Resource The NMFC History thread

Oct 9, 2003
44,592
42,225
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North Melbourne
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From the latest Footy Record

Screen Shot 2020-03-30 at 11.00.17 PM.png
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
1,998
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
From the latest Footy Record

View attachment 849767



Interesting looking at the head to heads. We've made up good ground on Melbourne and Richmond, passed StKilda but fallen back against Hawthorn and Sydney. We've always been neck and neck with Western Bulldogs, as we used to be with South Melbourne/Sydney. I remember when we were ahead of Hawthorn. We must reel in West Coast and Adelaide.
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
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Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Time for another look at our past:


1945—FINALS AT LAST!---BUT DISAPPOINTMENT


As the 1945 season drew near, things were slowly returning to normal. The war was coming to an end and more players were readily available, although several were still in the services and posted interstate. North had shown considerable improvement in 1944, celebrating their 75th year by attaining their highest ever place on the table—sixth with ten wins. Bob McCaskill had brought the team on well since returning as coach after a period interstate.

At the beginning of the season, as always, many new players were signed, most of whom would never make the grade. There were rumours of some current players leaving. Last season’s B&F Alan Crawford was reported to be in dispute with the club and looking to go to Brunswick. Fred Fairweather was training with his old side Port Melbourne. Richmond wanted champion full-forward Sel Murray. North could ill afford to lose these three. Ultimately they lost only Murray, but his absence was sorely felt.

North lost fifteen other players from their 1944 list with only two, Dellar and Jones, being of any real loss. Ten players would make their debut, the better ones being:


Jack Crane—a full-back who had played with Richmond before the war and would be one of the club’s best in 1945.


Leo Francis—A little winger from Bendigo.


James Malone—A winger/rover also from the Bendigo area.


Jack Doherty—Recruited from Wangaratta Rovers and managed fourteen matches although he stayed only one year.


Pat Kelly—Would only make two appearances this year but would have a big impact in years to come.

“Dally” O’Brien was reappointed captain with Bill Findlay as vice captain. The Governor, Sir Winston Dugan, graciously accepted the club’s No. 1 membership ticket. The VFL decreed that the season would have twenty rounds to make up for the shortened seasons during the war.




THE SEASON:


ROUND 1—Collingwood.

At Victoria Park the match was close in the first half, but then Collingwood opened up a lead in the third quarter and maintained it. North’s play was determined but haphazard. Findlay was easily North’s best with six goals, but he had little support with North’s forwards tending to wander down the centre. The Sporting Globe reporter mentioned the problem of jumpers being too similar especially in view of the wet weather. He said that a red sash would make all the difference.


ROUND 2----Richmond.

Unusually, North started the season with two away matches. In an exciting game at Punt Rd, Richmond kicked four goals to none with the wind in the first quarter, but North outscored them for the remainder of the game and just failed by five points. Findlay was again North’s best scoring four of North’s seven goals.

During the week, Sporting Globe writer Bruce Andrew criticised North saying that they were not playing intelligently and lacked football sense, concentrating on spoiling their opponents rather than getting the ball. The ruckmen were too casual and not supporting the rovers.

Meanwhile, Sel Murray had applied for a clearance to Richmond. North deferred making a decision on it twice. Richmond had already cleared Roy Quinn, a half-forward, to North, thwarting an attempt by StKilda to get him. Quinn was said to be a winner on his day. Unfortunately his day didn’t come often enough and he only managed seven matches, including the semi final.


ROUND 3---Geelong

Playing their first game for the year at Arden St, North overcame Geelong in a hard slogging game. Geelong surprised with their speed in the first half and their full forward White was dangerous. But positional changes in the second half lifted North. O’Brien went onto White and quietened him, and Foote went into the centre giving North more drive. Crawford and Fairweather dominated in the ruck, and North had a target in Arthur Slater at full forward who kicked five goals.

Sel Murray’s clearance was finally granted on 10 May, two days before Round 4. In the meantime, Richmond had cleared another player to North in Jack Crane. He would play full-back for North for seventeen of the eighteen remaining matches North would play this year. Murray would kick twenty-four goals in his first four games for Richmond.


TO BE CONTINUED
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
1,998
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
1945 (CONT.)


ROUND 4---Footscray

In their best performance of the season to date, North beat Footscray by thirteen points after conceding a thirty-nine point lead at quarter time. It was Footscray’s first loss of the season--and on their home ground. North trailed until eight minutes before the end, but won the game in the third quarter when they restricted Footscray’s scoring with the wind. O’Brien shadowed the dangerous Hickey, Abikhair, Harrison and Roulent defended grandly and Crawford dominated the ruck and was best on the ground. The players were developing team sense which had been lacking in the initial rounds.


