Australian Football

Match Report

WON BY THE "UMPIRE"

ESSENDON'S HOPELESS TASK

A great crowd assembled at East Melbourne on Saturday to witness the return game between Essendon and Collingwood. Plenty of vigour was put into the play by both teams, but, nevertheless, it was always interesting, and although Essendon gave the better display the vagaries of an umpire wrested victory from them. Several incidents occurred during the game, which are referred to on another page.

Both clubs relied on the team which had done good service the previous week, and a fast, forceful game resulted. Free kicks were numerous, and perhaps if a record were kept of the number given by the umpire (Lane) during the match it would be found that Essendon received more than Collingwood—but Collingwood invariably got them where they were of greater benefit; that was the difference.

1st Quarter

Essendon were the first to settle down and Kirby from a "screw" got first goal. Seddon turned another rush with a long kick, and Essendon's back line—Laing, Kirkwood, and Wade—were hard pushed until Baring gave them relief. Right in front Jackson got a free kick, and a grand chain between Hughes, Minogue, McHale, and Saddler looked dangerous to Essendon. A free kick to Baring saved them, and a mark and dash by Webster got it well up to the posts. But the inevitable free kick brought it away, and Seddon raced across the centre. Kirkwood, who was in rare form, returned smartly, and Lumsden came with a rush and scored a point, and then for a time Collingwood were brushed aside, as Essendon playing superbly swept forward repeatedly, though behinds were their portion. Collingwood were marking the mistake of going up against each other, and only the prompt measures taken by Minogue (their captain) prevented them from being overrun. Collingwood opened out, and a free kick to Jackson, and nice handball between Lee and Wilson brought the ball along to Laxton, who got a behind. Essendon rallied, and Belcher led them up, and a free kick to Kirby got their second goal. The rival rovers, Wilson and Ogden, had an interesting duel as the ball was carried in a straight line across the ground, the outcome being a behind by the Essendon man. Each team was putting full weight into the charges, and during a melee Belcher was kicked in the head, and retired. Collingwood were striving to get within striking distance, and when Essendon's backs were beaten, after a long-sustained charge, Hughes from the ruck passed out to Lee, who dashed in, and scored cleverly. Laing, Bowe, and Kirkwood staved off another rush, and before the bell Baring saved with a fine mark. At quarter-time Essendon led by 2 goals 3 behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds.

2nd Quarter

Collingwood held the upper hand during the second quarter, and with clever handball and systematic exchanges kept up an incessant attack. Essendon's sturdy defenders saved them partially; but when they drove it forward there was nobody to help them. Great handball by Green and Laxton enabled Hughes to get his foot to the ball, but it hit the post. The speed of Collingwood was phenomenal, and a rush by Laxton, Wilson, and McHale allowed Lee to mark on the angle, and he scored brilliantly. Wilson and Seddon helped Mathieson to score another from a snap, and then Baring turned them down the centre, and Ogden snapped a point. Kirby worked it down again, and Dinsmore and Donaldson manœuvred for an opening, but it was rushed out, and from the throw in Lumsden snapped a point. Collingwood livened up, and Jackson, McHale, and Seddon swung it forward to Lee, where Shea chipped in and marked, but Lane bounced it, whereupon Lee got his foot to it, and the ball dribbled through. Shea kept a closer run on Lee, and Baring with his lofty marks kept Collingwood away until the interval, when the scores were—Collingwood, 4 goals 1 behinds; Essendon, 2 goals 5 behinds.

3rd Quarter

Donaldson was in evidence in the early stages of the third quarter as he got a behind and immediately afterwards a goal. Lumsden scored another behind, and then playing well in the ruck and round the forward lines Essendon had Collingwood in difficulties. A lot of out of bounds play followed and Essendon were losing opportunities through hasty kicking. Donaldson, however, gave them another goal from a free kick in front, and Essendon led. Wade brought off a great run along the wing. Donaldson took the pass, and shot it close up. McHale got it away, and Seddon taking the mark sent it on to Minogue, who kicked accurately, and Collingwood again took the lead. Then a great battle was waged between the centre and back divisions of either team, and although no score was forthcoming, sustained the interest. The long rushes and open work of the previous quarter were missing towards the close, and the heavy crowding on the ball left fewer opportunities for clever football. At three quarter time the scores were—Collingwood, 5 goals 7 behinds; Essendon, 4 goals 8 behinds.

