Australian Football

Cock o' the North: Nth Adelaide v Torrens in 1919

The 1919 season

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Captains of the 1919 finalists. From left, Bill Mayman (Sturt), Tom Leahy (North Adelaide), Stan Patten (West Torrens), Horrie Pope (Port Adelaide)

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In South Australia, top level football was suspended, owing to the war, between 1916 and 1918. This was in contrast to the situation in both Victoria and Western Australia where league football was persevered with, albeit, inevitably, on a reduced scale.¹ As far as South Australia was concerned, the closest thing to league football was a patriotic competition, which was formed in 1916 at the instigation of the Railways Football Club. A fair number of past and future league players participated in this competition, and indeed teams bearing the names of five of the seven SAFL clubs competed at some stage. Other participating clubs included Prospect, St Francis Xavier, Sturt Central and Kenilworth. Railways, the original instigators of the venture, only lasted a few weeks before withdrawing.

Matches in the patriotic league received scant media coverage, but grew in popularity as the end of the war approached. The 1918 grand final, for instance, attracted a crowd of roughly 7,000 to watch West Torrens 5.13 (43) defeat West Adelaide 3.11 (29). The 1916 and 1917 premierships had both been won by Port Adelaide.²

Hardly surprisingly, the 1919 South Australian league football season - the first for four years - was the subject of enormous public anticipation, with the media doing much to stimulate and reinforce this. The resumption of top level sport, in addition to providing a reassuring reminder that the status quo had been restored, afforded a ready-made opportunity to luxuriate in the cultural values and ideals which, in the view of many, the recent war had defended and maintained.³ Thus Saturday 3 May 1919 at the Adelaide, Unley and Alberton Ovals was a time for celebration and relief, albeit tinged with a certain sadness over what had been irrevocably changed or lost.

Eventual challenge finalists Sturt and North Adelaide were the first sides to declare their hands. When they met at Adelaide Oval in round 6 both were still undefeated, the Blues with 3 wins and 2 byes, and the northerners with 4 and 1 bye. Sturt gave a hint of how the season was ultimately to pan out with a dominating performance that was only sullied by some atrocious kicking. They won by 19 points, 5.15 (45) to 3.8 (26). Having won the 1915 premiership the Blues were effectively in pursuit of back to back titles, a quest that would be aided by the arrival at the club of a crop of excellent recruits including former patriotic league players Ted Colquhoun, Stan Scrutton, Reg Whitehead and Freddy Odgers, together with a sprinkling of talent from interstate. According to club secretary Wilfred Tank, “We have a solid, evenly-balanced team, without a weak spot. Bill Mayman is the best captain around, the old players respect him, the juniors worship him”⁴. All told, Sturt would blood eighteen newcomers at some stage during the 1919 season.

At North Adelaide, there was a much smaller turnover of players, with only seven debutants. However, one of these was Jack Hamilton, rated by some judges in the 1920s as the greatest all round footballer seen until then. North also had undoubtedly the best ruckman in South Australia, if not Australia, in Tom Leahy, plus other noteworthy players in Clem Dayman, Bert Fooks, Cec Curnow and Dan O’Brien.

West Torrens, coached by pre-war star Bert Filsell, and with the imposing figure of Stan Patten as captain, were expected by many to be the team to beat in 1919, especially given that they had retained a fair number of the players who had helped them win the 1918 patriotic premiership. Playing a fast, open brand of football which was heavily reliant on handball there were times during the 1919 minor round when they seemed head and shoulders above any other team in the competition, but all too often their dominance did not translate into scoreboard superiority. The main reason for this was their woeful kicking for goal, with their season’s tally of 692 points being comprised of 88 goals and 164 behinds, which constituted an accuracy rate of a dire 34.92%.⁵ In the round 6 clash with West Adelaide at Hindmarsh, Torrens produced one of the most goal-shy displays in league history when they amassed 8.27 (75) to Westies’ 5.4 (34).

