Australian Football

Vics down SA in tight contest

Match preview

The intercolonial football match between Victoria and South Australia will be played on the Melbourne Cricket-ground to-day, the Victorian Football Asso- ciation observing the usual course of holding the premiership competition in suspense for this date only, though a couple of club matches of no particular interest are arranged. The match is always an interesting one, but Victoria has so far managed to keep the lead in these contests, which from the popularity of the game here, and the great number of first-rate clubs from whom Intercolonial players could be drawn, was to be expected.

The last match played in Adelaide was won by Victoria after a fine contest, although on that occasion the strength of our twenty was somewhat affected by the determination of the association to allow expenses to players but to make no payments for loss of time. Although no such attraction is needed to secure a large gathering, it has been announced that any surplus on the game will be handed to the Mornington Relief Fund.

The match will commence at three o'clock, and prior to that hour the Melbourne and Metropolitan Baseball nines play a match on the ground.

The Victorian team, as will be seen from the names given below, is a very strong one, though whether it is the strongest that could be chosen is a matter of opinion.

The colours of the home team are Royal blue jersey with gold sash, blue caps and hose, both teams wearing white knickerbockers - at the commencement of the game, at any rate. The South Australian colours are black and white jersey and cap and black stockings.

The South Australians arrived in Melbourne by the express yesterday morning, and although the team is said to be the most powerful that the colony has ever sent to Victoria, it would be idle to pretend that it is absolutely the best that could be put into the field, the absence of a few leading South Adelaide players weakening it materially.

On the arrival of the South Australians yesterday they were received by representatives of the V.F.A., who did all in their power to atone for the lack of courtesy shown the South Adelaide Club, which was a matter for much comment in Adelaide. Drugs were provided for the team, and the health of the visitors proposed to by Mr. D. Rannard, the honorary treasurer of the association. Mr. Stanley Evans is the manager of the team. In the evening they had an invitation from Mr. Bland Holt to witness ‘The Bells of Haselmere’, at the Theatre Royal.

Mr. J. J. Trait, who as an umpire is quite as popular in Adelaide as in Mellbourne, will be the field umpire in the match, Messrs. Rickards and Turpenny acting as goal umpires.

At a meeting of the Victorian team held last night. Banks was appointed captain. The teams are as follows:

VICTORIA

Essendon: Forbes, Thurgood, Angwin, Officer

Carlton: Sutton, Currie, Roberts

Geelong: Burns, Wheatland

Fitzroy: Melling, Reynolds, Banks, Grace

St.Kilda: Williamson, Forman

South Melbourne: Windley, Doran, McKay

Richmond: Powell

Footscray: Coward

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Norwood: Bertram, Daly, Holbrook, Jackson, Thompson, Woods, J. Woods, C. Grayson

Port Adelaide: Davis, Schwann, Phillips, Miers, K. McKenzie, A. McKenzie, J. McKenzie, K. Fry, Hamilton, Covacevich

South Adelaide: Bushby, A. Jones, Monck

Match report

The annual intercolonial football match between Victorian and South Australian twenties, was played on the Melbourne Cricket-ground on Saturday, in the presence of some 20,000 people. Hitherto the custom has been to play two matches on the occasion of such visits, the home team generally picking for the second game a majority of players who have been excluded from the first team. This year, however, South Australia set the example of playing the one match only, and some of the South Australians return home to-day, while the rest of the team leave to-morrow. This step was a wise one, as the second game was apt to cause some confusion in the keeping of the records. The Victorian team was admittedly a strong one, and the South Australian twenty, it was admitted, could have been improved by the inclusion of three or four players who were unable to undertake the trip. The teams and positions at starting were:

Victoria

Back: Officer, Sutton, Reynolds,

Half Back: Doran, Williamson, Powell,

Centre: Angwin, Windley, Wheatland

Half Forward: Coward, Thurgood, Roberts

Forward: Forbes, Grace, Banks

Following: Currie Forbes McKay, Melling

Roving: Burns

South Australia

Back: A. Bushby, Grayson, Jones

Half back: Schwann, Miers, Monck

Centre: J. Woods, Bertram, Jackson

Half-forward: Thomson, A. McKenzie, Davis

Forward: J. McKenzie, K. McKenzie, C. Woods

Following: Phillips, Holbrook, Hamilton, Covacevich

Roving: Daly

The two captains Banks and K. McKenzie, both adopted the plan of placing themselves forward, through their work in that part of the field was practically roving. At starting the teams drew up and gave each other three cheers that were much more strongly reechoed by the crowed. The Victorians at starting had the advantage of a strong wind, which blew towards the railway goal but slightly across it.

