I don't know how I stumbled across this, today of all days, what seems our first ever match in Adelaide. The "St Kildas", who don't think it's a game of football unless they finish bruised and bloodied, travelled to play Adelaide and then an "SA Natives" team a few days later, managed to win both matches despite the effects of sea sickness! St Kilda effected this thing called "shepharding", playing like a team, whereas the home team mostly played as individuals. I think we shoud bring back the term "hors de combat" for players not returning from injury! Dennis would've called that. And does anyone know what "rabbiting" is? I've seen the term used as being banned in many ball sports at the time, along with hacking and tripping etc.
It's great reading these old articles and the history of the game, or was it the same game? It seems there were influences from everywhere going back to the 1840s in Australia, the Irish playing a caid like game, early rugby rules, marn grook etc... we emerged somewhere in the middle. There are also reports of St Kilda playing football in the 1850s, I'd like to know if that's the same club as ours and the same roots of our game.
Anyway enjoy the article and excuse some of the grammar or transcription errors, I tried to clean it up quickly.
Adelaide Evening Journal – 20th August 1877
FOOTBALL
ADELAIDE V. ST. KILDA,
A mad game, my masters!
Away the ball spins,
With rushing and shouting
And kicking of shins.
Hard to tell in the pell-mell
Who loses, who wins.
A mad game, my masters.'
But all cry “Fair play!"
"Hold hard!" and " No tripping!"
In thick of the fray,
And take the kicks kindly
That come in their way.
A mad game, my masters!
The crush is complete;
Each struggles to win
And all suffer defeat,
While the ball perhaps lies
Within reach of their feet.
A mad world, my masters !
Let's stick in beginning
To the rules of the game
Whether losing or winning ;
Fair play and no malice
Will keep the ball spinning."
The long-anticipated contest between the
Adelaide and St. Kilda Football Clubs came off
on the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, August 18,
and was par excellence the match of the season.
The reputation for pretty and effective play
which the St. Kildas brought over from Victoria
and the powers already shown by the
Adelaide men in this colony went to make up
an attraction in Saturday's match which is
seldom offered by a game of football in Adelaide.
His Excellency the Administrator of the
Government accorded his patronage and presence,
and following in the list of patrons were Hi?
Lordship the Bishop of Adelaide, Mr. Acraman.
J.P. (President of the Adelaide Football Club),
and other gentlemen who have evinced a warm
interest in the game throughout the season.
The advantages accruing from these marks of
favour were supplemented by the best ground in
the colony and weather which on the whole was
admirably adapted for play. Doubtless, too,
the fact that the Adelaide Club were the
originators of the idea of an intercolonial
match, and that their object in doing so was
well known to be the advancement of the game
of football in the colony accounted for a greatmany
spectators. In the middle of the afternoon
there could not have been less than 3,500
people on the ground, the reserve being crowded,
while_ the rounds of cheers which greeted
exhibitions of smart play from time to
time showed that interest as genuine as it
was general was felt in the issue of the
match. A brass - band was in attendance,
and every arrangement that could be desired thanks
to Mr. Henry Hughes—was made to
secure general comfort and order. With regard
to the game itself, the result was as had been
anticipated, in favour of the visitors, though the
Adelaides made a capital fight of it. For the
first half of. the game while the Adelaide
ball was being used, the game was pretty
even, the score at half time being,
Adelaide two goals to St. Kilda's one. As a.
matter of course this materially added to the
excitement, but after change, when the visitors
used their own ball, to which the Adelaides
were unaccustomed, the game was confined
with the exception of half a dozen good rallies to
the Adelaide quarters. It must, however, be
acknowledged that the all-round play of the
Victorian team was far superior, and this conclusion
is justifiable in spite of the disadvantages
under which the Adelaide men entered the
contest. _ Chief of these drawbacks was the
comparatively large ground and the consequent
inability of tile South Australians to cover space
with such ease and rapidity as their rivals, to
whom from constant use this circumstance was
as great an advantage as it was the opposite to
the other team. Then, again, Farr—a verv
useful member of the Adelaide team—injured
his right knee, and was placed hers de combat
within the first hour. Twopeny, too, the captain,
being maimed, could do but little service except
by keeping his men in their places, from which
they seemed to be constantly wandering, and
encouraging them with his cheerful cry of
"Rally." On the contra side of the account,
however, must be entered the by no
means trifling circumstance of the St. Kilda
men coming into the field comparatively fresh
from a sea voyage, during which they were
almost without exception very_ ill. In the
matter of weight there is very little difference
between the two twenties, the balance being
slightly in favour of the visiting Club.
