FINE GAME AT FITZROY. TWO PLAYERS REPORTED.
Notwithstanding the wintery weather there was a good attendance at Fitzroy. A win or a draw would have given Fitzroy a place in the final four. McLennan played his first game of the season with the maroons, Moore standing our for him, whilst Walton took Colechin's place in the Collingwood team.
At half-time Fitzroy were leading by 13 points, and on the play then a win for them seemed assured. Up to that period their form was much more attractive than that of their opponents, who fumbled badly in the first half. Fitzroy were faster, marked better, and were surer in handling the ball than Collingwood, who did not play anything like their recent form.
It was a good keen game up till half-time. In the third quarter Collingwood showed considerable improvement. The heavy rain made the ground and ball slippery, but Collingwood were not troubled by the adverse conditions. Their dash was irresistible, and they handled the wet ball better than Fitzroy, which had been a feature in the first half, was now spoilt by the rain. They were beaten in the ruck, and their ground work was not so good as in the early part of the game.
There was some roughness in the third quarter, due mostly to the keenness of the play. Ill-feeling was shown by players on both sides, and just before the bell rang Heaney (Fitzroy) and Brown (Collingwood) exchanged blows. At the conclusion of the game the umpire notified his intention of reporting both players for striking.
There were but two points separating the teams at the end of the third term, and Fitzroy strove hard to retain the lead. They made a fatal mistake, however, in crowding the play. The open game had suited them better. For 10 minutes neither side scored. Collingwood were playing coolly, whilst Fitzroy, under the strain, were plainly over-anxious, and were not playing so well as in the first half.
After 12 minutes' play Wilson snapped a goal for Collingwood, giving them the lead for the first time. Playing vigorously, Collingwood continued to attack for a time, adding two points. they were then a bare goal ahead, and Fitzroy still had a chance to retrieve the position, but their forwards had wandered from their places, and when the ball was sent forward there was no one there to push home the attack. Merrick was now row roving for them, and though he did good work he was greatly missed forward. Lumsden scored again for Collingwood from a free kick, and there were only five minutes left for play. The home team made a great effort, but when Merrick and Wigraft missed possible chances they faded away, and Collingwood had the best of the concluding stages, Lee scoring another goal just before the bell sounded. The final scores were: - COLLINGWOOD, 9 goal 10 behinds (64 points). FITZROY, 6 goals 10 behinds (46 points).
The winners had fewer men playing up to form than Fitzroy. Lee did not have a kick until halfway through the third quarter, but towards the finish he showed much of his old cleverness and got two goals. Collingwood were very strong across the centre, Drummond, Pannam, and Twomey playing well for them there. The ruck work of Hughes was of the greatest assistance to them and McCarthy and Walton also followed well. Mutch and Brown were their best defenders, and Lumsden roved in good style. Except in the last quarter the forwards played poorly.
Fergie was Fitzroy's best player. In the first half he had no superior on the ground. Wigraft, Molan, and Taylor worked hard in the ruck, the first named playing exceptionally well. Keller and Sherry played well on the wings; King, Johnson, Jenkin, and Atkinson hardly ever failed them on the back line and Rattray, Merrick, and Heaney were the best of the forwards.
Doherty, who had charge of the game, umpired very well. He was prompt and consistent, and did much better than many of the umpires tried this season. A section of Fitzroy supporters were not satisfied with him, however, and some youths endeavoured to strike him, but he was safely escorted to his dressing-room by the police.
1919 'FINE GAME AT FITZROY.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 15 September, p. 3, viewed 13 October, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4689548