^dvoeate 0} the JVational Same. Our Motto—" F O R a t J S T R a L i a . "

Vol.. 1. No. 1. Registered at the General Post Office, Sydney, for , transmission by post as a newspaper.

' ... To Correspondents. A l l Literary contributions intended

for .insertion i n our columns, must .be addressed

• -The Editors, • " T h e Australian Footballer,"

. '6 Shelley-street, Sydney. All.Business communications relat­

ing to advertisements; etc., must be forwarded t o ' 4 • -

" ' The Manager, ' -" The Australian 'Footballer, ' '

-' 5 Shelley-street, '

'' V : *' ' / ' t * - Sydney.

Sydney, April 12, 1907,

-*jr Price—One Penny.

The Editors ^vill be pleased to receive notes f roWclubj seqretaHes^concerning any matters pertaining-.to the.Natidhal Game. • •'

Five .Hundred Pounds.

The.followers[of Efigby have saidmore than^orira^tbat'ei, visit of a Rugby team, to WjBfcteaJia,', wQuld<make'the English giofee boom hi the Golden ,West. How^mucb booming there-would, be may be imagined J>y., reihemberihg an. i tem K we published i n our last issue/ vizi, that a team, of BOhoolboysfrom the West -wewr about to lour^be^&teTn States" in the interests of

. flie MfttionflTfeme, *nd that the'^ost of , Ifcatour, already-Been, found; •ija : i l t t f < k . i t e i ralpe so. jnuoh for a

schoolboy tour, cannot be very enthusi­astic about any other game. Apart from that, however, the writer, has a practical knowledge of Western Australia., Four years he spent in various parts of i t , and except in Perth, where there were Sydney importations, he never saw anything but the Australian game played. The further fact that there were more than seventy Australian teams playing " under the flag „ with the six white stars " in > a •' short radius of Perth, leads ' T H E AUSTBALIAN FOOTBALLEB to believe that the West is as loyal-to the Commonwealth Game as South Australia, Tasmania/ and- Victoria.

The Question .of Grounds. Ah important matter which w i l l .have

to be settled sooner or later is the question of grounds. Those who stand behind the * National Game, have ever been willing to meet other brahohes.of sport in a manly, way, but,there has been a lamentable lack of reciprocation. An attempt has been* .made to defeat the advances of the Aus-. . tralian game by blocking i t from playing on-enclosed areas'. I t seems highly i n ­credible but nevertheless a "fact that i n

. the event of a team of Victorian represent* , atives visiting the.capital of New South

Wales to play anWinter-state football match' jthe chief ground?of 'the 'state1 should be closed against them. I f Victorian foot­ball represented but a > fraction of the sporting population, we might" thinkthere was ^dmejustification for the exclusion.; but every.sahe, unprejudiced person knows that this is the very opposite, and that other causes are behind the boycott. I t is the same with other enclosed playing spaces, and BO i t i s that T H K FOOTBALLEB

thinks that i n the very near future/some-' thing wi l l have to be done in the way^of remedying that which is apparently a ! growing evil.

The National Game. Supporters of the English'• forms' of

football as played i n New South Wales' -Question our right to the title.of ^Nation­

al."- What ' constitutes 'nationally; ' as " regards a sport? Is ^t not" the fact of' • birth'-within the nation, and the- support, of'those who make up;the'life and'sbulof i t ? Australian football comes under"such an interpretation of nationality.' I t s founder was a New South Welshman'^' and'it is played in a l l the six; states that make up the Commonwealth. I n fouifof the six, i t holds'.undisputed feway, i n tw o others-yNew fipoth. -Wales and ..Queens­land—its prospects', were never, .brighter,. Who then ean.dispute.ounright to claim. ,the~Atukah^*;ganie of footbaU\a8ithe. National Game' of'Australia. •

' Daily Telegraph of the^Oth inst. save that efforts arebemgrhade to plaoe Eugbv in its true -light before. Melbourne people. ' At Mondays meeting of the Bugby Union, it was decided to communicatewith the New Zealand

' authorities asking that the tour of - the H" All ' Blacks" might be extended-so. as to,iahow of a match against N.S.W.'being played on the Melbourne Cricket Ground/ Tra^ooxBAELBB

* has ho objection to the proposed match. Itfeels assured that however brilliant the game may

..be, the originators of the idea willhaye the1

show penerally attributed to a gentleman of the name of Buckley., THB FOOTB AhfcBB how-ever, Botes that theproposed match it set down for the Melbourne Cricket GrouncL A refer­ence < to. our:, article on the "Question of Grounds " will- show why we consider this pretty, cool!

T H E A U S T R A L I A N F O O T B A L L E R . F R I D A Y , A P R I L 12.

League "Points . "

Saturday last was more" like a day in Janu­ary than one in April, but the Nationalists were out tor a kick despite the heat.

* Bedfern turned out in fair numbers, on the southern end of Moore Park,' near .their training quarters at Pick's Hotel.' - '

,... Billy Prince was in fine kicking and mark--ing form." ' Billy has got the job looking after the youngsters this year. A more popular man could not have been selected.

Shipton, Dave "Watson, and " Snowy" Rothery were there in private clothes. . The first did not buokle in, but Snowy and his skipper got up a sweat. , „

Dave Watson is supposed to have a bundle; but writer saw him play against Carlton when be skippered the New South Wales team.- I f Dave-always played up to that form he

' would be first man in'the.state. 'Humour says Snowyds going to .chuck the

crame; but Bedfern's -crack wing man gave it a denial on Saturday. < . '

Bedfern's > 'secretary, was ubiquitous on Saturday—here, there, and everywhere. He reckons Bedfern will bo the premiers of 1907. According to Tom " it's all , over ^bar shout­ing." ".. - . . " ' . . ' -- A charge is often made against our League

teams that they are all ex-Victorians.' Bed-. • fern's team does not look like it. Two Ship-tons, two Sheeleys, Laoey, O'Grady, Bessemo, and'others are, natives^f this state.'