In welcoming back eight of the players who had helped propel them to unprecedented greatness in 1913 and 1914 Port Adelaide might reasonably have been expected to mount a formidable premiership challenge in 1919. However, most of these players were now well past their best, while the new members of the team were still a couple of seasons away from making their mark. Nevertheless, the Magpies might be considered a touch unfortunate to have been drawn to play West Torrens in the semi finals rather than North Adelaide, as the blue and golds had clearly had Port’s measure in 1919, winning both minor round clashes convincingly. By contrast, the ease with which the Magpies had overcome North in round 12, just a month before the start of the finals, suggested that a semi final re-match would have elicited few fears at Alberton.

The premiership ladder at the conclusion of the home and away rounds read as follows (except that percentages have been converted to the modern format):

Len Lackman of Port Adelaide, one of the eight pre-war returnees mentioned above, booted 26 goals for the season to top the league’s goal kicking ladder, while South Adelaide centre half back Dan Moriarty won the first of his three successive Magarey Medals.

On the interstate front, South Australia met the VFL on 5 July in Adelaide, losing 8.8 (56) to 9.8 (62), and on 2 August in Melbourne, when the outcome was uncannily similar, the Vics winning 11.8 (74) to 10.8 (68).

Betting on football was rife in 1919, and the expected evenness of the finals series produced a welter of business for the bookmakers. Sturt, who would enjoy the right of challenge if beaten in either their semi final or the final, were narrowly favoured to retain their title, but there was considerable backing for West Torrens, too. North’s and Port’s chances were not rated so highly, the former because of their worrying decline in form over the final month of the minor round, and the latter because of their inability to beat either Sturt or Torrens during the year.

Semi Finals

A crowd of 16,000, equalling the record for a semi final established in 1909, attended the clash between Sturt and North Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday 30 August. The Double Blues had beaten North by 19 points at Adelaide in round 6, and by 8 points at Unley in round 16, and as a result were warmly favoured to win. However, to the dismay of Sturt supporters, and the scepticism of both the media and many members of the public, the unfancied red and whites produced what, on the face of it, was far and away their best performance of the season to win with ease, 7.18 (60) to 3.5 (23). Thus, for the eighth time in ten seasons, the minor premier had capitulated during the finals against supposedly weaker opposition, thereby ensuring that the league would enjoy a lucrative bonus in the shape of a bumper challenge final pay-out.⁶ Hardly surprisingly, cynics were quick to suggest that the Blues had 'laid down', but such allegations are notoriously difficult to prove. What does seem certain, however, is that, despite Wilfred Tank's previously quoted confident assertion to the contrary, there was dissension in the ranks at Unley, with a yawning gap emerging between many of the players and what they saw as an overbearingly autocratic committee. Moreover, club skipper Bill Mayman, far from being an object of respect and even 'worship', was regarded as a quintessential 'committee man', and was widely mistrusted and disliked. Not surprisingly, therefore, he would end up being deprived of the captaincy the following year⁷, a fact which, in retrospect, makes Sturt's 1919 premiership triumph seem all the more laudable and extraordinary.

The 2nd semi final between West Torrens and Port Adelaide took place a week later, on Saturday 6 September. During the minor round Torrens had twice beaten the Magpies by an identical 18 point margin: 7.10 (52) to 3.16 (34) in round 5 at Alberton, and 9.18 (72) to 7.12 (54) at Hindmarsh in round 15. They maintained their supremacy in a one-sided finals encounter, winning by 4 straight goals, 9.5 (59) to 5.5 (35). The win, and perhaps even more significantly the quality of the performance, earned the blue and golds outright premiership favouritism at that stage, despite the fact that they would have to win two more games, compared to Sturt's one, to take out the flag. Quite remarkably, it was Torrens' first ever victory in a finals match, bringing to an end a sequence of 7 semi final losses stretching back to 1900.

The first of the games that Torrens needed to win would be a cut-throat final against North Adelaide, who had beaten the blue and golds in round 4, but lost to them in round 13. Both matches had been fiercely contested and close, and so what transpired at Adelaide Oval on Saturday 13 September 1919 should not really have taken anyone by surprise.

The Final: North versus Torrens

“....... football has seldom been witnessed in such dreary circumstances.”

