Australian Football

A chat with Mick Grace

Than Mick Grace, the noted old Fitzroy and Carlton champion, now officially coaching the N.S.W. league teams, there is no man better known to lovers of the Australian game. Tall and rather slight, without the rugged robustness of many celebrated footballers, he does not quite look a man who has been a champion player of the continent. But when you converse with him you are impressed. He has a keen football brain, and takes in everything while watching a match, just as he did when on the field searching for openings.

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There is no better judge of the game than Mick Grace. The essence of his advice to players is: “When you get the ball pick your man and kick to him at once.” He has no patience with the player who runs with the ball. It is picturesque, perhaps, but it is individualism, and rarely highly effective in match winning.

The efficacy of his system was abundantly illustrated in the North Broken Hill Metropolitan match. The 'Hillites' would have won comfortably if they had cut running with the ball out of their programme. The backs were very faulty in that respect, frequently running across the mouth of their goal. This is mentioned to show that Mick Grace, having instilled into the minds of Sydney footballlers the necessity of immediately kicking the ball, its value as a match-winning factor was proved beyond any shadow of doubt at the expense of North Broken Hill. The Sydney men rarely ran but, kicking before getting up against an opponent, frequently found a comrade with an accurate pass. Then the success of M.G.'s coaching has since been shown, as our lads defeated Geelong and got within 9 points of Fitzroy—a remarkable improvement on the sorry displays put up against Norwood, South Melbourne and Collingwood in past season

Twice acknowledged to be Victoria's champion, M.G. was also crack goal-kicker in 1906 (his thirteenth season). Besides he was the first to kick 50 goals in a year in league [VFL] competition. He did not mention these things, as he is as uncommunicative as a sphinx when the subject of conversation happens to be Mick Grace.

I will remember his remarkable football in the Geelong-Carlton match (in the Victorian premiership competition) at the Sydney Cricket Ground about seven years ago. No better exposition could possibly have been given. Unfortunately, it took place on a Monday afternoon, rain having necessitated a postponement from the Saturday. After a desperate struggle Geelong won by a few points, and Mick Grace was the star of the 36. His high marking was a treat—he soared into the air like a bird time after time and brought down marks. Then his judgment in passing and knowledge of the value of position were strikingly disclosed. He again came to Sydney with Carlton a few seasons later, the Dark Blues taking a holiday trip after winning the Victorian premiership. They easily defeated the combined Sydney team.

Seven members of the Grace family have figured in Melbourne football. Jim was champion goal-kicker for two years. I played against him at Hobart over twenty years ago when his mates used to remark of his accuracy that he could kick up a spout. In one year in Melbourne Jim Grace was awarded second place to Joe McShane as champion all-rounder. The McShanes, like the Graces, were all foot- ballers. Joe Grace played for the North Shore Club in Sydney and represented New South Wales in the first inter-State match against Victoria after the resuscitation of the game in Sydney.

"What do you think of our players?" was my first question.

“Well, they play better than they did three years ago, appearing to be keener and anxious that their games should be on a level with those of the other States. Sydney possesses some fine individual players who would, 'with a little coaching, become cracks in any company.”

“What are their principal faults?”

“Lack of dash is one, but they are improving in that respect. Then too many sail up together for a mark some should stand down. Shepherding is greatly overlooked, and training somewhat neglected. They are slow in forwarding the ball after marking. Their worst fault was running with the ball but that is now being dropped.”

“Who are our best players; “Well, Dickson, Ashley, Scott, Jeffreys, Entwisle, Delany, Ellis, Robertson, Vincent, Incoll, Parr, Goldie Thomas, Watts, Welsh, McLean, and Trotter, are all able players. And Cooper is a rare plodder. With proper coaching for a couple of years the local players will be able to hold their own with those from Victoria.

Scott's goal-kicking against Geelong was as fine as anything I have ever seen—it was worth going miles to witness. In each of his eight goals the ball went through the centre. The Fitzroy and Geelong players were astonished at his brilliant kicking.”

What are the qualities you consider necessary to make a first-class footballer?

“Three—coolness, dash and determination—I impress these upon players placed under my charge. Next I get them into one system of training; that is, to take a regular amount of work to keep them fit and well.'

Any hints on kicking?'