In almost every detail of play the
visitors surpassed their opponents, and their
general efficiency in the field can only have been
brought about by experienced captains and
steady, hard discipline. Once or twice some of
the Adelaide men seemed to lose their heads,
and closed in with the ruck,leaving their rivals
masters of numerous important positions in
tic field; and the ball. once clear of the
scrimmages, the advantage which the Victorian
players possessed soon told in their favour. The
Si. Kilda play was in its leading particulars so
complete that it is difficult to single out one
good feature in preference to another for comment.
Oa the Adelaide side, the short-marking
and charging were, taking the game as a whole,
their best point.
The onerous duties of field-umpire were most
satisfactorily discharged by Mr. G. D. Kennedy,
while Mr. Grace for St. Kilda and Mr. W. Dedman
for Adelaide were efficient goal umpires.
In comparing the result with that of last Saturday's
game it should be noted that whereas the
Victorians used their own ball throughout their
match with the Melbourne Club the Adelaides
agreed to play half-time with each ball, kicking
both their goals with their own ball, while the
St. Kildas only secured one goal with it, the
other four being kicked with their own ball.
Indeed the difference between the St. Kilda
play with the Adelaide ball and their own was
easily noticeable by the most careless spectator.
THE GAME.
At 2.20 p.m. Riddell (blue and white), St.
Kilila, called to Twopeny (red and black), Adelaide,
and tossing the coin, fortune decided in
favour of the locals, who elected to kick northward,
with a good breeze to assist them, for the
first half. The St. Kilda general, with a fine
place-kick, sends the leather careering on its
way to the enemy's back players. Acraman
marks it, and running forward with a welljudged
kick has it in the centre, where friend
and foe commingled strive for mastery. The
blues at last, by a small mark, secure a free
kick, which is utilized properly, for Tulford
seizes it and kicks it behind, scoring first blood
for the visitors, amidst great cheering from the
crowd. Kicked off by the reds the ball is nicely
marked by Amess, who tries a long shot for goal.
The ball, however, is marked by Bleechmore.
who dashes along the wing, kicking it
to Scott, who, though collared, punts
truly. Young, making an attempt to
mark it, is overthrown; one of the St.
Kilda secures it, and running too far without
bouncing the ball the required five yards, on an
appeal a free kick is awarded to the Adelaides.
Twopeny knows his men well, and calls upon
M. Acraman to try the goal. Nor is his confidence
misplaced, for by a fine place kick the
ball flies high and fair through the centre—an
unmistakable goal for Adelaide. A storm of
cheers resounds from the whole ground, and
after a short interval the St. Kilda
captain, with a fine kick, sends the
ball into play well forward. Some firstclass
play on both sides ensues. Burnett and
Hughes keeping well together manage to dodge
two of their antagonists, the former shepherding
well allows Hughes to make a grand kick, which
is followed up by the reds ; the ball finding its
way in close proximity to the St. Kilda's posts.
Terry with one of his noted long-drops sends
it well on the wing. Here it is picked up by
Oakley, who is charged, the ball going out of
bounds; when thrown in by the umpire, Scott
dashing in punts quickly. Oakley makes up for
his previous failure by carrying the ball splendidly
round the left wing, eluding many of his
foes, and with a well-timed kick Miller secures
a mark 30 yards in front. Carefully placing the
ball with a gentle kick he has it through the
sticks, a goal for the blues thus equalising
matters.
Twopeny kicks off, and calling on his men to
rally up, the reds responding to the cry of their
leader, despite all opposition force the blues back
on their own goal. The game now waxes warm,
one shot for goal by the Adelaides being marked
by Terry, who attempting a run is cornered, and
depending on one of his long kicks unwisely
runs in front of goal. The ball rolling along the
ground Young has it, and sharply kicking
secures another goal for his side, amidst great
cheering from all quarters of theground. In no
way dispirited the visitors renew the struggle,
making matters very unpleasant for the Adelaide
backs, behind whose goal line the ball is several
times kicked, but no further score is made till
half time, when the game still stands—Adelaide
2 goals, St. Kilda 1.
