Australian Football

VFL Grand Final — Geelong defeats Richmond — Well-merited success

Strong, forceful contest — More than 60,000 onlookers

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Geelong won its second premiership of the Victorian Football League on the Melbourne Cricket ground on Saturday by defeating Richmond by 9 goals 14 behinds to 7 goals 6 behinds. An assemblage of 60,712 spectators, who contributed £3,110 3/3 at the turnstiles, watched a very hard, desperate encounter, in which the pace and vigour were extraordinary, but the football generally was not of the highest class. This is not unusual in grand finals, the intensity of the play and the keenness of the teams preventing a display of many of the finer points of the game. There were nevertheless many brilliant passages, and the crowd at times reached a high pitch of excitement.

Although Geelong has won the premiership only twice since the inception of the League in 1897, it had a splendid record in the Association. From 1878 to 1886 inclusive Geelong held the premiership seven times in nine seasons, and the team was almost invincible. Among its more famous players are many whose names are remembered as among the champions.

Despite the difficulties under which Geelong labours principally the handicap of having to travel to Melbourne so often, the club has always provided teams worthy of measuring strides with the best metropolitan clubs. Its record of games won and lost and of sportsmanship is not excelled by any other club. Geelong ranks next to Melbourne as the oldest football club in Victoria having been established in 1859. In all its history Geelong has upheld the best traditions of sport, and its success are always highly popular.

There was tremendous enthusiasm when the Geelong returned home on Saturday evening. Long before the train on which the team was travelling was due at the Geelong station, the platform was packed with a dense mass of people. About 5,000 persons gathered outside the station entrance. Music was provided by St. Augustine's Boys' Band, crackers were exploded, and there was loud cheering. The more demonstrative members of the crowd sought to lift each player shoulder high, but no single player received more attention than J. Carney.

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With great difficulty the players followed the band to the City Hall, where about 7,000 persons had gathered. The mayor (Councillor Hearne), on behalf of the citizens, congratulated the team. Mr. M. Jacobs, president of the club, thanked the mayor. Messrs. E. Baker, C. Clymo (left), and I. More also spoke. The mayor entertained players, committee, trainers, and many leading citizens at a supper party at the A.B.C. Cafe and read many messages of congratulation.

Mr. Jacobs said that at times the question was raised as to whether it was costing too much for Geelong to remain a member of the League, but judging by the demonstration of welcome, he felt that members did not care what it cost. Others who congratulated the team were Dr. E. J. Piper, president in 1925; Senator Guthrie, Messrs. Brownhill and Maltby, M.L.A.'s, Mr. J. McDonald. and Messrs. A. H. Bowman, J. Conway. N. Freeman, and J. Solomon, and the Rev. J. H. Raverty.

Veterans and Visitors

It was interesting to see the number of old Geelong captains rejoicing in the victory of their team on Saturday. The doyen was Dave Hickenbotham, who led the team which won the premiership in 1884. Close by him was James Galbraith. Peter Burns, another captain, was acting as timekeeper, and there was also Bob Reid, Jack Baker, W. Eason, and Cliff Rankin.

Many other old time footballers attended, and also present were Messers D. S. Plovan (president) and T. J. Hayes (vice-president) representing the New South Wales League. Mr. T. Cleland (formerly chairman of the South Australian League), Mr. F. Rankin (from Walpeup), representing the North-Central District League; Mr. R. McGuiness, representing the Mornington District League; Mr. U. Quick (Colac), representiing the Corangamite District League; and representatives of the Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland, and Wimmera Leagues. The Victorian Football Association was represented by Messrs. A. Turner, J. Dennis, and T. J. Evans.

Remarkable Attendances

The 60,712 spectators, with gate receipts amounting to £3,110 / 3 / 3, was a wonderful evidence of popularity of the game. The figures do not provide a record, but in view of the depression and the threatening weather, they are most remarkable. The record for a final match is 60,653 (receipts, £3,122 / 9 / 3) Carlton v. Richmond, 1929.

Season Reviewed

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The 1931 season will long be remembered because of the number of matches spoiled by bad weather and because of the evenness the teams. Geelong fully deserved its success. It was the most consistent, losing only three games — against Melbourne and Carlton in the first round, and against Richmond in the semi-final — in which it did not show its best. The team had strength, height, weight, and pace and has been welded into a well-balanced side.

It is generally admitted that it was the best team out this season and its success was highly popular. It owed much of its success to its new man, Quinn, the South Australian rover; Metherell and Moloney from Western Australia, and to the keenness with which the side was built up and the enthusiasm of its committee. It is expected that Moloney will not be available next year, as he is said to be returning to Perth.

