Golding's greats - 1926 Interstate Match: VFL versus SA
For several years after World War One, interstate football matches between the leading states tended to be extremely closely contested. For example, between 1920 and 1925 South Australia and the VFL met one another on ten occasions, with the Vics winning six times and South Australia four. The majority of the games were close. In 1925, for instance, South Australia had scored a hard fought three point win in Adelaide, with the VFL achieving revenge to the tune of 15 points in Melbourne.
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One obvious reason for the closeness of the games was that the widespread recruitment by VFL clubs of the best players from other states had yet to commence. Most players in the respective state teams were either home grown, or, in the case of South Australia, recruited from the extremely strong Broken Hill competition just across the New South Wales border. The Victorians, too, tended to recruit fairly extensively from New South Wales, particularly from the Riverina region, while their competition also boasted a considerable number of players of Tasmanian origin, including one of the best performers in this particular game, ‘Horrie’ Mason (right), who had been recruited by St Kilda from North Hobart. However, it would take a severe economic depression to direct the attention of the VFL clubs’ recruiting personnel to the potentially lucrative pickings to be gleaned to the west, in South Australia and, more particularly, across the Nullarbor in the West Australian goldfields region, Perth, and Fremantle.
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The South Australians, as it happened, were themselves captained in this match by a player of West Australian origin in the shape of Sturt full back and captain-coach, Frank Golding (right), whose uniquely memorable story is told on pages 152 and 153 above. Golding was nearing the end of a highly memorable 207 game league career, and later in the 1926 season he would have the satisfaction of steering his club to a 13 point challenge final victory over North Adelaide.
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Captain of the VFL side was Cliff Rankin (left) who, the previous season, had captain-coached Geelong to its first ever VFL flag, albeit that it had previously been premier of the VFA, in the days when that was Victoria’s leading competition, on no fewer than half a dozen occasions. Known within the club as ‘Ticker’, Rankin was one of two sons of former Geelong champion Teddy Rankin to make the grade in the VFL after the Great War. An account of his career can be read here.
Other noteworthy players to take the field for the Vics in this match included the man with arguably the most famous name in football, South Melbourne ruckman Roy Cazaly; the Coventry brothers, Gordon and Syd, both of Collingwood; Essendon’s dashing rover and skipper Frank Maher; the aforementioned ‘Horrie’ Mason, who later in the season would share St Kilda’s best and fairest award with Harold Matthews; clever Collingwood rover-cum-half forward Reg Baker; high-flying North Melbourne, and former Essendon, full back Dave Walsh; and formidable Fitzroy centre half forward Charles Chapman.
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The South Australians boasted three Magarey Medallists in the shape of ‘Horrie’ Riley (Sturt), and the Norwood pair of Walter Scott and Alick Lill (right). The side also included the Broken Hill-born Bruce McGregor of West Adelaide, who would win the 1926-7 Medals, Glenelg’s 1928 Medallist Jim Handby, and Port Adelaide centreman Peter Bampton, runner-up to Lill on a countback in the 1925 count, who would later be awarded a Medal retrospectively.
Contemporary Melbourne match report
Heavy rain fell in the night, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground was sodden and not favorable for good football when the South Australians and Victorians took the field. The sky was overcast, and rain threatened in the afternoon, but fortunately for the players and the public not under cover, dry conditions prevailed.
Moyle (North Adelaide), who was suffering from an injured knee, was replaced by Oliver (South Adelaide) in the South Australian team, and the VFL played the XVIII selected finally on Thursday. For the first half, the play was of a scrambly nature, but with an improved ground, owing to a drying wind, much better play was seen after half time.
To the end of the third quarter scoring had been fairly even, and it seemed that it would be so to the finish, but in the last quarter the visitors wore the home side down and, after dominating the game for most of the period, ran out winners by 11 points. The match was played in fine spirit, and the South Australians were congratulated on their good performance. The attendance was 24,497, and the takings £1,182/12/9.
