The 1901 VFL season in review
The season of 1901 will long be remembered, for it is many a year since the teams were so evenly matched, and in which the interest was so keen. The number of games in which the successful team had only a very slight margin has been remarkable, and, taken all through, the football has been close and exciting. The system under which the premiership was decided has been the subject of much comment, and though the Geelong club, which won the greatest number of games in the preliminary matches, was put out of the competition before the final, it must be said that the interest was maintained right to the very end, and no club could afford to lose a match. The system is a decided improvement on that in vogue last year, and if the league will, before next season, alter it by allowing the leaders of the first round (i.e., after 14 games have been played) the right of challenge, in the event of their not winning the final, the objections of the Geelong people will be for the most part removed. Had this been the case this year Geelong would have had the right to challenge Essendon, and there is but little doubt that Essendon would have still further strengthened their position.
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Notwithstanding the objections of the Geelong people, there can be but little doubt that the two best teams played off on Saturday. There is but a game between the three clubs, but on average of scores, for and against, the positions are exactly as they are on the premiership-list. For every 100 points scored by Essendon, they have lost only 54.7, Collingwood have lost 66.1; Geelong, 73.2; Fitzroy, 77.2; Melbourne, 85.1, while the other teams have lost more points than they gained. In a season in which the margin between victory and defeat has been so narrow this reckoning of the scores gives a very fair idea of the relative merits of the teams.
Geelong and Collingwood began the season well, while Essendon and Fitzroy started badly and for some time neither were represented by their full strength. Essendon, as premiers, thoroughly deserve the honours, for they have been the most brilliant team of the year. Their record of points for and against is a reflex of their performances. Their five losses were inflicted by Collingwood (twice), Fitzroy, Geelong, and Melbourne, but save in the first defeat by Collingwood the margin against them was very narrow. The evenness of the team has been remarkable, and, though they have their champions, there have been very few weak spots in the composition of the team. They began badly, but, pulling well together, have gained the premiership.
Geelong led almost from the jump, and at one time it looked as though they would be a long way ahead on games. Collingwood, on the other hand, had a succession of defeats, and dropping back had to pull themselves together to make their inclusion in the final a certainty. Fitzroy for a long while showed little of their previous form, but towards the finish the maroons were one of the hardest teams to beat, and, in fact, it is by no means certain that the goal which gained Essendon the victory over Fitzroy in the semi-final match should have been scored. Melbourne, who headed the list in 1900, have been persistently followed by bad luck, and no team has had its ranks so decimated by accident and sickness. In the face of all disadvantages, however, the reds stuck manfully to their work, and never flagged. South Melbourne at times put up some brilliant performances, notably against Collingwood (twice) and Fitzroy, but their form lacked consistency, and they played some very bad games. Carlton and St. Kilda, as usual, served merely as mediums for the stronger clubs putting up large scores, and their records, as will be seen below, are very poor.
The best club players
As regards individual players each club has had its champion, and in some cases there have been several men who stood out. Gavin, the Essendon half-back, has maintained his form, and on the season's play no back man has approached him. His high marking and dash have been wonderful, and he has saved the side on numerous occasions. Tod Collins, the Essendon captain, has also been a first fighter amongst defenders, and Vollugi is perhaps the best wing man of the year. Kinnear (forward, back, or following) has been always splendid. Wright (centre) has had few equals in his position, and Hiskens and Thurgood, on the half-forward line, have done great work. Thurgood played intermittently until recently, but in the last few games he has shown that he has lost none of his old-time brilliancy, and he still retains the faculty of being able to rise to the occasion, and the bigger the match the better has he played. Robinson and McKenzie, the two association recruits, have done well, and so has Hastings.
