Australian Football

Match Report

HARD PLAY AT COLLINGWOOD

SOUTH MELBOURNE WINS

The match at Victoria Park, between Collingwood and South Melbourne, was witnessed by about 20,000 people, the gate being £267. The exceptionally dry weather is having its effect on the turf, and it is already somewhat too hard for football. As a consequence on Saturday a lively ball beat the players all through. The kicking was singularly erratic, many men who usually drop-kick well being often unable to lift the ball more than a few yards from the ground. Finally this erratic ball burst. There was so much depending on the game as far is both sides were concerned that they threw themselves into it with great vim. It was hard and fast, but rarely, if ever, skilful. The balance of skill was, however, distinctly on the side of South Melbourne, who showed better methods all through the game, and it was that alone which gave them the victory in the end, although they were never so far apart but that Collingwood might, by a rally at the last moment, have won. In the opening stages Hughes was particularly active, the one man in the Collingwood colours showing out conspicuously; while Gibb and Laxton were also playing good football, so that Deas, the South Melbourne full-back, had more than once to do his best to beat them off. Finally, Hughes got a free kick close enough for a shot, but he preferred to pass to Lee, who missed the ball on the first try, recovered it afterwards in a crush, and, with a really wonderful screw shot over his head, got their first goal. The first serious attack by South Melbourne was beaten off by Anderson, but after that the red and white began to show out very prominently.

1st Quarter

First Hair and Caldwell were under notice for clever play on the wing. Then Belcher marked in the centre, passed on to O'Donoghue, who passed via Morgan to Hair, who, with a long left-foot punt, got first goal for the South. Morgan had a hurried shot; but got nothing. The two big men, Hughes and Kelly, did good work for their sides, Saltau being also prominent in the Southern defence. A fine dash by Collingwood, in which Saddler, Wilson, and Gibb shone, brought nothing, for Belcher was in the way. Soon afterwards it was amongst the South forwards when Mortimer gave it to Morgan, and he got South Melbourne's second goal. An instant afterwards O'Donoghue passed to him again, and the third goal was scored, It roused Collingwood. McHale and Rowan and Hughes put in good work, the last-named passing, as usual, to Lee, who got second goal for Collingwood. South Melbourne were not long in replying, Belcher, Saltau, and Caldwell got it up, and in a scramble Morgan kicked off the ground, and g0t fourth goal. At quarter-time South were leading by 4-3 to 2-1.

2nd Quarter

On commencing the second term, Charge was conspicuous for the first time. On the same side Deas and Tandy put in good work, but Collingwood beating them down. Lee had a fine chance to mark in a good position, but again missed it. A South Melbourne dash, in which Kelly, Charge, and Morgan figured, brought nothing; and from a free kick O'Donoghue went just outside the goal post. Twice in succession Green was conspicuous for gallant efforts on the part of Collingwood, but frequently what would have been clever football was utterly spoilt miscalculations. When Belcher and Jackson passed it to Morgan, and he got fifth goal, it looked as if South Melbourne had taken complete command. But Collingwood were not beaten. Cordner, who by way, has volunteered for the expeditionary force, had a quick chance, but got nothing. Lee also failed from a hurried shot in the crush, but just afterwards, when Williamson and Minogue served him again, a fine, long shot dropped in goal, where Laxton whipped it through. Immediately Laxton helped Lee to a shot. It was a good one, but not effective. Rowan, in the ruck, was playing a dashing game for Collingwood, and he helped Cordner to a snapshot and a miss. Right through that quarter it was even battling, neither side being able to score again, and at half-time South Melbourne had 5-4 to Collingwood's 3-6.

3rd Quarter

Opening the third quarter Collingwood went it determinedly, and it was only Kelly's fine marking that kept them out of range. Free kicks were continuous, but the faults of holding the man and occasionally holding the ball were so conspicuous that the umpire could not ignore them. Lee was held by the leg in a crush, and another of his shots dropped in goal, but not through. That was a peculiarity in Collingwood's play all day—the number of shots that were only a few yards short. Rowan and McHale passed it to Lee, who drove it to Seddon in a nice, easy position, but he missed the mark badly. The South then streamed right through with a winning rush, and it ended in Morgan getting their sixth goal. Repeatedly, when the home team had worked it slowly up, Deas, South Melbourne's full-back, was left unguarded at the posts, and he never made a mistake, marking cleanly and surely, and with fine drop-kicks, in marked contrast to anything else on the side, driving the ball pretty well out to the centre. O'Donoghue, who was playing admirably, had a shot, which went low; and Rowell just saved Collingwood's goal. Collingwood's bad luck forward continued, for Gibb gave the ball to Lee, but a spinning shot failed to cover any ground. Then Rowan, with a straightforward, impetuous dash, carried the ball right through a crush, followed it on, and kicked fourth goal for Collingwood, a very fine effort, and loudly applauded. The game continued hard and fast up to the last change, when South Melbourne still led by 6-9 to 4-7.

4th Quarter

In the last term the game was desperately earnest, though players on both sides tired. Collingwood had chances for themselves, which brought no results. When Freeman got an easy snap in front, and scored seventh goal for South, it was all over. Green, Rowell, Seddon, and others kept up a spirited attack; while for South Melbourne, Deas, Charge, and O'Donoghue all did splendid work, Charge marking better then than at any other stage of the match. South Melbourne held their own up to the finish, and won on the merits, the final scores being:—

SOUTH MELBOURNE, 9 goals 9 behinds (63 points).
COLLINGWOOD, 4 goals 12 behinds (36 points).

On the winning side, the conspicuous men were Morgan, Kelly, Deas, O'Donoghue, Tandy, Caldwell, and Jackson. For the Collingwood, the pick were McHale, Rowan, Hughes, Laxton, Green, Minogue, and Gibb.