Five men who learned the game-down the Murrumhidgee arein with the railway suburb eighteen. " I ' l l tell you -who they are after the first 'match;'' said lee. Dpugan with a smile.

It is not the first time Wagga has supplied Sydney clubs with good' men. I n the " eigbtjes " . Wren, who. played for, E a s t , Sydney, hailed from there, ,.

A mixed team from Paddington, Y.M.C.A. • and some Young Australians had a go on .the

opposite sidfl'of-the p arki , 'Turner, Tate of'Newtown," but how of Pad­

dington, played'a varied port. First he was' apecteior and/critio/ r-Then he took a hand'

' . In the game.' When Langley gave the-um­pire's job Jup,, Turner bad a try at that. Finally he went bung—sprung a leak in his bellows,

' Hudson, PaddingtoriV new secretary, played a very fair game in the scratch match, but he is far top, beefy for the game. Adipose and football, do not run i n double

. - harness. Hodson, you have only four weeks to kickoffsuperflous flesh.

'•' The secretary'a cobber, Clarketon, is also a : ,;' fair footballer. *' Tibh '* M'Phail was there ;| i.too, but knocked off early for fear of stillness

Tick, get to training; Paddington wgl need H£p have men who are fit enough for anything.

....-^Veston is alsd aprombing.man for.'.-Pad-gtlington, but he'has ra weakness.'?'He -^ticks. •

blue hall like a Bathurst burr to an unshorn i ^ ^ ^ . ^ . t d e ^ ^ ^ ^ W ^ " " «

Saturday, but he never once got his kick in* There's nothing like leather, Weston, so get y o u r J o e Gardiner " to it. . ,

, I n the " eighties " there were fewer men quicker at getting the ball than vet. Harry Hedger; but he had Weston's weakness, and it often spoilt what might have been a bril­liant piece of play.'

There is some talk of a visit to Sydney by the Lefroy footballers of Hobart, Tasmania. • Sly, one of their late players, who is now a resident of Sydney, said they had almost fixed the trip up last season.

"Walker A N D

Kail,

Cbe Earnest firm intbe World

- - • FQR * •

trophies in Sold, Silver and Silver <Plafe.

©all at oar Showroom s i ' S Y D N E Y :

4 2 0 OHOIJGH S T ^ H H T .

' M E L B O U R N E : . . ,

3 6 3 I i l t t l e . C o l l i n s S t r e e t . . • A D E L A I D E :

FlxBG B U l I i O l i f l G . .

Manager, for Australasia: ' A L B E R T E . N A S H .

Telephone 3282.

Woods* who was Newtown's crack forward last season, has gone to Broken HilL

New Newtown had a footballer, First-class at potting goals,

Whene'er he marked to right or left, He seldom missed the poles;

But, oh, he did a summer scoot,. Upon a summer day,

And to be brief, well, you'll find grief If you go Newtown way.

vjpje in .^elb6\Utoe.,'tbe.Other day, Dr. ' l a r u e y * ; ^ player. I n his

i i »v, - - — ' - ' - n — n -*pr Bsssndon..,

A Y.M.C.A. man took a turn in Padding-ton's scratch affair. He had no football togs with him, so he stripped to his under-flannel; When last seen-he was gathering up the rem­nants preparatory to going into dock for re­pairs. / ,

Dear Sir, when you're going to peel, To play a football game', , . . • . '

This don't forget,' you'll raise a sweat,1

- It's anything but tame. '[ Then don the jersey and the cap, '

'No loose thing at the hips, ' - - ' Or else, I guess, there'll be a mess, • ,

And you'll go home in strips. ••, '• - Goldie and Herb Thomas will again strip

for East. Both are enthusiasts, and, of course, put Australia first.

Bice, one of East Sydney's big guns, is away in Melbourne, but will probably be back' before long. No one has yet heard anything of Maxie.

, • It is almost a certainty that Ralph Robert­

son will again skipper tho dark blue and gold. Robbo makes a good captain. 'Among others who will battle-for Ted Butler's team will bo Porteous (the o'raok follower), Simpson,'Lipmann, ahd Barry. •

• H . Wirth, related to the Wirth Bros, of circus fame, will also make ono'of East fivd-ney'8 1907 team. I - j

North Sydney will have A. Kitt, their crack wing, Beedon, Beeston, and others Out in the maroon. North Sydney meets East next" Saturday in an off match at Mbore

•Park. . , '. * ^ • 1 Delegates to the New South WaleB Foot J

ball League will;be pleased'to hear that tbiq •year Frank Carrick will .be Balmain's dele-' gate. F . C. is an enthusiast.

icl The prospects of the Balmain Distric1

, Club are excellent, and they, will have, ready ' a strong team to put in the field for the

opening day -of their fifth season. ,'.'!•' j With Mr. A. E . Nash, president of theJSew

South Wales League in-the 'chair, the club bad a large attendance at its annual meeting. The annual report was of a gratifving^atore; .Fifteen matohfls had beenplayedlast season; Balmain won eleven and lost four, and scored 861 ppmts'against 521.. ^ I n the cami petition theclub gaihed;22' points out of a possible 80. The receipts .had been JE46 9sJ 6d„ whibb leftVbalanoe'io credit. j

Balmain District Club has elected for this year the, following officers:—Patron, Mr. Ai E . Nash; president, Mr. 3', Brady^- honj seoretary, Mr. F.« Carriok: hon. treasurer; Mr. W." Middleton; committee, Messrs. Wi

'Sweeney, A. Bruce, A. Vasman, H . Ashleyi M . Stephens, ^F: Ahstiss, and Davis} audlj tors,'Messrs. H . J . Perry, and H^ Formbyj delegates to* the League, Messrs. F . Carrie! and W. Sweeney.

