SA Football the early years 1843-1899

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Post by Scrappy Fri Jul 13, 2012 4:10 pm

1888
South Adelaide also played a match against the English Rugby Team
South 8-9 English Rugby 5-8




September 1893
Match played between North Adelaide and South Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Was a famous match, it is written that this was the first time Boundary Umpires were used in a SAFA Football match

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Post by Leaping Lindner Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:06 am

Scrappy wrote:I have been assured by North Adelaide Historians that the club as we know it now, started back in 1893 [as posted by Leaping Lindner in this thread]
1893 is the accepted date of the North Adelaide Football Club as we know it today


Here is an article on Foundation Members
* North Adelaide was a foundation member of the SAFA , formed in 1877, resigned as a member of the body at the end of that year, then rejoined for the 1883/1884 seasons.Their colours in this period were orange and black jersey, hose, and cap, black knickerbockers
North did not play in the association between 1884-1888.
On March 14 1889 they amalgamated with the Medindie Football Club, playing under that name from 1889-1892, then resumed in 1893 with the S.A.F.A under their own name, with colours red and white.*

So my question is

In 1883-1884 a team 'called' North Adelaide re-joined the SAFA
Can there be an assumption that some players, officials, members, supporters etc of that represented club had moved on to Medindie and then to the 1893 North Adelaide team ?


This guy seems to know something about it....but he could be full of .... Wink

http://www.nafc.com.au/history/p833.aspx
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Post by Scrappy Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:38 pm

Good summation on the Medindie/North Adelaide connection
I noticed a couple of Medindies participants included Charles Nitschke and John Reedman , they went on to represent the North Adelaide Football Club with distinction

Charles Nitschke was a active person later in the century and of the next century

1897
Charles Nitschke has been described as a grand worker for football
When he was Norths secretary, he was one of the organisers of the 'District System'
The new District system was done up in 1897, and really took its effect in 1899
In 1897 This Electorate System meant that players could still play for their old clubs, but by 1899 the players had to play for the Club in the District they lived in
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Post by Scrappy Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:24 pm

Ive got a squad of South Australian Footballers Footballer/Cricketers who played for South Australia and Australia in the 19th Century
Here is the batting order

1 Clem Hill
2 John Reedman
3 John Acraman
4 George Giffen
5 Norman Claxton
6 Phil Newland
7 Alby Green
8 James Matthews
9 Alfred Waldron
10 Joe Travers
11 Ernie Jones

I could only find 9 that qualified , so have included 2 ring ins !
John Acraman gets in the team , because he deserves to
James Matthews played for North and South Australia in 1900, but he would have been playing those sports in the 19th century

Has anyone got any others Ive missed ?
Feel free to post on some of these dual sportsmen if you have any info

5 players went on to play Test Cricket
Hill, Reedman, Giffen, Travers and that man Jones
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Post by Scrappy Mon Jul 16, 2012 8:09 pm

Norman Claxton
Was a versatile Sportsman

He played in the 1900 North Adelaide Premiership team

Was a right arm meduim pacer, and right handed batsman
He played State Cricket from 1898-1910 as an all rounder type and scored a 199 not out at the MCG , that being his only century[he averaged 50.08 against the Vics in 13 digs at the G]
He has 1 other recorded century when South Australia played The Goldfields team in a 2 day match in 1909 at Kalgoolie, when he made 101 of 311 [John Reedman made a quack in this game ] in a drawn match
In 1913 Claxton was the team manager of South Australia

Claxton played Hockey


There is a mention of Claxton being a brilliant Cyclist representing the North Adelaide Cycling Club

Claxton was also a runner
In 1900 he won the Bay Sheffield 100 yard sprint at Glenelg
Have read he used the name of F Pierce
He won the 1901 Bendigo sprint as well


Norman Claxton had another passion, baseball
He played for the North Adelaide Baseball Club
In 1934 he donated a shield for the Baseball carnival winners
The Claxton Shield bears his name and has been awarded ever since
South Australia won the 1934 tournament played at Adelaide Oval and Hindmarsh Oval
Claxton was the President of the SA Baseball League from 1913-1929


'Norrie' Claxton ,what a remarkable sportsman
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Post by Lee Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:07 pm

That's a fair effort, Scrappy.
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Post by Leaping Lindner Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:24 pm

