Collingwood Forever

SOUTH MELBOURNE BEATEN.
BLOWS STRUCK.

There were about 16,000 people at Victoria park to see the match between Collingwood and South Melbourne. The ground, like others, was in first-rate order for football, though it is always on the heavy side at Victoria park, and was, perhaps the least hit spongy and sticky.

Collingwood played Hackett, a local junior, for the first time; Baxter and Sadler made their reappearance, and, altogether, there were four or five changes in the team. To all appearances Collingwood’s improvements were good ones, but South’s changes were for the worse. Hosking was left out. Cameron was suffering with an injured back, and Moxham with a bad leg. Scobie was absent on account of a bereavement in his family. Their places were taken by Lanch, an ex-Fitzroy wingman, Charge, a big follower from the Leopold; and Carpenter, of the North Melbourne juniors while Casey reappeared.

The wind favoured the river goal, and, though it was not strong, each team did better at that and South in the first quarter had the wind, and got 2 goals a behinds to 1 goal 3 behinds. But in this part. as throughout the game, their shooting was poor.

The second quarter saw Collingwood add 4 goals 1 behind to 1 goal 2 behinds. In the third quarter South attacked very frequently, but got only 1 goal and 5 behinds to 1 goal by Collingwood. Up to this point the South were the better side, and, but for their bad shooting, should have been out of harm’s was. But Collingwood’s last quarter was reminiscent of Carlton’s third quarter against South last year, when the winning side handled the ball and kicked like artists.

In the last quarter South Melbourne played the man rather too much, and a couple of instances of punching occurred. Lee and Carpenter exchanged blows, Lee apparently being the excited aggressor. On another occasion Bower struck McHaile for apparently no reason, excepting disappointment. Bower is developing a bit of roughness in his play, which, as a clever footballer, he could very well do without.

There was no better man on the ground than Wilson of Collingwood. Forward and roving he was equally clever, and capped a fine performance with four goals. Shorten (centre and half-bark) was tower of strength in defence, marking well, and kicking even better. Scadden a new man this season, was a very prominent half-back. On the wings Collingwood were supreme. Gibb and Sadler being altogether too good for Casey and Lynch. Lee (half-forward) was kept very quiet until three quarter time by Thomas, but after that he got three goals. Herbert forward and back, was one of the most useful. Hughes and Ryan both proved themselves able men, whether following or in a place. Angus looked after Franks very well, and played a useful game. Baxter, roving and placed. also performed ably.

For the South, Grimshaw (at half-back) was the most consistent man on the side, and, whether marking, kicking, or running with the ball, always excelled. Thomas played a fine game, in addition to checking Lee. Pentland made many useful rushes and kicked well. Bower, in the centre, did a lot of solid work, and divided honours fairly with McHaile. Deas was the best of the forwards but, as a body, they were not at all consistent in this game. Franks was excellent, but the side did not give much assistance. Belcher was below his from. Stretkfuss played a splendid game up to half time and looks like making a fine follower. Kerr was occasionally brilliant.

1910 ‘SOUTH MELBOURNE BEATEN.’, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 16 May, p. 5, viewed 3 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10856553