The League president was in, the chair a a large meeting, held at the Steyne Hotel Manly, last Friday, for the purpose of form inga clubto play the national tiptofy Thi following officers were eleotett':—Patron Alderman ^King; president, Mr. Morris vice-presidents, Aldermen Pattisoij and Pas aau, and Messrs... Borobinore^ 'Gahan M'Aulifle', Neilson; lion, secretary, F , j j%il bertec n, jun. [ hori treasurer J 1 , ;&ub.er*"<i*'

• sen. \ j v ' •• •» /-':'\^ 5-','>>>.|j^i

AUSTRALIAN PGOtBAtLEft.

Association Notes. t • •

. The Fourth Annual Meeting of the Sydney Australian Football Association was held on Tuesday evening at the Sports Club, Hunter Street. 'The President, Mr. G-. Howatson, ' was in the chair. Owing to some confusion as to the exact date of the meeting there was only a small attendance.- Unfortunately Mr. , 0. Young, the secretary, was out of town, and the reading of the annual report had to be postponed. However the president ad- • dressed the members present and urged them ' to be §till loyal to the national cause.

| At the Annual Meeting of the Association On Tuesday evening, the president presented to i the 'captain' of the Illawarra* club the , pennant which he had promised to the winners of the premiership. -'The Illawarra team riohly deserved their win, for they have tlways been enthusiastic in the cause.

At the annual meeting of the 'Association "here was on view the valuable trophy, in the orm bf a silver oup, which his Excellency 3ir Harry Bawson has presented for compet-tion. ' '

This cup has to be ,won three times by a dub before it can become ,the absolute pro­perty of any blub. '

rhe election of office-bearers resulted as follow Patron, his Excellency, Sir .Harry Bawson; vioe-patron, Dr. Nash; president, Mr. G. How atson; vio-presidents, Messrs. O. W. Balhau-Ben, J . . J ' Virgo, W. E . Foster, W. J . W . Biohardson, G . V . Padulla, J . Fitzgerald, B. Yfflliams, "W, Q. Todd, M'Lean, B . Manro-~ King, W. Pyne, «nd Dr. Malliok; hori. secre­tary, Mr. V ; Todd; hon. treasurer,JMfo'W. J . jW* Biohardson.

tiBedfem player said .the other day .that they'were refused the Bedfern Oval, hut they Bid not care as it was too email for the Aust-' rattan geme, to a certain-extent it is true yet

the same.it is a'pity for the reason that eaever the game was playe^ on the oval Mfy/m'tf. good^^tendanoe of speotatora, 1 that had they continued-their ttur. season

ey would before long had ; a 'eplendid local

be newly formed Manly Qlub applied for ission to play i n senior competitions,

iwere however difficulties which even ^e'ooitrolllng body could not over come and > Manly for the present must play with second

. Ida* Football <31UD were so satisfied with f'jjMt to Sydney last year that .when Mr.

,,mey'Harte, was in Melbourne the other, ylfchej'wanted to know if they could get '"flhaa on in 8ydney in season 1907. E v e n I ^ B D I A B T D J admitted the brilliancy ot'St,

„ la , and therefore every body would be glad [toother .visit of this team was one' of the

t.$be season,

From the Daily Telegraph of Tuesday we clip the following:—The first mooting of the newly-formed ^New Zealand Football League was being held when the last mail left. Delegates,from all parts of the colony at­tended. '• J Amongst important items on the business paper was the arrangement of the New Zealand team's tour of Australia in 1908, to take part in the Australasian championship competition, to be held at Melbourne. The team'will afterwards visit South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Much good should (says a New Zealand writer) arise from the meeting's deliberations, and when the various centres playing the game throughout the colony are brought into line by affiliation with the governing oody, it will unquestionably be. the means of greatly in­creasing interest in the code through a series of interprovincial matches^being arranged by the executive. '•" ' ''

H PATENTED,.

Trumperand Carter, C R I C K E T I N G J»

; ' AND. '.._,<v*

. jt • S P O R T I N G . D E P O T ,

124 Mariet Street. • Agent, for Sherrins Footballs.

Boy's Footballs from J/6. Match I L from 7/6.

S O M E P O I N T S Of THE

A U S T R A L I A N G A M E . 1. No off-aide. 'J 2. No Scrums. 8. No ooTla)ring below- the hips or round

the neck. No rabbitting or slinging. 4. A " m a r k '•' may be made froma punt,

drop, or place lack from the foot of . one of the^pposingtor one's own

side.-' •' * • : 5, , Keep the ball in play. Kicking put of,

:vri'> . fconnds entail,a penalty,. , f.jf'fi, "The sballi while in play, must not be .'Vvj- ^/viuowii'- or^handed.•• It must be

Registered Colors of the League Clubs.

8YDNEY— -Jersey, Dark Blue Kniokers, Dark Blue Hose, Scarlet „ • • , Cap, Scarlet

EAST SYDNEY—. * ' . Jersey, Dark Blue a ad Gold Hoops * • Kniokers, Dark Bine Hose, Dark Blue and Gold

NOBTH SHOBE— . Jersey, Maroon

Knickers, Dark Blue ' Hose, Maroon

B E D F E R N — ' . Jersey, Yellow and Black Kniokers, Dark Bine Hose, Yellow and Black

PADDINGTON— / Jersey, Blue and White Stripes Knickers, Dark Blue Hose, Dark Blue ' •

i NEWTOWN-1- '

Jersey, Bed and White Kniokers, Dungaree • Hose, Bed and White"

Y.M.O.A.— Jersey, Bed and Black *'. Kniokers, White - ' -Hose, Bed and Black „ ,

- ^ . . BALMATN— . ' ~ "