ROUND 5---Fitzroy

North won another close one at Brunswick St. North’s defence again stood out, now strengthened even more by Crane. The lead changed several times, but the winning move was Foote going into the centre after half-time where he nullified the dangerous Hoskins who had dominated the first half. Findlay, Dyer and Slater each kicked three goals.


ROUND 6---South Melbourne

In one of the most thrilling matches of the season, North stopped top team South’s unbeaten run with brilliant football in the first half and desperation in the second half. The defence, led by Crane, was again superb, and Foote’s brilliance was in evidence. Jarrard, who would in later years make his mark as a defender, kicked three goals out of North’s nine. The Sun reporter noted that North got a raw deal from the umpire in the second half, particularly the final quarter. The 25,000 attendance was a record for Arden St at the time. North had introduced a siren at its ground, but it was not successful, and the umpire requested at three quarter time that the bell be used as well.

The ladder after Round 6 was interesting, with only four points separating South (first) and North (sixth).


ROUND 7---Melbourne

At Punt Rd, the MCG still being unavailable, North won their fifth successive match with a grand display against Melbourne. The second quarter proved decisive when North kicked 7.1 to 0.2. Co-ordinated defence, amazing speed and Dyer wreaking havoc enabled North to win by forty-seven points. Perfect understanding between Dyer, Slater and Findlay on the forward line was football at its best – they scored eleven goals between them.


ROUND 8—Hawthorn

Crane was out injured for this match, but Harrison, absent last week when he could not get leave, was back. After an even first half, North slowly drew away to win by thirty-eight points. Findlay was best with seven goals, and Fairweather starred in the ruck.


North were now second on the ladder, one win behind top team South. But Sporting Globe writer Herb Coombes said that although the side looked likely finalists there was room for improvement. They tended to coast along until roused by coach McCaskill, tended to crowd the forward line and their second ruck was weak. They now faced a danger match against Essendon at Windy Hill.


ROUND 9—Essendon

Big man Frank Stubbs was available to play for the first time in three years. He was in the permanent forces and until now could not get leave. Harrison was again on service duties, but Crane returned from injury. After a poor first half, when the Essendon’s rucks dominated, North turned the game on its head after half-time scoring 11.6 to 2.10. Their speed and non-stop game gained them their first win at Windy Hill in six years. Stubbs in his first match for three years was North’s best.


ROUND 10—Carlton

North’s seven game winning streak came to an end when they lost to Carlton at Arden St. Beaten at their own game everywhere except in defence, North wasted the wind in the second quarter scoring 2.10. Positional changes did not help. This was the beginning of a revival for Carlton after they had had a poor start to the season.

At the halfway stage of the season the ladder was as follows:


06 25 Table.JPG




TO BE CONTINUED
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
1,998
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
1945 CONT.



ROUND 11—StKilda

North won a low standard game at the Junction Oval by six points. The game was affected by a strong wind and the second half saw more than half the players chasing the ball everywhere. A melee involving several players and two trainers provided some interest. The umpire was mobbed after the match.


ROUND 12—Collingwood

Leo Francis made his senior debut in this match. Also playing his first (and only) game for North was former Collingwood player Pat Dalton. They were among five changes to the side. In an even game, North just failed by six points, inaccuracy not helping. Foote was best again for North.



ROUND 13—Richmond

North again made five changes to the team but lost to Richmond after getting off to a quick start. Richmond were missing some good players, but were well led by Dyer, who made positional changes after quarter time to take control. Foote was North’s best with five goals.


ROUND 14—Geelong

Against the bottom side, North got off to a very slow start, but improved in the second half with Dally O’Brien going into defence, finally hitting the front near three quarter time, then going away with a seven goal to none last quarter. Geelong’s forwards went missing in the last quarter wandering too far afield. The win put North back in the four on percentage, thanks to Richmond losing to South Melbourne.


ROUND 15--Footscray

On a soft Arden St ground with pools of water covering large areas, North again started slowly failing to take advantage of the wind in the first quarter. Footscray led at half-time by ten points. North recovered in the third quarter, McCaskill making winning moves by sending Foote to the forward line and Dyer to rover. Fairweather dominated in the ruck and North’s centre line was on top all day. Foote went to centre half back in the last quarter and Footscay could only score one goal with the wind. North won by nineteen points, Foote kicking five goals.


ROUND 16--Fitzroy

North had a comfortable forty-five point win over Fitzroy after leading all day. Condon was best with five goals. He and Morcom controlled the half-forward flanks and North attacked mainly through them. The full-forward position was still not solved, North would use at least nine players over the course of the season. But the majority of goals were being scored by the rovers. Hawthorn helped North by unexpectedly defeating Richmond, leaving North one game clear in fourth spot.


