Football reminiscences - Old-time players and incidents
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"Veteran", Geelong West, writes:- I read with great interest Mr. C.L. Andrews' reminiscences of early football days. He threw out the hint that he would like others to give some recollections of early-day football, and I will endeavor to relate some of my early experiences of the game. Mr. Andrews and I are nearly of the same age.
I was born in Geelong, and have lived here ever since. I have followed the old club since the days of the ''all whites" and well remember the men who used to play in whiskers, such as Geo. Watson, Geo. Stephens. Harry Kirk and Harry Sharpe. I think the "barrackers" of to-day would call out "Shave him" if a player appeared in the field with whiskers. If Harry Warburton had been there in those days he would be looking for a job.
I remember well as a lad remaining outside the Argyle Hotel watching the Geelong team come out. The captain, Tommy Austin, led them out like "Tracker" Young does now. The ground in Aberdeen-street was fenced in, but with only a top rail and posts. There were no pickets to keep the crowd back, but I don't remember the crowd encroaching on the ground like they do now. There was no whistling off time, in fact I don't think whistles were used, the umpire simply calling out.
Toorak and St. Kilda I remember well coming down to play Geelong. There used to be an ardent barracker for Geelong in those days, who went under the name of "Jacky the Rat." When the Toorak of aristocratic Melbourne came down to play "Jacky" sang out "'Go it, you toe-rags," meaning Toorak. The name always stuck to them.
Reverting to the players, Norrey Atkins was the boys' favorite. One day I remember him being carried off the ground. He had a peculiar though very dangerous style of upsetting a player. He would chase a man, and instead of a waist or neck hold, he would throw himself at his legs, and trip him that way. There were not so many accidents in the field in these days as now. The game was slower, though we had some very fast players in those days.
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Arthur Ricketts, of the Barwon, was our champion runner. Harry Sharpe and Harry Steedman (a clever little player) could also run pretty fast. Never shall I forgot the duel between Geo. Watson and Geo. Coulthard, tho two best ruck men I have ever seen. I recollect Coulthard saying, "Look at his hair; it is standing up like mine." After Watson went out of the ruck, Val. Pearson - Hackenschmidt Clark, of Carlton, was a good double for him - took on Coulthard, and gave him all he wanted. Coulthard said after the match that he had never felt so sore in his life.
Mr. Andrews mentions about the ground being ploughed up at Aberdeen-street, where Geelong played. He forgot to mention that the boys - the East End as we called ourselves - levelled it again, and the Geelong players gave us a football as a recompense for our labors. We did it out of practical sympathy. Not long afterwards Geelong went to play on the present ground. A big wooden shed was the first grand-stand. It was situated where the south goals are now. It would seat about as many as the present Grammar School pavilion.
Amongst the best players then were Timmy and Billy Wilson (Billy was the best hurdle racer in Geelong and district), Sandilands and Curdie (a great goal-kicker).
I think the best ruck I have ever seen was "Bantam" Collins, Bill Murphy and Harry Steedman. How that team excelled in the pacing business! The ball used to fly round the grandstand wing. I stood by our friend Bill Murphy one day lately on the oval. The old fire is in his eves yet. I remember how his eyes used to flash when he sang out, "Why don't you play together. Geelong?"
Coming to Dave Hickinbotham's time, one remembers how he used to kick off from the centre instead of kicking towards his opponent's goal. He would turn half round and kick almost in a line with the centre. Very often a Geelong man would get the ball, and drive it right into tho opponent's stronghold.
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"Jacko" McShane was as good a follower as his brother Joe. "Shilly" McShane used to get most of his marks by pushing a man from behind, which is not allowed now. He made a hero of himself by kicking the winning goal against South Melbourne. No player was cheered more than Phil McShane that day.
I must not lose sight, of our much-esteemed townsman, Professor Searle, an early Geelong trainer. Many a good swimmer and footballer has the professor turned out. I always had a great liking for the professor, because he used to let the boys in at the big gate every Saturday, though he never hunted us in with a strap like he used to in recent years at the baths. I think the Swimming Club and the Geelong Football Club ought to give him a benefit, as no man has done more in bringing out good athletes.
I am sorry Geelong are so low down on the list this year, but if they play together like they used to do in Jimmy Wilson's time, I think they will be higher up on the list next year. I would also join with Mr. Andrews in congratulating H. Young on being elected to the captaincy of the Victorian team - and may his shadow never grow less.
Footnotes
Author: 'Veteran'
Publisher: Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926)
Date: Monday 31 August 1908, page 5
Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14856052...
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