The Dogs triumph in 1954
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1954 Premiership won decisively
Doubling Melbourne's score, Footscray took its first League premiership by winning the 1954 grand final at the M.C.G. on Saturday. The score was 15.12 (102) to 7.9 (51).
Footscray left nothing to chance and held mastery from start to finish. Fierce determination and even team-work proved decisively that the Bulldogs are well worthy of the season's honors. Melbourne failed because on the day, it met players who held an edge in ability in most parts of the ground. Only once were the Demons able to issue some sort of a challenge to the superior might of the Bulldogs. This was in the second term—but when that energy-sapping effort failed to bring forth needed results, the Demons proved easy prey to the fresher, fitter and better equipped Footscray.
No one can begrudge Footscray a richly deserved triumph. Ever since the inspiring Charlie Sutton took over as coach, Footscray has been building towards this end. Before Sutton, Footscray had several times made a run at the finals, but always lacked that deadliness of purpose to finish off the efforts.
Big future
Working untiringly and enthusiastically on the young players as they have matured, Sutton has been able to convince his men that they have the ability to perform football deeds with completeness. , As well as that, the experience of reaching and playing in the finals last year has stood behind the players in building up confidence. Now the time has come when Footscray has banded together the best football combination ever to represent the district.
Being so well furnished with youth, yet possessed of well-established experience, Footscray—with a large and ever-growing area to call on for players—now seems destined to become a league football power for many years. The success of power teams in football is built around talented goal-to-goal lines, strong dominating rucks and clever and incisive roving. The more support that can be given that structure by cleverness from the flanks, the greater the capacity of the team. Footscray had all those assets on Saturday against Melbourne, and used them with purpose and persistency.
Early burst
A crowd of 82,697 watched the grand final. Such was the intensity of purpose behind the Bulldogs' play that, after Noel Clarke—the Melbourne full-forward had scored the opening goal from a good kick, Footscray for the rest of the quarter kicked 6.1 to Melbourne's 3 points. And all that scoring was piled on against the wind, with football of a match-winning quality that nonplussed Melbourne.
In that dazzling first quarter display, full forward Jack Collins demonstrated the value a great full forward is to a team. He kicked three goals. Melbourne full-back Lance Arnold held Collins fairly well after that, but by then the damage had been done. The drive that smashed the resistance of the Melbourne defence sprang from the ruck-work of Stevens and Edwards, the roving of Kerr, the wing play of McCarthy, the cleverness at centre half-forward of Box, and the dominancy of Ross in the centre.
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Six behind
Before Melbourne could get into stride, Collins, receiving a pass from Kerr, goaled again to leave Melbourne trailing by six goals. Then, until Lance Arnold in defence made a mistake to allow Charlie Sutton in for an easy goal that steadied the Bulldogs, the Demons had Footscray under pressure. Cordner got on top in the ruck, McLean became a factor with his wing play, Barassi was a driving force and the two rovers, Albiston and Spencer, were frequently under notice. Melbourne called on both Case and Williams to run on the ball to build up momentum at this stage. But Melbourne was never able to take the offensive after half time.
The Demons tried to maintain pace by continuing the policy of using reliefs in Barassi, Case, Williams and Johnson with Cordner—but without effect. Case and Williams tired with the extra exertions demanded of them. Cordner, left on the ball for the whole of the second half, became a weary and defensive player.
Sutton proves worth
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Left ▼As the pace of the game died, Sutton's weight and strength told up forward for the Bulldogs. His two majors, won by grit and strength, left Melbourne trailing by six goals at the last change. Desperation changes, in which McGivern and Clark changed places in attack, Mithen took over the centre from Melville, and Lane went to a half-forward flank, were rung by Melbourne. The Demons, though, had too many weaknesses to gather force enough to constitute any sort of threat.
As the pace of the game died, Sutton's weight and strength told up forward for the Bulldogs. His two majors, won by grit and strength, left Melbourne trailing by six goals at the last change. Desperation changes, in which McGivern and Clark changed places in attack, Mithen took over the centre from Melville, and Lane went to a half-forward flank, were rung by Melbourne. The Demons, though, had too many weaknesses to gather force enough to constitute any sort of threat.
Footscray, on the other hand, was able to attack from the rucks, the rovers or straight down the centre through its goal-to-goal line. The combined power and strength of four tall and husky followers in Stevens, Edwards, Gilmore and Bryden never allowed Cordner to call the tune on behalf of Melbourne. Besides that, those Footscray ruckmen were prominent in the air to pull down marks that gave respite or helped to initiate attacks. Ross, too strong for Melville, lent aid to those followers around the centre. With the help of Reynolds, who outpointed Lane on the wing, he gave Footscray the advantage of a winning centre line.
Disciplined
Centre half-forward Peter Box had little on Melbourne's Noel McMahen, who fought against obvious soreness and pain. But the play of Box helped consolidate a successful forward line that was notable for its discipline. Every forward played to his position. When opportunity presented itself, he did his best to develop and cultivate the brilliant full-forward. As a rover, Kerr, Footscray's most improved player, was Melbourne's greatest menace. He was always doing something concrete. Melbourne's direct road to goals was barred by the dash and marking ability of Whitten at centre half-back, who completely overshadowed McGivern. When Whitten was passed, Melbourne was blunted by the steady and often brilliant marking of Bryden—too strong for Johnson—or Henderson.