Jersey, Navy Blue, with Bed Sash Kniokers, Dark Bine • • 1

Hose, Bed and Blue Hoops

A representative New South Wales^temu will leave for -Brisbane to play-Queensland during July.. Though -this state defeated Bananaland on the Sydney Crickot-Groun3 last year, Queensland is bound to make a be­tter fight against our repreeentnti VOB when they meet in the Northern City. New South Wales will; therefore need all her cracks for 'the July trips. , "

Australian Football. . A M E E T I N G

„ • W I L L B K B E U > AX*

B U T L E R ' S H A L L ,

108 WILLIAM ST.,

MONDAY, A P R I L 15,.W90WM With a .view o i ,te4tmfa&:*?*£

Second - Grade Team, ooder the atove^v

4 T H E AUSTRALIAN F O O T B A L L E R . I ^ I D A T , A P R I L 11

young c/lusfralian. Secretaries of clubs attached to Y.A. are

requested to supply all information of interest to Young Australians.

Annual Meeting of the Young Australian Association was held in the Y.M.O.A. rooms on Tuesday night! Mr. A. Laird in the chair. Large gathering of Young Australians.

- Annual Report.read and adopted. Said report ohock full of cheering news.

Twelve clubs took part in the competition. All but one went right through. There is good grit in the Y.A. lads.

Kegworth, Eastern Suburbs, Balmain, and Sydney left in the final. ~ Competition won by Kegworth.

Only trouble last year was the old one of umpires and grounds. ' Umpire difficulty might be got over by a suggestion made in the report for creating an umpire . fund. Capital idea 1 FOOTBALLER trusts that it will be put into execution. •

*• Report that the Eastern Suburbs are not going to don-, colors this season is without foundation. Telephone message sent to Y .M O.A: rooms on Tuesday read: " Will, have two

"> teams in Young'Australians."' Meeting re­ceived message with great enthusiasm.' .

Young Australian's take to heart the good advice given by Mr. A. Langley at your annual meeting. T H E FOOTBALLER repeats his state­ment that better football was seen in the Y.A. competition than in the League teams. Keep up to that high standard, and remember that ydu are going to be the senior players of the future, who will yet defeat Victoria at the National game. - '

Kegworth,, after all is going .to run a senior team in the-Y.A. competition.- Bad luck for Petersham as it will lose the services 6f Kyle, Reggie's right-hand.

Petersham reckon that though they are going to lose Kyle, they will still take defeat-fog, Rochester, their skipper, reckons the gold medals will be worn by the Royal Blues.

T H E FOOTBALLER mentioned i n last issue that Paddington Albion had also good pros­pects. This club has* 'changed its name to Paddington I I . I n its ranks are Carrol, who as a boy played so well for* St.*Franois School at the Haymarket \ Phelan who was skipper for Sacred Heart School, and 4wo good play­ers in Kerwan and Cass,

Rydeand North Annandale are the new dubs in the competition. We Wish them good luck, and may they always remain true* to Australia.

A. E . Idvi, who for two years filled the position of secretary to the Young Australians, did not accept office this year. President A. Laird paid a great tribute to the worth of the. retiring sec.

" When first appointed," said Mr, Laird, he'was hut a small lad, and I doubted his ability to carry on the duties, but I have

- learned that good>goods go in small parcels." And every Young Australian saids Hear, hear.

Proposed by Mr. A. Langley, seconded by Mr. H . Cave, that a' suitable testimonial be given to the outgoing officer. No one said no.

Frank; Johnson takes A. E . Livi's place. Frank plays for Balmain Oarlingf ord, is full of go, loves his country's game, and means to see it grow into the proportions it assumes in the southern states. Oh, for a thousand lads like himl

The Y.A. Association paid its late secretary a further compliment by making him treasurer.

Competition commences May 4. I n the meantime off matches between the fourteen

' clubs in the competition will take place. The FOOTBALLER expects reports of these "tryers" or " breathers.''

T H E FOOTBALLER agrees with the remark of one of the vice-presidents of the Y .A .— Lads do not be in a hurry to play senior foot­ball. Keep with your clubs till you are twenty at least.

E. I . Butler, JCouse and %

Ssfafe x/lgenf, Begs to notify,

H I S N U M E R O U S C L I E N T S ,

his change of .address from

io$ to w William $ t -It was a splendid idea to divide the Y.A.

into two grades, seniors and juniors. The, latter limit will be 17 years of age and will be for boys-about to'leave or just left school.

One of the chief features of the Young Aus­tralians last year, was the inter district mat­ches between Sydney and Newcastle teams.

JTHB, FooiBALLBfc hopes they will be again in evidence this season.

On page 5 it will be seen that New .South Wales Football League are applying for a Young Australian to act .as an assistant, sec­retary to Mr. Ohesney Harte. The necessary qualifications are that the Y»A. must be a' typist and shorthand writer.

At 4-40 p.m. on Friday, April 5, the first copy of THTB AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLBR left the hands of the printer. I t was. taken by the proprietor and handecfcto Mr. A. E . Nash, (president or the NsS.W, Football League) with the remark"" that it, had been edited by Australians, printed by.Australians, and was going out to all who were Australians by birth or adoption." Mr. Nash suitably responded,', and the copy was marked " the first," and was initialled witjti the name of the printer.

S.S.W. Defeats Victoria.

