Australian Football

Match Report

SOUTH IN WINNING VEIN

ACCURACY THE ARBITER

Evenly matched in every respect but the all-important one of shooting for goal, South Melbourne and Richmond, on the Southerners' ground, gave an exhibition of football which, though not first class, was nevertheless fast and clean. The turf was in a tolerably fair condition after the recent rains, and the breeze, while tending to confine play to the northern side of the ground, was too slight to have a detrimental effect on the game. South Melbourne made several changes in the personal of their side, Hair, Hiskins, Joolan, Rusich, and Caldwell playing instead of Salter, Jackson, Laidlaw, Bennett, and Jones. For Richmond, Herbert, Richardson, McLear, and Maybury appeared in place of Mahoney, Thorpe, Farrell, and Driscoll.

1st Quarter

Richmond were first to score, the ball being worked forward round the wing to James, who opened his side's account with a goal. A continuance of the attack yielded only a behind. A counter assault by South Melbourne was brought to a successful issue by O'Donoghue, who, with a good kick, obtained his side's first major point. Owing to the excellence of the defence, good work in attack was meeting with little reward. Reeves, with a good run, and Hall and Herbert carried the ball forward, to find South's backs on the alert. Similarly a forward move by Hiskins was counteracted by Moffatt. Then Richmond had a chance, Olsen punched the ball forward to Granger, and the latter finding himself cornered handballed to Hall, whose hasty shot only brought a point. At the other end Sloss, from a free kick, gained second goal for the home team. A reply was soon forthcoming. Keggin marked nicely, and out of a scramble James scored for the visitors. Richmond's defenders were again called on to prove their mettle, and acquitted themselves creditably; but Sloss, assisted by O'Donoghue, found the opening again before the term ended, with the scores:—South Melbourne, 3 goals 3 behinds; Richmond, 2 goals 4 behinds.

2nd Quarter

The opening of the second term saw South Melbourne on the aggressive. Freeman gave Rusich a chance, which raised one flag, then from a scramble around goal O'Donoghue tipped it through. A Richmond rally ended in Nolan kicking over to Granger, who marked finely, but only scored a point. Another was rushed, then it was South's turn again; but from a couple of attacks the home team only reaped as many points. The home team were attacking with determination, but Richmond were just as resolute in defence. A bright bit of play on Richmond's part, the ball travelling from Reeves to Hall to James to Keggin, ended in failure, which was partially mended by Olsen adding a point. Thomas, of Richmond, was penalised for holding the ball, and O'Donoghue, marking from Hiskins, had no difficulty in scoring again for the Southerners. Immediately afterward Keggin and Olsen were instrumental in enabling James to kick Richmond's (and his own) third goal. Herbert, from a throw-in from the boundary, snapped another before the bell, the visitors then being six points to the bad. South Melbourne, 5 goals 7 behinds; Richmond, 4 goals 7 behinds.

3rd Quarter

After several behinds play tightened up a bit, an interesting battle being waged in midfield. Then Mullaly marked, and sent the ball to O'Donoghue, who got South's sixth goal. Charge cleverly eluded his man, and O'Donoghue, marking finely, sent it on to Sloss, who got the seventh. Richmond awoke to the seriousness of the position, and a behind was scored by Keggin. Hiskins turned another Richmond rush, but Hede and Keggin sending it on to James, Richmond's fifth goal was hoisted. The scores at the last change were:—South Melbourne, 7 goals 8 behinds; Richmond, 5 goals 14 behinds.

4th Quarter

A period of scrambling play about the centre marked the opening of the final stage. A diversion came when Morgan sent the ball over to Joolan, who, with a hasty shot, raised the flags. Olsen, Keggin, and Maybury strove to brighten Richmond's prospects, but Rademacher saved his side. Richmond's winning chance came then, but it was not profited by. Hughes was given a free-kick in range, but could manage only a behind. From the kick-in the ball was rushed forward, and Maybury had a shot with similar success. Reeves, with a good run from the centre, put South on the defensive, but the attack was repulsed, and Thomas took his side further out of danger. A chain between Thomas, of Richmond, McLear, and Nolan promised brighter things for the visitors, but a free-kick against Herbert spoilt the effort. Sloss, obtaining from Charge, raised one flag with a snap. Richmond rushed it forward, and Keggin marked right in front within easy range, a minor point, however, being his only reward. The visitors fought it out to the end, the concluding scores being:—

SOUTH MELBOURNE, 8 goals 9 behinds (57 points);
RICHMOND, 5 goals 13 behinds (43 points).

Belcher, Charge, Hair, Mullaly, Rusich, Rademacher, Sloss, O'Donoghue, Tandy, and Thomas were conspicuous in the winners' colours, while chief amongst those to do service for the visitors were James, Hughes, Nolan, Reeves, Hede, Danks Thomas, Bettles, Olsen, and Moffatt. Wickham's umpiring gave satisfaction.