Australian Football

Match Report

AN ESSENDON FINISH

FITZROY BEATEN

Essendon and Fitzroy met on the East Melbourne round, but the attendance was not large, the gate receipts only amounting to £78. The wind blew straight from goal to goal, so that it was just a question of which side could make most use of it in turn, for the team playing against it had to trust largely to defence.

1st Quarter

Fitzroy won the toss, and had that advantage at the start, but they did not by any means do what was expected of them, and up to half-time, indeed, it can be said that defence was the best feature of the match, that each team in turn showed its finest form when under disadvantages. The quarter gave Fitzroy the lead, with scores of 2-5 to 1-3, but there was nothing of any great consequence in it.

2nd Quarter

As soon as they turned around Fitzroy were at once seen to advantage. Where Essendon had expected to have everything their own way, the advantage was conspicuously with the other side. Fitzroy played with more judgment, the Essendon fellows as a rule had to force things, made the mistake of running too far at times, and after a rather disappointing display found themselves behinds at half-time, the scores being:—Fitzroy, 4-8; Essendon, 3-5.

3rd Quarter

But after half-time the game was hard and fast. Both sides played with great determination, and as a result injuries followed. First Heaney, soaring for one of his high-marks, came down heavily, and injured his ankle so badly that he was not able to take further part in the match. Essendon in the third quarter again put up a strong defence, and Fitzroy were very little superior to them. At three-quarter time they led by only 18 points, the scores being:—Fitzroy, 7-8; Essendon, 4-8. 

4th Quarter

The fact that for three terms in succession the defence had shown the better football indicated that Fitzroy had still a good chance, but Essendon came out at their best in the last quarter, and never made a mistake. To put it briefly, they scored goal after goal, missing sometimes, but getting in points the equivalent of 6 goals for the quarter without allowing Fitzroy to score a single point. It was a hard, desperate game, but Essendon were unbeatable, and won.

ESSENDON, 9 goals 14 behinds (68 points).
FITZROY, 7 goals 8 behinds (50 points).

In the last quarter there were two further casualties. Willoughby wrenched his ankle rather badly, and Baring, had his hip-joint jarred, but both will probably be right after a few hours' rest.

On the winning side, the play of Kirkwood was especially noticeable, though it rested between White and Webster as to which was the better man in the colours. Ogden Gove both did splendid, the last-named more than holding his own against Holden. Chalmers, on the other side, beat his opponent. Belcher had quite returned to form, and Baring, before he was injured, played fine football, and his two beautiful left-foot goals were the turning point in the match for Essendon. Lang, Shea, and Walker all distinguished themselves, and Lumsden was very effective forward, where he scored five goals. In defence Lambert was a very conspicuous man for Fitzroy, Johnson doing almost equally well just in front of him. McLennan played a fine, strong game about the centre; and Willoughby and Bamford were also of great help to the side. Other men of note were Shaw, Harrison, and Buisst. Wickham umpired very creditably.