After a slight interval, so much appreciated by
all footballers, who fail not to refresh the inner
man at haif time, the ball is once again in
motion. Tulford has it, and in good style plays
it well over to the right wing. Morlev Acraman,
whose play was much admired all through,
although closely pressed by Hamilton and Sandilands,
managed to keep on, and with a welldirected
kick has it centre .forward. Riddell
makes a brilliant catch, and rushing on with
one of the prettiest and most effective runs of
the day lands safe in the arms of Amess, who,
neatly passing Fesenmeyer, plays it on with a
high kick to Little, who marks it, and safely
pilots it through the Adelaide's post
thus the second time making matters even
The red and black come again to the front
every man determined to do his best, though
the loss of Farr who had retired hurt makes ii
difficult to cover all the enemy, who dodged
about in all directions. The wind, however,
falls a little, and the ball being kicked off from
the centre is marked by Riddell, who sends it
right down to the Adelaide backs. Bleechmorr
kicks it out of bounds, and on being thrown in
again it is well kicked middle forward close to the
Adelaide posts, where Chas. Hughes by a
good piece of dribbling brings it out on the
wings, and following up, kicks it to Fesenmeyer
He passes 011 to Morgan, but Tulford, the
strong man of the team, presses on and brings
it in front of the Adelaide goal. A scrimmage
ensues, whence by a smart piece of play, Miller
emerging from his foes with a left-footer secure;
another laurel for the visitors. The ball is
again kicked off from the centre, but a couple of
fine runs and a long kick bring it again behind
the Adelaide goal-line. The back who kicks
out gives a gentle kick to Burnett, but before
he can say Jack Robinson the St. Kildas are o>
him, and Payne scores a fourth goal along the
ground. It being now within 20 minutes oi
time the Adelaide Captain implores his men
to wire in, while the St. Kilck
skipper shouts, " One more goal, lads." The
St. Kilda's ahead bear down time after time on
the red and black, who strive but strive in
vain to avert defeat. Charges, rallies, and
scrimmages take place, each team feeling that
now or never is the time; the one side to story
defeat and equalise matters, the other side to
score more goals if possible. The reds play
well, although keeping too close together; but
the St. Kilda making use of their fine kicking
powers frequently place the Adelaide goal in
danger. A little before call of time the red^
managing to get the ball well on in the ruck
made matters lively. This did not last very
long, for down came the blues splendidly running
and kicking admirably, and from one fine
rush the jail is well kicked and middled forward
into goal, where Taylor collaring it
punts it through, making the fifth goal
for St. Kilda. Time being now called, the
game stood—St. Kilda five goals, Adelaide two
goals. The players specially worthy of mention
are for St. Kilda, Riddell, Amess, Miller,
Oakley, Terry, Hamilton, Tulford, and Sandilands;
while for Adelaide Morley Acraman
decidedly took the lead; Chas. Hughes, Bleechmore,
Waterhouse, Fesenmeyer, J. Aeramitu.
Young, Wyatt .ire also deserving of a word. It
is certainly a pity that M. Acraman should not
have been selected as one of the players in Monday's
match, as on Saturday he was brilliant in
every department.
It's great reading these old articles and the history of the game, or was it the same game? It seems there were influences from everywhere going back to the 1840s in Australia, the Irish playing a caid like game, early rugby rules, marn grook etc... we emerged somewhere in the middle. There are also reports of St Kilda playing football in the 1850s, I'd like to know if that's the same club as ours and the same roots of our game.
Anyway enjoy the article and excuse some of the grammar or transcription errors, I tried to clean it up quickly.
Adelaide Evening Journal – 20th August 1877
FOOTBALL
ADELAIDE V. ST. KILDA,
A mad game, my masters!
Away the ball spins,
With rushing and shouting
And kicking of shins.
Hard to tell in the pell-mell
Who loses, who wins.
A mad game, my masters.'
But all cry “Fair play!"
"Hold hard!" and " No tripping!"
In thick of the fray,
And take the kicks kindly
That come in their way.
A mad game, my masters!
The crush is complete;
Each struggles to win
And all suffer defeat,
While the ball perhaps lies
Within reach of their feet.
A mad world, my masters !
Let's stick in beginning
To the rules of the game
Whether losing or winning ;
Fair play and no malice
Will keep the ball spinning."
The long-anticipated contest between the
Adelaide and St. Kilda Football Clubs came off
on the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, August 18,
and was par excellence the match of the season.
The reputation for pretty and effective play
which the St. Kildas brought over from Victoria
and the powers already shown by the
Adelaide men in this colony went to make up
an attraction in Saturday's match which is
seldom offered by a game of football in Adelaide.
His Excellency the Administrator of the
Government accorded his patronage and presence,
and following in the list of patrons were Hi?
Lordship the Bishop of Adelaide, Mr. Acraman.
J.P. (President of the Adelaide Football Club),
and other gentlemen who have evinced a warm
interest in the game throughout the season.
