Australian Football

Some famous footballers from 1858 to 1900

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I was a very little lad when H. C. A. Harrison (right), T. S. Marshall, and a dozen or more other vigorous young athletes (amongst whom figured, as I have been told, the lamented Mr. T. W. Wills, afterwards famous in the cricket world), met by arrangement in the Richmond-paddock one winter afternoon just half a century ago, and set the ball a-rolling. It was, however, very few years later when I grew old enough to appreciate the pleasure of participating in the manly and health and strength giving sport, and old enough to note and to admire the men who played the game.

Concerning the illustrious H.C.A. himself, and his prowess in the field, much might be said, and all of it commendatory. He was the mightiest warrior of his day. When he headed a charge, his pace, his weight, his pluck, and his power seemed irresistible. I have seen him in the early popularity of the game, leading old Melbourne against old Carlton, on the historic convincing ground outside the M.C.C. reserve; and I have observed, times out of number, the fire, the forcefulness, and the tact with which he has repelled the fiercest onslaughts on his citadel. On these occasions his flashing eye, as much as his fine physique, awed and overwhelmed his adversaries.

His followers worshipped him, and his opponents in the field learned to appreciate, not alone his fine physical gifts, but his genial qualities of mind as well, and, above all, his absolutely stainless sportsmanship. May the coming carnival afford him all the pleasure his unequalled service to the game has deserved and may he be spared many more years to watch and help its further advancement.

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Tom Wills

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Those early days furnished heroes galore to help the sport along and the rough paddock at Richmond was not its only home. The start was made at the spot I have indicated, but even in the same year football was played with spirit and greatly enjoyed at Emerald Hill by "Mat" Ryan, who is still an ardent well wisher to the game, and a regular attendant at its matches. Last week I met him with W. W. Gaggin at East Melbourne, and both grew eloquent in praise of the football that was being played by Seward for University. "W.W." had much to say, too, concerning football in the old, old days, when South Yarra won the cup from Melbourne; for they fought for something more than love even when H.C.A was young.

Gaggin himself played for several years, and made a reputation that he subsequently enhanced in the gentler field of cricket. From him I learned that Morell was the most famous footballer South Yarra owned, notwithstanding that W. J. Greig, Dutton Budd, and his brother H.H. were clinkers in the southern team. And speaking of Harrison, my friend W.W. told me he once saw James Horan, on elder brother of Tom's, effectually stop a dash of the great master by ducking nas the latter spring at him with the ball. This must have been the earliest case of "rabbiting" in the history of the sport. "Mat " Ryan tells me he captained Albert-park for a year, and was succeeded by the Rev. A. Blown, who is still fond of looking at the game.

Migratory players have apparently been a trouble from the first, for I read, amongst the rules of the cup competition, already mentioned, "that no player shall take the field for more than two clubs during the season." Two would seem, in the light of recent developments, rather a liberal allowance. The files of "The Australasian" become a bit perplexing when one is trying to fix upon the club to which an old celebrity belonged. They were nearer to Magna Charta in those days and permitted much more individual liberty than obtains under the present regime.

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Mr. Harrison played on in the seventies, when he had for association many splendid fellows, including F. H. Bruford, now commissioner of audit; "Billy" Freeman, a champion sprinter; J. Horan, who also played for Carlton, and "Larry" Bell, a player of magnificent proportions. Later on Melbourne was led by Lamrock, and after by "Bob" Sillett (right); and T. Horan, subsequently famous in international cricket, and now "Felix" in more than one sense amongst cricket writers; "Jack" Bennie, who ran terrible risks, inasmuch as he played in spectacles; "Toppy" Longden, the cleverest of dodgers, and Angus Cumming, a bright little goal-getter, were conspicuous members.

Melbourne's strength was always fully tested about this period, and for decades after, when they faced Carlton, whose early honour roll includes names that are by no means yet forgotten. Donovan, a champion in his day; Harry Guy, than whom a neater or faster runner with the ball the game has scarce produced; W. Lacey the follower who had no peer, when "Sam" Wallace, the mighty was there to shield him; "Billy" Dedman, who could kick goals that would amaze a modern spectator; "Lanty" O'Brien, who did nothing but punt long before punting became fashionable; and Alf McMichael, a man full of football and full of grit, who followed till he dropped in his tracks.

