Australian Football

Match Report

A ST KILDA VICTORY

SPEED AGAINST VIGOUR - CARLTON'S FORWARD FAILURES

The match between Carlton and St. Kilda, at Prince's Oval, gave such promises of a good game that is attracted a crowd of 25,000 people, who contributed £411 to the funds of the game at the gates. It was a very close game, for twice during the last quarter the scores were even, and that state of affairs generally brings the finest kind of thrills in connection with football. Yet it was never a really a good match. There were little spaces when the play was everything that could be desired, when the pace was at its greatest, the dash and determination of the players on both sides such as is not easily surpassed, yet it was not a good game, that is, such an exhibition of Australian football as one hopes he may see many times this season.

The fault was chiefly with the rules. They interfered with the players to an extraordinary extent. A dozen times on both sides when an attack had been almost carried home by a patch of brilliant football, it failed just about the half-back line with a breach of the rules, and a free kick to the defenders. A more experienced umpire would perhaps have made it a better match. The official in this case was quick to see the slightest infringement of the rules on the half-back or half-forward lines, but the players were in some measure to blame.

There were periods, too, when distinct ill-feeling prevailed, when there was much more charging than necessary, and one of the smallest men in the Carlton's team, McDonald was doing more than his share of it, playing a very fine game for the side, yet spoiling it with occasional outburst of that misplaced energy which is directed to the "other chap" rather than the ball. His was not an isolated case. The keenness and vigour of the game meant, of course, a good deal of "jog and jolt," and without reaching anything like extreme limits, there was just a little more of it than was desirable in the interests of a well-played, scientific game. One incident which does not seem to have been observed by many has been reported to the League by the steward (Wheeler), who has laid a charge against O'Brien, of Carlton. The steward alleges that in the first quarter O'Brien kicked Schmidt, of St. Kilda.

Another thing that interfered to some extent was the umpire's habit of calling up the ball, not while it was in the crush, but just after it had got clear. Much of the interest of the match, as far as the big bulk of that 25,000 onlookers was concerned, centred in one man, McNamara. The circumstances which delayed his transfer from the Association, where he was an acknowledged champion, to the League, where he promises to play an almost equally important part, have given him a remarkable prominence in football, and there was keen anxiety to see how he would shape against a dashing, vigorous side like Carlton. It was really the feature of the match. To give him every chance Lever, the St. Kilda captain, put Farmer, one of his recruits, with McNamara, to guard him against interference, for it is one of the penalties of fame, in football, that the champion naturally receives a good deal of attention from the other side, and as long as that attention is confined within the limits of the rules it is perfectly legitimate and to be expected.

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Center ▼

1. Waiting for play 2. St Kilda team 3. Carlton team 4, 5. Incidents of the game

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As far as I could see Carlton had not laid themselves out to unfairly stop McNamara. W. Dick the captain of the side, undertook that task himself, went for the ball with the big St. Kilda forward in a fair and mainly way, and held his own very well in what was always an interesting duel. But McNamara's guardian did much more for Carlton than for St. Kilda, and when they finally took him away from his onerous post, it was the best thing that could possibly have been done for the side. Repeatedly during these early stages of the match McNamara went for one of his high marks with that peculiar forward and upward shoot, got in the middle of a crush, and then, because his guardian had unfairly interfered with the Carlton man, had to hand over the ball to the other side for a free kick. Seeing what appeared to for an absolutely fair mark taken, many of the hot-headed followers of St. Kilda wished to imbrue their hands in the umpire's blood. They were so intent on watching McNamara that they failed to notice what took place just alongside him. When the big fellow was left to play a lone hand and take the chances without the baleful help of the other man he got goals, and won the match.

1st Quarter

Although Carlton were weak on their forward lines in the early part of the game, and should have got more goals, it was none the less apparent to those who looked on that St. Kilda was distinctly the better side. Man, for man, they were a much faster team, their marking was infinitely better, and in short passing they stood quite apart from the Blues, who, by comparison, played the solid, unscientific game. In many instances Carlton's advantage came from a failure on the part of their opponents that was not altogether bad football. They were keen, eager, and dashing. Many times during the match they beat the Carlton follows in an eager rush for the ball, but very often over-ran it in their eagerness, and left their opponents to profit by their mistakes. Repeatedly during the game the Carlton man got the possession only when the opponent had beaten him and failed. So that Carlton's advantage was something of a negative kind, and it emphasised the general impression that St. Kilda are, and should prove themselves during the season, the better side. This mistake of over-running and misjudging is certain to occur in the early stages of the season. It disappears with experience, and I expect to see St. Kilda, later on, playing some really brilliant games.