On the Collingwood side Fred Leach must be named as the champion, and the taking the season right through no one has done better work. Pannam, on the wing, has been little below his form of previous years, and Hailwood, the big ruck man, has been invaluable; in fact, the first two games lost by Collingwood were the only two from which he was absent, and people only then realised his value to the side. Tulloch and Morgan, whether placed or following, Hyman and Dow (back), Smith and Rowell (forward) have also stood out prominently. Henry Young, the Geelong captain, has been a very hard man to beat, but the best player on the side, I think, has been the rover Rankin, whose play has been in many games of a very high standard. McCallum (centre), Flynn (useful anywhere), Bailiff (wing), and last, but by no means least, the veteran, Peter Burns, were the leading players. For Fitzroy, Captain McSpeerin (roving) was one of the best players of the year, Brosnan (half-forward) was a very useful and brilliant man; Drohan (wing), Jenkins (back), Beecham (in any position), and Kiernan (half-forward) have been very conspicuous; but the main feature of the team has been its evenness.
McGinis is still the champion of the Melbourne club, and his game has lost none of its vigour, and has gained, if that were possible, in cleverness. Owing to the injuries which befell his companions, the ex-Tasmanian has had to do more of the ruck work than in previous years, and has done it well. Moodie has been as hardworking as ever, and his clever handball has been of immense service to his side. Langley (forward), Cumberland (ruck), Sowden (wing), and Howe (back) have also shone out.
Wenborn, the South Melbourne back man, has been the star on his side, and his work has always been of the highest order. Pleass and Worroll, in and about the ruck, have worked hard and brilliantly, but with less success, perhaps, than might have been expected. Lampe (half-forward) put in some wonderful games, but his play has been meteoric rather than sound. Rippon (centre), Howson (wing), and James (back) have also stood out prominently.
At Carlton, Rowlands (wing) and Elliot (ruck), and at St. Kilda J. Smith (ruck) and H. Smith (wing) have been by far the best men.
The top six players
Taking all the players then, I think, in looking for the champion of the year the men to be considered are—Fred Leach (Collingwood), Hugh Gavin (Essendon), Fred McGinis (Melbourne), Ted Rankin (Geelong). Albert Thurgood (Essendon) and William McSpeerin (Fitzroy), and to make a choice between this half dozen is difficult, for each man has at times shown wonderful form. Had Thurgood played regularly and as well as in the last few games one would not have had to look further; and Gavin's claims, too, cannot be lightly esteemed. McGinis, McSpeerin, and Rankin as rovers have had, perhaps more opportunities than the others, and they have all proved themselves splendid players.
Fred Leach, the Collingwood centre man, played his worst game in the big match on Saturday, but on almost every other occasion he was the best man on his side, and often the best man in the game, and so in naming the champion of the season I think most people will agree with me when I select
Fred Leach (Collingwood)
The goalkickers
The contest between the goal-kickers has been very keen, and the following are the principal scores:—
F. Hiskens (Essendon) 35
A. Smith (Collingwood) 34
G. Brosnan (Fitzroy) 33
E. Rowell (Collingwood) 31
C. Coles (Geelong) 30
Umpiring
The umpiring question has been prominently before the public all the season, and in this matter the members of the league have something to deal with which will need their most earnest consideration. Not only has the central umpiring been for the most part bad, but there have been mistakes in goal umpiring, which should not have occurred, and which should be inquired into. One man has stood out above all the others as a central umpire, and on this matter there is but one opinion that Crapp is the best, and the rest nowhere.
Time-keeping, too, is a matter which must engage the attention of the league, in order that such an occurrence is that of the Fitzroy- Collingwood game should not happen again.
In summary
In conclusion, it may be said that the members of the league have done their duty as administrators of the laws, and as judges of the matters which have been brought before them, but a word of warning at this stage will not be out of place. The game has been restored to popularity, it has been purged of many of its disagreeable features, but it behoves the league to see that in its hours of success the sport is not retarded by the bookmaker and the professional. With the return of popularity come increased gate returns and augmented credit balances, and following these closely are the old dangers which, but a very few years ago, caused the game to sink in public estimation. It is the duty of the league to see that the game is kept pure, and that objectionable adherents—whether as players or not—are kept at a respectful distance.
Footnotes
Title: The final match....The Past Season
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria, 1848 - 1956)
Date: Monday, 9 September 1901, p 7 (Article)
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