The match commenced in heavy rain, with an extremely strong north-westerly breeze blowing more or less directly across the oval from wing to wing. Apart from the seated areas in the grandstands, the crowd was sparse - quite understandably, given the weather conditions. At one point a large group of male spectators, tired of being at the mercy of the elements, stormed the members' stand after its gates had been opened to admit a contingent of ladies; before the police could intervene, the stand was full to overflowing, with not only the seats but all of the aisles crammed with boisterous, bedraggled, but mainly good humoured supporters.

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Messrs Leahy (left) and Patten pictured shaking hands prior to the 1920 Semi Final between North and Torrens, which was won by the former by 15 points.

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North Adelaide's captain Tom Leahy won the toss and elected to kick to the southern end, which was probably marginally favoured by the wind, although overall its impact was negligible. The ground surface was exceptionally slippery, rain having been falling continuously since mid-morning, and there were also about a dozen puddles of water of various sizes ranged all over the oval. Within minutes of play starting the ball had become like a heavy, sodden bar of soap, and for most of the afternoon the spectacle presented to the crowd would be more akin to soccer or water polo than football.

A Scrambly Start

Predictably, play from the outset was very scrambly, with numerous scrimmages, and much soccering of the ball off the ground. Torrens attacked first, but the North half back line held firm. Then it was North's turn to push forward, which they did with a fair amount of craft and purpose given the conditions, and five minutes in Fullarton snapped the first goal of the game.

During the opening minutes, players of both sides had had difficulty keeping their feet, but as the quarter went on they began to cope better with the conditions.

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Dan O'Brien

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Torrens responded to North's goal by raising the tempo of the play. They even managed to produce a few passages of decent football, one of which culminated in their first score of the match, a behind. For most of the remainder of the term the blue and golds were in the ascendancy, but it was not until moments before the bell that a chain of passes involving Karney, Patten and Marvell ended with the last named running into an open goal to fire his team to a 1 point advantage at the first change.

QUARTER TIME: West Torrens 1.1 (7); North Adelaide 1.0 (6)

Splash Carnival Time

With the rain showing no signs of abating, North opened the second quarter by mounting their first concerted attack since the early stages of the first term, but Torrens were quick to repel them.

With the ball still comparatively dry, Torrens were making good use of handball, and a neat sequence of inter-passing saw them maneuver the ball to within a few metres of goal, only for Tom Leahy to intervene for the northerners and relieve the pressure. The blue and golds attacked again, and a snapped behind from Marvell gave them the first score of the term.

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Johnny Karney

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As the quarter continued, all science and system departed from the play, which consisted mainly of a series of frantic scrimmages, interspersed with hurried, hopeful kicks off the ground. Moreover, the ball seemed to be out of bounds almost as often as it was in play. Many of the players were soon coated from head to toe in mud, and it became increasingly difficult to tell the teams apart. There appeared to be little adherence to the principle of sticking to your position, and for the most part upwards of twenty players might be said to be on the ball. From time to time, Torrens would endeavour to initiate a sequence of handpasses, and although one such move gave rise to a second behind of the term to Marvell, for the most part the conditions were quick to reassert themselves and play reverted to a frenetic, uncoordinated mud scramble.

Midway through the quarter North mounted a promising attack, but Torrens centreman Johnny Karney, having intercepted the ball close to goal, embarked on an exhilarating fifty metre run that briefly brought the somewhat sombre crowd to life. His kick landed on the half forward line for the blue and golds, but North's will 'o the wisp defender Jack Hamilton intervened and promptly sent the ball back from whence it came.

An untidy sequence of "punches, kicks along the ground, and certain unorthodox maneuvers"⁸ enabled North to launch another promising attack, but the Torrens defence seemed virtually impregnable at this stage of the match, and combined well to relieve. Moments before the bell North full forward Dan O'Brien had his team's first and only shot for goal of the term, but the ball sailed out of bounds. At the long break, Torrens had extended their lead from 1 to 3 points, with Les Marvell having been responsible for his team's entire score.

HALF TIME: West Torrens 1.3 (9); North Adelaide 1.0 (6)

Hamilton Ignites North

Quite a number of players changed their shorts during the half time interval, and when they reemerged from the changing rooms they would have been gratified to discover that the rain had, at last, abated. Once play got underway, however, it proved to be just as scrambly and unkempt as ever.

