Collingwood Forever

COLINGWOOD BEATS RICHMOND.
A GOOD FINISH.

There was a large attendance at Richmond for the game between Collingwood and the home team and the people who wanted it saw and exciting football in every phase, and conditions at the finish which might, by a quick turn of luck, mean victory for either side.

Richmond played a first-rate game in all senses, save one. Right at the outset their forwards dropped marks or passes, which would have given them fair scoring opportunities, and this weakness was manifest all through the match. With that exception, there was very little choice between the teams, Collingwood, perhaps, being a little quicker in starting a forcing rush, or being a little quicker in starting. Still, had Richmond’s forwards served them with even average effect, they might have scraped through as winners.

In opening the game, the advantage was with Richmond, who spoiled three exceptionally good chances in the first few minutes. They seemed to get their hands on the high marks, but never held the ball. In these earlier phases McCashnie, on the wing, and Heaney, about the centre, were playing fine football. Heaney marking splendidly all through. It was largely a consequence of his play that Scott got possession, and scored Richmond’s first goal. In the next moment Lee was swept aside by a rush of Richmond backs, and, getting a free-kick, scored first goal for Collingwood, who at that stage were attacking strongly. The Richmond backs played luckily and well, and their followers gave them sound support further out.

Collingwood were going hard up to the finish of the quarter, and a second goal, scored by Herbert, from a beautiful mark, right in front of Richmond’s posts, gave them a lead of 11 points at the end of the quarter. All through the term, however, Thorpe and Incigneri had done splendidly in defence for Richmond.

The second quarter was slightly in favour of Collingwood, Richmond still suffering from their weakness in high marking. They played otherwise hard and determined football right through the term, in which Collingwood doubled their lead, and finished 22 points to the good at half-time.

The amount of sterling play in the third term is fairly indicated by the few scoring opportunities given to either side. Collingwood added a goal, and Richmond put on two, as well as a behind. With their deficiency reduced to 17 points, Richmond might have scored a goal early in the last quarter. A fine run by Mahoney gave Ohlsen a chance for a mark, but he dropped  it, and Rowell, promptly whipping an the ball, sent it out of danger, while Lee followed this up by getting it remark clever goal for Collingwood, almost on the boundary-line. In fact, it seemed impossible to get a goal, but Lee managed it.

In the last 10 minutes Richmond were going great guns, always hammering away for goals, but continually handicapped by the deficiencies of their forwards. They were often within range, but only added behinds until Lacy got a goal. In the quarter Richmond were continually marking up their ground, and it was no disgrace to them to be beaten by 8 points, in a match where, under a handicap, they made so good a recovery.

Collingwood were without the services of two of their wing men, but Oliver was doing very well in that quarter of the field, until he got a knock which lamed him. He was unable to make much use of his pace afterwards. McHale, in the centre, played first rate football, though he always had a strong Richmond man, in Schmidt, against him Lee got 4 goals for them, and played an excellent game, both marking and kicking well, while Herbert scored two goals. Shorten and Scadden both played well, Shorten making some nice runs. Wilson, Ryan, Angus, and Vernon were all in form.

On Richmond’s side, the choice lay between McCashnie and Heaney, and it was hard to say which of them was champion of the side. McCashnie, on the wing, made singularly few mistakes, was always going, and Heaney’s strength and pace were seen to advantage, while his marking was also a gain to the side. Other men in Richmond colours who did well were Davison. Thorpe, Incigneri, Bowden, Mahoney, James, and Burke.

1910 ‘COLLINGWOOD BEATS RICHMOND.’, The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 13 June, p. 5, viewed 7 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10863712