Scrappy wrote:Norman Claxton
Was a versatile Sportsman

He played in the 1900 North Adelaide Premiership team

Was a right arm meduim pacer, and right handed batsman
He played State Cricket from 1898-1910 as an all rounder type and scored a 199 not out at the MCG , that being his only century[he averaged 50.08 against the Vics in 13 digs at the G]
He has 1 other recorded century when South Australia played The Goldfields team in a 2 day match in 1909 at Kalgoolie, when he made 101 of 311 [John Reedman made a quack in this game ] in a drawn match
In 1913 Claxton was the team manager of South Australia

Claxton played Hockey


There is a mention of Claxton being a brilliant Cyclist representing the North Adelaide Cycling Club

Claxton was also a runner
In 1900 he won the Bay Sheffield 100 yard sprint at Glenelg
Have read he used the name of F Pierce
He won the 1901 Bendigo sprint as well


Norman Claxton had another passion, baseball
He played for the North Adelaide Baseball Club
In 1934 he donated a shield for the Baseball carnival winners
The Claxton Shield bears his name and has been awarded ever since
South Australia won the 1934 tournament played at Adelaide Oval and Hindmarsh Oval
Claxton was the President of the SA Baseball League from 1913-1929


'Norrie' Claxton ,what a remarkable sportsman

He also won North's best and fairest in 1902 - A premiership year.
I came across a photo of him recently as he played in the first SA cricket team to play in WA alongside my Great Grandfather.
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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 18, 2012 5:09 pm

Joe Travers
Was a Norwood Footballer in the 1890s
But I cant find to much about his football prowess
But he was a two hit wonder as a Test Cricketer for Australia
Joe is listed as a slow left hand orthodox bowler

Joes first class career netted him
117 wickets @ 31.39
760 runs @ 16.52

Something led to Joe playing his only Test for his country in 1902
Australia were leading 3-1 in the 5 test series when Joe got his gig in Melbourne
I will highlight the efforts of some of the SAFA footballers[Travers/Hill] in this match

Aust. 144
Hill 28
Travers 9 [batting 11]

Eng. 189
Travers 1/14[8] his only Test wicket was Tom Hayward caught by Victor Trumper

Aust 255
Hill 87
Travers 1 [batting 11]

Eng needed 211 to win, and were in a winning position at 1/64
Eng 178
Travers did not bowl

So Joe Travers the Norwood Footballer played 1 Test for a win
What an absolute thrill that must have been

Why did he get selected ?
There was another game I found that Joe played
England v South Australia 1901
I will mention the SAFA footballers performances

South Aust 230
Hill 107
Giffen 7
Reedman 4
Jones 2
Travers 0 [batting 11]

Eng 118
Jones 2/41
Travers 1/25 off 18.2 overs [opened the bowling and got the number 11 Pom out !]
Giffen 7/46 [set the STANDard for allrounders in this era]


South Aust 207
Hill 80 [what a batsman]
Reedman 31
Giffen 19
Jones 4
Travers 4 not out [batting 11]

Eng needed 320 to win
Eng 86
Giffen 6/47]
Joe Travers 4/37 [off 16 overs opening the bowling]

South Australia slaughter the Poms
Joe Travers with his 4/37 may have won his Test spot a few months with that effort
That 5 SAFA footballers in this game played Test Cricket was says a lot


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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:19 pm

Here is an article written in 1929
Titled : Two- game stars of other days

* No other city in Australia has produced so many champions at both cricket and football as Adelaide.
Wheras other capital cities have an occasional dual star, the city by the Torrens seems to have an ongoing supply.

The name of George Giffen comes first to mind in a review of past champions
He was one of the stalwarts of Norwood in the 80s, and a capital kick, indeed the old football club song included a couple of lines setting out his prowess.

A clubmate was Harry Blinman, who also made his mark as a batsman and mid off fieldsman

Giffen played cricket for Norwood for many years but following a misunderSTANDing over a run out decision with WJ Hoath, transferred to Adelaide

Later we come to the one and only Joe Travers
A left foot kick, he was one of a particularly staunch back line for the Redlegs and even now is remembered for his slow bowling

Joe Darling was another Norwood defender in the early 90s and usually wore a cricket hat
He and Clem Hill were associated in many in many fine doings in cricket, but were rivals in football, and Clem and Frank were a nippy pair for South Adelaide, and the cricketing comrades often had spirited tussles
Incidently Clem and Frank were largely responsible for what is regarded as the greatest win Princes gained over Saints in a college match
Saints led 5-1 at the last change, and for a part of the final term seemed to have a lein on the game
However Princes found a new line of attack , and with the Hill brothers in every moment of it, produced a run that was irresistible
They added 5 goals in the last 15 minutes, and unprecedented swing in those days, and gained a wonderful victory

