Australian Football

Match Report

Open play for Melbourne

The difficulty of forecasting the exact result of the change in rules was illustrated at South Melbourne, whither Melbourne went with many good men of last season's twenty missing, and not as all sanguine as to the consequences, "We shall have a better team later on," was Mr. R. H. McLeod's prediction. If so, the news is not reassuring to Collingwood and Co. Little-marking and close, concerted play has for years been the strongest feature in South Melbourne's play, and the opening out of the game was disastrous to them in the earlier stages of Saturday's play, though towards the end they were accustoming themselves to the new conditions and playing good football when it was too late to save the game.

Melbourne, on the other hand, found a benefit from the change, and dashing, impulsive footballers, such as Moysey, McGinis, Sheehan, and others found with a better system, too their half-distance passing from the foot being particularly effective - and several times their exchanges covered the length of the ground, with little, if any, resistance from the South. They were unquestionably the faster team of the two and quick in getting on to the ball. As a consequence, they had 27 points to 10 at half-time.

South Melbourne had the best of it in the third quarter, and improved all the way to the final bell, but they had no adopt the beaten team's resource of massing their men forward in the last quarter. As a result, whenever Melbourne broke through this strong attack, they took it right up to the South goal, and only bad kicking - it was bad on both sides then- prevented them reaping a more plentiful harvest.

The game was decidedly interesting for the onlookers, and both teams will play greatly improved football before the season is much older. Melbourne lost a couple of points through McCoy throwing in the ball when it had been put over the goal-line by the defenders; but on the other hand, the South hit the post once, and only got one point where a few inches would have given them six.

Both teams were handled by new captains, Sutton leading Melbourne, while Fraser was in command of the South. In the winning team several new men gained distinction. Three new backs took their places in the line, and of these Woods, who some years ago played with Carlton, but latterly with Maryborough, struck one as having all the qualifications of a dashing goal defender. He has good style, any amount of dash, and played such football as greatly pleased the friends of the historical red. Alongside him were two men whom one would have naturally expected to find elsewhere, viz., Fred, Blackham, the Carlton cricketer, and Goding a younger brother of H. Goding, who has for many years been one of South Melbourne's warmest friends. Both are a gain to Melbourne. Blackham playing that cool, deliberate football one would expect knowing his characteristics as a cricketer, and the younger man showing both presence of mind and pretty football. Steele and Robinson two public school boys, were both effective, the former playing on the wing and Robinson just outside the ruck. In Young from one of the Brighton schools, Melbourne have a forward from whom great things are expected, and he commenced on Saturday with two goals.

Of the older players, Sheehan, Moysey, Lewis, and Leith were seen to marked advantage. Sheehan has seldom played a more brilliant game, and his pace fairly paralyzed some of the Southerners. Lewis was equally dashing in the centre, and Leith's form was a revelation a line display of football being topped off with a couple of goals. The new rules suit Moysey exactly, and whether placed or roving he won the admiration of the crowd. McGinis and Fry both worked in quite their old form.

On the Southern side pace and cleverness were equally well served. The reliable little Howson on the wing was repeatedly cheered and stood out as the best man on his side. Southern was doing almost equally good work on the other wing until he hurt his leg, and had to go up to goal. Fred Waugh, who after a season's spell wore the red and white again, taking the vacant play with all his old style. The South have made few alterations in their twenty, but in Blackwood they have gained a promising player. Of the old brigade, McCarthy and D. Adamson back, Fraser in any part of the field and Purdy, McKay, and Gibson on the ball were as useful as heretofore.