Australian Football

Match Report

THE GAME OF THE SEASON

SOUTH MELBOURNE BEATEN - COLLINGWOOD'S RESOLUTE FINISH

On a calm day which favoured football of the best, the meeting of Collingwood and South Melbourne on the South Melbourne Cricket-ground yesterday gave 24,000 people all the excitement they could possibly desire, and a match which for good and resolute football and doubt as to the issue sustained to the last moment may rank as the game of the season. There was a gate of £232, and the only disadvantage in losing the toss was that Collingwood began with the sun in their eyes.

1st Quarter

The game from the outset was fast and fair, and in its opening phases Collingwood were attacking determinedly. First of all, Wilson and Seddon gave Rush a running chance and he missed. Then Minogue got a free kick in front of goal, but from an easy distance failed. One of Hughes's towering marks kept up the pressure, and Hair was the first to give the Red and White fellows a moment's relief.

The ball was back again immediately, a beautiful mark by Wilson and Rush bringing it within range, when Prince shone out in Southern interests. A little later Jackson passed the ball to Lee, who kicked first goal for Collingwood, not before it was earned. It was again mainly Prince's effort that put Collingwood for the first time in danger, and Mutch and Rowell, who removed the peril. Wilson was very dashing, but gradually South Melbourne prevailed, and Stan Hiskins had two shots in quick succession without getting the goal. Then Jackson, who is new in the colours, took many risks in hanging on to the ball at the boundary, marked to the front, and with a left foot screw kick scored first goal for South. The pace increased. The marking on both sides was splendid, but Hughes was a real champion, and, never seen to finer advantage, towered over every other player on the ground. Minogue, too, marked manfully. From the pack Hughes hit the ball out cleverly to Wilson, who on an angle scored second goal for the Magpies. Just about that time two smart players in Caldwell and Jackson received injuries to the leg, but, while Caldwell was only hampered for the moment, Jackson was of no further use to Collingwood. Belcher gave Kelly a long shot and a good one, but not a goal. The South's second goal was indeed unexpected. The ball was driven low straight, and breast high to Rowell standing in goal, and ordinarily it would have been a safe mark. But Rowell dropped it, and before he could recover Morgan, with a quick pick up and a snap, had it through. At the close of the quarter, with scores of 2-5 to 2-2, South Melbourne led by 3 points.

2nd Quarter

The second quarter mostly in their favour—the period of the game when they showed to most advantage. As soon as the ball was in play, Hair passed it to Morgan, who kicked the third goal. McHale, whose shrewd head serves him when deftness fails, and Hughes, passed it up to the other end. Rowan missed from a free kick within easy range. Then Payne, another of the Southern recruits, sent it on to Morgan, whose shot hit the goal-post. Caldwell, who was then playing forward, immediately took a snapshot, and the hall just cleared Rowell's head for fourth goal. At that stage Collingwood's fine ruck work all went to waste through the failings of their forwards. After a hot rally, Rowan got a running chance for Collingwood and scored their third goal; but thence on South Melbourne shone out in repeated attacks, which pointed to them as certain winners. Prince passed the ball to Kelly, who just failed in his effort to score, but the ball came back immediately from Mullaly, and this time Kelly got fifth goal for his side with a fine place shot. Laxton had an opportunity for Collingwood, but was not equal to it. Two beautiful passing kicks by Tandy and Kelly carried the ball over two thirds of the ground, but Alec Mutch was always reliable in front of Collingwood's posts. From the wing, Charge next passed the ball to Kelly, whose shot just failed. He was kicking well, but the line was generally the least bit wrong. At the interval the scores were:—South Melbourne, 5 goals 9 behinds; Collingwood, 3 goals 5 behinds.

3rd Quarter

The opening of the third quarter showed Hughes as the lion of his side, the champion of the match. He and Minogue worked together splendidly, and Hughes helped his captain to a shot which got their fourth goal. After one of Hughes's grand efforts in the ruck, he got right forward and marked from Rush, but missed the chance for a goal that would have been the just reward of sustained effort. Saltau showed up well in the Southern defence just then, and he has a good deal of speed, but Tandy was one of those who rarely lost his kick. In a fine exhibition of passing, Saltau, Hair, Rademacher, and Deas roused Southern sympathisers to vocal cheers, but before long an almost equally fine effort from Collingwood was crowned with a goal. Saddler, Rush, and McHale dashed the ball up to Lee, who scored their third goal. It was only after a long shift of defence that the Southern men found themselves once again within range of Collingwood's posts, where Morgan had two shots in quick succession without turning either to much account. After a black and white interlude, the home team were assaulting again, and Prince and Kelly gave Stan Hiskins yet another chance. At the close of the third quarter the scores were:—South Melbourne, 5 goals 11 behinds; Collingwood, 3 goals 6 behinds.

4th Quarter

The Magpies opened the final quarter on the aggressive, Lee getting a shot through Mathieson's favour, which was very faulty indeed. Then Hughes worked within range, and just failed to find the spot. Seddon, who played gallantly for them, was knocked out for a moment, yet though very much exhausted, he saw it through to the finish. Collingwood did everything but get the goals, their little nugget Wilson having two shots in succession from rather sharp angles, and for a moment Hennington and Prince managed to give the Southern backs a little respite that was badly needed. Once Prince was loudly cheered for dodging his way amongst several opponents, who seemed to have him fairly guarded. South Melbourne missed a rare chance in getting a goal that would have been invaluable to them when Stan Hiskins went astray on a snap shot. Then the two old warriors McHale and Sadler showed up about Collingwood's centre line, and Hughes backing him, dropped the ball right into the arms of the full-back, Deas. Once from a tremendous tangle of players, the ball went through, it seemed to me from Seddon's boot, and there were wild cheers and disappointment when but one flag was hoisted. There was fresh excitement a little later when he got a free kick within range, and gloom when he proved unequal to it. The South were weakening, and Kelly was moved back to defend. As a counterbalance, Minogue, who never lost his head in the crisis, rushed Rowell forward. Only three points separated them, and Collingwood was constantly attacking. Charge's high marking and Deas's coolness back looked like carrying the South safely through, and Tandy and Prince, too, both did well, but the excitement reached a crisis when, within a couple of minutes of time, Lee marked the ball within fairly easy range. His opponents crowded around him, but Lee seeing Laxton unguarded within easy distance of goal, passed the ball to him and sixth goal was scored. Having got a lead they played like demons to keep it, and with both teams dog tired, and straggling in the dusk, the bell found Collingwood winners by three points of a game in praise of which too much can hardly be said. Murphy umpired with sound judgment, where unwise interference might have spoiled an altogether unusual contest. The final scores were:—

COLLINGWOOD, 6 goals 10 behinds (46 points).
SOUTH MELBOURNE, 5 goals 13 behinds (43 points).

For the winners four men gained special honour. Hughes was great indeed—by friend and foe admitted champion of the match. And Wilson, Minogue, and Seddon could hardly be separated. McHale and Sadler played as of old—they were rejuvenated. Alec Mutch, Rowan, Green, and Laxton were all admirable workers, and Jackson a heavy loss to the side when he went out. South Melbourne have a prize in Morgan, who is coming on with every game. Hair is another who realises expectations. Deas and Saltau did much in their defence. The three centre men, Prince, Mullaly, and Tandy, gave us some of the cleverest football of the match. Kelly marked well, kicked well, yet got but one goal. Neither Belcher, Caldwell, nor Charge could be blamed for the defeat, for all did their best.