A GAME IN THE BALANCE. GEELONG IRRESISTIBLE FINISH.

Collingwood’s special train did not land them at Geelong until nearly 3 o'clock and consequently the game on the Corio ground was late in starting.It finished in the gloom, and it was almost impossible to distinguish the men who, in a sterling finish, pulled the game out of the fire for Geelong and converted it into a convincing win.

The home team omitted Newling. Collins, and Whittinton in favour of Rankin, Beard, and Martin; Collingwood had Angus and O'Donoghue absent. A west wind, which interfered with the play in the first half died out after the interval, and the best football of the day was then witnessed.

Geelong opened with two pretty rallies, and failed in scoring. Armstrong, W. and A. Eason,

Martin, and Martini carried the ball the length of the ground, and the goal-kicker found his man at the mark instead of the posts, Slater put in a fine run and W. Eason and Matsham would up the sortie with a behind. Once more, W. Eason was prominent, and this time found the goal with a running shot. Immediately afterwards his brother Alex, hemmed in near the behind post, tried a pot shot, and the ball just beat Rowell through the sticks. Ryan shot across goal with a free kick, and Slater whose special mission was to stop Lee beat his man, and raised the pressure.

Some pretty exchanges between Wilson and Baxter ended with the former putting the ball through but it was touched in transit. Slater and A. and W. Eason were associated in more fine work, and Martin had a try. The ball dropped in front, and Marsham had it through in a twinkling. Lee, at last dropping his escort, marked from McHale, and got Collingwood's first goal neatly. At the first change Geelong led by 3-3 to 1-2.

Geelong promptly resumed the attack, and A. Eason's shot was marked by Rowell just outside the goal line. Lee, breaking away from a bunch in front of goal, turned, and get the visitors' second goal; and Martini, marking from W. Eason, responded with Geelong's fourth. The balance of the term was slightly in Collingwood's favour smart handballing and greater brilliancy in the air cheeking Geelong's superiority in open play. Right on tune Geelong made a strong dash, and Palmer Slater, and Scown sent the Father on to Martini. He missed the mark but recovered the ball, which was on its journey through goal as the bell sounded. Geelong had 5 goals 5 behinds to 2 goals 6 behinds.

Collingwood's finest effort was in the third quarter. They put on 3 goals 4 behinds to 2 behinds. McHale twice, helped Lee who kicked indifferently. Exchanges from Lee, Vernon, Ryan, to Daykin got Collingwood's third goal, and Geelong had a momentary ascendency, in which they added two behinds. A loose man about the centre enabled McHale to repeatedly lead a Collingwood attack, and Lee finished a dodge run with fourth goal.

Geelong's lead had dwindled to three points and the advantage changed the other way when Herbert snapped Collingwood's fifth goal. It was the result of a bad oversight on the part of the umpire in overlooking a charge which sent Eason to earth. Collingwood still led, 5 goals 10 behinds to 5 goals 7 behinds, at the bell, and it was thought that their improve form would carry them through.

The effort had apparently, exhausted their dash, and they were a beaten side from the bounce.Geelong would have led substantially in the first five minutes but for Rowell's watchfulness. Orchard had a try, which he stopped in the teeth of goal;Martin kicked the ball off the ground and again Rowell was there; and a few second later Grigg had the right direction with a lofty punt, and once more Rowell just reached it in time.

Geelong were not playing their open game, but were not at a disadvantage in close, willing play, which at one stage of the third quarter Noseda allowed to go a little too far. In a crush Beard got Geelong's sixth goal, and Heinz put Geelong nine points in the lead by snapping seventh goal. Still, Collingwood were not beaten, and a close finish was made possible when Ryan, by very clever work, got his side's sixth goal. Thereafter, only one team was in the running. It was too gloomy to see the players, and only the red stockings worn be Geelong, for the occasion enabled a distinction to be made between the opposing side. Heinz to Martini got Geelong's eighth goal; James capped a fine rush by punting, the ninth and the cheering bad hardly subsided when Grigg, with a magnificent place kick brought the home team's goal score to double figures. Collingwood made one dying flutter, and the usually sure Lee fumbled badly on the goal line. Geelong won by 10 goals 9 behinds to 6 goals 11 behinds, and their dashing finish was responsible for a scene of enthusiasm at the end of the game.

Armstrong played a particularly fine game back; Orchard was sure in the centre and Grigg, though below his best, was of great service back and in the ruck. Others who stood out on a good even side were W. and A. Eason, Slater, Marsham, Martin, Palmer and Beard. Ryan, Baxter, Oliver, and McHale were best on Collingwood's side and good form was also shown by Gibb, Heatley, Shorten. Vernon, Wilson and Rowell. Noseda was at times inconsistent, but on the whole, umpired well.

1910 'A GAME IN THE BALANCE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 27 June, p. 5, viewed 7 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10867240