First quarter

The two captains were the first men in evidence on the ball being bounced, Banks sending into South Australian ground, and K. McKenzie, bringing it out again, tried to work it round the right wing, where Miers and Bertram put in some clever work for South Australia, the latter thus early in the game proving himself a great centre player. Currie shone in the ruck, and chiefly through Victorian superiority there the ball was forced down and helped on by Coward to the South Australian goal. Phillips and J. Woods both showed some dashing play in defence but the Victorians, through over-eagerness, missed a fine chance of scoring, two of them jumping, for the ball and spoiling each other, with no South Australian near.

Victoria kept pressing the attack, Banks playing to Grace, who was not in a good position, and who passed it on to Thurgood. The Essendon crack missed the little mark, and should have at once played back to Grace again, but took a hurried punt instead, and scored first behind for Victorian. Daly, the South Australian rover, took it away from his goal round the right wing, but Melling stopped it before dangerous gound was reached, and Doran backing him up - both showing clever dodging - landed it well in South Australian ground again, where Thurgood marked splendidly, but probably by reason of his first failure declined to try for goal again, though well within range. He played forward, and after a short battle in the ruck marked the ball out of a scrimmage again. At first he was well out and placed for a long shot but the South Australians had incautiously left his mark, and Currie pointing out the opening to him Thurgood ran in and punted first goal for Victoria. On the ball being bounced Angwin carried it round the wing with a nice run, but the South Australian defence was equal to the emergency. Next Powell and Burns were seen to effect, each showing such sound and pretty football that the crowd cheered them heartily. It was chiefly through the good work of Melling that the Victorians scored their second goal.

He played it forward, where Grace marked in a good position, and had no difficulty in bringing up the two flags. In twelve minutes' play Victoria had thus made a pretty fair start. On continuing, Bertram got the ball past the centre, and A. McKenzie, from a good mark, sent it up to the Victorian goal, where just as things were looking critical Powell marked and turned the attack. Burns, backing him up, sent to the centre, where Bertram was again the right man in the right place for South Australia. His mark was a line one and backed up by A. McKenzie, they forced it alone the right wing, so that Thomson came into possession at nice range, and kicked first goal for South Australia, an encouraging cheer from a thoroughly impartial crowd marking this first success of the visitors.

As soon as it was off again. J. Woods dashed into the ruck, and fairly beating two Victorians forced it up the wing, where Daly tried for goal but missed. Jackson, on the South Australian right wing, put in some telling work, and sent it forward to K. McKenzie, but a good mark by Forbes close in goal was the salvation of the Royal Blues. Next Hamilton shone on the right wing and when soon afterwards he placed for a long shot, no one expected him to get it. He amazed the crowd, however, by kicking a magnificent goal and ringing cheers greeting the feat - for it was far off and on the angle. Set going again the Victorian ruck carried the ball down, and Banks had a good chance to score off the ground with the goal only a few yards away, but lost it.

In some good defence work for South Australia Monck was seen to great advantage, and Bushby was also encouraged for one of his spirited dashes along the wing. Doran stopped it, however, and an exchange of marks between Banks, Roberts, Currie and McKay gave the Richmond man a long range shot, which went away to the right and out of bounds. After Forbes had checked one rush by Miers the South Australians made repeated efforts to break down the Victorian defence, the conspicuous men in the rally being Bushby, Covacevich, and Phillips. Powell and Melling on the Victorian side did best at this stage, and when South Australia rallied again, with Monck and Bushby prominent, Forman and Forbes were the lions for Victoria. Although the play had not up to this been quite what was expected the closing rallies were an exhibition of spirited and clever football. The goal-kicking had been remarkably good, the board showing four goal-two to each-as against only two behinds.

First Quarter: Victoria, 2 goals, 2 behinds; South Australia, 2 goals.

Second quarter

Changing ends, Currie, out of the ruck, forced it forward, Jones relieving the South Australian goal, but Burns splendidly marked and returned his kick. In a rush of players before the South Australian posts Currie and Schwann jumped for the ball and came into violent collision, both being left on the grass. Schwann was able to pull himself together after a while, and go on playing, but Currie who was in great pain, had to be carried off the ground. He was attended by Dr. Adams in the dressing-room. His injuries being rather painful than serious, though likely to keep him out of the football field for some little time. The loss of his services at this stage was a heavy one to the Victorians.

South Australia worked to the Victorians end where J. McKenzie got it from A. McKenzie, and with another of those remarkable shots which this season have been an eye-opener to Victorians, scored third goal for South Australia. Burns made a good try to beat off the South Australians but the clan McKenzie kept foremost in the fray. Davis and Thomson ran it to A. McKenzie who made another beautiful long shot and scored fourth goal, and the onlookers, realising that there was nothing fluky about such a performance, cheered them warmly.