Richmond, once more runners-up, failed in the crucial match just as it had done in previous years. It has some weaknesses, and these become more apparent when the real test comes. They were very noticeable on Saturday, when lack of determination, a failure to see the fight out, and penchant for making mistakes cost the side the premiership, on which it had set its heart, and of which it was so confident.

Carlton and Collingwood, the third and fourth teams, played some very fine games, but lacked consistency. At their best they were able to play very fine football, but each had weak spots, and these proved fatal. The only other team with any prospects of the premiership was Footscray, which, except for weakness forward, would have been very hard to defeat. It was the most improved side of the year, and if it can strengthen its attack next season, it should do even better than was the case this year.

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Of the rest, all that can be said is that they battled hard at times showed promise of better things but were not sound, and thus failed. The season has been remarkable for the many unexpected results, due undoubtedly to the evenness of the teams and to the adverse weather conditions.

Premiers Congratulated

There was a scene of unbounded enthusiasm on Saturday in the Melbourne Football Club gymnasium, which the Geelong team used as a dressing room. It was reminiscent of the demonstration in the same room in 1925, when Geelong won its first League premiership. Crowds of enthusiastic supporters surged round the doors, and it was only with difficulty that the officials of the club and of the League could gain admittance. The room rang with cheers as Mr. Morris Jacobs, the president, congratulated the players, and Mr. R. T. Rush (treasurer) and L. H. McBrien (secretary), on behalf of the League; Mr. J. H. Archer (president), and Percy Page (secretary), on behalf of the Richmond club, added their tribute.

The Richmond representatives, while not attempting to conceal their disappointment at having failed again, and for the fifth time in eight years having to be content with being runners-up, frankly acknowledged that their team had been defeated by a better side. Senator Guthrie and Mr. McArthur, M.L.C., and Mr. A. Calwell, president of the North Melbourne club also congratulated the winners, on whose behalf E. Baker (captain) and C. Clymo (coach) responded.

Later, Senator Guthrie, on behalf of the Geelong club, visited the Richmond room and congratulated Richmond upon having performed so finely during the season.

Geelong v. Port Adelaide

The Geelong team will leave for Adelaide by train today. The team will play in Adelaide on Wednesday, and will meet Port Adelaide, the premier team of the South Australian League, on Saturday.

Score Sheet

The score sheet for the game on Satur-day shows how each side fared. "Six" indicates a goal and "one" a behind. It will be seen that Richmond kicked five goals without a behind at one stage. The sheet is:—

The Play — Strong, Vigorous, Desperate

The teams were:—

Field Umpire: Scott

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The weather was fairly favourable, the ground springy but firm. The wind blowing into the grandstand to the lee of the Punt road goal was strong but gusty. Geelong won the toss and decided to take first use of the breeze. When within two minutes L. Hardiman had marked and scored first goal it seemed that Richmond might have to play the part Geelong had had the week before, and would have to chase a large first quarter score.

The game was very hard and congested. Each side was playing desperately, and in the crushes it was fierce, with the result that scrimmages were frequent. The correct approach to the goal was by the lower wing, and Richmond set itself to continue the play to the reserve flank. In this Foster, O'Neill, and Geddes worked heroically, and one rush on that side, in which O'Neil, Foster, and Judkins were conspicuous, was high class football, but McDonald, then, as a dozen times later, was in the way and turned Richmond back. Richmond, however returned, and a quick snap by Dyer brought a point. Geelong swung play to the lower wing, and L. Hardiman with a long shot kicked a behind.

The game was very keen, and Bolger in his anxiety threw Troughton by the neck after he had kicked. Scott immediately cautioned him. Richmond was not dominating the high marking, and in the congested work it was not easy for anyone to mark. Geelong could not break away, and when Richmond came to the charge again Williams earned the displeasure of the umpire for undue attention to Titus.

As the umpire spoke to the men the play went on and the ball was taken to the other end of the ground before the players realised that the umpire had called a halt. Titus's shot from the free kick fell short, but Ford kicked the ball to G. Strang, who marked by the behind post and added a point. A clever move to Zschech gave Titus another chance, and he scored first goal for Richmond.

With 19 minutes gone, Geelong had nothing to show for its turn with the breeze—in fact Richmond led by a point.

Geelong rallying sent the ball up, and Foster trying to clear his goal held the ball, and from the free kick Baker scored. Still pressing Geelong prevailed, but only points came, and at the first change Geelong had only 2-3 to 1-2. Richmond had done well to hold the opposition down.