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The last named settled down in Adelaide for a while, and with Joe Traynor a fine player from Hotham, "Topsey" Waldron (left) from Carlton, Harry Thurgurland, from Hotham; and J. Bushby from Ballarat, gave the game fresh impetus in the neighbouring capital. Harry Nudd was Carlton's finest drop-kick in the days I write of; and George Browning rivalled him a few years later. There was Billy Newing, too, a rattling little forward, and George Smith, who never said "die" is a follower. The last named his a very worthy successor to-day in his son, D. Smith of Essendon.

George Coulthard looms large in the football records of the eighties, when he was for years the best all-round player of Carlton. He could not be misplaced. His clever handling, his pace, his expertness in dodging, his sureness in the air and his masterful kicking were items that proved invaluable to his team. He was the brightest star in a galaxy, such as does not, even to-day, shed its effulgent beams on Carlton.

Take Jack Baker, for example. Where is the present dark blue warrior that can compare with him in his prime? And he was in his prime when he played with Coulthard. A graceful, breezy player, who carried the ball along with a rhythm that moved like music. How smoothly he glided past opponents, and how surely did he pick his man and kick to him? Jack was the best player that ever came away from Geelong, where, as a junior, he played with Charley Brownlow, the Geelong club's capable and popular secretary, and J. J. Trait, in whom during many later years the game possessed admittedly the best umpire that ever entered the field. The "Prince of Umpires" was the title earned by, and universally accorded to him. He was the only umpire who made it a rule to refrain from giving a free kick when giving it meant a disadvantage to the injured side, and he was the one umpire who, after a match, could tell you how it was played, who played well, and all about it.

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Jack Trait had what no umpire before or since his day has had – a perfect genius for the position. Coulthard (right) had to compete for championship against Baker, against Harry Wilson, a player of Baker's stamp exactly, and one who in '81 was at his top. He had also as friendly rivals and comrades George Cook, W. Goer (who, with Coulthard, helped to plant the game in Sydney), Watling, C. and A. Coulson, Loriame, and Strickland (afterwards captain and chief adviser of Collingwood), who were infants when he took to nurturing and developing them.

Ballarat has done its share in building up the game of football, as it has done much more than its share in raising the financial status of the country. It has trained and sent down to the metropolis great numbers of players, who have played leading parts in securing for the game the popularity and patronage that are today its proudest boast. Probably no one will question the statement that of all the men that have come from Ballarat Peter Burns has been by far the best. His years of masterful service at South Melbourne, where he was always head and shoulders over his associates, made him the idol of the Hill; nor did he forfeit the affection, admiration, or respect of his Southern associates of the district when business transplanted him to Geelong, to the great job and gain of the residents and players of that nursery for footballers. Ballarat furnished South Melbourne with other cracks besides Burns.

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D. McKay, a gifted all-round performer, and Harry Purdy (left), who was one of the best for years, likewise hailed from the golden city. South had a great side when these were in their zenith along with Windley (who has hardly yet stopped playing), poor M. Minchin, who practically died in harness; Jimmy Young, "the diddler;" Elms, the best skipper South has ever known; Latchford, the expert goal-getter, who, it was said, could, from his door-step in Clarendon-street, drop-kick a ball straight into the glass top of the lamp across the way. There probably never was a "downier" or more skilful artist with the ball than Hannaysee, who, with another talented player, came to South about this time from Port Melbourne. There was P. Harper, too, and there were several others nearly as good who helped to make South Melbourne invincible.

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Dick Condon

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Sam Bloomfield captained Carlton, and was the old club's sturdiest ruck man for quite a time. He was a sportsman in the truest sense. No one ever knew him to do a mean act on or off the field, and his comrades placed thorough reliance on his judgment and discretion in emergencies. With him was associated George Robertson, a player blessed with magnificent physical development, remarkable activity for a burly man, and limitless staying power. It was during George's connection with the club that it had to contend against disadvantages in the matter of a playing-ground. George was, and I fancy, still is, a fine judge of a player, but he always had a prejudice against narrow-chested men. He would not have a weed like Condon on his mind; and Condon, as everyone knows, was Collingwood's, and almost Victoria's, champion for years. There was something of Julius Ceaser about the old Carlton skipper. He wanted fat (well-built) men about him.