Five minutes into the quarter a rushed behind gave the red and whites their first score since the opening term, and when Torrens attempted a swift riposte they were repelled by Hamilton who, almost alone among the thirty-six players on view, seemed capable of handling the ball cleanly, and disposing of it with vim, vision and purpose.

North, seemingly the stronger and more desperate side at this stage of the match, forced the ball forward once more and it was scrambled through for another behind to reduce the margin to just 1 point. Shortly afterwards, Bert Fooks, a former Torrens player, cleverly gathered the ball in a scrimmage and snapped truly to give the northerners the lead their more decisive play since half time warranted.

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Bert Fooks

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From the ensuing centre throw-up (bouncing the ball being entirely out of the question) Torrens attacked briskly, but O'Brien, now taking a run on the ball, took a well judged relieving mark.

An unusually fluent phase of play saw Torrens maneuver the ball to well within range of goal, only for Marvell to ruin everything by fumbling badly. As a result, he was bundled unceremoniously aside by the North defenders, and the danger was cleared.

Play was becoming more willing and strenuous, and there was a good deal of illicit activity - tripping, jumper tugging, even hacking - going on outside the ken of umpire Johnstone, who in any case seemed inclined, for the most part, to keep his whistle in his pocket, no doubt as a concession to the conditions.

Towards the end of the term it was noticeable that the strength of the wind had declined, but the heavy surface and slippery ball still made skilful football virtually impossible. Torrens finished the quarter in the ascendant, but found it hard to get closer to goal than their half forward line. At last, however, a loose ball was gathered up by Manning some forty metres out and, with time and space to run on and steady, he made no mistake from a distance of about twenty-five metres to restore the blue and golds' lead.

THREE QUARTER TIME: West Torrens 2.3 (15); North Adelaide 2.2 (14)

A Closing Stanza “full of sound and fury signifying nothing”

Torrens had played with a loose man in defence for most of the third quarter, and, despite only leading by the narrowest of margins, persisted with this ploy in the final term. Ironically, it almost succeeded, for although North spent a lot of time in attack they were largely unable to get close enough to goal to attempt a shot.

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Edwin Daviess

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The first golden opportunity of the quarter fell to Torrens, however, as Marvell gathered the ball in acres of space well within scoring range, with only North full back Wallis between him and the goals. Instead of taking a shot though the nippy rover backed himself to dodge around his opponent and was comprehensively collared.

Hamilton and Curnow then combined well for North but the latter's seemingly goal bound kick was marked almost on the goal line by Daviess, the Torrens 'goal keeper' and future captain. Moments later the red and whites again managed to maneuver the ball to well within scoring range, but the umpire picked out a free kick to the Torrens skipper, Patten, and the danger was quelled.

Midway through the quarter the sun came out for the first time in the game, and almost as if in celebration North registered a behind to level the scores. The hitherto moribund crowd was now beginning to make a considerable amount of noise as North pressed repeatedly forward in a bid to snatch the game. Torrens, however, defended with grim efficiency, kicking the ball out of bounds at every opportunity, and repeatedly hurling bodies en masse at the ball in order to force scrimmages, and hold up play. For all their pressure and territorial superiority the red and whites failed to eke out a single, clear-cut scoring opportunity, and with a couple of minutes left to play it was Torrens who almost clinched the game. A long, probing kick from Marsh seemed to be skidding and rolling ominously goalwards until Hamilton, who for much of the afternoon had been playing football on a different plane to virtually every other player on the field, made an electrifying dash across the face of goal, scooped up the soggy ball as thought it was dry, and sank his boot into a hefty punt kick that transferred the focus of play to the veritable buffalo wallow that masqueraded as the centre of the ground. A frantic, all-in melee ensued which was still in full swing when the bell sounded to end the match.

FINAL SCORE: West Torrens 2.3 (15); North Adelaide 2.3 (15)

Match Summary

BEST
West Torrens: Johnson, Wade, Karney, Patten, Campbell, Marsh
North Adelaide: Hamilton, Curnow, Dayman, Leahy, Fooks, Frost

GOALS
West Torrens: Marvell, Manning
North Adelaide: Fooks, Fullarton

Final Replay: North versus Torrens

“There will be few who will gainsay this. Never this year have teams been so evenly matched. West Torrens died hard."