The advantages accruing from these marks of
favour were supplemented by the best ground in
the colony and weather which on the whole was
admirably adapted for play. Doubtless, too,
the fact that the Adelaide Club were the
originators of the idea of an intercolonial
match, and that their object in doing so was
well known to be the advancement of the game
of football in the colony accounted for a greatmany
spectators. In the middle of the afternoon
there could not have been less than 3,500
people on the ground, the reserve being crowded,
while_ the rounds of cheers which greeted
exhibitions of smart play from time to
time showed that interest as genuine as it
was general was felt in the issue of the
match. A brass - band was in attendance,
and every arrangement that could be desired thanks
to Mr. Henry Hughes—was made to
secure general comfort and order. With regard
to the game itself, the result was as had been
anticipated, in favour of the visitors, though the
Adelaides made a capital fight of it. For the
first half of. the game while the Adelaide
ball was being used, the game was pretty
even, the score at half time being,
Adelaide two goals to St. Kilda's one. As a.
matter of course this materially added to the
excitement, but after change, when the visitors
used their own ball, to which the Adelaides
were unaccustomed, the game was confined
with the exception of half a dozen good rallies to
the Adelaide quarters. It must, however, be
acknowledged that the all-round play of the
Victorian team was far superior, and this conclusion
is justifiable in spite of the disadvantages
under which the Adelaide men entered the
contest. _ Chief of these drawbacks was the
comparatively large ground and the consequent
inability of tile South Australians to cover space
with such ease and rapidity as their rivals, to
whom from constant use this circumstance was
as great an advantage as it was the opposite to
the other team. Then, again, Farr—a verv
useful member of the Adelaide team—injured
his right knee, and was placed hers de combat
within the first hour. Twopeny, too, the captain,
being maimed, could do but little service except
by keeping his men in their places, from which
they seemed to be constantly wandering, and
encouraging them with his cheerful cry of
"Rally." On the contra side of the account,
however, must be entered the by no
means trifling circumstance of the St. Kilda
men coming into the field comparatively fresh
from a sea voyage, during which they were
almost without exception very_ ill. In the
matter of weight there is very little difference
between the two twenties, the balance being
slightly in favour of the visiting Club.
In almost every detail of play the
visitors surpassed their opponents, and their
general efficiency in the field can only have been
brought about by experienced captains and
steady, hard discipline. Once or twice some of
the Adelaide men seemed to lose their heads,
and closed in with the ruck,leaving their rivals
masters of numerous important positions in
tic field; and the ball. once clear of the
scrimmages, the advantage which the Victorian
players possessed soon told in their favour. The
Si. Kilda play was in its leading particulars so
complete that it is difficult to single out one
good feature in preference to another for comment.
Oa the Adelaide side, the short-marking
and charging were, taking the game as a whole,
their best point.
The onerous duties of field-umpire were most
satisfactorily discharged by Mr. G. D. Kennedy,
while Mr. Grace for St. Kilda and Mr. W. Dedman
for Adelaide were efficient goal umpires.
In comparing the result with that of last Saturday's
game it should be noted that whereas the
Victorians used their own ball throughout their
match with the Melbourne Club the Adelaides
agreed to play half-time with each ball, kicking
both their goals with their own ball, while the
St. Kildas only secured one goal with it, the
other four being kicked with their own ball.
Indeed the difference between the St. Kilda
play with the Adelaide ball and their own was
easily noticeable by the most careless spectator.
THE GAME.
At 2.20 p.m. Riddell (blue and white), St.
Kilila, called to Twopeny (red and black), Adelaide,
and tossing the coin, fortune decided in
favour of the locals, who elected to kick northward,
with a good breeze to assist them, for the
first half. The St. Kilda general, with a fine
place-kick, sends the leather careering on its
way to the enemy's back players. Acraman
marks it, and running forward with a welljudged
kick has it in the centre, where friend
and foe commingled strive for mastery. The
blues at last, by a small mark, secure a free
kick, which is utilized properly, for Tulford
seizes it and kicks it behind, scoring first blood
for the visitors, amidst great cheering from the
crowd. Kicked off by the reds the ball is nicely
marked by Amess, who tries a long shot for goal.
The ball, however, is marked by Bleechmore.
who dashes along the wing, kicking it
to Scott, who, though collared, punts
truly. Young, making an attempt to
mark it, is overthrown; one of the St.
Kilda secures it, and running too far without
bouncing the ball the required five yards, on an
appeal a free kick is awarded to the Adelaides.
