1912 (Cont.)
ROUND 10---PRAHRAN
Prahran, confident of winning the return bout against North, fielded their strongest team for the year. A new brass band had been formed to play at North’s home games. Roach, Rawle and Speakman were back in the side but Pemberton was out ill. Although North had a relatively easy win, Prahran had the better of the play at times, and it was felt that some North players were holding themselves in reserve for the big match against Footscray the next week. Best players were Treloar, S. Barker, G. Barker (four goals), Hardy, Speakman, Rawle, Heron and Grierson.
NORTH MELB. 11.6-72 d PRAHRAN 6.9-45
ROUND 11---FOOTSCRAY
The eagerly awaited return match against Footscray at Footscray was a disaster. Corrigan and Elliott were included in a VFA team that went to Broken Hill, Pemberton and a new player, Teague, replacing them. Footscray had been playing well, although they had sustained two losses, and it was thought by some that they might stop North’s unbeaten run. But no one anticipated the magnitude of the defeat. The largest crowd ever seen at Footscray saw the local team dominate the second and last quarters to record an 83 point win. Their pace and system was superior to North’s who were obviously starting to feel the pressure of winning each week. Their percentage, already better than North’s got another substantial boost. Best for North were J.Johnson, Treloar, Heron, Hardy, Rawle, Hopkins and Jones. Newcomer Teague shaped up well.
FOOTSCRAY 17.13-115 d NORTH MELB. 4.8-32
Such a crushing defeat on the previously unbeaten Northerners naturally raised questions and the club’s committee held a special meeting during the week. It came out that considerable betting took place on the game, with one player said to have made a bet of 20 pounds (for North to win). Several players were required to explain their reversal of form. But there was no hard evidence for the committee to act on. It was George Barker's last game for North.
ROUND 12---BRUNSWICK
North dropped Williamson and G. Barker—two forwards who were out of form—and lost Speakman and Corrigan to injury. J. Stewart, who had played at North several years ago, returned after stints at St Kilda and Carlton. Elliott was recalled and a new player from Northcote, Girdwood, was included. Brunswick wasted the wind in the first and third quarters when they had it, scoring 1.4 and 3.7. North’s forward line was much better this week and virtually won the match with a five goal second quarter. Hopkins, Treloar, Heron, S. Barker, Teague, Hardy and Johnson were best for North.
NORTH MELB. 9.7-61 d BRUNSWICK 5.13-43
ROUND 13---NORTHCOTE
There was trouble at the club during the week when captain Syd Barker, after an argument with a committee member, threatened to “return his uniform” but things were smoothed over. The club traveled to Northcote with two new players—Hanna from Ascot Vale, and Hawkins (North Juniors). Heron, who had played last week while ill paid the price, and Girdwood was omitted. Second-last placed Northcote put in a good performance and led for most of the game.It took North until the last quarter to overtake them. Northcote lost a good player in the first quarter and Hardy injured his shoulder in the third quarter and had to stop roving. Best for North were Johnson, Treloar, Pemberton (who kept Northcote star Joe Johnson quiet again), S. Barker, Jones and Hopkins. Elsewhere Footscray were soundly beaten by Essendon, giving North a two game buffer on top once more. After an indifferent start to the season, Essendon were now beginning to assert themselves.
NORTH MELB. 8.18-66 d NORTHCOTE 7.11-53
ROUND 14---BRIGHTON
North finally appointed a coach—Paddy Noonan—to instill more system in training and play into the team. Speakman and Heron were still unavailable and Hardy was injured. Homan, who had not played at North since 1910, and Wilson, a junior, came in. Once again, North had to come from behind and play one good quarter to win a close game by six points. Had Brighton been a little more accurate—seventeen scoring shots to thirteen--they may have beaten North. Best for North were J.Johnson, Treloar, Rawle, Pemberton, S.Barker, Hopkins, Jones and Corrigan.
In an after-match incident, Frank Barker, another of Syd’s brothers tried to force his way into the North dressing room. After the doorman refused him entry, and Syd Barker came out twice and told him to leave, he used insulting language and was arrested by a plain clothes police officer. On the way to the watch-house he further insulted the police officer and spat on him. He was fined five pounds in court.
