Australian Football

Match Report

GEELONG'S EARLY LEAD

CARLTON KICK BADLY

Geelong went off with a rattle of goals against an unusually sluggish Carlton side, and had the game settled in the first quarter. The only change in their 18 which pressed Fitzroy so closely the week before was that Slater considered himself unfit and stood down, and Gray went in. McKenzie, of Launceston, and Green were included for the blues, who spelled McCarthy and Kiely. Geelong began with the aid of a light south breeze, but the handicap was not enough to create the marked contrast in the two sides. Carlton were always behind, they fumbled and their short passes failed as persistently as Geelong's driving kicks found the right spot.

1st Quarter

A great run by Dalton, a pretty mark by Armstrong, and a skimming place-kick by Fairbairn were the moves in Geelong's first goal. Daykin's two rushes were not backed up by Carlton, who were instantly defending again. Some dashing work by Allen gave Bill Eason the second goal, a nice place kick; and the third came next minute from a free kick to Gray. Carlton sustained an early misfortune in the disablement of Topping, who turned after taking a mark and displaced a small bone in the ankle. He was unable to take his kick, and Heinz had the ball away in a twinkling. Another place-kicked goal by Orchard was the outcome, and Martini, who was beating Dick in the air, got the fifth goal with a kick worthy of the fine work which secured it. Five goals had been scored without a behind, and, still monopolising the play, Geelong missed remarkably easy chances. To balance the scoring-board they put in five behinds in succession, one of them from an easy shot by Healey, which hit the post.

2nd Quarter

With 5-5 to nil against them, Carlton made poor use of the wind when they crossed over, Geelong scored in less than a minute through dashes by Alex Eason and Allen, and a snap by Martini. Grigg, Armstrong, and McCarter were beating Carlton's forwards badly, and it was well on to the end of the term before Gardiner, from a mark which was questioned, scored six points easily. Meanwhile Martini had just missed with two lovely kicks against the breeze, but at the third try, given him by Bill Eason, he raised the flags with a 30 yards kick. Carlton were playing like a demoralised team, and at the spell they had 7-7 to 1-2 debit against them.

3rd Quarter

On resuming the Blues were a changed side, fast and surer with the ball, and more vigorous in their methods. They had Geelong obviously rattled, but suffered through wretched work forward. The weakness was not at the goal base, where Topping stood crippled, but further out, and repeatedly the ruck drove the ball up only to find the half-forwards out of position. They had got their second goal after a dashing run by McGregor (now playing forward) and a snap by Green, and then began the series of exasperating failures. Challis and McKenzie were invariably the leaders, and the Tasmanian's debut was giving every satisfaction. Daykin, McKenzie, McGregor, and Cook was a fine passage, but when it ended with Topping at a sharp angle the goal was impossible. In the tight corners Grigg, McCarter, and Alex Eason were splendid workers. When Geelong broke away Heinz scored a single, and by a dashing piece of play he enabled Orchard to raise the eighth goal with a place kick. Carlton went on wasting golden opportunities. Eight easy shots had brought only one goal, and as an object-lesson in accuracy Geelong, at their third visit to the other end, put on six more points as the bell rang. Heinz was the kicker, but most of the credit was with Martini, who had bolted from a pack.

4th Quarter

Geelong had almost seven goals clear at the last change, which perhaps accounts for their indifferent finish. Another McKenzie—Challis effort gave a chance to Green, who hit the post. The side had all the better of the game, but the goal-getting was still bad. Gardiner, Sharp, Challis, Green, Cook, and Challis again all failed unaccountably, until at last a lofty mark by Baud in front of the sticks closed their goal account and opportunities. The final result was:—

GEELONG, 9 goals 11 behinds, 65 points.
CARLTON, 3 goals 16 behinds, 34 points.

Geelong's two rovers, Heinz and Alex Eason, were again sterling performers, and on the back line McCarter, Grigg, Rupe Brownlees, and Johns were very solid. Martini did admirable work forward, and capped it with three goals. Bill Eason, Baker, Dalton, Gray, and, at times, Orchard were also prominent.

Daykin, McDonald, and Challis (when he went into it) were Carlton's useful trio. McKenzie and McGregor, when they changed positions, both shone out, and Green, Scadden, Jamieson, Baud, Brown, Cook, and Dick (for occasional high marks), were the pick of the rest. Nordern umpired moderately well. He missed many things by being too far behind the pack.

FOOTBALL INCIDENTS

The football will endure much for honour and glory. Alex Eason, Geelong's rover, and a workman on the Geelong Harbour Trust's staff, had his right foot painfully crushed between two heavy pieces of timber on Saturday morning, and the odds against his appearance with the team seemed very remote. While his club mates were stripping, the "incubator," or hot air apparatus was driving away the bruised blood from the damaged leg, and at a few minutes to 3 he put on the uniform. Eason's achievements, both back and roving, were a fine advertisement for the "incubator."

Carlton lost the service of Topping in the first quarter at Geelong. He had marked almost against the fence, and when turning sharply, he slipped, and a small bone of the ankle was jarred. It settled Topping for the day, through when Carlton were fighting hard in the third term he hopped 10 yards on his good leg and took the mark near goal, but the pain in the left foot spoiled his aim.