Australian Football

Match Report

ESSENDON'S GRAND FINISH

FITZROY RESPOND GALLANTLY

An interesting game, and for the greater part nothing between them. Thus in brief was the match between Fitzroy and Essendon, played at Fitzroy before a crowd of 20,000 people. For half the game they hung together with no more than a goal between them. Then in the third quarter Fitzroy got a break of four goals on Essendon, and as they entered upon the last stage, it was anticipated, generally, that Fitzroy would romp away with the game. But Essendon, with a determination born of despair, rushed to the attack, and playing fast and sure, they fairly swamped Fitzroy, scoring three goals quickly, which brought them to within five points. Then their forwards went to pieces, and at least two shots close in were bungled, which should have given them victory. Then Fitzroy's turn came, and, with four minutes to go and only three points separating them, they charged forward and got two goals. Such a finish has not been seen for many a day, for it had the effect of rousing the huge crowd to enthusiasm such as is rarely seen at a football game. Gove and Ogden, two of the smallest men on the ground, stood out for Essendon, in the last quarter especially, and through them Essendon should have won, for they played with rare dash and judgement, and help the forwards repeatedly. Fitzroy, however, played an even game, their back-line, especially, being their strongest point throughout, as it silenced the Essendon batteries for most of the game. The match was also a success from the monetary side, as £300 was taken at the gates.

1st Quarter

Essendon at the commencement showed better resource than Fitzroy, and McNeill and Webster forwarded to Lumsden, who went away with a swing and scored first goal. An exchange between Shaw, Heaney, and Freake gave Wilson a chance right in front, which he converted. McLennan dominated the centre, and Holden and Millen held command of the wings; but Essendon were solid in defence, and kept the score down. Fitzroy was lucky in getting their second goal, for Freake pushed Armstrong, who, on taking his kick, struck Freake, standing at his mark. Freake lost no time in picking up and scoring. Another goal came from Freake's boot after a kick over his head, and then Essendon took a hand. White brought it from the back line, and Belcher, Baring, and Ogden in concert swept forward, where Shea marked, and with a place-kick scored finely. Essendon continued the assault, and Ogden got another. Heaney, Norris, and Martin brought it down with long kicks for Fitzroy; but Laing and White stopped them and swung play to the wing. Bowe turned another change brilliantly, and clever exchange between White, Gove, Shea, and Ogden put Essendon in a nice position to score; but Lumsden missed badly.

2nd Quarter

The second quarter was finely contested, and, indeed, so sound was the defence of either team, that only one goal was scored. For a long while they were battling round the centre, and up and down the wings to no purpose, but every moment was alive with possibilities. Lumsden was always conspicuous for Essendon, and his timely pass to Bill Walker should have produced a goal; but a shot within easy range was missed badly. Essendon swooped down again, but Lenne was waiting, and his fine dash from goal round the wing and on past the centre, temporarily relieved the pressure. Then came Fitzroy's turn, Johnson, from a free kick, started the rush, and Wilson and Parratt drove it on with long kicks; but Armstrong was keeping goal in great form, and his dash around the wing was as fine as that of Fitzroy's goal-keeper, a few minutes earlier. Laing turned another heavy charge, and Bob Walker kicked it across the centre; but Norris sent it back, and then the ball was driven up and down the ground for a long time without material advantage to either side. It was good to watch, with not a dull moment—plenty of high marking and long-range kicking, and above all, clean ground play, with wonderfully accurate passing. Heaney, although suffering from an injured ankle, was brilliant forward for Fitzroy, and Hanley (following) and Kirby (roving) were in the thick of it for Essendon. Goals were hard to get, and most of the quarter had gone; but eventually Freake made a brilliant run, and given a free-kick at the end of it, he placed and scored. Shea was going great guns on Essendon's forward line, and Chalmers and Gove rendered a good account of themselves on the wings. Gove and Baring, with free kicks, got close up to goal; but the defence was always stronger than the attack, and the efforts of Essendon's back and centre line were wasted. Laing and Walker scored behinds, and at the end of the quarter Chalmers passed to Walker, who narrowly missed. At half-time Fitzroy were 4 goals 4 behinds; to 3 goals 4 behinds.