ROUND 17—South Melbourne

Top team South avenged their Round 6 loss, easily beating North by fifty-eight points. Inaccurate kicking, a beaten forward line and for once being beaten in the ruck all contributed to the loss. Wholesale positional changes in the last quarter did not help but unbalanced the side even more. Richmond failed to capitalise on North’s loss when they went down to Essendon.


ROUND 18—Melbourne

North had a players meeting on the Thursday night which lasted so long that the team was not selected. Both wingers, Francis and McKenzie, were injured and players had to be moved around. It was not until Saturday that the team was chosen. North got off to a slow, inaccurate start, O’Brien kicking their first goal well into the second quarter. But Melbourne were also falling down on the forward line. North trailed by a point at half-time and it looked bad when Melbourne scored three goals to one in the third. But North turned on their “speed system” in the last term, scoring 7.6 to 1.2 and win by twenty five points. Dyer was best.



ROUND 19—Hawthorn

North jeopardised their place in the four with a shock loss to tenth placed Hawthorn at Glenferrie. In a spiteful match where surprisingly no one was reported, they gave Hawthorn a four goal start in the first quarter. North led only once briefly in the third quarter. This was Hawthorn’s belated revenge for their one point loss to North in the last round of 1943, which cost them their first finals appearance.

Only South Melbourne and Collingwood were assured of a finals spot. Three teams--Footscray (3rd), North Melbourne (4th) and Carlton (5th) were on 48 points. Then came Richmond (6th) on 44 points. The results of the final round would decide.




TO BE CONTINUED
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
1,998
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
1945 (CONCLUDED)


ROUND 20—Essendon


North had to win this one to secure their place in the finals. Again the club delayed choosing the team until match day. Francis returned from injury and Dynon came in for his first match of the season being on leave from the RAAF. Doherty was recalled and Pat Kelly was named 19th man.
For a change, North got off to a good start, worrying Essendon with their pace, and after a hard but fair first half North led by twenty points. Essendon then dominated the third quarter, kicking six goals to three to lead by two points at the last change. The last quarter was desperate with Essendon extending their lead to eleven points before Crump goaled. Essendon replied but Crump goaled again. Another goal to Essendon was answered by Dyer and then a behind levelled the scores.With time running out, Crump scored his third goal for the quarter and North held on to win by a straight kick.
The win moved North up to third place, with Carlton moving into fourth place at Footscray’s expense. Carlton had not been in the four all season, whereas Footscray had and were extremely unlucky to miss out. Carlton, however would take full advantage of their last-round entry and take all before them in the finals.




FIRST SEMI FINAL—Carlton

North were determined to field their strongest possible side for their first ever VFL finals appearance. Their centre-half back Harrison was back on leave and available. Jack Moran was also recalled and named at centre-half forward. Dynon had impressed against Essendon and was flown back from the RAAF base in Exmouth WA to be named on the wing in only his second game for the year. Then at the eleventh hour Frank Stubbs obtained leave and flew down from NSW. The team positions were reshuffled to accommodate him and Moran was relegated to 19th man.

Played at Princes Park, the game was for North, in short, a disaster. The players appeared to be overawed by the occasion and allowed Carlton to get right away. The Herald sports writer summed up the game this way:

“Carlton’s long kicking game, superb teamwork and excellent forward play was too much for North, who had many players below form and never looked like winning. North’s stupid short passing, lack of system and inaccurate kicking in front of goal never gave them a chance.”

North had as much of the play as Carlton but wasted the ball. Their first goal came after forty-four minutes of play -– a long kick from defender Quinn which rolled through. Four posters during the match did not help. Condon could not score a goal from forty yards out from a free—the umpire gave him two shots. Last minute inclusion Stubbs was obviously short of match practice. Findlay and the defence tried hard but the forward line let the side down. The selectors had made a mistake in dropping an experienced half forward in Morcom. And of course they were without Sel Murray. Only in the last quarter, after wholesale positional changes and Carlton’s relaxing did North make their score a little more respectable. Defender Roulent was North’s second highest goalkicker.

It was a bitter disappointment for the club and the players. Findlay and Dyer, two of North’s best who had given long, faithful service to the club, were coming to the end of their VFL careers and would not get another chance to play finals. Only seven of that first finals team were still around by the time North made their next finals appearance in 1949.

