. As predicted in Saturday's issue, a large crowd gathered at<the Agricultural Ground on Saturday afternoon to Bee the return match between New South Wales and Victoria. Estimates differ as to the exact number present, but something over 60,000 is generally considered near the mark. . From bounce of ball to the last bell the excitement was intense; and i t beggared description when Keith Walker, out of the ruck, kicked the goal which made New South Wales for ihe first time a victor over Victoria. I t is gratifying to know that all the players who distinguished themselves for New South Wales learned the national game at school five or six years ago, ere the Australian sentiment was as popular as i t is to-day. Johnson, Rochester, Carrol,, Phelan, Barry, Lee, Holland, Souter, Chambers, and the other members o i the team were school lads in 1904, now in the year of grace, 1912, they are the bri l ­liant players born and reared i n the State of New South Wales .who have carried the colors to victory. These played,the game as boys when it ' was unpopular; to-day, as men, their names are on 50,000 lips as Australian footballers of> great merit.—(What may appear in. a Byctney paper in 1912.) \

Last year the Eastern Suburbs: team visited*Wallserid and played a- combined team of Newcastle Juniors. Nearly fJy&OO spectators watched that match,,so that the' popularity of the game must be" grow­ing up North. !

Bedfern social on Monday great success; Look for next issue'for ful l particular?.

Cbe Australian Tootballtr C A N B E O B T A I N E D A T

Trumper & t a M EVERT

Friday Morning: PRICE. ONE PENNY.

-frig AUSTRALIAN F*06T&ALLE8.

T O S C H O O L B O Y S .

•School competitions start first week in May. • I t is not yet known what schools are competing t i l l the annual meeting of the League which takes place next Friday evening at Sports Club, Hunter Street.

. Many inducements are being held out to schools to play Rugby, summed up i t merely means—bribes for boys to be un-Australian.

Trips somewhere or other, cheap fares, presentation of medals, etc. A l l these providing the boys wil l but be disloyal to the National game.

But the offer has no attractions to many schools. They recognise a trip to Bris­bane is a tame affair beside the Australian one to marvellous Melbourne, where they Will see the National game played with a brilliancy unseen anywhere in the world.

\ i Talking of that trip to Brisbane, last' ^Season the Sydney Daily Telegraph said i t " Was a fine thing andoff-set the to "enemy"

which" sent the crack school to Melbourne.

Yankees would term the use of the word i?j**efiemy" as rich. ,The National game of V, the land described as the "enemy." I t is * all the richer when T H E 'FOOTBALLER ' re-,

members that i t was the manager of The - D a i l y Telegraph who helped to introduce

the 'game into New South Wales..

.' "In our first issue we regret that there ?' ftfas a typographical error in reference to. j£wie" name'of the master-of Petersham' fj?aeHool; 'The person to whom the tribute j£ was paid should have 'been* Mr. Giltinan.

Talking to an ex-Petersham lad, who is* now in Petersham Y.A. team, he expressed

$1 the "opinion that after three years of premi - . ^Jftixslixp,; the lads of ^Petersham school were |£ijbtilikely^to beiHighJih'the".coiirpetition ,i,thld Beaso'n. ,,' A\*, • - i.

,*>, I B e gave >as bis reason - that'all ,the boys > £K'vmo.; made 'the^-school famous^ here ^ and i n Melbourne^had left school; and the

Vffcoy^ wh6^'b»ve>tak«a '..their ~.places are SiBmB.ller*in^stature.- / ••''* > fe**'i.• ' ' / * • * . •r

*»*.-> • • ' ••, . , < „• , •. « • .

? ^ : B u t i . T H « FOOTBALLER sticks out .for'its xfitsi opinion ;vizj-thatjn their mas tor • they'

^bave a tutor second to none and though fejt maybe that th^r6yild :blaes may not be ' ^ ^ u i t o ^ t o p ^ t H e y i w i l i ^ p t be far-away,

ji.'**'-* •:. ' :" * *»« ' • ' '•„ //-i ,' '" •*'' » i t * ' Bi l ly Brines,' the crack Redfern. bacjk,,

«&%ho is visiting the school^ for the League, «^»ys everywhere]* he 'finds .head, masters;.'

~rfxatiw taken w i t l i sentijpaeht "atiached oar game.^M^ JFrazer, of Cha'tewood, d Mr . Hamilton, of •^lUpnghby,'wboin?'

I n 1905 Ghatswood, had a rattling team but they were disqualified for playing a boy alleged to be over age. Ghatswood, regarding themselves right, withdrew from further part in the competition and now play the English game. I t is a pity even if right. They acted impulsively in with­drawing, and besides i t was un-Australian.

I n " League Points," reference* is made to the fitness of W. Prince, for his new position. Besides his general good qual­ities he is a Stalwart young fellow, splendid kick, brilliant mark, and possesses all the excellent qualities which go to make a successful Australian player.

School boys'who are hesitating whether to be English or Australian to the finger tips should see some of the ex-school boys who are playing with the young Austral­ian teams.

Though no official notification has yet reached T H E FOOTBALLER, i t hears on good authority that Redfern Oval is again avail­able for school matches,'the Catholic schools on Thursday afternoons and the State schools on Friday.

Last year the Sydney Morning Herald published several letter on the suitability of the Eedfern Oval for school football. I f it is true that this particular ground is too small for League teams, i t cannot be said this applies to-schools. More than that i t is.central. Hundreds of men and .women pass i t 6n their way home from their daily toil and stop to see the, Australian-lads aVplay. '.Besides'it is in proximity to several schoolsfall ;'of which play the nat­ional game." ' " .i . t • ' : -' •

' " I t Wo^dbe^agodd thing for the game" said'Shenthtisi&St'iheother day, if Sydney Universify^^ould .become Australian.". ", I disagree: with'Vou " replied the other.' " The boys who are'playing the game in [ our schools to-day wi l l one day be 'Dili-,' versity men, and tben, the game'willvbe-played;in the true Australian spirit. t • <"''"

New South Wales .Rugby, Union .pur­poses to J convert Melbourne'to the. Eng­lish game/ . - • ,

The good man argued with the sot.', • . . -<About his ways disgusting. t * -

"Good resolutions/'-said tHe sot; , <-.''", " W i t h these I ' m Isimpty busting." • \

>"X will!refbrm;X sWear to ' i t "— ' - . '" ^ ;" 1 "Oh, when i " t the good man 'blurted.

