I was doing some research for another project when I happened across the Argus report of a game between England and Carlton dated June 18th, 1888.
The report is fascinating for a number of reasons so I thought I’d go through it.
The match report tells us this was the debut of the Englishmen under Australian rules (the Rules is not capitalised) and that the largest crowd of the season was at the venue, estimated at 26,000. It makes no mention of how many got in for free.
The writer for the Argus wrote:
“The Englishmen who stood out of the match declared that they had never seen so great a gathering at a match in England.”
England won the toss, and the game started with a kick-off – not something typically seen in Australian Football for many a year. Behinds were scored, and the writer says that the English were having a very good go, and trying not to fall back into rugby rules.
Evidently the marking and passing of the Carlton team was somewhat confusing to the English players:
“The visitors were most puzzled by the marking of the Carlton men, and the style in which they played to each other, for the colonials not being very closely watched were able to give a very pretty exposition of those two most attractive points in the Australian game.”
The Article makes note of place kicks – again, not seen for some time in Australian football – as well as drop kicks and long kicks. The author noted, “at present [the English] lack perfection in drop kicking, and made no attempt at marking from long kicks.”
The game evidently included tries, again not something seen in Australian football as we know it, “Nolan, who got a try for the Englishmen was not equally fortunate…” But whether this was a concession to the English or part of the general rules is not mentioned.
The article makes no note of Carlton scoring a try (nor do any of the other summaries of the day’s footy), but does note that the umpire let several minor rule infractions go.
The Argus also mentions rugby players might be more inclined to go for the “touch down” and in rugby the impulse would have been to carry the ball over the goal-line for the “touch down”.
The scores at the end of the match were Carlton 14.17 d England 3.8. Which isn’t too bad, considering Carlton led at half time 7.7 to 0.1.
The English evidently took to the game after just two scratch matches, but to the reporter many of its team (“at least half the team…”) seemed eminently suited to the Australian game. The author notes he wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the tour the English could match it with the best.
The team was scheduled to play Castlemaine and Sandhurst before meeting “a formidable twenty” from South Melbourne.
Apparently the England team had been to New Zealand before arriving and had not had the best of times, “and in this respect also the Englishmen, after their experiences in some of the New Zealand towns, will be in a position to make comparisons not unfavourable to our game and those who play it…”
The article is notable for constantly referring to the game as Australian, never in the article does it mention Victoria or Melbourne as a source of the game. The article clearly differentiates between the Australian code and rugby.
The article in the Argus is available here and reprinted in its entirety at australianfootball.com.
Rob Lachlan
Guest
Continuing the international theme. There is now AFL in Vanuatu which historically has been primarily a Soccer and Rugby Union playing nation. Vanuatu now has a national underage side which competes in the Oceana Cup. The local Ni Vanuatu people are (generally) physically smaller than other pacific islanders but make up for that with incredible speed and maneuverability. Concordia College SA had a team visit and play a game against the Vanuatu team. The Concordia team included James Aish (touted as possible No. 1 draft pick next year)playing a week after starring for Norwood in the SANFL grand final. not sure if potential AFL clubs would have been happy for him to be risking injury on a field with hundreds of crab holes on it.
TW
Guest
TC, Yes I guess Steve Waugh had a R/L background so wonder how he got involved (Through GWS????) and the big plus is he would be well known in India. The Indian cricket community still worships Don Bradman after all these years. The guy running AFL over there said he is hopeful of an expanded league within 5 years- No harm in aiming for the stars. Cheers
TC
Guest
They've picked a good patron for the comp. TC
TW
Guest
More International Footy --- There needs to be much more. AFL India has organised its first ever national competition featuring 5 teams from varying backgrounds and social classes (Thats the beauty of our game -Classless). According to the article from an Indian News site they are embarking on campaign to spread the word. http://www.asianage.com/football/indias-first-afl-tournament-tomorrow-759
Rob Lachlan
Guest
For more info there is a book published on the entire British tour which included games against Port Adelaide and other Victorian teams. Details quite a bit of history of early Aussie rules Football's Forgotten Tour: The Story of the British Australian Rules Venture of 1888
Steve
Guest
OK. Sorry Emric- hands up on that one- I misread you: my fault entirely.
