Collingwood Forever

COLLINGWOOD BEATS SOUTH MELBOURNE

The fact that there was only one match played on Saturday afternoon, and that in this the unbeaten South Melbourne were engaged with Collingwood at Victoria Park, drew a very large crowd to the game, the gate being nearly £200. Although Collingwood’s goal kicking was not np to their usual standard, it was their game all through, but the football was never what one would call really brilliant.

On n brief summary, Collingwood were much better than the other ride in the crushes, where South Melbourne’s active little men were overweighted, and, although the Collingwood fellows never went beyond the limit of fair play, the opposing bantams were sometimes knocked about like ninepins. In addition to their superiority in close play, Collingwood marked better, their kicking was more more even and they played with rather better method. It was a very fast game, with any amount of keenness in it.

In the opening quartet, Collingwood kicked against the breeze, which was not strong enough, however, to be a serious handicap. They more than held their own all through the quarter, and finished leading by 5-3 to South Melbourne’s 3-1. They gained very little in points in the second term, because their forwards usually very accurate were not kicking quite so well as usual, and, undoubtedly, Collingwood should have had more goals at half time. In  that respect the points are not reflex of merit. The ball and the play were for a considerable part of the time in South Melbourne’s ground. At half time Collingwood had 4-10 to South Melbourne’s 3-3.

After that it seemed possible that South Melbourne would recover. They played their best football, and in the third term, when the ball for the first time in the match appeared to show them a fair share of favour, their marking and kicking improved. They played to the man in rather better style, while Collingwood continued to lose opportunities forward. At three-quarter time the Magpies were still in the lead, with 5-16 to 6-6. At one stage of that quarter the South had 5-4 to Collingwood 4-15, but the latter part of the term was wholly in favour of the home team, with occasional dashes by the South to break the monotony of Collingwood’s attack.

The last quarter was full of dash and go, but skilful handling of the ball was not a feature. Collingwood’s men on the half-back line, and also in the ruck, were still too strong for the South, though the little men in red and white were always in the thick of it. In this last quarter South Melbourne failed to score a goal, 3 points being their modest increase, while Collingwood, improving their shooting, got 3 goal, and the final was: – COLLINGWOOD, 8 goals 18 behinds (66 points), SOUTH MELBOURNE, 6 goals 9 behinds (45 points).

Although Collingwood’s victory was due largely to their superior weight and height, it was notable that two of their small men, Dobrigh and Laton, chiefly distinguished themselves. Laxton has the persistency of a terrier. The ball always seems to fascinate him, but his skill is not always equal to his concentration, Dobright played with much more discrimination, used his head well, and his contribution was altogether a nice display. Hughes, in the ruck, improved upon recent games. Brown, on the half-back line, was particularly prominent in the last half of the game.

R. Lee, often scoring after marks, got three of Collingwood’s goals, Drummond kept up his form on the wing, and was one of the really reliable men of the team; while Colechin also showed good form. Some of the best of South Melbourne’s play was seen across the centre line, where Tandy and Caldwell were quite up to their form. Howell was a valuable force in the ruck, his high-marking being particularly good. Boyce, forward, was very prominent, although he only got one goal. Hutchinson, a new and prominent forward on the side, getting a brace. Doherty’s active, tricky play sometimes served, and occasionally disappointed him. He was, however, always prominent. Radernacher was very useful after half-time, when Deas also put in some very fine dashes from the defence line.

1917 ‘Collingwood Beats South Melbourne.’, The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 4 June, p. 4, viewed 19 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1622789