4th Quarter

The final quarter was fought desperately, and with no quarter given or asked. Only 5 points separated them at the commencement, and immediately Wade put Essendon in good position with a kick to Dinsmore, who scored a point. Rowell kicked in finely, but Donaldson marked, and running in close miskicked. Lumsden, however, dashed in and scored, giving Essendon the lead. Collingwood rallied, and Hislop kicked it forward, where Lee missed a mark, whereupon Ogden ran round the pack and forced it away. Kirkwood marked, and kicked out, and Lane penalised him. Laing sent Collingwood back to defend with a fine run along the wing, but a free-kick to Jackson, and yet another to Curtis, brought the ball into the danger zone, and Lee scored a behind. Essendon backs showed out strongly during a fusillade by Collingwood's forwards, and they weathered it well. Saddler, however, led them up once more with a brilliant run from the back line, and Hislop, Wilson, and McHale brought it further along, where Lee brought them level—5-9 all—with a behind. McHale led them up again, and Lee marked in front amidst the deafening cheers of Collingwood's supporters. He scored finely, and after the bounce Hughes sent it in again, only to have it returned by Hanley. Shea, Kirkwood, and Baring sent it goalwards, but equally good passing between Green, Mutch, McHale, and Hughes returned it, and Lee got another point. Gove and Webster rallied Essendon, and Kirby was thrown and should have received a free kick in front. But it was passed unnoticed, and Collingwood got it away again. The cheering was deafening as the "Same Old" flung themselves into their work, and with Laing and Wade (back), Gove and Sewart (centre), and Webster, Donaldson, and Kirby going great guns, the game looked anybody's. But Collingwood kept formation, and the final scores were:—

Collingwood—6 goals 12 behinds (48 points).
Essendon—5 goals 9 behinds (39 points).

Mutch, Dobrigh, Anderson, Rowan, and Minogue were exceptionally strong for Collingwood, for whom also Green, Laxton, Saddler, Hughes, Wilson, and Mathieson were conspicuous. Essendon played a uniform game, and Laing, Wade, and Ogden were the best of the team. Others who gave a fine account being Kirkwood, Donaldson, Bowe, Webster, Dinsmore, Baring, Kirby, Belcher (until hurt), and Lumsden.

FOOTBALL INCIDENTS - TURBULENT CROWDS

Essendon and Collingwood provided any number of incidents at East Melbourne. Allan Belcher, the Essendon captain, who was kicked on the head in the South Melbourne match, and had to have three stitches inserted, was still more unfortunate on Saturday. In the first quarter, in a crush, Belcher stooped to pick up the ball just as Saddler kicked at it. The result was that Belcher received a severe kick on the forehead, from which the blood spurted in jets. He had to be assisted off the field, and Dr. Rowan had to put seven stitches in the wound before he could resume. When he came out again in the second quarter he was "groggy," but he gamely played on, and rendered some service to his side. Late in the game, however, Belcher and Lee were at cross-purposes. Lee threw himself into a fighting attitude, but as Belcher was not anxious to face the independent tribunal, he walked away. Lee, however, followed him with finger uplifted and very appearance of a threatening demeanour. At length Belcher stopped and faced Lee, who walked away amid a storm of hoots from Essendon's supporters. Lee himself was unfortunate, for when coming off the ground at half-time a boy in the stand threw a root of grass, which struck Lee on the nose. It was a painful blow, and Lee was righteously indignant.

If Essendon supporters have one firm belief, it is that under the umpiring of Lane, who had charge of the Essendon and Collingwood match on Saturday, they cannot be successful. So much is this so that after the players had finished training on Thursday night, their coach (Mr. John Worrall) made a speech to them on the subject. Some of Lane's decisions on Saturday were the subject of much comment, and by the end of the match leading Essendon officials had worked themselves into a state of frenzy. They attributed their defeat to the umpire. As soon as the final bell rang there was a rush across the ground, thousands of people crowding on to the arena. There is absolutely no protection for players or umpires on the East Melbourne ground such as is provided at South Melbourne or other grounds, but a large body of police prevented Lane from being assaulted, and he was taken to his dressing-room. As he came through the gate two men shook sticks in his face, and he and his protectors were jostled and threatened. The demonstration was practically confined to the reserve where people stood and prevented the umpire and his bodyguards entering the pavilion for some minutes. The greater portion of the crowd dispersed, but about 150 well-dressed men and women waited in the reserve for Lane to come out again on his away home. They were most threatening, and when Lane appeared an Essendon played was with them, and as soon as Lane came down the stairs there was a rush, and but for a bodyguard composed of disinterested spectators and members of the Collingwood team, he would have had a rough time. The scene at the close of the game and when Lane was leaving the ground was disgraceful. In view of the fact that the Essendon committee reported Lane for misconduct in the first match against Collingwood, the League seems greatly to blame for having courted trouble by appointing him to the return match. The Collingwood team leaves for Brisbane by express train this afternoon, and Lane accompanies them as umpire.