Australian Football

Match Report

ATROCIOUS KICKING MADE ESSENDON LUCKY TO DRAW

By DICK REYNOLDS, Captain and Coach of Essendon

ATROCIOUS kicking on Saturday almost cost Essendon the VFL premiership for the second year in succession. In fact, we were fortunate to tie with Melbourne.

Although the grand final was anything but a brilliant exhibition of football, it will be remembered always for its dramatic last quarter. In that quarter both sides wasted golden opportunities to take the 1948 title. When Essendon began the last term with a lead of 13 points I thought we were in a handy position. Many of our players who had been quiet in the first half had improved sufficiently in the third quarter to put us ahead, and that applied particularly to Ted Leehane, centre half-forward. Leehane had found Denis Cordner's measure.

BIG TALLY OF BEHINDS
Melbourne's bustling tactics and our own hurried kicks gave us a big tally of behinds early in the game. It was worse in the last quarter, when we had the ball in our forward zone for most of the time, but from at least eight direct scoring shots could score only one goal six behinds. About four other shots went out of bounds, although some were from difficult positions. In the closing stages of the game, when Essendon held a 12 points' advantage, I thought we were playing well enough to win. Then Melbourne unleashed a last-minute burst, and long kicks from the centre found Mueller and Dullard. With two accurate kicks that pair wiped out our hard earned advantage.

ROAR WAS DEAFENING
Never before have I heard such a deafening roar as that which echoed across the ground when the umpire bounced the ball for the last time. The scores were level, and I shall not forget my feelings when Melbourne sent the ball forward again and Norm Smith marked it less than 50 yards out. I thought we had lost another premiership, but instead of taking his kick Smith ran on. It was a great relief to me when the ball went out of bounds.

MELBOURNE'S BIG CHANCE
From the throw in the ball eventually went again to Smith, who was right in front of goal. If he had kicked a goal, or had even tapped the ball through for a behind, Melbourne would have won the premiership. Fortunately for us, however, Smith appeared to fumble the ball, and Ruddell cleared with a long kick. A moment later the bell rang. On Saturday morning I wrote that Essendon would have too many guns for Melbourne. I realise now that a lot of guns are no good unless they can shoot straight.

BEST
Don Cordner is my choice as the best player on the ground. He carried Melbourne's ruck. His hitting-out to rovers, his sterling defense play, and his consistency, made him our greatest menace. Denis Cordner must be congratulated on his excellent showing, his high marking proved a stumbling block to Essendon on numerous occasions in the first half. Melbourne's other good players were McGrath, Smith, Mueller, Collins, and McMahen. I think Bob McClure was our outstanding player. He rucked well and took some brilliant high marks. When he was taking a spell in the back pocket he did a grand job in keeping Mueller quiet. Close to him would be Jones, who was one of our few forwards to win all day. Others were: Chris Lambert, Bradley, McDonald, Ruddell, and Bushby.

GOALS
Essendon: Hutchison 2, Brittingham 2, Bigelow, Hindley, Rawle
Melbourne: Mueller 6, Smith, Arnold, Cradock, Dullard

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