A riot at the 'G'
A disgraceful scene occurred during the course of a football match which took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday. The Melbourne and South Melbourne teams were the contestants. During the last quarter of the game a Melbourne player felled an opponent, and about 2,000 of the spectators rushed the ground. Play was not resumed until a quarter of an hour afterwards.
That trouble would result before the game had finished had been anticipated. A few of the players, taking advantage of the inconsistency of the umpire (Wickham) in his decisions, were acting violently. It happened often that flagrant breaches of the rules escaped the notice of Wickham, and that those who should have been protected were punished. Tempers were soon excited, and blows were struck, but beyond a reprimand in one case, grave offenses were passed over.
Evans, of Melbourne, was at times singled out by the crowd for its disapprobation, and whether accidentally or not, Carl Willis, of South Melbourne, received a blow on the neck from him. Saltau, of South Melbourne, struck a Melbourne player, and was cautioned by the umpire.
The incident which roused the anger of the South Melbourne supporters and caused them to swarm on to the ground happened on the railway line wing. Melbourne were then one point in the lead. A Melbourne player had been allowed a free kick, though a scramble followed. Then Len Incigneri, one of the Melbourne players, rushed wildly at George Payne, of South Melbourne, the tallest man on the ground, and struck him. While Payne lay motionless the steward took Incigneri's number, and both he and Wickham intimated that they would report him. At the same time South Melbourne supporters, jumping the pickets dashed on to the ground in a frenzy of excitement. Some seven or eight policemen were present, but they were utterly powerless to prevent the rush.
The game was stopped, and players and spectators crowded around Payne, who was unconscious. He was stunned, but it was feared by the South Melbournites that something worse had happened. When Payne was seen to be reviving attention was given by South Melbourne followers and others to Incigneri. Hooting and yelling at him, it seemed as if Incigneri would be roughly handled, but the protection of the police and several Melbourne supporters prevented any harm befalling him. Incigneri was advised to leave the field in the hope that the crowd might be appeased. He was disinclined to do so, but eventually he yielded to the advice of his friends.
Several of those who had rushed the ground threw themselves into fighting attitudes, and blows were exchanged. The players generally endeavoured to restore order. One young fellow had to repent of his folly in joining in the disturbance. It is alleged that be made a kick at Alf George, one of the burliest of the Melbourne players. Whatever was done, George saw it, and from a well-directed blow the young man went to the ground. He retired from the fray with a battered nose covered by a blood-stained handkerchief. The resentment of a section of the crowd, which evidently did not understand the reason of George's action was then directed to him. One man aimed a blow at George who was being protected by Willis. The Melbourne captain (Jack McKenzie), mistaking Willis's interference, was on the point of remonstrating when the position was explained. Several policemen escorted George to the gate leading from the ground to the rooms of the Melbourne team. But he would go no farther than the gate, where he remained until the game was resumed.
Jack Baquie, a member of the Melbourne team, who was not playing on Saturday, was among those who unwisely flocked on to the ground while the disturbance was at its height. He came into contact with a young recruit, who was having a holiday from the training camp of the Expedtionary Force, and was on a merry mood. The soldier was keen on the encounter, and Baquie was apparently willing. Though Baquie is a skillful footballer, he was no match for the soldier, who won with a single blow. After the finish of the game Baquie and the soldier again met at the bar under the public grandstand. The bout that was begun on the field was resumed, but the soldier again scored all the points. As further trouble appeared imminent the police were summoned. While Baquie and some of his friends were waiting in front of the grandstand the soldier was got away in a civilian’s overcoat.
Soon after Incigneri and George left the turbulent crowd in the centre of the playing-ground the anger of the South Melbourne followers abated. Wickham, the umpire, who was distracted at what had occurred, was at his wits' end what to do. He kept blowing his whistle for order, while the players and many of the supporters of both teams advised the spectators to get off the ground, so that the game could be resumed. Eventually order was restored, and Payne, who was knocked down by Incigneri, was given a free kick.
The game had then been delayed for about a quarter of an hour. About eight minutes remained to finish it. Incigneri reappeared soon after the resumption of play. South Melbourne attacked resolutely amidst great excitement. First, they got a behind and drew level with Melbourne. When they scored a goal, and were placed 6 points in the lead, their supporters cheered wildly. They won the game by 7 points.
Excepting the conflict between Baquie and the soldier, there was no further disturbance on the ground. The steward (Lockwood), the central umpire (Wickham) and the boundary umpires (Treloar and Campion) intimated that they would report Incigneri for striking Payne.
Editor’s note: Incigneri pleaded guilty to striking Payne “under provocation and while dazed [and was] “ disqualified for eight playing Saturdays”. Incigneri never played senior football again.
Footnotes
Title: FOOTBALL RIOT. AN ANGRY CROWD.
Author: Argus Staff Writer
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic: 1848 - 1957)
Date: Monday, 9 August 1915 p.8 (Article)
Web: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1546788
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