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Carlton vs South Melbourne

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GF   Venue: M.C.G.   Date: Sat, 02-10-1909 2:50 pm   Crowd: 37,759   Gate: £1,200.00  
Carlton 0.5.52.9.213.11.294.12.36 C:  Fred Elliott
South Melbourne 0.5.52.9.214.12.364.14.38 C:  Charlie Ricketts
  Scores levelScores levelSTH by 7STH by 2  

Match Report

SOUTH MELBOURNE WINS THE GAME OF THE SEASON

The league premiership for 1909 was fairly, meritoriously, even splendidly, won by the South Melbourne team on Saturday, when the odds and the omens seemed to be all against them. A week ago I expressed the opinion that there was one way in which South Melbourne might win — that was by making the game fast and open, by going always for the ball, never for the man, and that was exactly what they did in the great final. It was a model game in every respect, full of skill, thrill, dash and determination, and played in a spirit that stood out in conspicuous and agreeable contrast to many matches of the season. At one time it looked as if South Melbourne's luck alone would beat them, and, as they went on whipping Carlton handsomely in the play, yet missing golden opportunities of scoring, the sympathies of the crowd swung completely in their favour. When, amid nerve straining excitement, the last bell rang, the cheers of the crowd were an honest acknowledgment of South Melbourne's merits, and a victory well and pluckily won. Never have South Melbourne colours been so popular, and rarely with better reason, than they were on Saturday.

The league, the teams and the onlookers, were all in luck for the forenoon promised a most disagreeable day, yet the ground was in perfect order for play and, excepting for a sprinkle of rain at the commencement of the last quarter, the afternoon was fine. There were 36,700 people watching the match, and a gate of £1,200 for the last day gave a total return of £5,187 for the league finals. It is a remarkable fact as proving the popularity of football in Victoria, that when a week ago, the league and association were playing their finals one person in every twenty of the entire population of the State was watching the progress of either game.

Almost from the first bounce of the ball in Saturday's match the onlookers were commenting with satisfaction upon the better feeling that prevailed. There was not an act or an incident from start to finish that called for censure, yet, curiously enough, several players were injured and at the finish Carlton were practically playing only sixteen men. These mishaps were due, not to rough play, but wholly to the reckless pluck of the men in taking risks whenever there was anything to gain. It was neck or nothing all through.

First Quarter

From the bounce of the ball Belcher was the first man on view, his clever squirm through the crush landing the ball in Carlton ground. Their backs took it out with a breezy rush, Carlton playing then to the best end, and down the wind. Kelly had a long shot, but missed, and soon afterwards Topping took a mark within range — Deas slipping at the critical moment, as he dashed out of goal to spoil the mark. Topping also missed but the attack seemed to rouse the South Melbourne backs, who thence on played splendidly. Drane, Bower, and Thomas all shone out in turn for the South, while Carlton got position with brief, sudden dashes. In one of these Hammond, Baquie, and Jinks took it the whole length of the ground, and a behind was scored.

South Melbourne were playing football that must tell, and it was only Mortimer's mistakes forward that robbed them of their just re- ward. First Drane and Gough passed it in to him from the Richmond wing, and an easy chance was missed. Within a minute he got a second one that also failed. Mortimer was flurried then — he hardly knew what to do, and in a struggle, right up it the Carlton posts, he spoiled a good position for his side by tamely dribbling it behind. Gough, who was playing finely, gave Mortimer yet another opportunity. He stood irresolute for a few seconds, not knowing whether to punt, drop or place it but the shot was even worse than the others. South Melbourne should then have had at least two goals. At about that stage their fine back man, Grimshaw, came down heavily, and lay on the grass, very limp and still for a time. It took the trainers a long time to get him on his feet again. He was obviously dazed, almost useless; for, being sent forward, the best that he could do was to add a few to South Melbourne's mistakes in shooting for goal. Belcher was also out of play for a couple of minutes but soon pulled himself together, and maintained his form. During this determined onslaught by the South, Gillespie and Clarke in turn cleared then goal front by strong, straight ahead dashes. Kerr and Deas gave Mortimer his next chance and the southern contingent almost groaned in despair when he missed another shot. Nor was Carlton's forward work much better, for, after Topping had dodged a couple of the opposing backs very smartly, his shot at short range hit the goal-post. Just at the finish of the quarter Scobie came into notice for a couple of spirited dashes from the Red and White home lines, and on the first bell the scores were even — five behinds to either side. These ten points represented the only weak features of the play. There were encouraging cheers as the teams changed ends for everyone was pleased with South Melbourne's vastly improved form.