' "The drunkard winked his feye and said: "When Melbourne getsleonverted.'-'

" . • • . - * ^ * • ,*- •

To Young; Australians. .

Wanted ajTypistandShorthand.writer "for the New South Wales Football League, ^ fof.fobtball,sWon. :iZt0^^'Y ' ''

GRAND-DAD TO H I S GRANDSON. 1970.'

There was a game I used to play ' , When I was quite a lad,

I t had an English name, I know—.. My memory'B so bad. •

We used to play i t in the parks . About this big city,

Bnt yet I can't recall the name ' To tell i t unto thee. • . • ' ' ' '

I t had its good points I can mind,.' Though sometimes i t was rough,

But twas the cry "For Australia" . * That killed i t sure enough..

Australian thought, Australian sport, . Supplanted i t you know;

I t was a grand old English game , Twice thirty years ago. -

HUGH STONE,

T H E FOOTBALLER hears on the best of authority that Fort-street wi l l have no. less than three teams out " For Aus-' •, tralia." :• , " • ,

Double Bay w i l l also be again for the . national game.- Referring to this school' in our first issue we made a slight mistake .' in the name of the headmaster, who is • Mr. T. Stafford.

North Adelaide Football ^teeam, are billed for June 8th. I f the Rugby are'an-? xious to secure the Melbourne Cricket Ground for their great djsplay of the,', English game, they could not do better than cancel all engagements on that" date . I t would only be doing what the Victorian -League.did when the English Rugby team -visited Melbourne some years ago; and i t -would pave the way for securing the M . ^ C. Ground for their trump card. ' .;

On Tuesday evening .the New South Wales Football League met;. ;to arrange ,,; ali the preliminaries for the annual wbich

5 comes off this evening, at the sports iclub, ;.y „ Hunter-street. The good work Which the . -league has done i n the past deserVes'.a big *&f "' rally of nationalists". ^ . -• %.

Printers, Bookbinders, /.ft •>. Stationers," e t c . - , ; •

(off Erekine-street), • \.'Oi$«ipl*

•••• — " • &

P r i n t i n g of E V e r ^ De%ori;iptlpn^ " Done o n t h e SH6r<tesi JiotiQe.

'. "v , * C H A R G E S M O D E R A T E /

T H E AUSTRALIAN JPOoTfeALLfcR. F R I D A Y , A P R I M i l

Harks & Remarks.

I'

. Mr. J . W. Kettlewell, secretary to the /East Sydney club in 1881, told the

writer last week that the longest place kick on the Sydney Cricket Ground was

;made by Arthur ^ Young, who captained New South Wales in the inter-colonial match against Victoria in 1881.

T H E FOOTBALLER has a clear recollection of that particular kick. . I t was the first representafive inter-colonial that ever took place in Sydney, Prejudice then did not run so high, and there was a good attendance. Young marked on the left wing, and took a place. I t was a beauty. I t hung high over the posts, and then dropped fairly between them amidst ring­ing cheers.

About 1884 an Adelaide team visited Sydney. One of their players, name writer has forgotten, made a splendid'

' drop kick on the same ground. Measured after the goal was scored, and i t went over sixty yards. . " There's one thing about the Austra­lian players," said a looker-on last Saturr day, "and that is they are fine marks and good- kicks."- The preceding two pars bear this remark out. ' 1

Old-timers wil l remember 'Jack Mac-Namara, the crack Rugby player who i n ^ . vented the saying, " .Give ' 'em. gruel." , Jack took .to the Australian game.later on, and captained a team of Sydney players that'"went to Newcastle to show the miners r the fine points of the game. Jack's crowd was.badly beaten. On their return home' Jack was asked the why and wherefore. I n disgust, he replied: '"How the — r — — could we win-: they fol-lowe^-the ball-in droves.'- '. ,«. '

Mr. A. E". Nash, president of the' New South'Wales Football League, is often credited'with being a Victorian..' Asa, matter 'of fact, he is a Londoner a n d , played Rugby before he came to the Com-, monwealth. Paradoxical as.it may seem,

. the best Australians are often those who » first saw.the light of day.putside of Aus­

tralia. Marcus Clarke, Adam Lindsay Gordon, and old B i l l Befceh. are Austra­lian.to the core. **"• ;

When and where did Mr. Wade play Australian football ? This ^as the gene-, ral question jon Saturday asked by all .who picked'up . T H E FOOTBALLER. We do not know. A l l weMo know is that one, of the Sydney dailies5 reported him as, having Baid i n substance -jwhat. appeared itnonx^olamna la£t/^k;^^erliaps,<the

One of the most bitter opponents to the introduction of Australian football into New South Wales is a gentleman who has been identified with Rugby since the seventies. . There are people who are un­kind enough to say that his hostility is due to the fact that i t dates from the historic visit of the Carlton Football Club that came over to New South Wales to play two games, one of which was what is now the Australian game, the other one being Rugby. I n the Rugby match, played at Petersham, George Coulthard, of Victoria, brought our friend down a terrible cropper. He never played football after that match. T E E FOOTBALLER does hot Bay there is any truth in the statement, but i t does assert that this ex-player displays unwarrantable bitterness against the national sport. I t goes further, and says that in spite of his hostility he wi l l live to see our' game the chief one of New South Wales.

Last year the Sydney Uuiversity foot­ball team journeyed all the way to. New Zealand to meet a University team. I t could not go to Brisbane for the simple reason that so far a Brisbane Alma Mater is not in existence and i t could not visit Melbourne or Adelaide because these Un­iversities are Australian, and so i t had to

•' go far afield. What a pity i t is that the leading University'of the Commonwealth should.be more Englisn than Australian.

