Victoria vs South Australia (1879)

1879 Victoria v South Australia Intercolonial Series
Victoria South Australia
2 0
Date1 July 1879 – 5 July 1879
StadiumEast Melbourne Cricket Ground
1880 →

The 1879 Victoria v South Australia involved a series of two matches with teams representing Victoria and South Australia. The matches were played in Victoria at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. These two matches are recognised as the first games of intercolonial Australian rules football.[1]

Game 1 (1 July)

Teams

Some players selected in the initial squad for South Australia were unable to make the trip to Victoria for the series. These players included Thomas Smith from Port Adelaide, A. Mehrtens from South Adelaide, W.H.J. Dedman from Norwood. Conversely, W. Knill, W. Osborn, C.E. Warren were unable to play the game for the Victorians.[2]

Victoria[3] South Australia[3]
John Gardiner (captain) Carlton Alfred McMichael (captain) Norwood
George Coulthard Carlton Robert Absalom South Adelaide
Paddy Gunn Carlton Thomas Blinman South Adelaide
Millar William Bracken Norwood
Herbert Bryant Essendon Edward Colbey Norwood
William Goer Carlton Martin Considine South Adelaide
Robert Sillett Melbourne Richard Coonan South Adelaide
Frank Lording Hotham W. Davis Victorians
G.V. Cooke George Downs Victorians
Billy McLean Hotham George Giffen Norwood
Harry Downes Melbourne Thomas Green Norwood
Minchin A.T. Harrison Kensington
Jimmy Robertson Hotham W. Hughes Old Adelaide
Thomas Kirk Kennedy South Adelaide
J. Gibson South Melbourne A.M. Pettinger South Park
Arthur Ley Hotham Joseph Pollock Norwood
Young South Melbourne Louis Suhard Norwood
Murphy Carlton Joseph Traynor Norwood
Rannard West Melbourne Turner Old Adelaide
Mackenzie Julian Woods Norwood
  • Victoria def. South Australia (7–0).[4]
  • Venue – East Melbourne Cricket Ground.[3]
  • Attendance – 10,000.[3]
  • Umpire – Jas. Slight.[5]

Game 2 (5 July)

The second game was played under the rules of the South Australia Football Association which were almost identical to that of the Victorian Football Association but for the allowance of high tackles.

Victoria[6][7] South Australia[6][7]
John Gardiner (captain) Carlton Alfred McMichael (captain) Norwood
George Coulthard Carlton Joseph Traynor Norwood
Murphy Carlton Joseph Pollock Norwood
Billy McLean Hotham Louis Suhard Norwood
Rannard West Melbourne A.T. Harrison Kensington
J. Gibson South Melbourne
Harry Downes Melbourne
G.V. Cooke
Thomas
Kirby
McKenzie
Cooper (IN)
  • Result – Victoria def. South Australia (4–1).[8]
  • Venue – East Melbourne Cricket Ground[7]
  • Attendance – 8,000[7]
  • Umpire – Jas. Slight.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Chronology". AFL Media. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Football. South Australian Football Association". Adelaide Observer. Vol. XXXVI, no. 1966. South Australia. 7 June 1879. p. 5. Retrieved 30 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b c d "Intercolonial Football Match". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 10, 308. Victoria, Australia. 2 July 1879. p. 5. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Football". Evening Journal. Vol. XI, no. 3197 (Second ed.). South Australia. 7 July 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Football". The Age. No. 7612. Victoria, Australia. 7 July 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b c "Football". Leader. Vol. XLI, no. 1228. Victoria, Australia. 12 July 1879. p. 12. Retrieved 5 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ a b c d "Football". Evening Journal. Vol. XI, no. 3202. South Australia. 12 July 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Football". South Australian Register. Vol. XLIV, no. 10, 190. South Australia. 12 July 1879. p. 7. Retrieved 5 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.