Second Quarter

Both sides changed their rucks — the South sending in Barry, Cameron, and Ricketts to replace Franks, Belcher, and Kerr, with whom they started, while Carlton put in Marchbank, Jinks and Baquie to relieve Johnson, Hammond, and Lang. The rucks were well matched in the opening quarter, but in the second South Melbourne at once missed the strong resolute work of Franks. In the early stages of the quarter it was Carlton's turn to miss, both Kelly and Topping adding to their failures. Otherwise Marchbank and Hammond put in some good play for the side, while Scobie, Wade, and Drane did things for the South that were either clever or dashing — sometimes both. Bruce, Lang, and Jinks looked like getting home once, but Scobie and Pentland were equal to the occasion. Out of a sustained Carlton assault in which Johnson was seen to advantage, Topping at length whipped the ball between the Southern posts, Pentland, who was in goal, being just too short to reach it. It only spurred on the South to even greater effort. They were right in on Carlton's goal when Gillespie stopped them. Then Deas passed it on to Barry, who pulled down a fine mark from the crush, but his shot hit Jinks, who stood to his mark. At this stage, Baquie, who was roving, injured his ankle, and after getting it bound up was just able to limp about amongst the forwards.

After Lang and Jinks had forced a behind for Carlton, South Melbourne made a rattling dash, in which the ball passed from Drane and Deas to Mortimer, who cleverly passed it on to Gough. His shot was just a little bit outside the post, but immediately Franks brought comfort to the South by a rush through the crush which literally forced a goal. Almost in an instant the South were attacking again. Franks and Deas played it to Ricketts who coolly scored their second goal. Shortly afterwards Caine got his first opportunity for Carlton but it was a miss. Within two minutes he had missed again in a most remarkable manner. South backs were taken by surprise. There were three Carlton men in a group, all close to the goal, and with the ball. Pentland made a desperate dash in amongst them, but could do nothing, and Caine found himself in possession — the Southern goal open, no opponent nearer than 30 yards. He ran up to within a couple of yards of the line, and in some extraordinary way missed. The onlookers could hardly trust their eyesight or the single flag. After that extraordinary escape the South Melbourne fellows, still playing finely, and with their assaults led by Franks, Hiskens, Ricketts, and Kerr in fine style, forced their way to range, where Gough added another to their misses. It was just on half time — in fact the ball from Topping's kick was in the air when the bell rang — that Carlton got their second goal, and at the interval the scores were again even — 2.9 to each side. South Melbourne were still playing better football than their rivals — the question that interested thousands of people was "Can they last it out at the pace?"

Third Quarter

The only alteration in the first ruck was that Ricketts went on roving for the South instead of Kerr. Jinks at once shone out for he and Gough were prominent in forcing the ball on to Mortimer, who finally got a goal. Some breezy play by Bruce and Gotz put the South upon their defence; Pentland and Belcher stayed it for a minute, but Baquie got a free kick close in, and as often happens, the cripple got the goal. The scores still kept even — 3.9 each — with the excitement increasing every instant, and everybody wholly absorbed in the play. South Melbourne, however, should have gone right ahead at that stage. They were showing fine stamina and pluck. First Kerr gave a chance to Grimshaw, whose kick bounced off Jinks, at his mark; Mortimer next had a shot and hit the left-hand goal-post. In less than a minute Grimshaw tried, and hit the right-hand goal-post. There were no others to hit, so Carlton broke through, as they were accustomed to do, and Caine added one more to the shooting failures. In the next Red and White rush the passing between Mortimer, Cameron, and Deas was fast and fine. Not so Grimshaw's shot. He was only 12 yards off, but missed quite easily.