Proposal was before the League on Tuesday last for. a visit from aTasmanian football ^team. 'A^ similar proposal was read fromthe South Melbourne Club which .was "also anxious -to visit Sydney this season. Nothing definite was done in either proposal. ' T H E FOOTBALLER, hopes that both proposals be- accepted. I n view of the many attempts to crush the growing .Australian sentiment in this State, we can­not have too many visits from other States

.by efficient teams, they vare object lessons in the game; they encourage our boys and if i t is. arranged that an early match be­tween young Australian teams or an inter-, district school match' precede the game, good results would be sure to follow."

I t was ' originally .proposed that the. League should take some part in the Cook' 'Demonstration which takes place at Kur-' • nell on ;the 27th inst. Unfortunately i t iB found"ibat."it- woold interfere with .the' opening of the season and the matter had to be abandoned.. However as Kurnell is the first historic spot in'Australia i t . is ' in-

.-tended i n future" to entertain there, all -Australian teams visiting New South Wales'.^•/'" -'''•"! ' v* '•*•

The young- Australian' Association are holding a Social i n the Manchester Unity

' H a l l , Castlereagh^street M&y 16th; m a i d ' of/the Y* A. fund: * Daricig from 8 t i l l 12'

' Double Tickets 8/6, Single 2 t Refresh- •• ments rprov$ad-, > A l l jupLprterfl of' the

. lads who v n U ^ e ^ y ^ i l o r '

Comments on Y.A. Competition by F.J.

The second annual report of the sec­retary showed a marked advance during ' the past season. The quality of the foot­ball played was of a high order, while the spirit in which the games were played might well be taken as a criterion by some, of our League teams. As one of the as­sociations vice-presidents remarked re the final of the Y.A. and the semi-final of the League, the boys game was worth going a long way to see, while that of the sen­iors was very unsatisfactory.

This season the association w i l l run. two grades, viz., 20 and under, and 17 and under. The idea of running the junior grade being to cater for the boys who have just left school, also as the senior Young Australians attain the majority to f i l l their places with the most promising juniors. There are already about 6 jun­ior teams under way1, while the seniors wil l be strengthened by the addition of Ryde, Annandale, and probably Manly, -so i t is confidently expected that the ass- • ociation wil l have at least 24 teams under its banner this year. The difficulty of obtaining umpires has again cropped up this season, and the secretary would ;be glad to hear from any ex-player or fol- , lowers of the game willing to officiate this season.

' Internal disturbances have led to several' prominent members of the Kegworth Club going over to Petersham^ who under' the skillful leadership of Tom Rochester wi l l be far more powerful than of yprev Sydney, practically the same jteam that defeated last years premiers (Kegworth) twice, are already preparing for the fray more.confident than ever.. Their junior team is also reported.to be a dark horse. Balmain, under the wing of.Hariy Oav e and several other enthusiasts are going very strong-although losingKirwan andRigtiey bat the donning of theYed and black jer­sey again by four of'their old playerS— Erench, Johnson, 'Marsh, and Hunt—;has caused their' 'energetic secretary much-satisfaction. This team'has been .knock­ing at the door since lo,05. *They were defeated in the semi-final fay- Kegworth afterleidingbySO to 12. I n this match at . half timeKeggie went to pieces.-Uhfortun-

-ately Balmain hail been playing nineteen' men with the result that oh being dis- ' covered they lost all their points., j l n the-,. semi-final last year they'.were 'again de- , feated," This time by. Eastern Suburbs. I n this match .they led' right up to the beginning of the last quarter, but want

• of condition told Sgainst them, and victory'; was snatched from, them almost on .time, v Take;example, Balmain, fam this matcMV and let'your ttaiuing he froro<#li,j^«t

.you nave'a'good chance of b r ' ~

FKIDAT, A P R I L 12. T H E A U S T R A L i L E R .

— L A W S — OP T H E

A U S T R A L A S I A N G A M E O F F O O T B A L L .

1. The distance between the goal posts shall not be more than 200 yards, nor less than 150 yards, and the width of the playing space not more than 150 yards, nor less than 100 yards, to be measured equally on eaoh side ot a line drawn

, through the centre of the goals. - The goal posts shall be seven yards apart, of not less than twenty feet in height. Two posts shall be placed at a distance of seven yards, one on each side of the goal posts, and in a straight line with them. The intervening line between suoh posts shall be called the goal line. The ball to be used shall be not less than 23$ nor more than 24J inches in circumference laterally, and not less than 29$ nor more than 30$ inches longitudinally. The ball to be approved by the field umpire. ,

2. Matches shall be played with 'not more than eighteen a side unless where handicaps are oonceded. Any team detected during the pro­gress of the game playing more than the number arranged for shall have all the points kickedj prior to the detection of the same annulled. T field umpire shall have power at the request either captain to stop the game and call players into line for the purpose of counting thi Previous to calling the piayers into l i n e 1 V ~ ' umpire shall notify, the timekeepers, v make an allowance for the time so taken, event of a club commencing play with li the number arranged for, that club si allowed to complete its number at any the game. . ^

3. The captain of eaoh side shi . choice of goal. The players shall th proper positions on the field, and I be commenced by the field umpire ball in the centre of the ground, has been obtained, the players si their positions as above, and " bounced in.the centre. * i

4. .All matches throughout I played twenty-five minutes ea ' one-fourth, one-half, and th

2 tune arranged for play have j Shall change ends, and the I

' in the centre' of the grou half-time the players may]

. not'uiore than fifteen miq appoint & time-keeper wb keep' time, and i ring, f.t controlling body, at i j " At the first sound ofi dead, but in the evenjT a ball before the allowed his kick, an behind fromJt, it i breach of laws aha or behind obtained the bell has rungj ball be, touched i dead. ',

it shall be in pli bounds from a k to the opposite, went out of bi' behind the g< (except when ball is b m any one of ( shall kick it to be indiqft.t a straigh of ten yi the sail' Such be kid

he ve : be

rked be

bal or r/ded no

^A'goal lit .before

boiild the' I t shall be

6. pointi

lis kicked biflg either of i. A behind between the

rany player or ! or is kicked or

fcbnd goal post. "' impost it 'shall be

number of t shall count

nds.-ylt shall crossed the

in by the Raying space. Iplre's hands

out of given

the ball s kicked

>posite side case the

'the ground), 1 it is kicked of the space

iing parallel i n " for a distance

Qine at the end of itwo parellel lines.

