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Venue: Victoria Park | Date: Saturday August 7, 1915 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Win by 1 point | Umpire: Nordern | Crowd: 25,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: H.Burleigh 3, V.Vallentine 3, G.Calwell 1, C.Hammond 1, J.Morris 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best:H.Haughton (BOG), R.McGregor, V.Valentine, A.McDonald, A.Baud, C.Hammond, T.Brown, H.Burleigh | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: Nil | Injuries: Nil | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
This was the big one. All season long, Collingwood sat on top of the VFL ladder, at times 10 points above the Blues. But in this Round 16 game, the Blues would have the chance to knock them over.The Blues started the game well and they were dominating in the air. However, the home team's defence held sway. Carlton were able to add only a behind through Herb Burleigh in the early part of the game, while Collingwood with some brilliant football scored three goals. The Blues then managed their only goal for the quarter via a snap by Charlie Hammond to trail by 11 points at the first break.
Both teams displayed their best football skills during the second quarter, the play was fast, an exhibition of brilliant foot skills, handball, and high marking. Rod McGregor with a beautiful stab kick found Burleigh well within range but his kick went wide. George Calwell with a long kick put the ball through for a major. Collingwood replied with a goal, and then Burleigh scored the Blues' third goal. Carlton made up the deficit and hit the front by 2 points, again, through the agency of Burleigh. The home team added another, then Viv Valentine goaled, however, the Woods added a goal late in the term to regain the lead at half time by 4 points.
Again, the Blues dominated for the first 10 minutes of the third term. Athol Sharp twice, Mort Keily, and Percy Daykin all missed shots on goal, but as it seems to happen, Collingwood in one of it's few forward thrusts scored a goal. The Blues could not break through Collingwood's defence. Then all of a sudden a change came over the game and the home team in a 10 minute burst added 3.2, Valentine scored again, but the Woods held a handy lead at three quarter time of 15 points.
Now both back lines were on top, and for 15 minutes the hotly contested ball rapidly travelled between each half back line with no addition to the score. Time was running out for the Blues and the Woods looked secure. McGregor handballed to Haughton who kicked to Alf Baud, and then on to Burleigh who was right in front and he did not miss. Jimmy Morris snapped the Blues' eighth goal to be only 5 points behind. A mis-directed pass and a fumble by a backman was pounced upon by Valentine who snapped a goal to give the Blues the lead by 1 point. Collingwood then attacked, and Harry Haughton saved the day a couple times in those nail biting, hectic moments with his sound judgment and marking. With the excitement in the crowd at fever pitch the sound of the bell rang out across Victoria Park, with the Blues holding on and winning the game by the barest of margins.
In what must have been a thrilling last quarter, the Blues scores 3.1 to the Pies 3 behinds to snatch the win, and move within 2 points of the top spot.
At the finish of the game the ground was invaded by large number of youths who jeered the Carlton team. One of the Carlton players was accused of hitting one of the youths, but upon investigation no damage had been done.
At the end of this round Carlton were in 2nd spot on the ladder with a percentage of 131.6.
Team
| B: | 3 Andy McDonald | 7 Ernie Jamieson | 8 Mort Keily |
| HB: | 18 Alf Baud (c) | 10 Paddy O'Brien | 24 Billy Robinson |
| C: | 12 George Challis | 11 Rod McGregor | 9 Ted Brown |
| HF: | 20 Jimmy Morris | 21 Herb Burleigh | 2 Percy Daykin |
| F: | 19 George Calwell | 23 Joe Shortill | 14 Athol Sharp |
| Ruck: | 16 Charlie Hammond | 5 Harry Haughton | 4 Viv Valentine |
| Coach: | Norman Clark | ||
Round 15 | Round 17