With the principal characteristics of the match stated, there is no necessity to dwell very long upon its individual details. In the opening quarter St. Kilda had whatever advantage rested with the wind, and it was hardly worth mention. Hammond, their old player, who has gone into the team again, and who showed out in the opening rallies, got first shot for Carlton, but St. Kilda were quickly in the lead. McNamara was playing far out from goal, several times during the day even his long kicks failed to quite cover the distance. The first goal was got when he saw Schmidt unguarded in a good position, and passed the ball to him in a comfortable shot, for Schmidt can on occasions cover almost as much ground as the big fellow.

A little later Cazaly got a chance, and scored St. Kilda's second goal. Then, and indeed at every other stage of the game, there was no man in St. Kilda colours playing such a brilliant game as Eicke, his soaring for marks and generally dashing play on the half-back line being invaluable to them. Yet Clancy, Brown, Haughton, McDonald and Green were all doing good things for Carlton, whose shots, when they got them, went astray, and the quarter ended with St. Kilda 2 goals 3 behinds to Carlton's 4 behinds.

2nd Quarter

There was tremendous cheering on the part of Carlton when, in one notable instance, Dick and McNamara went up for the ball together, and the Carlton man won; being so unusual gave it prominence. Carlton kept up pressure, Hammond, Wells, and Haughton gave Fisher, one of their new men, a chance, and with a nice running shot he hit the goal-post. Instantly Jory passed the ball to little Philips, who got St. Kilda's third goal. Towards the end of the quarter Eicke and Collins passed the ball to Phillips, and he again scored. Nothing else of consequence happened until half-time, when St. Kilda had 4 goals 3 behinds to 1 goal 8 behinds.

3rd Quarter

It was not until the second half of the match that the St. Kilda captain relieved McNamara from the disadvantage of being protected. Early in the third quarter Gardiner got the ball from Wells within easy range for him, and at an angle. He was equal to the occasion, and scored second goal. There was a close battling for a time, but it seemed too everybody that the advantage was swinging over to the home team, who were playing better football than in the earlier stages. Fisher made a good effort, but Lever stopped him. In a few seconds he was back again with a dash, and with a nice running shot scored third goal for Carlton. Neither side gained any material advantage in a fast and vigorous game, and, changing over for the last rally, St. Kilda had 4 goals 6 behinds to Carlton's 3 goals 9 behinds.

4th Quarter

A matter of only 3 points in the difference made it intensely interesting, and there were roaring cheers for Carlton when Green placed the ball with Gardiner, who scoring fourth goal, put his side ahead, and it looked as if the blues had by sheer pluck and determination, under adverse circumstances, ousted their enemy. It reached an intensely interesting stage when the scores showed 4 goals 9 behinds all. A little later it was 4 goals 10 behinds, and then came the change. Mainly owing to the play of Schmidt, who was doing wonderfully well then, McNamara got a hurried shot, and scored their fifth goal. A minute later Collins, who had hurt his arm earlier in the game, gave him a second chance. He took a deliberate try, and the sixth goal was scored. Indeed, all through that quarter St. Kilda played with infinitely more dash, had much the better of the match, which ended:—

St. Kilda, 6 goals 12 behinds (48 points);
Carlton, 4 goals 11 behinds (35 points).

As to the individual play, Eicke was the most valuable man on the St. Kilda side His efforts on the half-back line throughout were really brilliant. Lever, their full-back, was almost equally good. Schmidt, in the latter half, played splendid football, but the old fault of hanging on to the last possible minute, sometimes brought him to grief. St. Kilda's defence was first-rate, Dangerfield, Ellis, and Hattam all showing up well. In the ruck, Cumberland and Woodcock did strenuous things, and Cumberland kept up his fine reputation. The little rover Phillips is a great gain to the side, for he is not only active as a rover, but is the right kind of man to intervene when the other side are attending to McNamara, whose prominent part in the match was taking marks, which did not always give him a shot. He got 2 goals, and Phillips also scored 2.