Twopeny knows his men well, and calls upon
M. Acraman to try the goal. Nor is his confidence
misplaced, for by a fine place kick the
ball flies high and fair through the centre—an
unmistakable goal for Adelaide. A storm of
cheers resounds from the whole ground, and
after a short interval the St. Kilda
captain, with a fine kick, sends the
ball into play well forward. Some firstclass
play on both sides ensues. Burnett and
Hughes keeping well together manage to dodge
two of their antagonists, the former shepherding
well allows Hughes to make a grand kick, which
is followed up by the reds ; the ball finding its
way in close proximity to the St. Kilda's posts.
Terry with one of his noted long-drops sends
it well on the wing. Here it is picked up by
Oakley, who is charged, the ball going out of
bounds; when thrown in by the umpire, Scott
dashing in punts quickly. Oakley makes up for
his previous failure by carrying the ball splendidly
round the left wing, eluding many of his
foes, and with a well-timed kick Miller secures
a mark 30 yards in front. Carefully placing the
ball with a gentle kick he has it through the
sticks, a goal for the blues thus equalising
matters.
Twopeny kicks off, and calling on his men to
rally up, the reds responding to the cry of their
leader, despite all opposition force the blues back
on their own goal. The game now waxes warm,
one shot for goal by the Adelaides being marked
by Terry, who attempting a run is cornered, and
depending on one of his long kicks unwisely
runs in front of goal. The ball rolling along the
ground Young has it, and sharply kicking
secures another goal for his side, amidst great
cheering from all quarters of theground. In no
way dispirited the visitors renew the struggle,
making matters very unpleasant for the Adelaide
backs, behind whose goal line the ball is several
times kicked, but no further score is made till
half time, when the game still stands—Adelaide
2 goals, St. Kilda 1.
After a slight interval, so much appreciated by
all footballers, who fail not to refresh the inner
man at haif time, the ball is once again in
motion. Tulford has it, and in good style plays
it well over to the right wing. Morlev Acraman,
whose play was much admired all through,
although closely pressed by Hamilton and Sandilands,
managed to keep on, and with a welldirected
kick has it centre .forward. Riddell
makes a brilliant catch, and rushing on with
one of the prettiest and most effective runs of
the day lands safe in the arms of Amess, who,
neatly passing Fesenmeyer, plays it on with a
high kick to Little, who marks it, and safely
pilots it through the Adelaide's post
thus the second time making matters even
The red and black come again to the front
every man determined to do his best, though
the loss of Farr who had retired hurt makes ii
difficult to cover all the enemy, who dodged
about in all directions. The wind, however,
falls a little, and the ball being kicked off from
the centre is marked by Riddell, who sends it
right down to the Adelaide backs. Bleechmorr
kicks it out of bounds, and on being thrown in
again it is well kicked middle forward close to the
Adelaide posts, where Chas. Hughes by a
good piece of dribbling brings it out on the
wings, and following up, kicks it to Fesenmeyer
He passes 011 to Morgan, but Tulford, the
strong man of the team, presses on and brings
it in front of the Adelaide goal. A scrimmage
ensues, whence by a smart piece of play, Miller
emerging from his foes with a left-footer secure;
another laurel for the visitors. The ball is
again kicked off from the centre, but a couple of
fine runs and a long kick bring it again behind
the Adelaide goal-line. The back who kicks
out gives a gentle kick to Burnett, but before
he can say Jack Robinson the St. Kildas are o>
him, and Payne scores a fourth goal along the
ground. It being now within 20 minutes oi
time the Adelaide Captain implores his men
to wire in, while the St. Kilck
skipper shouts, " One more goal, lads." The
St. Kilda's ahead bear down time after time on
the red and black, who strive but strive in
vain to avert defeat. Charges, rallies, and
scrimmages take place, each team feeling that
now or never is the time; the one side to story
defeat and equalise matters, the other side to
score more goals if possible. The reds play
well, although keeping too close together; but
the St. Kilda making use of their fine kicking
powers frequently place the Adelaide goal in
danger. A little before call of time the red^
managing to get the ball well on in the ruck
made matters lively. This did not last very
long, for down came the blues splendidly running
and kicking admirably, and from one fine
rush the jail is well kicked and middled forward
into goal, where Taylor collaring it
punts it through, making the fifth goal
for St. Kilda. Time being now called, the
game stood—St. Kilda five goals, Adelaide two
goals. The players specially worthy of mention
are for St. Kilda, Riddell, Amess, Miller,
Oakley, Terry, Hamilton, Tulford, and Sandilands;
while for Adelaide Morley Acraman
decidedly took the lead; Chas. Hughes, Bleechmore,
Waterhouse, Fesenmeyer, J. Aeramitu.
Young, Wyatt .ire also deserving of a word. It
is certainly a pity that M. Acraman should not
have been selected as one of the players in Monday's
match, as on Saturday he was brilliant in
every department.
