Australian Football

Match Report

McNAMARA'S REAPPEARANCE

ST. KILDA SCRAMBLE HOME

There was an attendance of about 12,000 to see the match between the seaside team and Richmond at St. Kilda, where there was hardly any wind, and the ground was splendid order. Each side had new men playing, and chief interest centred in the reappearance of McNamara for St. Kilda. He was successful in the first half of the game, and was a help to St. Kilda, who had practically a new forward line. In addition to McNamara, the new men were McDonald (Port Melbourne), Farmer (Gippsland), Turnbull (Richmond Juniors), Phillips (Melbourne City), and Hore. Richmond had three new men in Nolan (Brighton Juniors), McLean (Queenscliff), and McKendry (Beverley).

1st Quarter

Richmond opened an attack on the city end goal, and after some scrummaging Hall got a point. There were several fine high marks by Eicke, but play for some time was congested, and many free kicks were awarded for holding. McNamara, after a fine mark, kicked first goal of the match, and he also punted the next from a shot close up. Richmond had several chances of scoring, but their kicking was faulty, and only behinds resulted. The Richmond ruck was very much in evidence, and there was a fine rush just as the bell rang. The ball was kicked through goal, but unfortunately too late to score. At quarter time St. Kilda, who did not have many opportunities from close range, had a lead of eight points. Scores:—St. Kilda, 2-1; Richmond, 0-5.

2nd Quarter

The second quarter opened with Richmond playing with better combination, and for the first 15 minutes they had St. Kilda defending. Two behinds were added quickly, and then Martin, from a free kick, sent up Richmond's first goal. Exchanges between Hore and McNamara ended in the last-named hitting the post from an easy shot. Reeves and Mahony then took the ball right down the centre, and Keggin snapped Richmond's second goal. McNamara, after a dodgy run by Schmidt, marked well out, and placed the ball. He kicked a very long goal amid much cheering. A rush by Phillips produced another goal for St. Kilda. Richmond so far had had the better of the general play. Martin got another goal after some smart work, and once more McNamara was responsible for a very fine long place-kick goal for St. Kilda. At half-time St. Kilda led by eleven points, and McNamara had kicked five of the six goals. He took some grand marks in the crowd. Scores:—St. Kilda, 6-4; Richmond, 4-5.

3rd Quarter

After the interval Moffatt was set watch McNamara, and from that time the ex-Essendon man was closely guarded, and he had some difficulty in obtaining possession of the ball. He took a good mark from McDonald, however, and gained his sixth goal, and the seventh for his side, but this was his last successful shot. He had several more kicks which went astray. Several behinds were added at either end, and then Woodcock, marking from Cumberland, put up St Kilda's eighth goal. Richmond failed badly around goal, and during the quarter put on six behinds. It was a scrambling game, with only bright patches now and again. At the last change the points were:— St. Kilda, 8-9; Richmond, 4-11.¹

4th Quarter

In the last quarter the play was chiefly in the ruck, and there was some hard play. The Richmond backs had quietened McNamara, and the other St. Kilda forwards had many chances of scoring, but poor kicking brought up only behinds. The only goal during the quarter was got by Hall, for Richmond. The final result was:—

St. Kilda—8 goals 16 behinds (64 points).
Richmond—5 goals 12 behinds (42 points).

For the winners Eicke, on the back line, was a prominent man in the game. His marking as usual was splendid. Lever and Hattam were always safe defenders. Collins was a useful man on the wing, and Schmidt did fairly well in the centre, but many times lost the ball in over running. Cumberland (whose marking was very fine) and Jory were hard workers in the ruck, and the roving of Phillips was plucky and consistent. Among the forwards, McNamara, especially in the first half, was the only man to show anything like good form. When he failed the goal kicking was poor.

On the Richmond side, Herbert and James in the ruck were always noticeable. The marking of both men was splendid. Nolan played a very satisfactory first game, as also did McKendry and McLean. These new men should be of much assistance to Richmond. Thorpe was a strong man full-back; Morgan was the pick of the centre line; and Hall and Martin (three goals) did well among the forwards. Kamm umpired.