Australian Football

Match Report

CARLTON'S FIRST QUARTER

ESSENDON BEATEN EARLY

Though Carlton's remarkable goal-kicking, supplementing almost equally fine work in the outfield, had Essendon under the whip at the close of the first quarter of their match, this by no means implies that the game was over or that interest in it had disappeared. Carlton had reached a serious position.

1st Quarter

They needed a victory almost as badly as any team in the League, and they went to work early with the air of men who were determined to get it. They played with spring and dash, while Essendon seemed to be tired and slow, had not apparently made so good a recovery as their opponents from the effects of Saturday's play. In that first quarter they kicked 6 goals 1 against only 1 behind—and that odd point came from a shot by Gardiner, one of the easiest chances of the term. Carlton's kicking was indeed exceptional. Gardiner got two of their goals. Lowe also scored a brace, and the others were got by Green and McKenzie. Yet Carlton's success, through the result of fine marking, kicking, and dash all ever the field, seemed to rouse, rather than depress Essendon, for thence on to the end of the match they were quite as good as the blues. Their only defect was in their forwards. These were never at any period of the game comparable with the Carlton batch.

2nd Quarter

Having closed the first stage with scores of 6-1 to Essendon's bare goal, kicked by Ogden, Carlton barely did more than hold their own through the second phase, when they had two goals to Essendon's one. The difference between the teams was mainly this. Carlton started the season with a number of new men, who were slow to find their feet and places, but who are now settling down. Essendon were compelled to experiment with several new men, and the result was not at all satisfactory. At half-time the scores were:—Carlton, 8 goals 3 behinds; Essendon, 2 goals 3 behinds, so that Carlton maintained up to then all they had won in a rather sensational opening.

3rd Quarter

They were not only the better team then, but right through the day, Essendon being hampered later on by injuries to two of their men, both entirely accidental, and in no way due to ill-feeling or rough play. Nehill, after a collision, complained of severe pain in the chest and a difficulty in breathing. Caine suffered from a painful bruise just over the kidneys. If there was any notable difference for the rest of the match it was that Essendon's forwards never reached anything like the standard of Carlton's backs. At three-quarter time Carlton had drawn further away, were leading by no fewer than 46 points, with scores of 10-7 to Essendon's 3-3.

4th Quarter

Essendon finished pluckily and well, winning more credit then than in any other period of the game. For just that term they shot better than Carlton, and, with about equal opportunity, got three goals to Carlton's one. The scores at the end were:—

CARLTON, 11 goals 10 behinds (76 points).
ESSENDON, 6 goals 3 behinds (39 points).

Great interest was taken in the play, which was watched by about 17,000 people, the gate-money being £230. For individual effort Haughton was the star of the winners, who had several fine players engaged. It would be difficult indeed to better the efforts of Baud, Dick, Brown, and Clancy. It is doubtful whether Dick has ever done better for Carlton. Both Brown and Clancy are weak in their kicking, but otherwise fine, clever footballers. Cook, formerly of Bendigo, was a prominent Carlton forward. He got three goals, one of them from a place kick, the best of the match. Gardiner, though he got no goals after the first quarter, helped the others, so that Green scored three times and Lowe twice. Green also did first rate things in the outfield. The efforts of Hammond in the ruck, McDonald back, McKenzie forward, McGregor at his old post in the centre, were always appreciated. For Essendon no one did better than Baring, by common consent the champion of the game. In the second half Hanley, who was not done much of late, was right back to his best. Gore commenced well on the wing, and was seen to even greater advantage when they posted him against McGregor in midfield. Ogden roved with his usual consummate skill and energy, and, when given the chance forward, scored three of Essendon eight goals, two more being got by Lumsden. Rowe was by a good deal the best of the red and black defenders, quite up to his old capacity, while Webster also played good football. The match was capitally umpired by Norden.