Big V in control
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A strong breeze across the ground favoured the Victorians in the opening quarter, but within half a minute the South Australians scored a goal, kicked cleverly by South Adelaide’s Ryan (left). Following good marks by Barron (Sturt) and Bent (Norwood) the visitors attacked again, and Karney of West Torrens tried a short pass when he should have gone for goal, and South Melbourne’s Cazaly intercepted the ball. Another drive by South Australia, headed by Lill (Norwood) and Barron, was frustrated when Bent held the ball too long.
McGregor (West Adelaide) was applauded for a wonderful high mark, and Oliver assisted to carry the ball forward. A free kick to Mason (St Kilda), however, saved. Collingwood’s Coventry brothers led an attack for the VFL, and a behind resulted. The players were finding it difficult to handle the greasy ball.
Port Adelaide’s Mucklow sent a nice pass to Ryan, whose effort produced a point. Another try by Ryan, who was fed by Barron, was well taken in the posts by North Melbourne full back Walsh. Handby (Glenelg) was twice conspicuous in relief work before Cazaly kicked a point for the Victorians, and Baker (Collingwood) followed with the home side’s first goal from a free kick.
Handby and Mucklow put the Victorian backs on the defensive, but the ball was returned, and at the other end Golding saved superbly with a brilliant mark in goal. A nice chain of marks from McGregor to Mucklow to Hoffman (Port Adelaide) looked promising, but the effort faded out. Lill and Mason were having some good duels in the centre, with honours even.
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A short pass by Gordon Coventry (right) was taken by Essendon’s Irwin, who ran in and kicked the VFL’s second goal. Coventry himself supplied the third shortly afterwards.
QUARTER TIME: VFL 3.3 (21); South Australia 1.3 (9)
The action hots up
On the resumption, a Victorian attack generated by Mason was driven off by Golding, but the relief was only temporary, for Baker snapped for goal, and the ball went through, Golding being out of his place. South Australia then attacked determinedly. Karney marked well from Barron and a long punt found the opening. Good play by Scrutton (Sturt) ended with a free kick to him, but nothing came of it. Barron and Handby then checked dangerous Victorian attacks before successive marks to Riley (Sturt), McGregor and Bent were cheered by the crowd, but Bent's short pass to Ryan went astray and a good chance for goal was lost.
The Victorians, led by Cazaly, Mason and Baker put the visitors on the defensive, but Riley, Barron, Chaplin (West Adelaide) and Osborn (West Torrens) gave relief. Bent's try went behind, and Ryan, seizing the ball from a faulty kick-in, drove it through for the South Australians' third goal. Lill then forwarded to Bent, who passed to Ryan. The ball went again to Bent, but he kicked into the man on his mark. Oliver for South Australia and Walsh for the VFL marked superbly before Chaplin tried a pass to Lill, but Mason took the ball and drove it out of danger.
The South Australians were showing some fine handball while the Victorians were at times throwing the ball, and being penalised for it. Ryan was illegally dragged down close in, but kicked across the goal. McGregor brought down a capital mark, but drove the ball out of bounds near the posts. Handby was conspicuous for a mark over Cazaly, and Lill took the ball well over Mason. Walsh, however, was a tower of strength at full back for the Victorians, and repeatedly saved.
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Barron received a well-deserved free kick, and from the centre of the ground forwarded to Bent, who kicked his side's fourth goal. Almost in a flash, the ball was rushed to the other end, where Fitzroy's Millen drove it through. Karney (left), Scrutton, Lill and Ryan then took part in a South Australian riposte which yielded only a point. It was, however, followed by a goal by Bent, who snapped the ball through. A flying mark by McGregor and another by Lill were warmly applauded. Oliver, from a few yards out, missed an easy goal, and just before the interval the home side made the visitors pay thanks to a goal by Chapman of Fitzroy.