Geelong, in the early eighties, was on the crest of the wave gaining premiership after premiership, and teaching the footballers of the metropolis the best lesson they have often been taught, namely, the true value of organisation. Such system as they developed had not previously been dreamt of in Melbourne, and the consequence was that for years they swept the board. They were the first, club that really reduced football to a science and, though they went down badly in 1889, and have never fairly recovered since, they are still held in the highest esteem by the great bulk of the unattached public, who would be glad to see them once again at the top.

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James Wilson (left) captained them through several of their prosperous years, and it was his superb all-round play, as much as his skill as director-general, that helped towards the continuance of their prosperity. He had with and under him a host of talent, including Steedman, Austin, Hall, and later Dave Higginbotham (who himself developed uncommon capacity for generalship), George Watson (between whom and Coulthard, of Carlton, I have witnessed many stubborn tussles); Hugh McLean, a great performer; Phil McShane, the finest marksman of his day, and Tom Parkin, than whom very few better followers have ever been seen.

Fitzroy, though its career has been a short one compared with Melbourne and Carlton's, can boast of having furnished its quota towards popularising football. First there was P. G. McShane who had previously played with Donald MacDonald out Essendon way, and who could run like a hare, and take the ball along with him, however fast he ran. Next came a contingent of lads who had learned to play at Maryborough, and by whom the whole aspect of things at Fitzroy was speedily improved. These very valuable newcomers were J. Worrall, Tom Banks and Con Hickey, who deserve well of Fitzroy for what they have done for it. Worrall, in his best day, had the art of roving perfected. Indeed, it is a moot point whether any champion, before or since his time, excelled him as an all-round player. He has given the game his chief attention during the winter months ever since he began at Fitzroy, and has acquired such judgment in the picking and coaching of players that he has in a few years raised Carlton from the dust to the skies, and kept her there.

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Both Banks and Hickey (right) were great players for years in the ranks and as leaders of Fitzroy and both are still invaluable members of the club's executive and of the V.F.L. council. Mr. Hickey holds the very honourable position of president of the Australasian Football Council, a position which no man in or out of the Commonwealth is more fitted to occupy. Fitzroy has been fortunate in having the services of this illustrious trio and they have been further blessed with most skilful and successful members in Cleary, who migrated from Ballarat, Melling, Jim Grace, Rappiport, McSpeerin, Sam McMichael, and Percy Trotter. The last named was for some seasons meteoric in his movements forward.

Essendon's period of greatest prosperity was that in which Thurgood was at his top, and won for years in succession the title to the championship. A champion he was most emphatically, for he could do what no other footballer ever did in Melbourne. I have seen him, when his side wanted three goals and had five minutes to play, leave his post up forward, go into the ruck, and carry the whole game on his back with such marvelous success that he has made his own opportunities, and practically, by his own unaided acts gained the goals necessary to win the match. This he did against Melbourne, in the presence of an immense crowd, every man, and nearly every woman, amongst whom cheered him to the echo.

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There were more swallows than one to make glorious summer for Essendon in Thurgood's day. Here are few names that should awaken delightful recollections. Alex Dick, the best captain of his or any day, Gus Keaney, Col Campbell, Ned Officer (left), George Stuckey, Finlay, Forbes, and Barney Grecian. Prior to the days of Thurgood there were men of mark in red and black jerseys, and of them I can recall without difficulty Ned Powell, W. Fleming, C. Pearson, Dave Aitken, F. and W. Hughes, S. Angwin, Jack Mouritz, W. Meader, and the original "Joker" Hall.

To Tasmania belongs the honour of having produced the first artist amongst Melbournes cracks of fairly recent years. In Fred McGinis the club was blessed with a born footballer. I remember seeing him make his first appearance in the Melbourne team when he astonished and charmed me with his display. He simply dropped into his place as it he was made for it. He picked his men like one who had played with them for years and he was the personification of cool cleverness and resource. And all that he showed himself on that first day, he remained up to the time when, unfortunately, his light went out literally, and he could no longer see to play. The pick of the men he played with, whilst in Melbourne, comprised H. Fry, Lewis, P. O’Dea, Christy, Moody, Moysey, and Dick Wardill.

In this rapid review of times past I have neglected to mention hundreds whose names were household words in their respective days and very sorry have I been to leave them out. Even at jubilee time footballers must not expect to have the paper entirely given over to chronicling their achievements.