Should the ball rhite lines the ball

; te lines at the spot £ment tookjjlace. No

play^o^^e^^poSng^Bijde shall be allowed to kick-off space when

from behind.

Jng the ball directly from yer not less than tenjyards'

1 a kiok in any direction [ where he oaught the ball,

allowed to come over that spot, in any other'direction. I n

be player must kick oyer his goal be obtained from a free

.mark, i^' shall be reckoned, not withst-[fcny-infnngement of the above law by an

a player wilfully waste time the Shall instruct the time-keepers to add

and besides awards a free kick to „.j$g player nearest to the spot where the &kes place. The offending player, or

Jl be reported to the controlling body, ball deal with the matter.' Should a

Jterlunduly interfere with a man while kicking ygitfA, he shall be reported to the controlling

The ball may be taken in hand at any but not carried further than is necessary

'a kick, unless the player strikes it against the ground at least once in. every -ten yards I n event of a player; with, the'ball in hand,

trying to pass an adversary, and .being held by im, he must at once'drop j the ball. While

' being held if the player does,Bot drop,the ball a free kiok shall be given to the man who holds him. I f the player be deliberately held book or thrown after he has dropped the ball he shall be awarded aftee kicked. .'• ' ^

l i . , I f any player, when the ball is in play, wilfully kick or force it out of bounds, the umpire shall give a free kick to the nearest player of the opposing te.itn from the spot'where the ball went oat of bounds. • •

12. The ball while in play shall under no .oircamstonces be thrown or handed to a player. A free' kick shall be given against the player in­fringing this law to the nearest qpposing'player.

13 Tripping, hacking, rabbiting, slinging, striking a player with either fist' or elbow, throw­ing a'-p.ayer after he has^made a mark, when the ball is out of play, or oatching hold of a.player below the knee, are prohibited. Charging a' player, when -he is' standing still or when - in the air for'a-msrk'is prohibited. .Pushing a player from behind or while he is in the air is prohibited under any oircumstanoes." A free kick shall be given against the player infringing this law.*"

- J . ) ' , • „' „

14. The; controlling,body' shall appoint for eaoh match a,field umpire who shall have-full

• control of the play, and shall infliot penalties in accordance with the laws. In. oases of donbt and ' in Boriminages he shall bourioe the ball where the, oocurreijoe took, place. A player disputing the' decision of an umpire, or unduly mterfexing°with or assuatting, or using abusive, threatsitlng, or InroltW. language towards him during the pro-

. cress oflhe game, or within or'without the en-:

closure of the day of the match, shall be dealt with as the controlling body may think fit. • A player assualting another player, or using abas-ive, theatening,. or insulting language, or other­wise misoonducting himself during the progress of the game, or within the enclosure on the day of the match, shall be reported by the umpire to and dealt with as the controlling body may think fit. • ' .

/

15. The field umpire shall, prior to, and may ' at any time before the conclusion of the match, -examine the boots of the players, and no one wearing projecting nails or iron plates shall .be allowed to play until a change be made to the satisfaction of the umpire.

16. Two goal umpires shall be appointed for eaoh match. They shall be sole judges of goals and behinds, and their decision shall begfinal, . except in oases where the ball has become dead, either by ringing of the bell, or decision of the field umpire. Goals shall be indioated by two flags, and a behind by one flag. The goal umpire must, before raising his flag or flags, to register . a goal or behind, ascertain from the field umpire whether the ball had not been touohed or any * infringement 'of the laws had taken place. A goal or behind given in accordance with the above cannot be annulled.'

17. The goal umpires shall keep a record ot < all goals and behinds kicked in any match and furnish > report to the Secretary of the controll­ing body within three days. >

18. The controlling • body may disqualify .players for any term who have been reported for breaches of the laws.

19. v Should the Field Umpire appointed for a match before or during the progress of a game become incapable through sickness or aooidenttO perform his duties, a substitute shall be appointed by mutual arrangement between the Captains of the opposing sides, failing which any delegate, or delegates present shall, decide in the matter,

D E F I N I T I O N S . -< ' • •

1. A kick must he made direct from a player's foot or below the knee.

. 2. ' A drop kick is made by letting the ballslrop 'from the hands on to'the ground and Tdoking ft the instant it rises., '•

"'••'8. 'A place kiok is kicking the ball after it has been placed on,the ground.

4. A -punt consists in letting the ball f a l l ! root •the hands, and kidking it before it tooohes the ground; . •

5. A mark shall be either given from a plaoe, drop, or punt kick.

-6- Babbiting *is one pkyerstoophig down so. as to cause another to fall by placing- his body below the other's hips:

7. Slinging is the'actofoatching; a player by ; or round the neck, unci throwing, or attempting

' to .throw him to the ground:

8. Hacking is intentionally, kicking or attem­pting to Uripk an opponent s, •

9. A . free kick carries the same privileges as that of a mark.

Printed by A. E . Roberta and Co., 5" Shelley.:; Street, Sydney, and Pabllshed by E . MoDonneU, ;L

of 28 EUatbeth-jitreet, ^Wat«doo,'.it J ^ g j f e ^ & &treet, Sydney. - j.:,;.*»~M;..4&Lij*iinnwiMm

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