Table of contents
Introduction
North Melbourne won their first VFL game. This was one of two defeats that Geelong had all season. Geelong would go on to be 1925 VFL Premiers.
Season and Lead-up
North Melbourne were one of three new teams playing for the first time in 1925 (Footscray and Hawthorn were the other teams). North won five games in their first season in the VFL and had the best season of the three new teams.
Teams
Geelong
Edward Greeves - 1926 Craig and Hales Footballers and Racehorses- Source:Australian Rules Football Cards
Edward Greeves |
Cliff Rankin - 1926 Craig and Hales Footballers and Racehorses- Source:Australian Rules Football Cards
Cliff Rankin | |||
Two Geelong players had their first game (Jim Warren and Jack Williams). Jack Williams who would go on to play 175 games for Geelong, Warren would play 57.
North Melbourne
Tim Trevaskis - 1926 Craig and Hales Footballers and Racehorses- Source:Australian Rules Football Cards
Tim Trevaskis |
Dave Walsh - 1926 Craig and Hales Footballers and Racehorses- Source:Australian Rules Football Cards
Dave Walsh | |||
This was the first VFL game for 14 of North Melbourne's 18 players, many though had experience in the VFA. This experience is evidenced by the fact that the average age of the orth Melbourne players was nearly 27 years old, an average 2 years older than the younger Geelong team.
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North Melbourne's captain Wels Eicke had come over from StKilda where he had played over 190 games in a career spaning back to 1909.
Links for Player Pages
Reference_ 1925 VFL R01 - North Melbournes First VFL Game - Geelong Team
Reference_ 1925 VFL R01 - North Melbournes First VFL Game - North Melbourne Team
The Game
Corio Oval, Geelong
Date: Sat, 2-May-1925
Crowd: 12,500
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Final |
| Geelong | 3.5 (23) | 4.6 (30) | 6.9 (45) | 8.11 (59) |
| North Melbourne | 1.1 (7) | 5.8 (38) | 7.8 (50) | 9.13 (67) |
| Difference | GE by 16 | NM by 8 | NM by 5 | NM by 8 |
http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1925/091219250502.html
Goal Kickers:
North Melbourne:Metcalf 3, Doherty 2, Clapson, Goonan, Johnston, Lewis
Geelong: Hagger 2, Pink 2, Rayson 2, Fleming, Sharland
North Melbourne signalised its appearance In League football by defeating Geelong on Corio Oval on Saturday, and in view of the fact that Geelong has always been a most difficult side to overwhelm on its own ground, the North Melbourne players and supporters are overjoyed at the success . That it was achieved in the last few minutes of the match made it the more exciting, but on the merits of the play North Melbourne was the far superior team to Geelong. It has to be borne in mind, however that Geelong during the second half of the game played 17 men, and Johns, suffering from a ricked ankle, could do but very little work, but Johnson, the North rover, was also incapacitated after the first term. (Argus 4-May-1925 p9)
The Argus reported the final minutes of the game:
Clapson took the ball down the centre, and passed to Johnson, who from a few feet out hit the post with a snap shot again equalising the scores at 7.9 all. Gradually North gained an advantage, and were 2 points ahead when Feming had a shot but only got a point. Then Proflitt passed to Hagger. The kick was true but Sharland marked it in goal, and raised the two flags. With four points in the leadl Geelong strengthened their defence. There was barely two minutes to go, and Geelong attacked again. Stevenson went for a mark but did not actually hold It. He could not get rid of it and was penalised for holding the ball. The decision was the turning point, for play went into Geelong territory. Hagger in trying to save his goal kicked across and out and with the resultant free kick, Clapson booted the winning goal. Lewis from a nice mark from Clapson made the final scoring shot for a goa1, and North Melbourne had a fine win by 8 points. (Argus 4-May-1925 p9)
Match Previews
Team lists
No heading. (1925, May 1). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved May 17, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page436890
The Age 1-May-1925 p8
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VwQRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4tADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6869%2C2833668
Match Reviews
NORTH'S INITIAL SUCCESS. (1925, May 4). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved May 17, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2113655
The Age 4-May-1925 p5
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WQQRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4tADAAAAIBAJ&pg=877%2C3102781
Photos
The Aftermath
North would not beat Geelong again until 1939
The teams would meet again in round 12, 1925 in a very tough match. See Reference_ 1925 VFL R12 - North Melbourne v Geelong - A Tribunal Life Sentence
External Links