The 1915 VFA Grand final
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+North Melbourne have succeeded in doing what no other club has accomplished since 1893, going through the season without defeat. They beat Brunswick on Saturday in the final game in a manner which left no doubt as to the respective merits of the teams, and the performance stamped them as a particularly good side. An opportunity of seeing the Association champions against a League team will be afforded next Saturday, when North Melbourne will meet St. Kilda for Lady Stanley's Fund on the St. Kilda ground
The attendance was not large, only £144 being taken at the gates, but it was quite worthy the display. It was a day of ceremonies. The Lord Mayor unveiled a tablet in honour of players and committee men who have volunteered; the umpires made a presentation to some of their comrades who have enlisted, and Councillor Clement Davidson (president of the North Melbourne Football Club) handed wristlet watches to several men going to the front. At the conclusion of the game there was a scene of excitement, the North Melbourne team being rapturously hailed as "Champions" their captain, Syd Barker, and vice-captain, Charlie Hardy, being chaired to their dressing room.
The game requires little description, for though Brunswick put up a decent defence in the first quarter, against the wind, they failed to maintain their form, and were well and soundly beaten. The fault which above all others militated against Brunswick was the nonsensical extent to which they used "handball." There must have been some men on the side who hardly ever kicked the ball, preferring to tap it to someone else—as often an opponent as a comrade. Against the wind these tactics were not so fatal, but with the wind they were suicidal.
The wind was fairly strong, and North Melbourne's score of 2 goals (Miles and Hawkins) 6 behinds to 1 point, in the opening quarter, seemed to indicate that Brunswick would make a fight of it. When, however, the teams changed over, despite the wind North Melbourne held their own. The play was often bitter and, Stevenson was cautioned for roughing Hardy. Forcing the ball along the pavilion wing, North Melbourne scored, Dodemaide snapping the goal and later on, Miles snapped another. Towards the end of the quarter Brunswick attacked, but their forwards were weak, and at half time the scores were—North Melbourne, 4 goals 8 behinds, Brunswick 7 behinds.
Whatever fire there had been in the first half was absent after half-time, the Brunswick men seeming to have lost heart. Notable exceptions were Grimster, who never relaxed his efforts in defence of his goal; O'Connor, whose cleverness, pace, and skill on the wing gave him the call over Cornall, Braid, who worked very hard, Sullivan, who followed untiringly, and Chase, who seemed to get more than his share of bumps. Outside them there was little go in the Brunswick team, though Chandler, despite the fact that he was lame, was always working hard, and Walker, with much determination, but little skill, was always in the fray.
During the third quarter Miles, Hawkins, Rawle, Dodemaide, and Hawkins again had scored for North Melbourne before O'Connor and Chase, by clever hand-balling, took the ball from the centre wing to the goal front, and Chase scored amidst derisive cheering.
At three-quarter time the scores were—North Melbourne, 9 goals 9 behinds; Brunswick, 1 goal 7 behinds.
The final term was played in leisurely fashion, each side apparently looking forward to the final bell. Miles and Clarke added goals for North Melbourne before O'Connor and Harker scored for Brunswick, and a very poor game ended.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 11 goals 10 behinds (76 points.
BRUNSWICK: 3 goals 10 behinds (28 points).
As usual, there were many men in North Melbourne colours who were prominent. Evenness has been the characteristic of the team all the season. Barker, Hardy, Rawle, Sheehan, Gardiner, Condon, Cain, and Dodemaide may be mentioned as the best.
For Brunswick, as indicated, Grimster, O'Connor, Braid, Chase, Sullivan are really the only men worth naming, the form of many of the others was not worthy of juniors, and, it may be added, two of the worst on the side were George and Harker, who have been among the leading men in the team all the season.
The best feature of the game was the kicking in of Speakman (North Melbourne) and Gillespie (Brunswick), their place-kicking from the goal line being admirable. Kendall umpired.
Footnotes
Title: Disappointing final game. North Melbourne champions
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic: 1848- 1957)
Date: Monday, 9 August 1915, p.11 (Article)
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