Victorian football - nearing season's end
WHEN Mr. George Cathie, the honorary treasurer of the Victorian Football League, suggested to delegates early in the season that a change in the method of deciding the premiership was necessary, he must have had in mind a set of circumstances akin to what exists this year. Mr. Cathie has had a wide experience as player, with the famous Leopold team and Melbourne, and administrator with the Hawthorn and Geelong clubs, and at the League table. He has held almost every office in the League except president and secretary, and is free from club bias.
×
Right ▼
His suggestion was that, instead of four teams being left in the second round, there should be six. The matches last Saturday lacked interest because it was unlikely that the premiership could be affected. There were only two contests worthy the name, and each attracted a good crowd. It was possible for Richmond to lose second place if South Melbourne defeated it, and 17,000 people paid £450 to watch the match.
Geelong and Essendon had something to fight for, because, in the event of Richmond's failure, the winner would, take second place. Their clash attracted 13,000 spectators, who paid £276 at the gates. After that there was a slump, and at the other four matches altogether there were only 26,000 spectators, and the gate receipts amounted to only £358. The football was poor and the crowds were disinterested and listless.
WITH six teams left in as suggested by Mr. Cathie, Carlton, Fitzroy, and Footscray would each have had a chance of reaching the finals instead of being relegated to the discard, as they were last Saturday, and we would have seen real contests. There has been a deal of sparring for positions this season, and anything that can avoid that is desirable.
×
Left ▼
AS it turned out, Richmond was never in danger, and as soon as it became known at Essendon that nothing could rob the Tigers of second place, Geelong lost all interest. The other matches degenerated into mere practice games in which neither players nor spectators took the slightest interest. At the end of a long season, it is not easy to whip up any enthusiasm in a losing cause.
With six clubs in the running, as suggested by Mr. Cathie, there would have been something to fight for. In the conditions as they were on Saturday, treasurers of the weaker clubs would have been glad to be relieved of the expense of carrying on.
THE SEMI-FINALS
FOR eight of the League clubs the season is over; their only interest now is the prospective dividend from the semifinal and final matches. Carlton, Footscray, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Hawthorn, South Melbourne, St. Kilda. and North Melbourne may now "pack up their troubles in their old kitbags," and with them their uniforms, for this season. Before the next season comes round it may be "khaki" and not shorts for all able-bodied men.
MELBOURNE, Richmond, Essendon, and Geelong have survived the heat and burden—or should it be the mud and bristle—ot the year, and are left in to contest the second round and fight on for the premiership. Melbourne, premiers last season, are deservedly at the head of the list, but it must be admitted that the side has not been as convincing as it was in 1939. It has been weakened by enlistment and injury, and has had to make so many changes that the development of team work has not been easy.
In Jack Mueller the side has a match winner. and in the co-operation of M. Gibb and Norman Smith the attack has been very persistent, if not particularly accurate. On the figures for the year Melbourne has scored 323 points more than Richmond, its nearest rival. On the other hand it has had more points scored against it than nine of the other teams. Nevertheless its percentage is higher than any other club.
Richmond, the second team, has fully earned its place, and on paper, at least, Essendon (third) is a better team than Geelong. In the matches to come Essendon will play Geelong in the first semi-final on the Melbourne ground on September 7, and the loser will drop out of the competition. On the following Saturday, Melbourne and Richmond will meet in the second semi-final.
The winner will go straight into the grand final. The loser will meet the winner of the first semi-final on September 21. The winner of that game will then meet the winner of the second of the semi-finals in the grand final. There is thus much yet to be done before the "season" ends.
COLLINGWOOD, Melbourne, Hawthorn, and Carlton were the other winners, but there was little interest in these matches. Melbourne was never in difficulties, but the much weakened North Melbourne team battled on pluckily. Collingwood has had a disastrous season. The loss of players like the Colliers and Ron Todd, and the accidents to several players, notably Jack Regan and Marcus Whelan, made the side weak; but in all its reverses it has never lost its system, and still retains its spirit.
Hawthorn ended the season with a victory, as it began, and it has been busy building up its team for next season. Carlton and Footscray, two disappointed teams, provided the only fire, and as it was mixed with temper, various players have been hailed before the tribunal.
CHAMPION PLAYER
SELDOM has there been a player so universally hailed as Herbie Matthews, the South Melbourne centre man and captain. He has speed, skill, judgment of pace and distance, and, in addition, has the qualities of leadership. He plays continually for his side, never for himself, and his persistence is remarkable. He has been playing with a weak side, and thus his pre-eminence is the more remarkable. "The Argus" trophy awarded on the votes of "The Argus" representatives each week has been won easily by Matthews.
In the 18 matches South Melbourne has played be scored 34 votes, and was named as the best man on the ground nine times, was second three times, and was third once. Three votes are awarded for first place, two for second, and one for third. Next to Matthews came N. Ware (Footscray), 26 pts.; D. Fothergill (Collingwood), 24 pts.; H. Hickey (Footscray), 23 pts., fourth. The trophy was presented to Matthews at South Melbourne on Saturday by Mr. Percy Taylor, Sports Editor of "The Argus".
×
Center ▼
Footnotes
Title: Victorian Football—Nearing the End
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946)
Date: Saturday 7 September 1940, page 15
Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/142142696
Comments
This article does not contain any comments.
Login to leave a comment.