'Yes, I first teach them how to hold the ball. Most players when kicking twist the ankle and run on an angle. Now, my instructions are to keep the ankle rigid and kick in a direct line. Kicking at goal from the front and all angles is tried, after which deliberate and running shots are indulged in. Learning to judge the bounce of the ball so as to enable a player to pick it up in his stride is also carefully attended to.

'Short-passing and stab-kicking are taken on, after which I get them together and have a game, teaching them to pick a man and send the ball along at once. I eliminate running with the ball; it doesn't win matches; on the contrary, it loses more than half of them. My contention is that the greater the distance between the player with the ball and an opponent enables him to ease up and pick a man with greater certainty.' I always get players to study the style of their opponents. I watch them closely in the club matches, any mistakes made are pointed out, and I show them what should have been done.'

About handball?'

'Handball can be easily overdone. A player should never resort to it if he can get in a kick. Of course, handballing is useful in getting one out of a tight corner.

'Who Is the finest player you have seen?"

'I would not care to pick an absolute champion, as there were many cracks who in their day and at their best might well be bracketed. I will mention some I recall to mind and place them as I first knew them. I would put Jack Worrall, Peter Burns, Albert Thurgood and Fred McGinis on scratch, with Paddy Hickey, Jack Baker, Joe McShane, Dick Condon, Percy Trotter and [Bill] Busbridge on the half yard mark. But for all-round consistency, year in and year out, Fred McGinis was a wonder. The same thing applies to Albert Thurgood as a goal-kicker; he was the daddy of the lot in that line, besides being a great all-rounder.

'I well remember the great battle he and my brother Jim had the first season Thurgood played. They had a neck and neck go for the title of champion goal kicker all through the season and were level at the last game, when Thurgood won.

Percy Trotter had the greatest dash of any player in my time; he was electric and used to leave his opponents as if they were anchored. Billy Hannaysee, George Vautin, Paddy Hickey, Tom Banks, Teddy Rankin, Billy Cleary, Harry Purdy, Tommy Leydin, Charlie Pannam, Billy Crebbin, Sam McMichael, and the late Colin Campbell were all dashers and were very difficult to catch once they got off the mark. Sam McMichael was one of the most popular all-round sports, who all too soon gave up football for cricket and just missed a trip home. Con Hickey was a first-class player but his best work in connection with football has been done in an administrative capacity—as hon. secretary of Fitzroy, Vice-president of the League, and President of the Australasian Football Council.'

'What about sky-scrapers?"

Yes we've had some very fine high marks. Eddie James of Geelong was one of the best; he stood 6ft 4in. Then we had Joe Hogan, Jack Monaghan, Jim Sharp, Henry Young, Tracker Forbes, Bud Adamson, Hughie Gavan, Billy Strang, Mallee Johnson and the late Denny McKay. I have pleasant recollections of the games I have had with them. Mallee Johnson is a marvel in getting in the air without the aid of a run.

Probably the best captain Victoria has ever had was A. B. Sloane, who led Fitzroy to victory in most of their premier games. It was a treat to listen to him talking to the players. Under his command we won nineteen consecutive matches—were twice premiers, and once runners-up in three seasons.

Sydneyites will best remember Sloane as a rower, he having several times stroked the Victorians to victory in the eight-oar race.

Addenda: Letter to the editor from Mr. J. Clark (Coburg 26/8/1910):

I read your interview with Mick Grace with great interest, especially his remarks regarding great players in the game. But I think that he has forgotten the greatest of them all—the great 'Dookie' McKenzie—who is considered at present to be the greatest of all players. McKenzie six or seven years ago was captain of the Essendon League team. He migrated to Essendon Association, and hence went to Brunswick as caretaker of the local ground.

His influence upon the game was shown at once, as Brunswick were premiers the first year he captained them, and this year they are probable premiers again. His coolness, judgment, dash, and determination are wonderful. With all these he combines brainy work as captain, and how Mick Grace has not placed him first on his list of great players passes understanding. Nine out of every ten will answer, 'Dookie' to the question, 'Who is the greatest player?' I have followed the game for the last 12 years and consider that he is the best that has been produced in that time.

I am very pleased that the good old game is taking hold in Sydney, and hope to see inter-State matches in the near future. A step in the right direction has been taken in securing the skilful Mick Grace. Your column on Australian Rules is always interesting reading. In conclusion, I will give you a tip for the League premiership—Essendon.