The Advertiser, 22/9/19, page 12

In contrast to a week earlier, the weather was fine, and the condition of the turf, according to 'The Advertiser's' football reporter, "first-class". A large crowd, estimated at somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000, was in attendance - somewhat more than might have been expected had there been any major counter-attractions, such as an important race meeting, on offer.

The West Torrens line-up was identical to that which took the field in the previous week's drawn final, while North were forced to omit Trescowthick because of injury, with his place being taken by Vincent Leahy.

Just as he had a week ago, North's captain Tom Leahy won the toss and elected to kick to the southern end of the Adelaide Oval, although what slight breeze there was seemed to favour the northern end.

A Sense Of Déja-Vu

Many of the Torrens players must have experienced a sense of déja-vu as they saw their team surge into attack from the opening bounce, only for Jack Hamilton to intervene, and clear the danger with archetypal smoothness and conviction. North then pressed hard in a bid to find an opening, but Clarence Curnow marked strongly in front of the goal posts to relieve.

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Ernie Stone

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The next few minutes saw the blue and golds displaying some of the excellent combined play, featuring deft, intelligent handball and short, crisp stab passing, that had characterised their best performances during the minor round. A frantic passage of play near the Torrens goal culminated in a North defender spearing a low kick toward the half back left boundary, only for Stan Patten to pick the ball up on first bounce, run on, and register the first goal of the game with a thumping punt kick from roughly fifty metres distance.

Torrens continued to play the better football, and a couple of minutes later Patten nabbed a second goal from a similar position to his first. With only six minutes having elapsed, the blue and golds had almost equalled their entire previous week's score.

In complete contrast to a week earlier, players of both sides, particularly North, were kicking long, and marking well. There were occasional fumbles, but these seemed to be attributable to over-eagerness, and as the quarter went on they were less frequent.

For several minutes the play moved from end to end at considerable pace, but there was no addition to the scores, although a long shot from North's centre half forward Dayman seemed to be sailing through for a goal only to be marked right on the line by Allen, the West Torrens back pocket player.

Several minutes elapsed before North again had a chance to score, through Fullarton, but this time it was Marsh who came to the blue and golds' rescue with a fine saving mark.

North continued to attack, however, and with time running out Dayman finally managed to post their first score of the afternoon, a major, courtesy of a hurried snap from close in. Moments later, and within seconds of the bell, another seemingly goal-bound shot from the northerners was juggled and then dropped a metre or so from the line by a Torrens defender, and umpire Johnstone controversially awarded a mark. Needless to say, many of the North players protested, but the umpire was unmoved, and before play could resume the bell sounded to end the term.

QUARTER TIME: West Torrens 2.0 (12); North Adelaide 1.0 (6)

A Flurry Of Goals

Torrens centreman Karney had injured his shoulder during the opening term, and began the second quarter in a forward pocket. He was replaced in the centre by O'Loughlin.

Stan Patten, the Torrens skipper, grabbed the ball from the opening centre bounce of the term and kicked toward centre half forward, where Marvell marked well. His shot for goal failed to make the distance, however, and the North defence combined well to relieve. The blue and golds were soon back on the attack again, and during a strenuous passage of play near goal umpire Johnstone, adjudging that a North defender had thrown the ball away when tackled, awarded a free kick to the tackler, Les Marvell. From a mere twenty metres out directly in front the Torrens goalsneak had no trouble in raising two flags.

North's response was spirited and effective as a long, probing punt kick by Davey was marked in the goal square, three metres out, by Dayman, who made no mistake. From the ensuing centre bounce, North attacked again, and as Tom Leahy chased the ball in front of goal he was manhandled by his Torrens opponent and promptly awarded a free. His goal to tie the scores elicited the loudest roar of the afternoon from the hitherto fairly subdued crowd. The first behind of the afternoon arrived a couple of minutes later, to Torrens. From the kick in, Dayman took an excellent mark and initiated a promising looking North rush which was eventually short-circuited by O'Loughlin.

For some five minutes around the middle of the quarter Torrens enjoyed a purple patch during which they attacked relentlessly, but the red and white defence was, for the most part, equal to the task of containing them.