Key gaps
Because it fell down in key positions, where it either dominated or controlled play against Geelong, Melbourne did not look the same side this week. The gaps left in the centre and at centre half-forward forced the Demons into attacking flank movements, but these were without weight of numbers or real penetration. Noel Clarke's only worthwhile feeders were the play of Laurie Mithen at half-forward and the prospects opened up by Ian McLean, who finished up with a balance of power over Ron McCarthy.
As a combination, Cordner and Barassi battled out the day in the ruck. The Demons, however, fell down for the want of solid relief followers. Melbourne's half-back line of Collins, McMahen and Williams never gave up under pressure. It was never, though, as consistent nor as dashing as that of Footscray. Arnold, at full-back, worked hard, but could not prevent Collins from kicking seven goals. Though they failed to extend Footscray in the way that was hoped for, the Demons need not be disheartened. Taken over the whole season, they have done extremely well.
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Footscray: 6.3, 8.5, 12.9, 15.12 (102)
Melbourne: 1.4, 4.6, 6.7, 7.9 (51)
Goals—FOOTSCRAY: Collins. 7, Sutton 3, Kerr, Stevens, Duffy, Reynolds, Stockman. MELBOURNE: Clarke, Barassi, Spencer, Mithen, McLean, Johnson, Albiston.
Best—FOOTSCRAY: Kerr, Bryden, Ross, Collins, Whitten, Reynolds. MELBOURNE: Cordner, Collins, Barassi, Mithen, McLean, Albiston.
Free kicks (Melbourne): 13, 10, 4, 3 (Total=29)
Free kicks (Footscray): 11, 8, 4, 4 (Total=27)
Marks (Footscray): 15, 10, 23, 20 (Total=68)
Marks (Melbourne): 11, 11, 13, 17 (Total=52)
Replacements: Lane (Melbourne), cramp, by Dixon; Barassi, cramp, by Adams.
Attendance: 80,897; Receipts, £12,103 8/5.
Umpire: McMurray.
Final stars
JOHN KERR (Footscray): Constantly initiating attacks through clever roving, John Kerr was a telling factor in the Footscray attacking play all day. Kerr showed splendid judgment with baffling balks and twisting turns to weave out of trouble. He never failed to finish off his work with effective disposal.
DENIS CORDNER (Melbourne): Against superior forces, Denis Cordner battled hard all day to try and hold together Melbourne's beaten rucks. In the last half he played through without leaving the ball for a rest. It was his safe marking and determined ruck play that allowed Melbourne to stage some kind of a revival in the second quarter.
Big Pay-out to bulldogs
Between £3000 and £4000 will be paid to Footscray players when the final payment for the 1954 season is made on Wednesday night. Weekly payments to players held over for the season, donations and money pooled to recognise the feat of the team in getting into the four, then going on to win the club's first premiership, have built up the big payout. Many of the club's players have drawn sparingly on their match payments for the season.
The pooled money could amount to hundreds of pounds. Three separate £100 donations have been made and several of £50. After a week of celebrations a party of 67 players and officials, will visit Sydney. Part of the celebrations, will be the showing of a film of the grand final taken by Mr Les Barlow.
£16 a match
Melbourne players in all three final games will receive about £16 for each match. This will be apart from club and League provident fund money. All players on the senior list will share in the money that has been donated by supporters to mark the club's appearance in the finals. Players will be paid on Wednesday night when the committee will meet to select the club's best and fairest player for the season. Centreman Ken Melville, who received a badly bruised thigh early in the grand final, will not be able to play for Melbourne next Saturday against a combined Wangaratta team.
Crowd forces end of Footscray celebration
The uncontrollable enthusiasm of a milling crowd of 20,000 people forced the abandonment of Footscray's premiership celebrations amid wild scenes at the Footscray football oval on Saturday night.
Climax of a day of history-making football came when, under the onslaught of surging crowds, the Footscray pavilion doors were battered down and people streamed into the dressing-rooms. Club officials heeded the advice of police, who cautioned against the serving of liquor, or refreshments which were at the ground for players, committeemen and guests.
Although the celebrations were abandoned about midnight it was 2 a.m. yesterday before the last of the crowd left the oval. Some officials and players were unable to push through the crush outside the pavilion doors for the celebration and returned to their homes.
Noisy welcome
Earlier in the night a cheering crowd waving mascots, flags and coloured bunting, created a carnival atmosphere outside the Footscray town hall. A roar of cheering greeted the appearance on the dais of Footscray’s captain-coach, Charlie Sutton. Failure of the public address system meant that only those fortunate to be in the front rows of the crowd heard the introduction of each player to Footscray's mayor (Cr. F. L. Peart).
M.C.G. crush
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At the M.C.G. in the afternoon police relieved a serious crush in front of the outer scoreboard by seating thousands inside the boundary line. Several hardy souls jumped the fence as early as 12.45 pm, but were escorted from the ground by police. By 1.45 pm ambulance men and police were kept busy attending to fainting cases.
The sympathy of the fans obviously lay with Footscray. When the teams were due to run out at 2.30 pm there were about 60 people in front of Footscray's race, while two photographers had sole occupancy at the exit from Melbourne's room. The roar which greeted the teams was easily greatest when Footscray took the field.
And when the final siren sounded with Footscray victorious an irresistable wave of people swept forward and carried Charlie Sutton and full-forward Jack Collins from the ground. Outer gates were closed at 2.30 p.m. when 80,897 people had gained admittance. Not to be denied a glimpse of the game several boys and men climbed trees immediately outside the ground and had "grandstand" seats.
Footnotes
Title: Melbourne outplayed by Footscray
Author: Percy Beams
Publisher: The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, 1854-1954)
Date: Monday, 27 September 1954, p.18 (Article)
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