dfa07.AFL-1909GF.jpgTo the South it was almost heart-breaking. Here was the premiership in their hands, and their forwards, blundering frightfully, were just throwing it back at Carlton. To their credit they never caved in. A beautiful dash by the South took it fast along the wing, with Hiskins preeminent, and just as Gotz had stopped this rush he fell, and was carried off the ground. He returned later on, but was of little good to Carlton afterwards. Lang was roving splendidly for the Blues. He gave Elliott a chance that failed; then with the help of Johnson furnished Caine with another try, and another miss. The South did better. Their forwards were fine in exchange, faulty only in their shooting. This time Hiskins, Belcher, Ricketts, and Deas shone out; Gough look the shot, and to roaring cheers scored South Melbourne's fourth goal. There was nothing in the end of the quarter to equal two magnificent dashes by Ford. He and Lang were superb just then. The more Carlton suffered the better they played. Grimshaw added yet another miss to his now long list, and at the last change South Melbourne had a hard-won lead, of seven points, and the game had reached a phase of most absorbing interest. South Melbourne deserved to win — yet more people feared than hoped that just at the last moment Carlton would pull the match out of the fire with one of their great hearted rallies.

Fourth Quarter

The whole of the last quarter was a period of wild excitement, with trembling South Melbourne hands counting the minutes on their watches, and the Carlton thousands roaring their heroes on. It was desperately hard — no player cared for consequences. There was only one thought — Win. At the opening Payne made a brilliant rush forward for Carlton, and Wade furnished the counter-check. Next Kerr and Mortimer had it in turn — and the passes ended with Gough, whose shot curved away outside the post at the last instant. Ford and Payne made splendid efforts to get home for Carlton, but the Blue forwards were well watched, and it was Bower's clever football that checked this danger, though it took a long time to quite clear the goal. Carlton's dashes were more frequent now — with two men idle they were doing splendidly. Caine got a free kick, but did nothing serviceable with it. In a struggle in front of Carlton's goal there was a free kick to Gough, but no other result of consequence till Ford took it out. He was hardly back in place before the ball was with him, and South Melbourne sympathisers were being tantalised, tortured with the promise of a goal every instant. Scobie, who had moved up from the back lines, took his try as a sharp- shooter. He was as good as the others, but no better. Belcher tried to reach the right spot — and missed. Then came the dangerous Carlton counter-strike, with Johnson leading it. That rush ended with a mark by Kelly almost on the boundary — but with a straight shot he found the narrow opening wide enough, and got Carlton's fourth goal. There was a roar of delight from their followers. They were going to win after all — the South with all their striving were only two points ahead.

The finish was almost too thrilling for detailed description. People shook with excitement as the play swung from end to end like a pendulum. Just at the last instant Franks rose to the occasion — the lion of the side. Twice he stopped it, and rushed it back, when Carlton were coming on. A third time Carlton were sailing home by the wing, but half way the bell stopped them. In a desperate finish South Melbourne had won by two points, and the heroes of the match were being carried triumphantly home on the shoulders of their excited friends. It was a great finish to a great game — and the end was just as it should have been. Both sides had missed a lot of scoring chances — many of them easy chances — but the merits of the game were unquestionably with South Melbourne, and their victory was an appropriate climax to a remarkable season.