Geelong's Stubborn Play

When play began again Geelong prevailed, and in two minutes L. Hardiman marking near the boundary moved round quickly and scored with a left-foot snap. Foster by sheer force and determination turned back another rush, and the ball went up. Titus squirmed out of a crush and scored with a high punt. The teams were making many mistakes, and three times in succession Bissett in trying to pass it to a comrade kicked straight to an opponent.

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The play was very hard, and Titus was cautioned for bowling Lamb over after he had kicked. The packs were scrambling and fighting, and when the ball came out play was ragged. Richmond was attacking hard, but found the Geelong defence too strong, and only behinds were scored. At last D. Strang kicked a goal, and once more Richmond led, and when a moment later Twyford punted another goal it seemed as if Richmond might go ahead.

Then Geelong rose to the occasion, and Greeves led an attack from which Troughton ran on and scored. It was very keen, very earnest, but Geelong was playing the better game. A wonderful dash by Carney gave Baker a chance for a point, and when Carney tore in again he sent the ball across the goal front to Moloney, who, running away from goal, kicked a goal with a wonderful shot over his shoulder.

Richmond seemed dismayed, and Geelong held the advantage at half-time, when the scores were Geelong 5-6, Richmond 4-5.

Richmond Fails Slowly

The third term was just the same hard struggle, with Richmond showing less skill, and making too many points. A splendid punt by Metherell brought a sixth goal for Geelong, but Richmond rallied and Ford scored. In less than half a minute Collins replied with brilliant dash, and Geelong, maintaining the pressure, gave Richmond no chance. Another goal by Baker increased Geelong's lead to 21 points. The force and pace were unabated, but there was little temper.

Geelong was distinctly the better side, but the wonderful defence of O'Neill and G. Strang and the wing play of Geddes made scoring difficult. At three-quarter time Geelong should have been further ahead. The board showed 8-11 to 5-5 in its favour. Richmond still had a chance, if it could last and show its true form.

Tame Ending

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Richmond for a few moments seemed likely to make a bid for victory, and Geelong, sensing danger, sent Carney to look after Geddes, who, unchecked, might prove a match winner. In three minutes Richmond had a goal. A place shot by G. Strang fell near the posts, and D. Strang, getting his foot to the ball, kicked it through. Geelong threw all its weight into the scale, and Metherell, with a standing kick, scored ninth goal.

Dunne left the field then for no apparent reason, and O'Halloran took his place. It was evident that it was all over. Richmond was more tired, and although D. Strang kicked another goal. Geelong was never in danger and won comfortably. Just at the end Moloney was thrown heavily and tore the muscles of his back. It was an unnecessary fall, and it might have caused him serious injury. The last man to handle the ball was Hickey, who finished the game, as he began, by turning a Richmond attack.

The final scores were:—

GEELONG, 9 goals 14 behinds (68 points). RICHMOND, 7 goals 6 behinds (48 points).

Goal-kickers:

GEELONG—L. Hardiman (2), Baker (2), Metherell (2), Troughton, Collins, Moloney.

RICHMOND—D. Strang (3), Titus (2), D. Twyford.

Best Players

GEELONG had not a weak man. Carney the little wing man for his dash, his persistence and pluck, and because of his lack of inches, was perhaps the most noticeable man on the ground. His play was spectacular and compelling. For solid work and determination no one earned greater praise than Hickey, whose rushes from the half-back line were irresistible. Associated with him in defence, Todd (full-back), McDonald, Lamb, Williams, and P. Hardiman did so well that the Richmond forwards were eclipsed. Collins, either forward, or back gave splendid service, and Troughton, Quinn, Evans, L. Hardiman, and Coghlan were constantly in the picture.

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Greeves in the centre played a cool, effective game, never wasting a kick nor an opportunity. Metherell and Coglan did the hard ruck work effectively and Baker and Walker, if not so conspicuous as the others, played their parts ably. Baker led his side well, and kicked two goals. It was the team as a whole which did so well, and thus every man deserved mention.

RICHMOND had in Geddes a wing man who played perfect football. He did not waste a kick and did a tremendous amount of work. It was a distinct tribute to his ability that in the last quarter Carney was sent to check him, and that in that term Carney did less than before. O'Neil's defence was magnificent, and but for him the Geelong task would have been much easier. Gordon Strang also defended well, and played splendidly in the ruck. His marking was very fine, but his kicking was weak.

Foster carried the Richmond ruck on his back. He marked and kicked splendidly, and ran himself to a standstill. Zschech played his cool, artistic game in the centre, never spectacular, but always useful. Ford occasionally showed up, but of the rest all that could be said was that they were below form. The men who did best in the previous game, Bissett, McCormack, Titus, and Hunter were the least effective on Saturday.

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