Emric
Guest
Steve I never said any such thing. What I did say -- if AFL had of gained any sort of popularity in New Zealand, back in the mid to late 19th century, or today then it would diminish New Zealand sport and more importantly the All Black brand either in its development or as a whole, and if New Zealand had of made Australian Rules Football the most popular football code in the country then the most that New Zealand as a football nation could have hopped for was to win the "Grand Final". Rugby, League, Cricket, Soccer, Netball, Sailing - All these sports provide New Zealand with a International standing of which Australian Rules Football could never have provided the Nation. Also Steve while the All Black brand is by far and away the most famous and strongest sporting brand in the New Zealand, and possibly the South Pacific region
TC
Guest
Sixpence was a lot of money in those days. You could have bought the whole Beatles back catalogue for that much. And the cost of a packet of crisps at the time doesn't bear thinking about. TC
The Critics' Choice
Guest
They went bust in 1893 after they breached the players salary cap by six pence and a packet of crisps.
The Critics' Choice
Guest
That game took place at Kensington Oval which, I understand, is still there in Adelaide and has acted as a sports ground for the past 100 years or so.
TC
Guest
It's a mythical place where anything is possible, where dreams really do come true - as long as the taxpayer is getting dudded year on year. TC
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
TC, I think Matt Favier is living in cloud cuckoo land. A wonderful, mythical land inhabited by folk who honestly believe in things that most others don't. Good luck to him anyway.
Steve
Guest
Emric seems a little off with the assumption that NZ would dominate AFL if they had taken it up: it's not borne out by their performance in any of the other sports popular in NZ- Soccer, Cricket Etc. NZ has an odd dynamic whereby their main sports team is also their main point of national identity, and that team is more famous than the nation it represents. Focusing on All Blacks success at the expense of all other avenues of sport or culture is what has earned their success: I don't see how AFL could be added to the mix.
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
Go Blues! We should have Carlton take on the British Lions in a three test series. The likes of Judd dodging and weaving and half the side taking drop goal shots to completely obliterate the Lions. It would reinvent the code!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Brewski and Wookie, it was 'lent' to me by a former student who defied heavy odds and actually went on to play a few games with Sydney Swans a few years ago now. Me personally, I'm strictly country state school background. Cheers.
TC
Guest
It's interesting that this story hasn't had a bigger write up in The Roar: Bid to Lure AFL Athletes to Oympics. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/bid-to-lure-afl-youth-to-olympics-20121124-2a0he.html Basically, the ASC and AIS are wanting to target young footballers who miss out in the draft to switch to other sports and have a crack at the Olympic games. The thinking is that with only 69 getting drafted, out of 1,600 who nominate, there are a few top notch athletes capable of doing well in other sports. AIS boss, Matt Favier, reckons the AFL would be "a good community citizen by taking a bigger view than just their own sport". He said the country's most dominant football league could also benefit from a collaborative talent identification program. "Certainly we believe there is an opportunity to redirect at least some of that talent into Olympic sport," Favier said. "They would come across having had, at the very least, a pretty reasonable physical preparation. And apart from some technical and tactical challenges, we may find some very, very quick transfers into Olympic disciplines. "Some athletes clearly want a bigger game. They want to play on a world stage versus a suburban football ground. With all due respect to AFL, which is a fantastic game, it doesn't and isn't an international sport. " The AFL did not react with any enthusiasm to the proposal. TC
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
geez late fees on that could be interesting lol.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
International Australian football .... this time Steve Waugh is involved, as Patron. http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20121123164007812
Brewski
Roar Rookie
I think that would have been precisely the case, the English played rugby, and i have no doubt that instinct would have made them revert to rugby type play inadvertently.
Brewski
Roar Rookie
Ivanhoe grammar .... are you John Brumby ?, Floyd