The Victorians were growling at each other a bit and fault-finding - not altogether a bad sign - and in response to calls of ‘Play together Vics’, they did play together, and maintained an attack on the South Australian posts. Burns and Forbes were first conspicuous; then an exchange of marks between McKay, Forbes, and Banks gave the captain a show, which went for nothing. Banks getting it again played to Grace, who tried it on the angle, but went across the goal front, where McKay marked on the other wing, and so far a long time they kept pegging away, but could never get a really good chance to score.

Twice when the South Australian backs appeared to have got it away, Melling and Wheatland brought it back again. Such persistency could only have one ending. Burns, Melling, and Forman got it into position once more, and after Thurgood had lost a mark in front he made up for it by kicking a goal out of a scrimmage. Some rattling play followed, in which Holbrook and K. McKenzie, for South Australia, and Doran, Forman, and Reynolds, for Victoria were conspicuous, Doran, as usual, using his arms to chop a road through the ruck. Windley took it up the centre to Thurgood, who very nearly got it to Grace in good position. The Fitzroy goal-sneak, however, almost immediate marking on the angle, but his shot went across the goal.

J.Woods by a fine effort got it away, and Thomson carried it down the ground, where Powell and Officer both went for a mark, the Richmond man getting it. Burns and Forbes, by good work in the ruck, forced it against the wind once more, and Forman helped them, but the reliable Woods was once again active in the South Austialian interests. Once the visitors were within reach of the Victorian goal for several minutes, but their efforts at exchange were rather poor for a long time. Eventually Bushby got it to A. McKenzie, and another of his long-range shots brought up fifth goal for the visitors. They followed it up with another remarkable dash in which brilliant play was shown inturn by Bushby, J. Wood, K. McKenzie, and the rover Daly. The latter got it across to C. Woods, who in the opinion of most Victorians is the finest kick in Australia, but he failed to get it high enough. Forman, McKay, and Roberts at once took it up the ground and the Richmond man finished up the rally in the finest style by running it close into goal and scoring Victoria's fourth.

There was a perfect roar of derision from the crowd when Doran drop-kicked into a group of six Victorians, and almost every man went for the ball without anyone getting it. Burns, Doran and Roberts tried to break through the South Australian defence without success, for Holbrook and Phillips brought it south, and K. McKenzie tried another long shot, which went very much astray. Phillips next went close in a shot, and Davis and Daly were cheered in turn for pretty wing play. As a result C. Woods got it, and marked to A. McKenzie, who sent it in front. J. McKenzie got it there, the crowd differing from the umpire as to allowing the mark. Whether right or wrong, sixth goal was scored for South Australia just before the half-time bell rang. With the advantages of the wind equally shared South Australia had a lead of two goals, and with their proved excellence in goal-kicking the Victorians were anxious

Half-time: South Australia, 6 goals, 2 behinds; Victoria, 4 goals, 3 behinds.

Third quarter

Immediately upon recommencing Victoria had a good chance to score, but Powell carried it past both his own goal-sneaks, and missed. Forbes sent it close in to goal, but a fine mark by Jones saved South Australia, and Bushby carried it away, but temporarily only. After Thurgood had missed from a punt, Burns marked to McKay, who, with a very pretty shot, scored Victoria's fifth goal. South Australia, with the help of Bushby, Holbrook, and J. Woods retaliated in a most determined fashion, but Woods failed to get the goal. Angwin tried his pace on the wing, but could not get away from Jackson. Forbes and Thurgood, however, passed on to Windley, one of whose long kicks put it out close to goal. Powell then gave Grace a chance, but he, too, failed. Hamilton and Phillips tried to raise the siege without sucees, for Melling brought it down, and Forbes, getting a free kick within a few yards of the posts, punted a goal and made the scores even with six apiece.

The quarter was slipping away, however, and Victoria wanted a lead. The South Australian response to Victorian sucesses was always a fine one, and this time Thomson, Davis, Holbrook, Hamilton, and J. Woods were prominent in a dashing charge, out of which a long shot by Hamilton was a little bit faulty in direction. Fine efforts by Doran and Grayson in turn left matters in status quo, but a splendid mark of Burns’s turned the battle in Victoria's favour. Powell, McKay, Banks, and Forbes all worked manfully, and Burns got a shot which was not effective.

The ruck and rovers were doing grandly at this stage, McKay and Burns being cheered for fine play, which gave Banks a shot and made seventh goal for Victoria. South Australia as usual answered the challenge, and this time successfully. Officer checked them once, but the efforts of F.McKenzie, Davis, Hamilton and Jones were sustained, and Hamilton from straight in front got South Australia's seventh goal. The game at the stage looked very like a certainty for the visitors. In this succeeding battle, with Powell, Roberts, and Reynolds on the one side, and Jones, Monck, Schwann, and A. McKenzie on the other shone, the last-named very nearly got a lead for his side again.