HALF TIME: VFL 6.10 (46); South Australia 5.4 (34)
SA on top
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After the long interval, Golding sent Bampton of Port Adelaide to the centre, and placed Lill forward on firmer ground. This change turned the tide in South Australia's favour, with Lill's forward work being most effective. Immediately on resumption the visitors attacked, with Scrutton and Barron standing out. Ryan and Bent scored points, before Ryan followed up with a goal from a clever snap. Oliver came through a crush well, and Handby (right) was cheered for a fine play along the wing. Scrutton followed a nice run by passing to Barron, who sent the ball on to Oliver, who forwarded to Bent, and a capital goal gave the visitors a one point advantage. Barron with a quick snap shortly afterwards increased the lead to seven points.
The Norwood pair of Scott and Lill pressed an attack on the Victorian goal, but Walsh saved almost on the goal line. A magnificent mark by Riley was cheered, but his shot was short. A bad kick, following a grand mark by Hoffman, let the Victorians in for a goal kicked by Maher of Essendon from a hurried snap. Barron came through with great dash, but kicked badly. An indifferent kick by Ryan was taken by Karney in front, and he added a goal. Lill then took a flying mark, and passed to Riley, who scored a point.
The game was much faster now, with the South Australians playing the better football. A chain of marks from Scott to Hoffman to Scrutton to Bent yielded another goal. The visitors were attacking strongly when three quarter time arrived.
THREE QUARTER TIME: South Australia 9.9 (63); VFL 8.14 (62)
Croweaters home and dry
The final term was played in the dusk, and it was difficult to distinguish between the players. Lock (North Adelaide), McGregor and Barron were in the ruck for South Australia and they dominated the game. Barron had an early shot for goal, but Walsh relieved with a fine mark. South Australia attacked again, but a free kick gave timely aid to the Victorians. The home side was battling hard, but was unable to get past the centre line, where Lill, playing superbly, pulled down a magnificent mark, and sent a fine long kick towards goal, only for Walsh to relive yet again.
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The Victorians threw all of their weight into the game, and Millar of Richmond snapped a point. Shortly afterwards, Oliver was awarded a free, and scored a goal with a great drop kick. A free kick from McGregor fell in front of the posts, but Bent collected, and scored another clever goal. Mason, Cazaly (left) and Maher then led a Victorian attack, and Baker snapped a goal. South Australia responded and Lill kicked a beautiful goal from fifty yards out. Before play ended, Gordon Coventry snapped a consolation goal for the Victorians, his third of the match.
The South Australians won because they handled the heavy ground conditions and slippery ball better than their opponents. They also had the most potent forward on view in Bent, and the most skilful all round performer in his Norwood team mate Lill. For the Victorians, Mason, Baker and Maher (right) gave strong, four quarter performances, while full back Walsh, despite finding his direct opponent Bent too elusive at times, saved numerous goals thanks to his great anticipation.
FINAL SCORE: South Australia 13.10 (88); VFL 10.17 (77)
GOALS
South Australia: Bent 6, Ryan 3, Karney 2, Lill, Oliver
VFL: G.Coventry 3, Baker 2, Cazaly, Chapman, Irwin, Maher, Millar
BEST
South Australia: Bent, Lill, Oliver, Handby, Golding, Ryan, Barron, Hoffman
VFL: Mason, Maher, Baker, Walsh, Irwin, Cazaly, Millar
CROWD: 24,497 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
The aftermath
The evenness in playing standard across the major football states was emphasised over the remainder of the 1926 season. First, South Australia scored a 17 point win over a wayward Western Australia in Adelaide. Then, several weeks later in Perth, the West Australians found their kicking boots in no uncertain terms as they overcame the Victorian challenge by three points, despite only managing 14 scoring shots to 21. On their way home, the Victorians thrashed a hapless South Australia by 52 points on an Adelaide Oval quagmire, and then, to round things off, Western Australia reversed its earlier result against the South Australians, winning comfortably in Perth by 50 points.
Golding’s men’s triumph in Melbourne was the fourth time that South Australia had won there, and the second since the resumption of football after World War One. However, it would be another thirty-seven years before a Big V team again lowered its colours to a visiting side from across the border.
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