Football Notes.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXV, Issue 4355, 9 June 1909, Page 4

Football Notes.

(By Wing Forward). Before commencing my criticisms of the seniors, I should like to make a few remarks on the juniors, and hope that they will take them in the spirit in which they are written. The match played by them on Thursday was very in and out. Combination was very noticeable by its absence. Passing only an attempt at same —should receive special attention. Scrums—very bad indeed, not once did the ball come away clearly, and the majority of the forwards evidently were under the impression that they were backs—attempting to pick up the ball when they should have booted same, the Johnstones being the principal offenders. Will now deal with the seniors, and what I may say for or against, they will bear in mind that they are no Freddie Roberts or W. Wallace on the football field yet, but it only rests with each one to try and be of the same calibre, and we might see one or even more blossoming out like one of the above-named.

McVicar (full-back):— This player made no mistakes in last match, and he is the right man in the right place. He is cool, collected, takes the ball fairly well, and puts a fair amount of power in his kicks. As regards his collaring, he was not called upon to display his ability. Monteith (wing three-quarter). —Has always played a good game, is fast, and therefore a dangerous man to his opponents; is a good scoring man; takes and kicks the ball fairly well; takes a lot of backing-up, as he is not good at passing when at top speed; collars fairly well. Smith (centre three-quarter):— Is the makings of a really good player; has all the qualities that are required of a centre threequarter. It was unfortunate that he received such a nasty fall in last Thursday’s match, and I trust that before the notes are in print he will have fully recovered. W. Grinlinton (wing threequarter).—Played fairly well on Thursday, but’is not the player he was two years ago. He seems to have lost all his cunning in the way of feinting, I am sorry to say, but hope to see him re-gain it ere the season is over.

Killop (five- eighths).—A good all-round man; takes a pass well —in fact, handles the ball cleanly —and good on the defence. Very sorry to hear that Woodville is likely to lose his services for the remainder of the season.

Henry (five-eighths). —Is still the same reliable player, but does not show the speed he did a couple of seasons back, therefore is not so dangerous when on the attack. Still strong in defence. Was pleased to see him doing battle for the colors.

Walker (half).— Played the best game on the ground on Thursday, which no doubt was attributed to the way the forwards sent the leather out from the scrums,; fields the ball well, and is very smart in getting way on, and it is therefore very essential that the five-eighths should play to him very smartly. They can almost rely on him beating one or two of his opponents, and then be able to get the ball away cleanly to any one of his comrades. Can get in very nippy kicks when in any tight corners. The only man for the position as far as the local team is concerned. Ebbett (wing).—Played well, as the way he protected the half proved. He played in this position for his club for seasons, and has always been fairly successful. R. Palmer and Giles (frontrankers).—Did well on Thursday, and if able to maintain that in future matches will have nothing to accuse themselves of.

S. Moore (lock).—The right man in the right place, as the scrums showed on Thursday. Herlihy, O’Brien, Wooll, Hargreaves. —The latter showed out more prominently, but all worked well together. O’Brien, who was usually very prominent for his fast following up, seems to have’lost a lot of his dash; but hope to see him back to his old form by next match. Herlihy plays a fairly dashing game, and what is expected of the back rank men of the scrum. Wooll, the new addition to the ranks, I noticed, was never lagging, and was always with the pack.