3rd Quarter

Fitzroy took charge of the third term, and got 4 goals 1 behind to 1 goal 1 behind. The Fitzroy forwards played grandly, and without hurry, in front of goal. Toohey got a goal from a snap. Essendon strove to get through the phalanx of Fitzroy's backs, but their efforts were of no avail. Belcher, Laing, and White were prominent for Essendon in leading assaults; but Lenne was playing brilliantly between the posts and stopped everything sent against him. Toohey got another goal for the Maroons, and then Baring, Belcher, Ogden, and Shea started an Essendon rally; but Cooper, Johnson, and McLennan forced them aside, and Freake scored. Heaney followed with another, and then Essendon reformed their ranks, and Kirby, Lumsden, and Shea forwarded with well-judged kicks to Ogden, who dashed out from the crowd and scored brilliantly. Lenne turned another hot rally; but just as Essendon were warming to their work the bell rang.

4th Quarter

Essendon were 24 points down at the final change. They quickly changed the aspect, however for Ogden set them going, and, after a scramble round the posts, Lumsden scored. Long kicks by White and Bowe, and a fine free kick to Gove, looked dangerous for Fitzroy; but Shaw cleared cleverly. Baring, Gove, and Kirby forced it down again, and the ball went out, and on the throw in Lumsden snapped a point. Dinsmore scored brilliantly from an angle, and then Essendon broke loose. Hanley seemed to take a high mark close to the goal, but to the wonderment of the players the ball was handed to Johnson. Walker swung it forward, Johnson turned it, and little Gove raised the spirits of Essendon with a fine run around the wing. It was exhilarating football, with the pace full on, though Fitzroy were showing signals of distress. In their eagerness to prevent Essendon from scoring, they bunched, and this nearly lost them the match. Gove forced it up from the wing, and Walker snapped a goal brilliantly, putting Essendon within 5 points. The Red and Blacks were going splendidly, and the salvos that greeted then everywhere encouraged them to mightier deeds. Lumsden led them forward, and Hanley secured a free-kick a few yards out—but he missed badly. Four points separated them. Gove drove it in again from the wing, and Kirby swung it on to Walker, a couple of yards out—and a groan rose from the crowd as he missed. Only 3 points between them. Ogden brought it down to Walker it again, but the ball went out. Five minutes to go, and still 3 points between them! How Essendon strove for the winning goal. The vast crowd was at fever heat, and watching each charge and counter-charge, scarcely breathing until something happened to relieve the tension. It was a maddening last 4 minutes, for there, in the semi-darkness, 36 players battled it out with feverish energy. Then the chain of suspense was snapped as a slight figure broke from the pack, and raced goalward, and, with a quick stab kick scored. It was Freake, and after the name had passed from lip to lip, and the goal umpire had waved two flags, the feelings of the pent-up multitude were released, and a deafening roar announced that Fitzroy were saved. Toohey hit the post, and got another before the bell, and settled all doubt, he final scores being:—

FITZROY, 10 goals 6 behinds (66 points).
ESSENDON, 7 goals 8 behinds (50 points).

Fitzroy, on the whole, played the better game—but they were lucky indeed to get out of it at the finish as they did. In a side that played an even game it is difficult to make comparisons, though, perhaps, the fine work of McLennan (centre), Millen and Holden (wing), Cooper, Lambert, Johnson, and Lenne (back), Norris (following), Shaw (roving), and Toohey, Freake, Heaney (who after the game, was in pain, owing to an injury to his ankle, which will probably keep him out of the game for a month), Martin, and Wilson (forward), gave them the victory.

For Essendon, on one stood out more prominently than Gove (on the wing), and Ogden (roving); though the work of Lumsden, Baring, Kirby, Belcher, Armstrong, Laing, White, Bob Walker, and Chalmers was well carried out. Murphy umpired moderately.