McGinis' benefit match: VFL vs VFA
Ever since the parting of the ways which led to the eight leading clubs seceding from the Victorian Football Association and forming the Victorian Football league, the delegates forming the parent body have been anxious to measure strides with their more successful brethren.
All their advances were however, rejected until recently the calamity which befell one of the leading players of Victoria - Fred McGinis, of the Melbourne team - made common cause with the two bodies, and yesterday the first game between teams representing the league and the association met on M.C.C ground.
The whole of the funds are to be devoted to the fund which it is expected will benefit to the extent of £200. There were about 7,000 people present and £166 was taken at the gates, a further sum of £13 being collected round the ground The M.C.C executive headed the subscription-list, which was started with a donation of £50 and yesterday morning Mr. W.H. Gill, the secretary of the Southern Tasmanian Association arrived with another cheque for £50, including the proceeds of yesterday's game and the private subscriptions which have been collected it is expected the fund will reach nearly £500.
McGinis, who is an ex-Tasmanian, has for the last eight years been in the front rank of Victorian footballers and has by his manly bearing, both on and off the field, become deservedly popular. Early this year his eyesight began to fail until at the present time he almost blind.
The match yesterday was won by the league by 9 goals 17 behinds to 4 goals 3 behinds. It was a good game to watch and it was most interesting to notice the different styles. The association team, entering into the game with more dash than their opponents showed absolutely no system and though for half the game they made a a bold bid for victory the leaguers, playing a cooler and more concerted game were too clever and too scientific for them.
In dash, marking, and running with the ball the association men were equal if not superior to their opponents but they failed to make use of their opportunities. Their hand-ball was feeble, and their short passing inaccurate. Up till half time the association men held their own but after the interval selfishness and club exclusiveness were too strongly in evidence to enable them to succeed. One thing the game did if it has done nothing else it showed people that the association players are not second rate men and it proved that there are many fine footballers outside the league ranks. The experience gained by the association men should prove of value to them and improve their football.
The best player on the ground was Marmo, the old Geelong man who played a fine game at halfback. Noonan, beside him, played good football and showed strong pace. Knox, Harris, and Sweatman were also prominent in defence. Keenan on one wing began by beating Pannam badly in the first quarter but as the game proceeded Pannam made up his leeway and at the end Keenan was outplayed.
Londerigan on the other wing, was the fastest man in the game his runs and dashes being very telling. Backhouse, in the centre, did a lot of solid work, with, perhaps, a tendency to appeal too much for free kicks. Carkeek, the rover, was always in evidence, but he spoilt an otherwise fine performance by the desire to play the whole of the opposing side by himself. McNair and Rooke both worked hard in the ruck in the first half, and Sicily, Clements and Leeds were also frequently under notice in the second half.
Nearly every man on the league side did well, but special mention should be made of Monohan's fine high-marking Condon's cool and clever roving, Thurgood's strong marking and kicking - he scored four times - Baker's cleverness in front of goal - he got 2 goals - and the generally good work of Sandford, Herring, Bowe, and Rowell.
Waters, of the Association and Crapp, of the League divided the umpiring between them and here again there were strong contrasts. Waters, in his quiet, unobtrusive way, dealt with the first half of the game excellently, and through he allowed a good deal of pushing and holding did very well. Crapp, with his loud declaration of the offence which he penalised, his word of warning to a player in the ruck, "Keep that leg quiet," or his refusal to be bluffed by a player, and his admonition, "Go on; there's nothing there," has the confidence of players and publie alike. He did good work, and it is a feather in the cap of Waters that at the end opinions were divided as to which had done the better work.
During the game Gavin (League) and Williams (Association) collided, and had to leave the field with their heads cut and bleeding. In the last quarter Beecham (league) was hurt, had to be carried off the ground. McCormack and Hince filled the places of the first, two, but no substitute came out for Beecham.
At the conclusion of the game both teams were entertained by the M.C.C. and Mr. H. C. A. Harrison, on behalf of the M.C.C. and the league, congratulated the association team on the game played. Mr. G. W. S. Dean responded, and three cheers were given for the M.C.C.
The following are the scores:
League: 1.3.9 2.6.18 6.11.47 9.17.71
Association: 0.3.3 2.3.15 3.3.21 4.3.27
Footnotes
Title: McGinis benefit match: League vs. Association. Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria, 1848 1956) Date: Friday, 5 September, 1902, p.8 (Article) Author: Old Boy Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/9069599
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