Australian Football

Match Report

CARLTON'S CLOSE CALL

FITZROY'S FORWARD FAIL

All roads led to Fitzroy on Saturday, what Carlton played and conquered after a desperate battle that lasted with undiminished vigour from beginning to end. The standard of play was solid rather than brilliant, but what it may have lacked in that respect was forgotten by the crowd because of the way in which the teams see-sawed in alternatively gaining the lead.

It was a great day for the Fitzroy Club, as £430 was taken at the gates, while the crowd was written down at 30,000. Fitzroy have fallen on evil days as regards their forwards, for, apart from the many chances missed in the early stages from easy shots, they had numerous opportunities in the last quarter to win—and win handsomely. But the over-anxiety, when near goal, for the forwards was their undoing—and it filled their supporters with anything but pleasant thoughts. In contrast was the kicking by Carlton, which got them goals—mostly from snap shots—no matter from where their forwards tried. They crossed the goal line only 11 times during the course of the game; but no fewer than seven goals were registered, and they hit the post once. Fitzroy, however, had 17 scoring shots, and the fact that only four of them brought goals speaks volumes. Two changes were made in Carlton's team, Leehane and Kiely replacing Valentine and Gardiner, Fitzroy's only change being Wilson in place of Pattison. Elder has umpired better. But perhaps it was his off-day; at least many people thought so.

1st Quarter

Great work by the back division of either team marked the first few minutes, the ball travelling speedily from end to end. Haughton, Sharpe, Dick, and Hammond then made a forward move, which was stopped by Holden, on the wing, who passed to Freake, but the ball went out. Parratt and McLennan gave Freake another chance, and a behind resulted. Fitzroy forced the game, and played down the centre, and from a dangerous position McDonald relieved for Carlton and passed to Brown. A free wick to Fisher opened up a possible "goal-field" for Carlton, but a splendid exhibition of concerted movement by Norris, McLennan, and Lethbridge took the ball from end to end. Great work by Dick, Baud and Haughton on the back line, a sprint by Brown along the wing, and a long kick by Green took play to Fitzroy's goal, where Daykin scored Carlton's first goal. Johnson, Holden, Shaw, Heron, and Millen took it up for Fitzroy, and Freake narrowly missed. Carlton came again, and Kiely kicked forward to Fisher, who turned quickly and got it through. A bolt away by Fitzroy ended with a goal by Freake. Carlton came again and an exchange between Jamieson, Sharpe, and McKenzie enabled Fisher to come in and score. Johnson's fine work in defence kept Carlton's forwards quiet until the end of the quarter when the scores were Carlton 3 goals to 1 goal 2 behinds.

2nd Quarter

Carlton were able to score but one goal in the second quarter, got by Daykin. Fitzroy made up their leeway, and led by a point at the interval; but their kicking in front of goal was bad. After several behinds had come, Wilson raced away and passed to Shaw, who scored the beat goal of the match from an angle. The play became vigorous, and a little feeling manifested itself for a time, and as a result free kicks were numerous. Wiser counsels prevailed, however, and the players became more docile. A great rally by Fitzroy terminated with a goal by Freake. Carlton for a time were helpless against the dashing game of Fitzroy, and they begin to crowd and leave their places. Johnson led Fitzroy forward, and Shaw, who could have run close in to goal, fired hurriedly and got a behind, which put them level. Harrison got another a moment later and gave Fitzroy the lead. The scores at half time were:—Fitzroy, 3 goals 7 behinds; Carlton, 4 goals.

3rd Quarter

Fitzroy were anxious to break away and set up a greater lead. Martin and Toohey raced goalward, but a mark by Calwell between the posts saved the goal. Then both teams fell away from grace and a scrambling game followed. Hammond dashed out of the pack, and a free kick to Daykin brought a behind for Carlton. Lenne's great kick-in was marked by Challis, and Fisher, taking the pass, snapped a goal brilliantly. Fitzroy stirred themselves, and Norris charged over the centre. Wilson marked and kicked into the crowd round the posts, where Martin came through and scored cleverly. Both sides had now opened out, and high marking and long kicking added to the interest. The handball of Haughton and Hammond was neatly executed, as they raced down the centre, and the goal got by Daykin at the finish was a fitting climax. Fitzroy's backs were feeling the strain and showing signals; but at the right moment Lenne and Cooper cleared grandly, and McLennan swung it over the centre. A collision between Toohey and Daykin followed, which resulted in Toohey's leg being so hurt that for the remainder of the game he limped painfully. Several decisions by the umpire were resented by a couple of Carlton players, who, after free kicks had been recorded against them, childishly threw the ball away. At the end of the quarter the scores were:—Carlton, 6 goals 1 behind; Fitzroy, 4 goals 10 behinds.

4th Quarter

Great excitement prevailed throughout the last term and as the teams stood up to their work grandly, brilliant exchanges, high marking, and clever handball were features of momentary occurrence. Carlton began with a rush and Brown raced along the wing and passed to Baud, but Johnson saved. Carlton kept at it, and Brown marked and passed to Sharpe, who fired into the crowd. Great defence work by Cooper and Johnson got Fitzroy out of a hole, and McLennan, dashing over the centre, gave Shaw a chance with a clear field in front. But Fitzroy's rover was too eager, and as he fired Dick sprinted across the goal-line and took the ball. Wilson led them up again, and a cheer went up as Freake took the pass close in; but he failed miserably. Jamieson saved Carlton by a timely mark between the posts. Daykin and McKenzie worked the ball along the wing and Haughton finished the rush by passing to Green, who scored. Carlton broke loose, and a dazzling run by Challis along the wing, a clever mark by McGregor in the centre, and a shot by Cook looked like another goal but only a behind came. Fitzroy were out of the hunt for a time, for the dark blues were going into their work with a will, and another rush ended with Green hitting the post. Then for the remainder of the quarter Fitzroy took command. Harrison began it by passing to Freake, who kicked into the crowd, and Wilson snapped a behind. Fitzroy were 11 points behind, and as Millen and Wilson raced away and Freake took the mark, a deafening roar burst forth, which, however, changed to a groan as he missed. Lethbridge swung it in again, but Hammond marked finely and relieved. Carlton's back line was too strong a combination for the opposing forwards. Fitzroy continued the bombardment, but their inability to get goals took the heart out of them. Wilson had another chance for goal after Millen had made a brilliant run around the wing and had passed it to him; but he kicked it out. With a couple of minutes to go, Norris tried for goal, and got another behind, and, still fighting desperately, Fitzroy strove to break down the wall of Carlton's defence. Carlton's backs weathered the storm, however, and the ball rang with the scores:—

CARLTON, 7 goals 4 behinds (46 points).
FITZROY, 4 goals 13 behinds (37 points).

Carlton's victory was largely due to their goal-kicking, but the work of their backs in the final quarter helped them through. Dick, Baud, Haughton, Challis, McKenzie, McDonald (until hurt), Daykin, Leehane, Hammond, Sharpe, and Brown were prominent throughout, while the work of Jamieson in goal was splendid.

Fitzroy played a dashing game everywhere excepting in front of goal. Toohey's injured leg handicapped them to some extent, but the poor shooting of the other forwards, notably Freake, beat them. McLennan, Johnson, Cooper, Millen, Shaw, Bamford, Lenne and Holden, however, played brilliantly, and their work deserved a better reward than defeat.