Australian Football

Round 5

Premiership Season 1914 - Round 5 Review

Total Crowd 70,758 (Avg 17,690)

A DISAPPOINTING ROUND

ST. KILDA AND CARLTON DEFEATED

By J.W.

Yet another perfect day greeted, players and spectators last Saturday. Turfs were beautiful and springy, the dull, cloudy day providing the necessary setting for a winter's pastime. South Melbourne and Essendon are, in the lead, the former's position being much, the more flattering of the two, for they have met and beaten Fitzroy and Carlton, teams that Essendon have yet to play.

Fitzroy are coming on. They were not in form at the commencement of the season, and are winning games while improving their standard. Carlton have been the unlucky team of the year. They have a number of' new men in the colours, and as a result, are a bit weak in combination, a fault that will be remedied as the season passes. The only result of the day's play was that Collingwood displaced St. Kilda from fourth-position. Notwithstanding the favourable conditions, the display all round was disappointing. In some instances, as at South Melbourne, inefficient umpiring was the direct cause; while in others the reasons were less obvious; It appears, however, that for footballers to give of their, best, a large and enthusiastic crowd is an absolute necessity; otherwise, they are apt to become apathetic, and play without life or spirit. One satisfactory phase of the day's play was the absence of crowds on the grounds after the cessation of play.

It is pleasing to record that the managements at the the discretion of the League, are carrying out the advice frequently tendered in these columns and if all trespassers are prosecuted with- out fear or favour, the fair name of Victorian football is not likely to be again be- smirched, and it should be unmistakably demonstrated that mob rule and violence will not be tolerated.     

R-5, Ladder