NORTH MELB. 8.5-53 d BRIGHTON 6.11-47
ROUND 10---PRAHRAN
Prahran, confident of winning the return bout against North, fielded their strongest team for the year. A new brass band had been formed to play at North’s home games. Roach, Rawle and Speakman were back in the side but Pemberton was out ill. Although North had a relatively easy win, Prahran had the better of the play at times, and it was felt that some North players were holding themselves in reserve for the big match against Footscray the next week. Best players were Treloar, S. Barker, G. Barker (four goals), Hardy, Speakman, Rawle, Heron and Grierson.
NORTH MELB. 11.6-72 d PRAHRAN 6.9-45
ROUND 11---FOOTSCRAY
The eagerly awaited return match against Footscray at Footscray was a disaster. Corrigan and Elliott were included in a VFA team that went to Broken Hill, Pemberton and a new player, Teague, replacing them. Footscray had been playing well, although they had sustained two losses, and it was thought by some that they might stop North’s unbeaten run. But no one anticipated the magnitude of the defeat. The largest crowd ever seen at Footscray saw the local team dominate the second and last quarters to record an 83 point win. Their pace and system was superior to North’s who were obviously starting to feel the pressure of winning each week. Their percentage, already better than North’s got another substantial boost. Best for North were J.Johnson, Treloar, Heron, Hardy, Rawle, Hopkins and Jones. Newcomer Teague shaped up well.
FOOTSCRAY 17.13-115 d NORTH MELB. 4.8-32
Such a crushing defeat on the previously unbeaten Northerners naturally raised questions and the club’s committee held a special meeting during the week. It came out that considerable betting took place on the game, with one player said to have made a bet of 20 pounds (for North to win). Several players were required to explain their reversal of form. But there was no hard evidence for the committee to act on. It was George Barker's last game for North.
ROUND 12---BRUNSWICK
North dropped Williamson and G. Barker—two forwards who were out of form—and lost Speakman and Corrigan to injury. J. Stewart, who had played at North several years ago, returned after stints at St Kilda and Carlton. Elliott was recalled and a new player from Northcote, Girdwood, was included. Brunswick wasted the wind in the first and third quarters when they had it, scoring 1.4 and 3.7. North’s forward line was much better this week and virtually won the match with a five goal second quarter. Hopkins, Treloar, Heron, S. Barker, Teague, Hardy and Johnson were best for North.
NORTH MELB. 9.7-61 d BRUNSWICK 5.13-43
ROUND 13---NORTHCOTE
There was trouble at the club during the week when captain Syd Barker, after an argument with a committee member, threatened to “return his uniform” but things were smoothed over. The club traveled to Northcote with two new players—Hanna from Ascot Vale, and Hawkins (North Juniors). Heron, who had played last week while ill paid the price, and Girdwood was omitted. Second-last placed Northcote put in a good performance and led for most of the game.It took North until the last quarter to overtake them. Northcote lost a good player in the first quarter and Hardy injured his shoulder in the third quarter and had to stop roving. Best for North were Johnson, Treloar, Pemberton (who kept Northcote star Joe Johnson quiet again), S. Barker, Jones and Hopkins. Elsewhere Footscray were soundly beaten by Essendon, giving North a two game buffer on top once more. After an indifferent start to the season, Essendon were now beginning to assert themselves.
NORTH MELB. 8.18-66 d NORTHCOTE 7.11-53
ROUND 14---BRIGHTON
North finally appointed a coach—Paddy Noonan—to instill more system in training and play into the team. Speakman and Heron were still unavailable and Hardy was injured. Homan, who had not played at North since 1910, and Wilson, a junior, came in. Once again, North had to come from behind and play one good quarter to win a close game by six points. Had Brighton been a little more accurate—seventeen scoring shots to thirteen--they may have beaten North. Best for North were J.Johnson, Treloar, Rawle, Pemberton, S.Barker, Hopkins, Jones and Corrigan.
In an after-match incident, Frank Barker, another of Syd’s brothers tried to force his way into the North dressing room. After the doorman refused him entry, and Syd Barker came out twice and told him to leave, he used insulting language and was arrested by a plain clothes police officer. On the way to the watch-house he further insulted the police officer and spat on him. He was fined five pounds in court.
NORTH MELB. 8.5-53 d BRIGHTON 6.11-47
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