Collingwood Forever

HONOURS WITH THE BEATEN SIDE.
By OBSERVER.
The game between Collingwood and South Melbourne was another of the games where the credit was all with the beaten side, but, as in the other league games, at least the balance of points with those who could best have spared them. The South Melbourne ground, with its natural fall from the centre, is always the best in wet weather, but the best was bad on Saturday. Starting with the wind Collingwood, playing with their usual effective combination, had much the best of it and it may be said at the outset that in their concerted play, and in that alone, they surpassed South Melbourne on Saturday. Otherwise the close season for magpies must have ended.

In getting 27 points to 8 in that opening stage they just saved themselves from a crushing defeat. Peers, like Grace at Carlton, was the salvation of his side in getting three of the four goals. If the black and white had the best of it then the triumph of the red and white in the second quarter was even more pronounced. They simply romped over Collingwood, and roused such enthusiasm amongst their friends as never waned to the finish.

Their score was 16 points to nothing. All through the last half it was literally a match, and a good one, with nothing in favour of Collingwood but that bit of admirable organisation which has so often stood to them in a difficulty south Melbourne’s individuality was, distinctive-its organisation nothing to admire. Yet, always before them was the out lesson they required in the quick certain exchanges between Condon, Peers, Rowell, and Pannam. South Melbourne had the ball oftener between the behind post, but Collingwood were more successful in finding the dead centre, and in that got through without the defeat which always was a pretty sharp contrast with the  result of their first game this year.

During the game F. Leach, the fine Collingwood centre man, had the misfortune to have his nose fractured in a collision, and Dr. F. N.O’Sullivan, who was watching the game, gave him immediate attention. South Melbourne’s defence in this game was as nearly as possible perfect, and their ruck play, in which Pleass, Hassett, and Gent won general commendation was always effective.

1903 ‘FOOTBALL.’, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 22 June, p. 7, viewed 31 July, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9818381