Best Players

On the winning side no one did such valuable work as Franks. In the ruck or out of it, wherever they played him he was the South's salvation. Their defence was even, and most resolute. The injury to Grimshaw weakened it, because he was not of much use forward, but Scobie, Pentland, and Thomas all did splendidly. Short of the vital consideration of goal-kicking, the Southern forwards were equally fine, Deas, Hiskins, Gough, and Mortimer all playing great football. Drane, who went in as an emergency, played splendidly on the wing, and in the close plugging work of the ruck Belcher was a fine second to Franks, with Ricketts and Kerr making few mistakes as rovers.

Carlton had four men of pretty nearly equal merit, in Lang, Payne, Johnson, and Marchbank, the preference of any being about in the order named. Another excellent pair were Clark back, and Bruce on the wing. Elliott and Jinks did better work than the regular forwards, though Topping, apart from sharing in the common fault of missing good opportunities in goal-shooting, was at times playing very quick and clever football. Elder umpired the game with excellent judgment, but it was so fair and sportsmanlike that the task was made easy.

Source

Match report by Observer

Footnotes

Title: South Melbourne wins. The game of the season. A thrilling finish. Notes by Observer. Author: Donald Macdonald (“Observer”) Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria, 1848 - 1957) Date: Monday, 4 October, 1909, p.6 (Article) Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10737989?#pstart357091

Match stats

Carlton Match Stats Career
# Player K M H D G B HO T FF FA Age Games G
Baquie, Jack 1 23y 84d 30 9
Bruce, George 0 30y 58d 115 14
Caine, Frank 0 28y 66d 80 147
Clark, Norm 0 30y 324d 79 0
Elliott, Fred 0 30y 178d 174 72
Ford, Arthur 0 28y 112d 44 5
Gillespie, Doug 0 21y 293d 64 0
Gotz, Martin 0 26y 218d 61 14
Hammond, Charlie 0 23y 197d 92 19
Jinks, Fred 0 28y 312d 60 28
Johnson, George 'Mallee' 0 30y 124d 90 29
Kelly, Harvey 1 26y 192d 52 79
Kennedy, Ted 0 32y 25d 149 14
Lang, Alex 0 21y 204d 77 52
Marchbank, Jim 0 31y 46d 53 23
McGregor, Rod 0 26y 348d 90 14
Payne, Billy 0 27y 281d 91 0
Topping, George 2 28y 36d 116 132
  Rushed   12  
  Totals         4 12         27y 212d 1517 651
South Melbourne Match Stats Career
# Player K M H D G B HO T FF FA Age Games G
Barry, Dave 0 21y 32d 10 1
Belcher, Vic 0 21y 39d 58 21
Bower, George 0 25y 106d 19 5
Cameron, Jim 0 27y 344d 85 33
Deas, Bob 0 23y 15d 20 29
Drane, Horrie 0 28y 229d 56 12
Franks, Bert 1 29y 205d 64 37
Gough, Alf 1 21y 208d 19 19
Grimshaw, Tom 0 19y 297d 39 0
Hiskins, Arthur 0 23y 23d 35 22
Kerr, Alex 0 28y 323d 47 38
Mortimer, Len 1 23y 161d 73 151
Moxham, Billy 0 23y 164d 26 1
Pentland, Alan 0 25y 364d 14 0
Ricketts, Charlie 1 24y 91d 58 32
Scobie, Jack 0 18y 10d 19 0
Thomas, Bill 'Sonna' 0 22y 326d 59 2
Wade, Ted 0 24y 284d 60 3
  Rushed   14  
  Totals         4 14         24y 15d 761 406

Match highlights

Len Mortimer kicked his 50th goal for the season for South Melbourne vs. Carlton (V/AFL, Premiership Season, GF)
Fred Jinks played his last game for Carlton (V/AFL, Premiership Season, GF)
Frank Caine played his last game for Carlton (V/AFL, Premiership Season, GF)
George 'Mallee' Johnson played his last game for Carlton (V/AFL, Premiership Season, GF)
Ted Kennedy played his last game for Carlton (V/AFL, Premiership Season, GF)

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.