 
Yeah thanks for all that K7. Do you know what the story with Sel Murray was? He played with Richmond in '45 and '46 but only 13 games (50 goals though!) so presumably he had a few injuries. He returned to North in '47 but only played reserves where he kicked 123 goals! And the two's won the flag!! Played 6 games in the seniors in '48 for 9 goals and that was it for his VFL career. Did injuries end it all for him? And why on earth no senior games in '47 given his form?
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
1,998
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Yeah thanks for all that K7. Do you know what the story with Sel Murray was? He played with Richmond in '45 and '46 but only 13 games (50 goals though!) so presumably he had a few injuries. He returned to North in '47 but only played reserves where he kicked 123 goals! And the two's won the flag!! Played 6 games in the seniors in '48 for 9 goals and that was it for his VFL career. Did injuries end it all for him? And why on earth no senior games in '47 given his form?


Don't know what was behind Murray's leaving North, probably wanted more money. He was very keen on the horses and legend has it that he played with a racing guide tucked into his sock and would make bets during the match with a bookmaker who sat behind the goals. He did get a few injuries at Richmond. In 1946 he did not turn up at the club for the opening training sessions and Richmond found a replacement full-forward. In May he turned up at North to train and in June requested a clearance back there, which was refused by Richmond. He returned to Richmond but soon injured his knee and said he may retire from senior football. Perhaps he was only permitted to play in the reserves when he went back to North. He was 30 years old in 1947 which was then considered old. Also by 1948 North now had an up and coming new full-forward by the name of Jock Spencer.
 
Thanks kangaroo7. Yeah thought injuries may have got the better of him and did note that he was getting on a bit in football terms. In those days a lot of players would chase the money in the bush or VFA but don’t think he did. Great career though averaging around 4 goals a game.
 

rbartlett

Club Legend
Jan 5, 2004
1,636
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Melbourne
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Richmond
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Hi there
In my researching I've discovered never-before-seen colour footage of Coll vs Nth.
I've uploaded it to youtube. (btw, if anyone have any old vhs reels, or old audio cassettes of footy shows/broadcasts that were recorded off the radio, don't throw them out!, I'm happy to get them digitised and upload them. Just DM me. Easy as.)

Coll v Nth Rd 16 1973 at Waverley



Cheers
Rhett RFC Historian
 
Last edited:

Hojuman

조수미 사랑해요
May 20, 2012
22,500
65,654
Seoul
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Hi there
In my researching I've discovered never-before-seen colour footage of Coll vs Nth.
I've uploaded it to youtube. (btw, if anyone have any old vhs reels, or old audio cassettes of footy shows/broadcasts that were recorded off the radio, don't throw them out!, I'm happy to get them digitised and upload them. Just DM me. Easy as.)

Coll v Nth Rd 16 1973 at Waverley



Cheers
Rhett RFC Historian





Great Rhett 👍 What's the you-tube channel ?
 
Hi there
In my researching I've discovered never-before-seen colour footage of Coll vs Nth.
I've uploaded it to youtube. (btw, if anyone have any old vhs reels, or old audio cassettes of footy shows/broadcasts that were recorded off the radio, don't throw them out!, I'm happy to get them digitised and upload them. Just DM me. Easy as.)

Coll v Nth Rd 16 1973 at Waverley



Cheers
Rhett RFC Historian

Schimmelbusch hack kicks out of stoppages. Doesn't deserve to be captain, not sure he's even best 22.
 

Passmore

Brownlow Medallist
May 22, 2001
23,600
75,877
The Gasometer Wing
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Norf
Hi there
In my researching I've discovered never-before-seen colour footage of Coll vs Nth.
I've uploaded it to youtube. (btw, if anyone have any old vhs reels, or old audio cassettes of footy shows/broadcasts that were recorded off the radio, don't throw them out!, I'm happy to get them digitised and upload them. Just DM me. Easy as.)

Coll v Nth Rd 16 1973 at Waverley



Cheers
Rhett RFC Historian


The most surprising thing about that vision was we actually won the game.
 

semja778

Draftee
Mar 27, 2019
18
41
AFL Club
North Melbourne
From the 1950 grand final record

Thanks for sharing this.

I noticed in the North Melbourne Seconds team, the captain is listed as "W. Findlay". Is this Bill Findlay, who was a star player for us years earlier ? I thought he had gone to Port Melbourne.
 

kangaroo7

Club Legend
Mar 17, 2002
1,981
1,998
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Thanks for sharing this.

I noticed in the North Melbourne Seconds team, the captain is listed as "W. Findlay". Is this Bill Findlay, who was a star player for us years earlier ? I thought he had gone to Port Melbourne.

Findlay left North in 1946 to play with Port. He won the Liston trophy in his first season. The following year he led Port to a premiership. In 1949 he returned to North to take up the Seconds coaching position.
 
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