South Australia were playing together better than at any other stage of the game, and charges by Hamilton and J. Woods were repulsed in turn by Officer and Reynolds. Victoria had one excellent chance to score, but Miers spoiled it. Forman marked to Grace, who repeated a common mistake of his in the match by shooting across the front of the posts. Banks landed it in Robert’s arms just as the bell rang. The Carlton man went for the goal which Victoria needed so badly, and was loudly cheered when he got it.

Third Quarter: Victoria, 8 goals, 6 behinds; South Australia, 7 goals, 3 behinds.

Fourth quarter

A lead of a goal with the wind against them was nothing to feel over-confident about. Victoria, however, started the last quarter with the team playing right up to form. Burns was again a tower of strength to the home team. He sent it up the ground from the centre. Banks and Forbes backed him up, and Powell delighted the crowed by scoring ninth goal from a long shot. Burns repeated his share of the work almost immediately, but this time was not supported, and once more the McKenzie combination was successful and brought up the two flags and eighth goal for South Australia. Wheatland made his first good run of the day and gave McKay a chance to score, but nothing was got. McKay without any question however, was playing the finest game of the forty with Burns running him close. J. McKenzie again got close to the Victorian goal from a shot given him by Jackson, but Coward and Williamson checked for the time any further danger. Through Doran's mistake A. McKenzie marked to C. Woods, who went to the left of the posts, then Doran made amends for his failure by carrying it up field. J. Woods made his periodical dash, which was stopped by Sutton, the Carlton back being equally successful in stopping a charge by Daly.

In some hard play in Victorian ground J. McKenzie, Grayson, C. Woods, and Phillips were prominent actors, but all their efforts went for nothing, since McKay carried it away for Victoria. Covacevich and Thomas in turn tried their skill, and were answered by Wheatland, who made a good try to break through northward. J. Woods and Monck got it into position again, where Banks marked against four South Australians. The captain and Forbes and McKay were prominent for their rattling work, and set their side a fine example, but McKay was the hero of the occasion. Forbes gave Powell another chance, but he failed to score. Windley shone against two opponents, his mark being an especially fine one, and he was afterwards prominent with Burns in answering the challenges of Daly and Bertram. Victoria finished up splendidly, for Coward, Doran and Banks rushed it forward, and McKay crowned a performance of remarkable merit by scoring tenth goal for the Victorians and his third for the match.

Final Score: Victoria, 10 goals, 9 behinds; South Australia, 8 goals, 6 behinds.

The Victorians hardly played as good a game as was expected of them, want of union being apparent, but they redeemed themselves by first-class finish in the teeth of the wind. Their supremacy was entirely owing to the ability of such Tritons as Burns, McKay, Forbes, and Banks, for whom South Australia found no efficient rivals. The visitors were remarkably strong in the centre line, where such fine players as J. Woods and Bertram gave the Victorians very little chance to show their extra pace. Doran was by far and away the most efficient man in the Victorian defence, though Powell did some very useful work. The cracks of club football, strange to say, were seen to much less advantage. Daly, the South Australian rover proved himself a really good one, but the visitors were outplayed in the ruck. Their great strength lay in long shots for goal, and with the McKenzies, C. Woods and Hamilton the Victorians never felt safe.

Trait, as usual, umpired a splendid game, but his duties were light, as the game was played in an admirable spirit. An analysis of the game shows that 12 free kicks were given against Victoria and eight against South Australia during the two hours’ play.

Victoria scored 10 goals from 27 shots, and South Australia 8 from 28 tries. In the balance of the Victorian shots, the ball went behind six times, out of bounds six times, across the goal three times, and twice fell short. The remaining three behinds were forced in scrimmages. From the South Austialian shots six behinds were scored, the ball went out twice, fell short six times, and went across the goal once. The following are the scores:

The following are the results of inter-colonial matches between Victoria and South Australia:

June 28, 1879 at Melbourne: Victoria, 7 goals 14 behinds; South Australia, 8 behinds.

July 5, 1879 at Melbourne: Victoria, 4 goals 9 behinds; South Australia, 1 goal 4 behinds.

August 14, 1880 at Adelaide: Victoria, 5 goals 13 behinds; South Australia, 2 goals 7 behinds.

August 21, 1880 at Adelaide: Victoria, 3 goals 21 behinds; South Australia, 6 behinds.

August 20, 1881 at Melbourne: Victoria, 9 goals 22 behinds; South Australia, 1 goal 8 behinds.

August 24, 1881 at Melbourne: Victoria, 4 goals 13 behinds; South Australia, 1 goal 5 behinds.

July 5, 1890 at Melbourne: Victoria, 13 goals 3 behinds; South Australia, 6 goals 6 behinds.

June 13, 1891 at Adelaide: Victoria, 7 goals 8 behinds; South Australia, 5 goals 9 behinds.

June 25, 1892 at Melbourne: Victoria, 10 goals 9 behinds ; South Australia, 8 goals 6 behinds.