South Adelaide also possessed a fine dual pair in J C Reedman and E Jones
Reedman was one of the most astute leaders in football, while his all round form entitled him to a trip home, which he never secured

Jones was a dashing back with South, and the fastest bowler ever known, as well as an alert fieldsman

Wicketkeeper Jack Mckenzie came from the Port and was well known for his peculiar leg flick when batting as for the keeness of his keeping, And couldnt he kick a football !

One of the very old brigade deserving of mention is Alf 'Topsy' Waldron , leader of the Norwoods in their heyday , and a useful cricketer who died yesterday. He came from Melbourne

Albert Green [author of the famous telegram to ''Ranji'] and Perry Stuart were another fine pair to represent the state at both games and others that come to mind are Ernie Peters, P M Newland and H P ['Mother'] Kirkwood

Newland was one of the fleetest of footballers and one who was never done, he also went home as second wicket keeper with an Australian eleven

Kirkwood could kick goals in great style, was an able batsman, and a good leg break bowler. Transfer to the country prevented his full development

J B [Roy] and Solly Hill , younger members of an Illustrious family were another pair who did well and take us to the present generation in which the average has been well maintained, with Victor Richardson an outstanding example*



What a fab article
I wonder what Alby Greens famous telegram was ?

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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:54 pm

Ive now found some more footcricketballers from the 19th century
Ive now axed my ring ins John Acraman and James Matthews

Harry Blinman played football for Norwood in 1879 and cricket for South Australia
Joe Darling played for Norwood in 1894-1895 and Test cricket [made 3 centurys]

My new team in batting order

1 Reedman
2 Hill
3 Darling
4 Giffen
5 Blinman
6 Claxton
7 Newland
8 Green
9 Waldron
10 Travers
11 Jones

6 Norwood players !!!
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Post by Scrappy Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:57 pm

Football by 1893 has been described as becoming more violent
A letter to the press at the time
The letteree complains of violence, the degeneration of the game and a loss of interest caused by discreditable scenes both on and off the field
The letter ended up as :

7/6/1893
*Respectable people will not countenance such proceedings
The disturbance that took place at the conclusion of last Saturdays match was perhaps the worse that we have had inflicted upon us
Briefly the facts are these :
As soon as the umpire and players started to leave the field, the spectators surrounded them from all quarters
One hoodlum in the crowd, who had lost his temper, and probably his money as well, made a rush at the umpire, and while they were engaged,a mean, contemptible ruffian kicked the umpire on the side of the knee, completely laming him.
What a manly action !
The police can not be blamed in the matter
As soon as they saw what had happened, they acted with decision and quickly stopped the disturbance
But why did they not make any arrests?
I am, sir, AN OLD PLAYER *


Thats bad, but as bad as this 61 years later ?
We did have an incident in a Port v West Grand final in 1954 at Adelaide Oval
There was a 'fair' clash between Brian Faehse [West] and Davy Boyd [Port]
Some spectators reacted, and set upon the West players as they came off for half time
West led by 25 points at half time and lost by 3 points


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Post by Scrappy Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:00 pm

A reference to violence in Football

*But what could the Adelaide gentry make of Australian Rules, a volatile compound of Rugby, Gaelic Football, and vigorous native elements that was invented in the dubious city of Melbourne
There were no clear English precedents to guide them.*

Here are a couple of comments describing Australian Football made by Richard Twopenny
Twopenny was a English Rugby player, and a English Journo in the late 19th century

"A good football match in Melbourne is one of the sights of the world"

"Of course there are numbers of people in the upper and middle classes who still have a holy horror of football as a dangerous game."

