnson must be mentioned first for his wonderful marking and his six goals he also kicked seven behinds as well and he was very useful. Associated with him in attack were Wittman (three goals and a behind), who played havoc with the opposition defence; Moyes(three goals two behinds), and Duff (two (goals two behinds), both of whom played very well. The Melbourne attack was well manned. At the other end of the ground Streeter, Abernethy, Tymms, Thomas, Dunbar, and Coy were splendid, and Dunbar had a useful term in the ruck. Across the centre Collins, Warne-Smith, and Taylor did very well. White and Davidson as rovers, and Chadwick, Deane, and Vine as ruck men were solid and sure, Vine making an attractive first appearance.

For Collingwood there were fewer men at their top. Syd. Coventry, though suffering from a painful boil on his leg, played magnificent. He was always playing up hill, but it was the effort of a champion, H. Collier was more than useful forward, and did many good things. Little Harris on the wing was busy, persistent, and plucky, and he took one mark which staggered the crowd. He handled the ball more often perhaps, than any one on the ground. Beasley, in goal, and Shannahan, when he went for the ball, were good; Wescott and Wilson were tigers in defence. Beveridge and Chewass were often in evi- dence, but there were too many on the side who did not pull their weight. Col- lingwood worked hard, but they lacked the brilliance of their opponents, and in the bumping Melbourne were by no means second.

GOALS

MELBOURNE. — Johnson(6), Moyes (3), Wittman (3), Duff (2), Deane, Vine, and Taylor.

COLLINGWOOD. — H. Collier(3). G. Coventry(2), Libbis, Makeham, Baker, A. Collier.