VICTORIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

PREMIERSHIP WON BY RICHMOND

The Age, Monday October 9, 1905.

By Follower.

The football season was brought to a close at East Melbourne on Saturday, when Richmond again defeated North Melbourne, and won the Association premiership. The winners have had a remarkably successful season, having played 21 matches, of which 17 were won and 4 lost. Richmond have not been beaten on their own ground for four years, and this season they have scored 1314 points and have had only 682 scored against them. They have kicked 179 goals - a record - and have won the season's premiership meritoriously. The club has been worked into its present satisfactory position by the energy of a popular and hard working honorary secretary, Mr. G. Peckham-Beachcroft, and an enthusiastic committee, presided over by Mr. G. H. Bennett, M.L.A. The Richmond club won the Association premiership in 1902, and has been second three times. It is loyally supported by local residents, the members' roll numbering 600.

RICHMOND (9.7) BEAT NORTH MELBOURNE (5.6)

Twenty thousand spectators witnessed the play off for the Association premiership on the East Melbourne cricket ground on Saturday, the gate receipts amounting to 330 pounds. A week previously Richmond had beaten North Melbourne by 20 points - 7.6 to 3.10 - and as the general play in that match had been very even, another good contest was anticipated. Both teams had undergone some changes, Richmond substituting Smith, Knell and Cleghorn for Husker, Luff and Backhouse, and in the North Melbourne ranks Jamieson, McDermott and C. Londerigan replaced Martin, Hall and Watson. After a boisterous early morning the afternoon turned out beautifully fine, and the ground was in splendid order. The match, however, was completely spoilt by the prevalence of a strong southerly wind, which blew almost directly into the pavilion goal. All through the game the team kicking with it endeavoured to keep the play down the centre of the ground, and the team opposed to it concentrated their energies on playing to the eastern wing. The latter tactics were considerably overdone, especially by North Melbourne, woh would frequently have done better by making a more direct attack on the Richmond territory.

After five or six minutes' play of an even character, Richmond made a powerful and well-sustained forward movement, and Knell, after failing at long range, had an easier chance, from which he scored the first goal, and immediately afterwards he made another excellent shot, but the ball being touched in goal, only a behind was scored. Rapp's good marking saved North Melbourne's goal from another good attempt by Sykes, and some fine concerted play by Edmonds, T. Williams and Ricketts results in the last named kicking Richmond's second goal. Ruddock then distinguished himself by effecting a fine run, and M. Londerigan came into unpleasant prominence through making a most contemptible attack on a Richmond player, for which, however, he paid dearly as the game proceeded. North Melbourne played up well towards the close of the first quarter, and at the first change of ends Richmond had scored 2.2 to 0.2, thus gaining only a moderate lead considering the distinct advantage of playing with a strong wind behind them.

For some time North Melbourne failed to turn the assistance of the breeze to good account in the second quarter, but after each side had added a behind, they settled down to a more systematic style of play, andput on 3 goals to Richmond's 1. The first game from a kick by C. Londerigan, the ball beating the Richmond goalkeeper, Boanas, and bouncing over his head. Richmond's goal was nicely kicked by Knell, the ball having been cleverly forwarded by Lithgow and Cleghorn. Considine snapping it up kicked North's second goal high in the air, and M. Londerigan, marking from McCann, scored their third. The scores at half time were dead level - 3.3 each - but Richmond's general play had left the more favourable impression, and during the interval their supporters were justly confident of the success which they ultimately achieved.

The third quarter completely settled North Melbourne's pretensions, Richmond keeping up a determined attack, and adding 5 goals and 3 behinds, while North failed to put on a single point. Some fine concerted play was shown in this quarter by Richmond, who were much quicker on the ball than were their opponents, and for the remainder of the game Richmond showed very marked superiority in this respect and in organisation. Neat exchanging by Ricketts, T. Williams and Megson resulted in the last named scoring Richmond's fourth goal; Ricketts then snapped the ball up smartly from Lithgow's kick, and scored the fifth goal by a good long kick. Sykes from a free kick punted the sixth; McDonald marked well and kicked the seventh, and Knell, marking cleverly, scored the eighth by a fine long place kick. North Melbourne never had a look in, and at the last change of ends Richmond held a substancial lead of 33 points - 8.6 to 3.3. Just before the third quarter ended Rapp, who had been playing a great game for North Melbourne, was so severly injured that he had to be carried off the ground on an ambulance stretcher, and for the remainder of the game his side played in consequence under a severe handicap.

They started the last quarter, however, briskly, but after Londerigan and Kenny had each hit the post, the whole side appeared to be disheartened, and thence to the end played like a beaten team, running wild and playing without either dash or system. Considine had quickly scored their fourth goal, but Richmond played splendidly against the wind, and Megson forwarding brilliantly, Sykes kicked their ninth goal, placing the result completely beyond doubt. Groves scored North's fifth and last goal, but Richmond won easily by 25 points. It was an unequivocal victory, won unmistakably by the better side on the day. Owing to the influence of the wind the play all through was congested, the players being crowded on the ball, and the most prominent feature of the game was force, hard bumps being freely given, with frequent displays of temper; but Freame, who umpired well on the whole, promptly and firmly separated players who showed a disposition to come into personal conflict. His task was a difficult one, and in the circumstances he performed very creditably.

Conspiciously effective on the winning side were Ricketts roving, Megson and Cleghorn forward, Ruddock, Edmonds and C. Williams defending, T. Williams and Leach in the ruck, Carkeek, Hutchison and Knell attacking, and Sykes, Lithgow and Rigby on the centre line. McCann back and forward, and M. Londerigan on the centre wing did splendid work for North Melbourne; Johnston, Barnes, Jamieson and Rapp, until hurt, were solid in defence. Rolent played a fine game in the centre; Smith half-forward worked hard, Kenny and Groves were also useful, and Considine, Morrison and Keating in the ruck strove hard, but in vain, to pull their side through. North Melbourne's usually effective system was, however, beaten by a much too powerful opposition.

1905 Richmond VFA Premiership Side

B: C.Williams G.Boanas J.Smith HB: A.Edmonds Lanfranchl Ruddock C: E.Rigby W.Sykes Lithgow HF: J.Megson R.Knell W.Carkeek F: E.McDonald J.Hutchinson A.Cleghorn R: T.Williams E.Leach C.Ricketts

Quarter Scores

Richmond	2.2	3.3	8.6	9.7-61
North Melbourne	0.2	3.3	3.3	5.6-36

Richmond will play Collingwood, runners up V. F. League, next Saturday, at Victoria Park, Abbotsford, for the benefit of Lady Talbot's fund for an epileptic home. This match has been arranged at the request of Sir John and Lady Madden.