"" So the notables tended to ignore the growth of Football in Adelaide until it became too well entrenched to overlook any more.*


Interesting observations of Football
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Post by Scrappy Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:24 pm

1885
A couple of interesting articles , 8 years after the SAFA comp had started

22/5/1885
R C Casble, Mclean and company of Rundle Street put this in the press
* To all Footballers.
First shipment has just arrived, in all club colors
Football ribbons, knickers etc...*

Here is a description leading up to 1885 of Football fashion
* Football gear was striking, woolen hats and guernseys , tight trousers, vivid stockings, highly polished lace up boots that extended well up the leg.*



3/6/1885
This was an article on Aborigines playing Football
* A match at the Oval between a team of local players and a team chosen from the aboriginals now on visit in Adelaide
Some surprise was manifested by a number of spectators at the form exhibited by the 'darkies' *
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Post by Leaping Lindner Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:24 pm

Scrappy wrote:1885
A couple of interesting articles , 8 years after the SAFA comp had started

22/5/1885
R C Casble, Mclean and company of Rundle Street put this in the press
* To all Footballers.
First shipment has just arrived, in all club colors
Football ribbons, knickers etc...*

Here is a description leading up to 1885 of Football fashion
* Football gear was striking, woolen hats and guernseys , tight trousers, vivid stockings, highly polished lace up boots that extended well up the leg.*



3/6/1885
This was an article on Aborigines playing Football
* A match at the Oval between a team of local players and a team chosen from the aboriginals now on visit in Adelaide
Some surprise was manifested by a number of spectators at the form exhibited by the 'darkies' *

Robert Carr Castle was President of the Medindie Football Club (1888-1892) and North Adelaide Football Club (1893-1896)

SA Football the early years 1843-1899 - Page 4 RCCastleandCompany
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Post by Leaping Lindner Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:55 pm

Scrappy wrote:


3/6/1885
This was an article on Aborigines playing Football
* A match at the Oval between a team of local players and a team chosen from the aboriginals now on visit in Adelaide
Some surprise was manifested by a number of spectators at the form exhibited by the 'darkies' *

On July 13th 1889 a team of Aboriginal footballers from the Point Macleay Mission (on Lake Alexandrina) came to Adelaide to play Medindie on the Kensington Oval. Players from this region had been making regular trips to Adelaide to play on the Adelaide
Oval since John Creswell (Secretary of the SACA) first promoted the idea in 1885. The result was a victory to Medindie as they doubled the score of the visitors (4 goals 4 behinds to 2 goals 2 behinds). The Advertiser summed up the game as such….

“The game was by no means uninteresting, the natives entering into the play with spirit.”

Two weeks later two players from Point Macleay - Alfie Spender and Harry Hewitt - lined up with Medindie's league side, and were named in the best players. Hewitt also played some games with Port Adelaide.
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Post by Scrappy Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:24 pm

Crowds

10/7/1893
Port Adelaide V South Adelaide
Adelaide Oval
The crowd was estimated as being between 4,000-5,000

Thats a decent sort of a turn up, but things started getting awry towards the middle of this decade

Article on dwindling attendances and the SAFA competition
1896 onwards
By 1896 perhaps partly because of the Depression, Adelaide football reached its nadir
One match at the Adelaide Oval between Port Adelaide and Norwood attracted a wretched gate of 3 pounds
North Adelaide and West Torrens Clubs were called by the Advertiser ''subsidized encumbrances'' to the dominant South Adelaide , Port Adelaide and Norwood clubs.
The introduction of an electorate system which brought in West Adelaide and the 'doughty' Sturt a few years later started an upswing in the games fortunes

Was Football in the mid 90s reaching a crisis point ?

In 1877 the first SAFA season consisted of the following clubs

Adelaide
Bankers
Gawler
Kapunda
Kensington
North Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Prince Alfred College
South Adelaide
South Park
Victorian
Willunga
Woodville

13 clubs in the opening SAFA season, which is the record amount of teams to play in this state for League Football
Norwood joined in 1878

In 1896  these were the teams

Natives
North Adelaide
Norwood
Port Adelaide
South Adelaide

5 teams left at the end of 1896
The Natives and North Adelaide was trying to find thier feet
The lop sided comp needed compromising
The Natives and North Adelaide  in matches were allowed to have 23 players against the other 3 clubs 20 players

The comp was dominated by Norwood and South Adelaide from 1877-1896
In those 20 seasons Norwood had won 11 titles and South 6 titles
The SAFA comp may have been at the crossroads
Some able minded people were working about the scenes and an Electorate System was in the creative stages


Last edited by Scrappy on Wed May 16, 2018 6:41 am; edited 1 time in total
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Post by Scrappy Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:33 pm

Leaping Lindner wrote:
Scrappy wrote:


3/6/1885
This was an article on Aborigines playing Football
* A match at the Oval between a team of local players and a team chosen from the aboriginals now on visit in Adelaide
Some surprise was manifested by a number of spectators at the form exhibited by the 'darkies' *

On July 13th 1889 a team of Aboriginal footballers from the Point Macleay Mission (on Lake Alexandrina) came to Adelaide to play Medindie on the Kensington Oval. Players from this region had been making regular trips to Adelaide to play on the Adelaide
Oval since John Creswell (Secretary of the SACA) first promoted the idea in 1885. The result was a victory to Medindie as they doubled the score of the visitors (4 goals 4 behinds to 2 goals 2 behinds). The Advertiser summed up the game as such….