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Percy Lewis

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The most fluent move of the game so far saw the blue and gold quartet of Manning, Marvel, Karney and Patten maneuver the ball the length of the ground to well within range of goal, where Mayne marked. He kicked badly, however, only just managing to register a minor score. North responded with some neat football of their own which culminated in Fullarton hitting a fast leading Vin Leahy on the chest with a bullet like stab pass. Less than thirty metres out, on the slightest of angles, Leahy duly converted to put the northerners in front for the first time in the match.

The play of both teams was becoming faster, and better to watch, and the crowd was beginning to give voice to its appreciation.

Hollis and Campbell teamed well for Torrens along the grandstand wing, and the latter found Manning in the forward pocket with a good pass. Manning's kick was a beauty, and the blue and golds were back in the box seat.

No more than a minute later Hollis was again in the thick of the action, this time combining well with Stone to release Karney close to goal, and the nimble Torrens rover was able to run to within near point blank range and easily secure full points.

Another dangerous looking Torrens attack followed almost immediately, but North's half back flanker Hamilton, playing with his customary verve, poise and brilliance, intercepted superbly and sent the ball well over the centreline into his team's attacking half, where Fooks gathered and kicked long towards the goal square. As the inevitable pack formed, Tom Leahy came rushing in from behind and soared high to take a sky-scraping mark, easily the best of the game so far. He made no mistake with his kick, and shortly after the resumption the bell sounded with the scoreboard showing the blue and golds holding a slim, 2 point advantage.

HALF TIME: West Torrens 5.2 (32); North Adelaide 5.0 (30)

A Trickle Of Behinds

Johnny Karney resumed after half time with his left arm strapped to his side, a legacy of the shoulder injury sustained during the opening term. As in the second quarter, he stationed himself in a forward pocket, but it was clear that West Torrens would effectively be playing a man short from now on.

The first five minutes of the third term saw the ball being swept repeatedly from one end of the ground to the other, although there was a discernible contrast in the way the two teams achieved this. The northerners favoured long kicks to position, whereas Torrens relied heavily on handball, which they utilised with swift, almost unerring efficiency. The opening score of the quarter, a behind to North, came courtesy of a Vin Leahy place kick.

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Les Marvell

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As Torrens endeavoured to battle their way back into contention the play became more scrambly, with many players of both sides leaving their positions to chase the ball. Tom Leahy was playing a hero's game both in the ruck and all over the ground, and the blue and golds were reduced to employing illicit means to keep him under control. Umpire Johnstone was quick to penalise any misdemeanours, however, and 'the prince of ruckmen' was awarded at least ten free kicks during the term.

Another player to catch the eye was North's half back flanker Williams, who took a series of telling marks. Taking a leaf out of his fellow half back flanker Hamilton's book, his disposal was first rate, too.

During the second half of the quarter it was noticeable that Torrens were playing with much greater aggression, and there were many more scrimmages and stoppages as a result. On one occasion, play had to be suspended for a couple of minutes after the North Adelaide centre half forward Clem Dayman was knocked out cold during a marking contest. He eventually got groggily back to his feet.

The blue and golds' only score for the quarter came via a rushed behind, but had Johnson's booming kick from almost the centre of the ground carried a couple of metres more it would have produced one of the goals of the season.

THREE QUARTER TIME: West Torrens 5.3 (33); North Adelaide 5.1 (31)

O’Brien Breaks The Stalemate

The early running in the final term was made by North, who soon had a behind on the board off the boot of Tom Leahy. The veteran ruckman was at his indefatigable best, and the behind came after he comprehensively out-bodied his Torrens opposite number in Wade to take a typically commanding mark.

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Jack Hamilton

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The blue and golds attempted to respond, but North's half back line was too good, and within a couple of minutes it was the northerners who were again attacking relentlessly. After a particularly frantic scrimmage close to goal the ball spun loose into the goal square and North's full forward Dan O'Brien was just able to toe poke it over the line before being flattened. The goal gave the red and whites a lead of 5 points, but there were still at least twenty minutes of play remaining.

