1903--Cont.
ROUND 1 Essendon Town
North began the season with a comfortable win. These two sides had been involved in controversy the previous season when they played a draw, after a goal kicked by North was disallowed by the field umpire because he didn’t see the North player kick it even though the goal umpire signaled a goal.North protested and Essendon Town retaliated by complaining of two North players for striking.
This season, however, the Dreadnoughts had lost three good players from 1902 and were destined not to win a match in 1903. They did not score a goal until the last quarter due to selfish play on their forward line. North were far better organised, their better players being Stewart, the Noonan brothers, Carlton, Graham and Considine. A new player for Essendon Town was Bill Busbridge, who would be taken by the VFL’s Essendon next year and become a star.
North Melbourne 10.8-68 Essendon Town 2.5-17
ROUND 2 Footscray
A railway workers strike made it difficult for North fans to get to the Footscray ground. They used every means of transportation they could find. Footscray residents could not get to town so had nowhere else to go but the football, so the match was well attended. North won a good match by 15 points. Their handball, marking and kicking were superior. Trailing by 16 points in the last term, Footscray scored a goal and had a chance to get a second to make the difference 4 points. But instead of having a set shot, the Footscray player attempted to pass to a teammate who was on a better angle. The ball was intercepted by North and swept to the other end where they scored a goal. The local sports writer for The Independent (Footscray) said North played the most systematic game he had seen since Footscray were premiers (1900). Best for North were Stewart, Martin, P & D Noonan, Considine, Graham and Kennedy.
North Melbourne 7.4-46 d Footscray 4.7-31
ROUND 3 West Melbourne
The only two undefeated teams met at the Arden St ground they shared. Flamboyant player Mick Londerigan came into the side for the first time this year. It was a close match with the scores level until well into the last quarter. Then with fifteen minutes to go North scored three quick goals for a match winning lead. North admitted after the match they had received a shaking up and attributed their flurry of goals at the end to the staying power shown by some half dozen of their players. Best were Considine (four goals), Jamieson, D.Noonan, Stewart, Martin, Graham and P.Noonan.
North Melbourne 10.9-69 d West Melbourne 7.6-48
ROUND 4 Brunswick
Hector Milne, who had earlier sought a clearance to South Melbourne, came into the side as well as a new player, Hynes. North had a rather easy win, and had they kicked straight it would have been a massacre. Brunswick failed to score until the start of the last quarter. P.Noonan and Graham were easily North’s best; also Considine, Kennedy, Londerigan, D. Noonan, Barnes and Jamieson. North followed Richmond’s custom of awarding three prizes for unselfish football.
North Melbourne 5.13-43 d Brunswick 1.0-6
ROUND 5 Williamstown
North suffered their first setback when they played a draw at Williamstown. In an exciting game, the home side shocked North in the first quarter to lead by 13 points. Then North clawed their way back and scores were level at three quarter time. Early in the last quarter each side scored a goal, then Williamstown got a point and strove hard to keep the lead. Just in time North got in a shot that was close to being a goal but just missed. Two members of parliament attended the match, one being the North president. Best players for North were D. Noonan, Barnes, Londerigan, Kennedy, Carlton, Graham, Morrison and P. Noonan.
North Melbourne 6.9-45 drew Williamstown 6.9-45
ROUND 6 – Preston
North and a trainload of their fans traveled to the ground of the newly admitted Preston team and had another excitingly close game. After an even first half, North got the upper hand in the third quarter when, kicking against the wind, they scored a goal and kept Preston goalless to lead by nine points at the last change. But Preston came back in the last quarter, twice leveling the scores before North, by sheer force and desperation kicked two quick goals to win by that margin. Best for North were Londerigan, the Noonans, Kennedy, Milne, Morrison, Graham and Carlton.
North Melbourne 7.10-52 d Preston 5.10-40
After six rounds North headed the table:
ROUND 1 Essendon Town
North began the season with a comfortable win. These two sides had been involved in controversy the previous season when they played a draw, after a goal kicked by North was disallowed by the field umpire because he didn’t see the North player kick it even though the goal umpire signaled a goal.North protested and Essendon Town retaliated by complaining of two North players for striking.
This season, however, the Dreadnoughts had lost three good players from 1902 and were destined not to win a match in 1903. They did not score a goal until the last quarter due to selfish play on their forward line. North were far better organised, their better players being Stewart, the Noonan brothers, Carlton, Graham and Considine. A new player for Essendon Town was Bill Busbridge, who would be taken by the VFL’s Essendon next year and become a star.
North Melbourne 10.8-68 Essendon Town 2.5-17
ROUND 2 Footscray
A railway workers strike made it difficult for North fans to get to the Footscray ground. They used every means of transportation they could find. Footscray residents could not get to town so had nowhere else to go but the football, so the match was well attended. North won a good match by 15 points. Their handball, marking and kicking were superior. Trailing by 16 points in the last term, Footscray scored a goal and had a chance to get a second to make the difference 4 points. But instead of having a set shot, the Footscray player attempted to pass to a teammate who was on a better angle. The ball was intercepted by North and swept to the other end where they scored a goal. The local sports writer for The Independent (Footscray) said North played the most systematic game he had seen since Footscray were premiers (1900). Best for North were Stewart, Martin, P & D Noonan, Considine, Graham and Kennedy.
North Melbourne 7.4-46 d Footscray 4.7-31
ROUND 3 West Melbourne
The only two undefeated teams met at the Arden St ground they shared. Flamboyant player Mick Londerigan came into the side for the first time this year. It was a close match with the scores level until well into the last quarter. Then with fifteen minutes to go North scored three quick goals for a match winning lead. North admitted after the match they had received a shaking up and attributed their flurry of goals at the end to the staying power shown by some half dozen of their players. Best were Considine (four goals), Jamieson, D.Noonan, Stewart, Martin, Graham and P.Noonan.
North Melbourne 10.9-69 d West Melbourne 7.6-48
ROUND 4 Brunswick
Hector Milne, who had earlier sought a clearance to South Melbourne, came into the side as well as a new player, Hynes. North had a rather easy win, and had they kicked straight it would have been a massacre. Brunswick failed to score until the start of the last quarter. P.Noonan and Graham were easily North’s best; also Considine, Kennedy, Londerigan, D. Noonan, Barnes and Jamieson. North followed Richmond’s custom of awarding three prizes for unselfish football.
North Melbourne 5.13-43 d Brunswick 1.0-6
ROUND 5 Williamstown
North suffered their first setback when they played a draw at Williamstown. In an exciting game, the home side shocked North in the first quarter to lead by 13 points. Then North clawed their way back and scores were level at three quarter time. Early in the last quarter each side scored a goal, then Williamstown got a point and strove hard to keep the lead. Just in time North got in a shot that was close to being a goal but just missed. Two members of parliament attended the match, one being the North president. Best players for North were D. Noonan, Barnes, Londerigan, Kennedy, Carlton, Graham, Morrison and P. Noonan.
North Melbourne 6.9-45 drew Williamstown 6.9-45
ROUND 6 – Preston
North and a trainload of their fans traveled to the ground of the newly admitted Preston team and had another excitingly close game. After an even first half, North got the upper hand in the third quarter when, kicking against the wind, they scored a goal and kept Preston goalless to lead by nine points at the last change. But Preston came back in the last quarter, twice leveling the scores before North, by sheer force and desperation kicked two quick goals to win by that margin. Best for North were Londerigan, the Noonans, Kennedy, Milne, Morrison, Graham and Carlton.
North Melbourne 7.10-52 d Preston 5.10-40
After six rounds North headed the table: