Round 1 1914

Round 1, 1914
Fitzroy vs Melbourne
Saturday 25 April
Venue: Brunswick Street
Attendance: Unknown

Fitzroy win by 56 points

Goalkickers: Tim Collins 2, Stan Fairbairn 2, Cliff Burge 1

Milestones:
First Game
Cliff Burge (and first goal)
Percy Colee
Tim Collins (and first goal)
Jack Huntington
Herbert Roberts
Bert Trahair
George Walker

Last MFC Game
Vic Gordon
Carlyle Kenley

First game as coach
Len Incigneri

In perfect conditions the season opened against the fancied Maroons with seven players pulling on the Red and Blue for the first time. On the other hand Fitzroy - who had won the premiership in their last appearance - had retained almost all the best players from the previous season and went in without any new additions to the squad.

The home side were welcomed onto the ground by a band playing "See the Conquering Hero Comes" before the wife of President Chandler unveiled the premiership flag. After the ceremonies ended and the match began it went with form and the experienced Maroons won with a side who had a better system of play, better fitness and less reliance on handball.

Despite some fierce defence and a 56 to 44 free kick count Melbourne were outclassed from the start and after failing to kick a goal in the first term they were never in the hunt again. With ruck superiority and a forward line taking its opportunities unlike that of their opponents Fitzroy were always too good.

Melbourne's only solid quarter was the third, but they were still 29 points behind and tired badly in the last - conceding 5.4 to a single point.

Best were Lilley, Robertson and Armstrong.

Bill Allen was unavailable due to illness and Kenley and Trahair were injured when they ran into each other. Kenley would never play senior football for the Reds again, but would return to the VFL in 1918 to play with St Kilda.

Notes
Team image courtesy Boyles Football Photos.

Media
Argus - 27/04/1914
Punch - 30/04/1914
Football Record 1914
Leader - 02/05/1914