Those twenty minutes saw plenty of fast, furious football, but also plenty of fumbling as the pressure of the situation got through to the players. North were winning consistently in the air, but Torrens' ground play was superior. Overall, this produced something of a stalemate, with neither side able to manufacture a decisive opening. Torrens were clearly missing the drive from centre that would normally have been provided by Karney, and as the quarter wore on their forwards began to wander further and further towards the middle of the ground in search of kicks. This proved to be entirely counter productive, however, as all it did was make the play more congested, enabling North to force repeated stoppages in the play.

Towards the end of the match Tom Leahy had an excellent chance to score when he was freed across half forward but his kick for goal was well saved almost on the line by Mayne.

When the bell sounded, the red and whites were on the attack, and Torrens had only one man, the injured Karney, ahead of centre. Although overall there was very little if anything between the two teams, the blue and golds looked a very tired lot by the end.

FINAL SCORE: North Adelaide 6.2 (38); West Torrens 5.3 (33)

Match Summary

BEST
North Adelaide: T.Leahy, Williams, Dayman, Davey, Hamilton, Fooks
West Torrens: Johnson, Manning, Willis, Wade, Campbell, Mayne

GOALS
North Adelaide: T.Leahy 2; Davey, Dayman, V.Leahy, O'Brien
West Torrens: Patten 2; Karney, Manning, Marvel

Blues Burst North’s Bubble

Prior to the 1919 challenge final, North Adelaide and Sturt had never met in a finals match. It was somehow appropriate, therefore, that their first encounters should be so grimly and closely fought. In the challenge final on Saturday 27 September, North, having won the toss through Tom Leahy and kicked to the Cathedral end, opened brightly, and seemed well on course for victory when they led by 26 points at the first change. The Double Blues, however, fought back strongly in the second term, and by the long break had reduced their deficit to just 5 points.

Play in the third quarter was congested, untidy, and pressure-packed. Only 3 behinds were registered, 2 to Sturt, and 1 to the northerners, meaning that at ‘lemons’ the difference between the teams was a mere 4 points, with North on 5.4 (34) to the Blues’ 4.6 (30).

The early stages of the final term were similarly frenetic, with defences still very much in the ascendancy. With time-on approaching, and North ahead by one straight kick, 5.9 to 4.9, Sturt full forward Frank Golding marked near goal and played on immediately with a handpass to Les Smith, who kicked truly to level the scores. The last significant scoring chance fell to the Double Blues, deep into time-on, but Owen Beatty, having marked a mere thirty metres from goal on no appreciable angle, kicked woefully to miss everything. Final scores: North Adelaide 5.9 (39); Sturt 5.9 (39).

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Ted Colquhoun

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The replay was scheduled for the Labor Day holiday on Wednesday 8 October, and proved to be just as thrilling as the initial encounter between the teams. After an evenly contested opening term, North gradually seemed to be asserting themselves, and they led by 7 points at the half, and 14 points at the last change. Early in the final term North almost grabbed another goal but Ted Colquhoun rescued his team, and their season, with a spectacular last gasp save. Sturt then went straight to the other end of the ground and goaled. A second goal midway through the quarter reduced the margin to just 2 points, and with two minutes of the game left a behind to Owen Beatty made the scoreline North 2.6 (18) to Sturt 2.5 (17). Ivor Nicolle’s winning goal just 35 seconds before the final bell has entered football folklore, and remains arguably the most memorably dramatic moment in the entire history of the Sturt Football Club, perhaps only seriously challenged for that distinction by Keith Chessell’s demon-exorcising post-siren goal to beat Port at Alberton in 1966.

The Double Blues had won the flag, and the dissension at Unley was briefly forgotten as the team and its supporters celebrated joyously. Entering the Sturt changing rooms along with his chairman Fred Bennett, North captain Tom Leahy manfully suppressed his personal disappointment by declaring, “No doubt it was thought, after your long recess, that you would not find your feet again. After the match which we made a draw, I expected a harder struggle today. The game was played in a splendid spirit. We would have loved to get the premiership, but it was not to be ours”.⁹

North Adelaide’s moment would soon come, however. Less than twelve months later, still under Leahy’s captaincy, they would procure the 1920 pennant without the need for a challenge on the strength of a resounding 9.15 (69) to 3.3 (21) final victory over Norwood.