Incredible! A complete round of Australian football matches that ended in scoreless draws.

 

by Bernard Whimpress

 

Hell, I remember when Glenelg kicked 49 goals 23 behinds against Central District in 1975 and Freddie Phillis kicked 18 goals. I wasn’t there but I remember it.

 

I remember when Peter Hudson, Peter McKenna, Doug Wade and Alex Jesaulenko used to kick 100 goals a season and it wasn’t all that long ago that Buddy Franklin kicked well over the ton and Fev ended up on 99.

 

I watched the telecast of the 1972 VFL Grand Final when Carlton 28.9 defeated Richmond 22.18, the first time two sides each kicked more than twenty goals in the biggest game of the year. Amazingly at one point the telecast broke away for the race of the day at Flemington or Caulfield or somewhere and in three minutes the Tigers rammed on four goals.

 

I saw the 1973 SANFL Grand Final at Adelaide Oval when Glenelg 21.11 defeated North Adelaide 19.17 by seven points and the Roosters hit the front in the time-on period of the last quarter chasing their third flag in a row. I was standing on the back of the old southern mound and wearing a red parka to ward off the afternoon chill. When Graham Cornes took his great high mark between the grandstand flank and south-east pocket and kicked his match-winning goal I reckon he was aiming for me. I had a perfect view as it sailed through the posts.

 

Australian footy was a long-kicking high-scoring game. I remember it well.

 

I never saw John Coleman or Ken Farmer but I know that Farmer kicked 23 goals against West Torrens in 1940. I know that Farmer kicked 100 goals for eleven consecutive seasons from 1930 to 1940. I know these things well.

 

Sports followers love the measure of things.

 

Australian footy fans have long criticised soccer because of its low scoring. Never more so than when games end as nil-all draws. Boring!

 

Niggardly soccer fans used to describe Aussie Rules as aerial ping-pong.

 

Can you imagine our game of footy ending in a nil-all draw?

 

Never!

 

Can you imagine a complete round of matches ending in nil-all draws?

 

Bull-shit!

 

Incredible, but true.

 

You have to go back a long way. However, there are lessons to be learned from history.

 

Saturday, 27 July, 1878 is a date to be remembered. It was round 11 of the second season of the South Australian Football Association competition. All the SAFA matches on that day ended in scoreless draws.

 

The three contests saw top side Norwood in its first season take on 1877 premiers South Adelaide who had slipped to fifth place, Port Adelaide (second) play Victorian (third), and a third encounter between bottom sides South Park (sixth) and Kensington (seventh). Fourth-placed Adelaide had a bye for the round.

 

South Adelaide 0 drew Norwood 0

 

The match at South Adelaide’s home ground in the south parklands attracted a crowd of around 1000 and because of the rivalry which had developed  between the clubs it was anticipated that a rough and tough game might be expected. Accordingly several police officers were present but their services were not required. Play began at 3.20 with Norwood  kicking from the west with a strong cross wind slightly in its favour. Fifteen minutes after the start Letchford marked well forward for Norwood and passed to Dedman but the goalsneak was unable to score against his former team. A vigorous game was under way and there was little to choose between the sides although Souttar had an opportunity to goal for Norwood but failed to capitalise on it.

The half-time interval was much longer than it should have been because the South players adjourned to the nearby Arab Steed Hotel and nearly half an hour was wasted before they reassembled after wetting their whistle. When the game resumed the determined struggle continued with South having the ball in attack and Norwood defending grimly and successfully. The ground was damp from recent rain and slippery from heavy showers during the game. Most players had their uniforms covered in mud from head to foot when the match ended without result.

 

Victorian 0 drew Port Adelaide 0

 

These clubs met on Victorians home ground at the foot of Montefiore Hill before a crowd of about 500. The weather was showery in the early part of the afternoon but cleared when the game began about 3 o’clock, and remained dry until the finish. The only disadvantage was the slippery state of the ground resulting in many falls. Port Adelaide won the toss and kicked with aid of a breeze from the south. The ball was first rushed towards the Port goal and kept in that vicinity before being repelled and most of the play took place in the centre of the ground. Both sides worked hard but when half-time was called neither had scored although the Victorians generally appeared to be on top.

On their return the players went in harder than ever, the ball being first carried with a rush near the Victorian goal but was quickly rebounded to the middle of the ground. The heaviness of the Port team assisted them in keeping the ball in attack and several marks were obtained in front of their goal although they were unable to score. Victorians’ skilful play saw them move the ball through the middle of the ground and retain possession but time was called before a definite result could be obtained. For the Victorians Osborn was especially distinguished and the followers were also notable in the same team. Fletcher and Prideaux were among those who stood out for the visiting side.

 

South Park 0 drew Kensington 0

 

This game took place on South Park’s ground and was late starting at 3.35. Kensington won the toss and kicked to the east with the assistance of a strong wind. Even so it was the Parks who took the ball into attack from where it was cleared. Several chances to score were missed by both sides in the first half. After the break the Parks again rushed the ball into attack but again it was defended. Kensington played well towards the end of the match but overall the play favoured South Park and Ive who had a good chance to goal was unable to register a score. Kensington captain Harrison and the Parks skipper Pettinger competed hard for their teams.

 

Boring?

No.

Adelaide’s two daily newspapers, the South Australian Advertiser and South Australian Register, each covered the first two matches. Of the South/Norwood game the Advertiser described the play as ‘exciting and brilliant’ and the Register as ‘determined, rough but played in friendly spirit’. Of the Victorian?Port Adelaide match both papers noted the play was rough but the Register added that the spirit was friendly. Only the Advertiser covered the South Park?Kensington affair and its brief report made no mention of the style of game. Maybe a cub reporter was learning the ropes.

Australian football then provided no evidence of ping-pong and it certainly wasn’t aerial. It was a scrambling ground-level game but it was a game all the same.