frank_nielsen_b1891
syd_barker_b1887
tommy_mchenry
james_leheny
jack_mcmurray_sr
justin_mccarthy
vince_irwin
clyde_donaldson
charlie_farrell
alan_hopkins
tom_fitzmaurice
roy_laing
rowley_watt
jimmy_sullivan
george_shorten
alex_eason
vic_sampson
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tommy_jenkins
harry_hunter
les_punch
tom_mullens
charlie_zinnick
charlie_hardy
jack_o'brien
rupert_gibb
charlie_may
col_laidlaw
alf_merton
bill_mcintyre
greg_stockdale
george_rawle
norm_ford
wally_fraser
norm_beckton
jack_meuleman
frank_maher
con_mccarthy
bill_doolan
Matches
Essendon (VFL)
Footscray (VFA)
Certainly a historically important match regardless of the result. The newspaper reports after the match point to a positive and tough game.
Leading into the game the Essondon team had lost the final game of the VFL Finals to Richmond and there had been punchups between the players after the game. Essenden were reluctant to play the game against Footscray and Dame Nellie Melba (whose charity they were playing for) had to intervene to get them to play. Essendon had internal problems and possibly still had reluctant players players in the team. It is likely that this baggage had an effect on Essendons performance on the field.
FOOTSCRAY—VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 1924. (1924, October 25). Sunshine Advocate (Vic. : 1924 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74725540
Umpire for VFL - First Half - Jack McMurray Sr
Upire for VFA - Second Half - James Leheny
Dale James Blair article The 1924 Championship Game:Did the Dons play dead? presents a strong argument that should remove much of the stain from the game. Blair's arguments Include:
Rather than match fixing a less sinister explanation may be that Essendon's great team from the era probably were not at their best, and Footscray with motivation played above themselves.
In 1925 Essendon had their revenge and defeated Footscray twice. Firstly in round three at Windy Hill by 48 points at secondly in round 14 at the Western Oval by 26 points.
Argus Newspaper Match Report
FOOTBALL. (1924, October 6). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2045552
The Age Newspaper Match Report
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h9RVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4dADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6794%2C600178
Blair, Dale James , The 1924 Championship Game:Did the Dons play dead?, ASSH Bulletin No. 30 June 1999
http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/ASSH%20Bulletins/No%2030/ASSHBulletin30d.pdf
Essendon (VFL)
Footscray (VFA)
Introduction
At the end of the 1924 Season, the VFL premiers played a charity match against the VFA Premiers. Surprisingly, Footscray, the VFA premiers, beat the VFL premiers.Certainly a historically important match regardless of the result. The newspaper reports after the match point to a positive and tough game.
Leading into the game the Essondon team had lost the final game of the VFL Finals to Richmond and there had been punchups between the players after the game. Essenden were reluctant to play the game against Footscray and Dame Nellie Melba (whose charity they were playing for) had to intervene to get them to play. Essendon had internal problems and possibly still had reluctant players players in the team. It is likely that this baggage had an effect on Essendons performance on the field.
Sun 1924 - VFA v VFL - Flying Higher- History of the Essendon Football Club 1872-1994 - Michael Maplestone 1994
Footscray (VFA) Team
Backline | Bill Doolan | Jack Meuleman | Wally Fraser | |
Half Back Line | Frank Nielsen | Norm Ford | Bill McIntyre | |
Centre line | Alf Merton | Col Laidlaw | Rupert Gibb | |
Half Forward Line | Alan Hopkins | Jack O'Brien | Tommy McHenry | |
Foward Line | Charlie Zinnick | Tom Mullens | Les Punch | |
Followers | Con McCarthy | Vic Sampson | ||
Rover | Alec Eason | |||
Captain/Coach | Con McCarthy |
Con McCarthy Footscray - Football Record 1924 Essendon (VFL) v Footscray (VFA) p9: Source State Library of Victoria
FOOTSCRAY—VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 1924. (1924, October 25). Sunshine Advocate (Vic. : 1924 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74725540
Essendon (VFL) Team
Backline | Harry Hunter | Vince Irwin | Clyde Donaldson | |
Half Back Line | Charlie Farrell | Tom Fitzmaurice | Roy Laing | |
Centre line | Rowley Watt | Charlie May | Jimmy Sullivan | |
Half Forward Line | George Shorten | Justin McCarthy | Greg Stockdale | |
Foward Line | Syd Barker | Tommy Jenkins | Charlie Hardy | |
Followers | Norm Beckton | George Rawle | ||
Rover | Frank Maher | |||
Captain/Coach | Syd Barker |
Syd Barker Essendon Captain - Football Record 1924 Essendon (VFL) v Footscray (VFA) p7 Source State Library of Victoria
Scores
Q1 | Half Time | Q3 | Final | |
Footscray | 2.3 (15) | 3.4 (22) | 5.8 (38) | 9.10 (64) |
Essendon | 3.1 (19) | 3.5 (23) | 3.8 (26) | 4.12 (36) |
Result | Ess by 4 | Ess by 1 | Foots by 12 | Foots by 28 |
Umpire for VFL - First Half - Jack McMurray Sr
Upire for VFA - Second Half - James Leheny
Match Fixing Accusations
In the mid 1930's some Essendon players made accusations that the game was fixed.Dale James Blair article The 1924 Championship Game:Did the Dons play dead? presents a strong argument that should remove much of the stain from the game. Blair's arguments Include:
- The motivation for the VFA team to win was high. Essendon camp was full of internal friction.
- Footscray had a good team of proven players, many with VFL experience. They had won the 1923 and 1924 VFA Premierships and lost only one game in 1924.
- Footscray used a style of play unfamiliar to the VFL teams as rules in the VFA were interpreted differently.
- Footscray had a week off prior to the encounter wheras Essendon played and lost to Richmond.
- Because the 1924 VFL premiership was decided by a round robin rather than a grand final. Essendon still won the premiership but a week before the VFA game, the VFA team had a chance to see tactics that were effective against the top team.
- An Essendon player, Roy Liang, was badly hurt in the second quarter and because in 1924 there were no substitutes or interchange, Essendon effectively played the second half with one man down. The second half is where Footscray pulled away and won the game.
- Comparisons of how bad Footscray were, ie their subsequent 1925 poor showing in the VFL must be measured. Three key players, rover Alex Eason, centre half-back, Norman Ford, and centre half-forward, Jack O’Brien were not able to play in 1925 due to their earlier transferring to the VFA without a permit and the VFL debaring their return. Secondly the 'flick pass' handball so part of the Footscray tactics in the VFA was not possible in the VFL
- Finally that there has been little evidence found to support the fixing of the game, contemporary reports do not point to evidence of any foul play.
Rather than match fixing a less sinister explanation may be that Essendon's great team from the era probably were not at their best, and Footscray with motivation played above themselves.
In 1925 Essendon had their revenge and defeated Footscray twice. Firstly in round three at Windy Hill by 48 points at secondly in round 14 at the Western Oval by 26 points.
External Links
Argus Newspaper Match Report
FOOTBALL. (1924, October 6). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2045552
The Age Newspaper Match Report
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h9RVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4dADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6794%2C600178
Blair, Dale James , The 1924 Championship Game:Did the Dons play dead?, ASSH Bulletin No. 30 June 1999
http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/ASSH%20Bulletins/No%2030/ASSHBulletin30d.pdf