Australian Football

Match Report

GEELONG'S FIRST WIN

MELBOURNE COMING ON

Geelong have not yet justified the firm belief their supporters held at the beginning of the season that the honours this year are coming their way. They beat Melbourne fairly comfortably, but were listless, as a rule, and have not developed the speed nor skill of the later stages of last season. More vigour at practice might make the difference. They tried Allen, of Inverleigh, and again included Freeman, Wilton, and Baker, in place of Gray, Johns, James, and Rankin. Melbourne put in a fairly strong side. Watt, McGuire, and Quinn had a run, and Britten, Armstrong, and Biddington were spelled.

1st Quarter

All the excitement was in the first half, when there was never a clear goal between the teams. Fairbairn, who was prominent at the start for the Reds, but never afterwards, led the way to the first goal, screwed by Incigneri. They had a hot siege for 10 minutes, and Geelong kicked wretchedly. Lugton was the thorn, and time after time subdued Martini. Bill Eason snapped Geelong's first goal, and Martini redeemed his early failures by getting a lovely goal, after good passing by Grigg. In many rushes, in which McGuire, as usual, took many unnecessary risks, Allen scored with a long drop-kick, and Fairbairn raised the flags with a snap from a crush. They crossed over Melbourne 3 goals 2 behinds; Geelong, 2 goals 5 behinds.

2nd Quarter

Geelong faults on the forward lines remained pronounced. Some clever exchanging by Grigg, Alec Eason, Baker, and Tom Brownlees won the goal, and then Martini missed thrice before getting the fourth with a magnificent kick. He was also responsible for the fifth, the result of another great kick, and was still getting too far under the ball when trying for marks. McGuire, waiting opportunities on the fringe of the goal line scrimmages, scored two goals for Melbourne, and at the interval Geelong led, 5-8 to 5-3.

3rd Quarter

Melbourne's undoing came in the third quarter, when Geelong rattled them by zig-zagging passes, some of them admirable. Orchard, through Baker's good handballing, punted sixth goal for the home team, for whom Bill Eason, fitter than he has been for years, was atoning for the indifferent play of the other forwards. He was a link in a chain of marks up to Tom Brownlees, and, running on, he got it again, and the goal. Armstrong turned back a Melbourne sortie, and Bill Eason, dodging the crowd, ran in, and dropkicked another goal. The sequence of goals should have been greater, because the team was now playing with system, but the forwards were all astray.

4th Quarter

With 27 points in hand, Geelong were in a comfortable position, and early in the last quarter they went further ahead, Baker, with a dropkick, and A. Eason, with a snap, raising the flags. In a tame finish Geelong were careless, end from four approaches to goal Melbourne got the maximum of points. None were deliberate shots. Trahair scored on the run when the goal was deserted; Fairbairn potted the sixth while the Geelong men were resenting a decision for holding the ball; Trahair went close again, and Gordon tipped it through; and Incigneri got the ninth just on time. The game was played in the best spirit, and ended—

GEELONG, 10 goals 14 behinds (74 points).
MELBOURNE, 9 goals 4 behinds (58 points).

Geelong indulged in too much finessing near goal, and Melbourne overdid their handball.

Heinz roved at his best for Geelong, and had no equal on the ground. Bill Eason and Grigg were a pair of great workers, and Marsham showed that he to getting into his stride. Allen's debut stamped him as a future champion. He has a great turn of speed, and a dash to the ball that is of great value. It is a sufficient recommendation for him that he crossed over with Dalton to keep McKenzie in check, and did it well. Armstrong, Alec Eason, McCarter, Orchard, Baker, and Dalton were the best of the others.

Lugton was the star of the losing side, where three was too much individual effort, with McGuire a notable offender. Monk, Quinn, and Evans defended splendidly; Lilley and McKenzie were safe in the centre, and occasionally Cole, Incigneri, Allen, Hendrie, Gordon, and Trahair came into prominence. McSherry's umpiring was patchy.