On the Carlton side no one did better than their captain, Dick, because he had heavy odds against him, though it is impossible to overlook the very fine share which Valentine, as usual, took in the game. Whether in the ruck or back O'Brien was prominent figure, and the big fellow seems to me likely to find his way right into the front rank. With training and practice he is gaining pace. Fisher, a new and athletic footballer, who gained considerable fame last season in the Goulburn Valley, is an acquisition to Carlton, and when he knows his company will be much more prominent. Green was, as usual, one of their very best men, but neither Leehane nor Daykin reached anything like the prominence as against Collingwood. Clancy was the pick of their outfield, for he seldom made mistakes along the wing. Haughton, as usual, took a conspicuous part in all that was going on. Baud was hardly up to his best, yet did some good things, and Brown is another man who is distinctly coming on.

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1. A run for the ball 2. In front of St Kilda's goal 3. St Kilda's backs work hard 4. An infringement of the rules 5. After a throw-in

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UMPIRE ATTACKED

DISCREDITABLE DEMONSTRATION

Throughout the afternoon the crowd had been simmering with anger, as well as excitement, and there were frequent demonstrations against the umpire, L. Whyte, who figured in the field in his first League match. It was a difficult game to control, so keen were the players, and Whyte's decisions failed to please either side, although Carlton's supporters, especially after the defeat, considered that they have more reason to feel aggrieved than the St. Kilda barrackers. At half-time Whyte was vigorously hooted as he left the field for the interval, and during the closing stages of the game the outbursts of wrath from the crowd became more frequent and more violent.

When the bell signalled the end of the game, about 2,000 people, mostly boys and youths, swarmed on to the oval and rushed at the umpire. Several constables went to his assistance, but before they could reach him Whyte was knocked down. Two young men ran away, and one was captured by a constable after a smart chase. However, he was not identified as Whyte's assailant, and his name and address having been taken, he was liberated. Whyte was escorted off the ground to the dressing rooms by two constables, amidst a mob of yelling youths. At the same time thousands of people were hooting the umpire from the stands and the bank surrounding the oval, raising a pandemonium that could have been heard a mile away. Many women brandished their umbrellas, while men shook their fists at him, and as he reached the subway leading to the dressing-rooms they abused him with the thoroughness only attained by disappointed barrackers.

The St. Kilda players had already run the gauntlet. As a group of the players including McNamara, the most hated man in Carlton today, reached the subway leading to the dressing room and shelter, the crowd around the iron fence which protects the passage-way, vented its spite on the St. Kilda men. Some of the women were so mad with anger that they poked at the players with their umbrellas through the iron bars of the fence, and their impotence only made them madder. It was not until long after the match that the whole crowd dispersed, and peace once more reigned on Prince's Oval.

CARLTON PLAYER DISQUALIFIED

The independent tribunal of the Victorian Football League met yesterday evening to consider a change laid by Mr. Wheeler, the League's steward, against P. O. Brien (Carlton), of having kicked W. Schmidt (St. Kilda) in the match between the clubs last Saturday. Mr. Alex McCracken (chairman), and Mr. H. W. Bryant were present.

The steward said Schmidt and Woodcock (St. Kilda) and O'Brien (Carlton) were going for the ball; they all missed it, and Schmidt and O'Brien fell. Schmidt fell on his elbows and knees. O'Brien fell with his right leg across Schmidt's back. O'Brien looked round, and then deliberately kicked Schmidt in the loins. I said to O'Brien I would report him. He said, "I did not kick him."

Woodcock said, "You did, I saw you."

W. Woodcock (St. Kilda) said:—I saw Schmidt kick at the ball and miss it. His foot caught O'Brien on the face. They both fell. I saw O'Brien's foot go on to Schmidt's back.

Mr. Bryant:—Was it all done in one action?

Woodcock:—Yes, it was done so that a man could do it or not do it.

Mr. Bryant:—He could do it or not do it! That's what I wanted to know.

W. Schmidt said:—I felt a knock on the back. I thought it was a kick. I had kicked him by accident, and I thought he had lost his head. I do not remember the steward speaking to me later on. The Steward:—I said "Did that kick hurt you" Schmidt replied, "It’s not much; don't report him."

Mr. Bryant:—Do you realise that unless players are loyal to the League and the officials it appoints, half of the incidents which occur will be covered up. It is entirely wrong of players to attempt to induce the steward not to report another player.

The charge was sustained, and O'Brien was disqualified until July 27.