“The game was by no means uninteresting, the natives entering into the play with spirit.”

Two weeks later two players from Point Macleay - Alfie Spender and Harry Hewitt - lined up with Medindie's league side, and were named in the best players. Hewitt also played some games with Port Adelaide.

I wonder if Harry Hewitt was a 'dasher'....

I have a question
This is only from a conversation with a Aboriginal football/cricket team mate of mine some time ago
He suggested that in the late 1800s that there was talk of an All Aboriginal team to be included in the SAFA
After reading about this article perhaps it might have been true ?
There ends up being an Aboriginal team in or around the 1970s time that played Amateur League called the Nungas
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Post by Scrappy Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:44 pm

robranisgod wrote:
Scrappy wrote:The publicaton also states that It was not until 1906 that the dimensions of the familiar Sherrin ball were set
As far back as 1896 there is a picture of Collingwood Captain Bill Strickland holding a football with clear white writing :
TW SHERRIN
MAKER

The question I would like to know with respect to balls is why did South Australia traditionally use Ross Faulkner balls rather than Sherrin given that they were both manufactured in Victoria. I have found evidence that s far back as 1898 SA was using Ross Faulkner's.

I also note that as early as 1933, Burley was the official ball of the SANFL. The older posters amongst us would remember when Neil Kerley introduced Burley balls for Glenelg games and the furore that caused, especially in the game between North and Glenelg at the Bay in 1968.

FWIW
Rules South Australian Football Association 1878
Rule 14 :
The ball to be used shall be the Rugby or oval ball

With this exhibit we can perhaps narrow the Sherrin starting usage sometime between 1879 Arrow 1896 study
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Post by Leaping Lindner Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:02 am

Scrappy wrote:
Leaping Lindner wrote:
Scrappy wrote:


3/6/1885
This was an article on Aborigines playing Football
* A match at the Oval between a team of local players and a team chosen from the aboriginals now on visit in Adelaide
Some surprise was manifested by a number of spectators at the form exhibited by the 'darkies' *

On July 13th 1889 a team of Aboriginal footballers from the Point Macleay Mission (on Lake Alexandrina) came to Adelaide to play Medindie on the Kensington Oval. Players from this region had been making regular trips to Adelaide to play on the Adelaide
Oval since John Creswell (Secretary of the SACA) first promoted the idea in 1885. The result was a victory to Medindie as they doubled the score of the visitors (4 goals 4 behinds to 2 goals 2 behinds). The Advertiser summed up the game as such….

“The game was by no means uninteresting, the natives entering into the play with spirit.”

Two weeks later two players from Point Macleay - Alfie Spender and Harry Hewitt - lined up with Medindie's league side, and were named in the best players. Hewitt also played some games with Port Adelaide.

I wonder if Harry Hewitt was a 'dasher'....

I have a question
This is only from a conversation with a Aboriginal football/cricket team mate of mine some time ago
He suggested that in the late 1800s that there was talk of an All Aboriginal team to be included in the SAFA
After reading about this article perhaps it might have been true ?
There ends up being an Aboriginal team in or around the 1970s time that played Amateur League called the Nungas

No doubt a team from Point Macleay would have been competitive in Adelaide and Suburban Association (the 1880s version of the seconds).
More info on Harry Hewitt. This is the report from the paper of the day - Advertiser Friday January 25th 1907 - on his murder....

HARRY HEWITT KILLED - AN ARREST MADE
Milang, January 21.
A tragedy happened at Milang late last night or early this morning amongst the blacks camped near the town, and as a result Harry Hewitt, an aboriginal, well known both at the Point McLeay Mission Station and in other parts of South Australia, was killed.
There had evidently been a great disturbance in the camp, during which fierce fighting occurred. The police on visiting the place this morning saw evidence everywhere of the battle, and they found the body of Hewitt, who was quite dead. An examination of the corpse disclosed the fact that there was a large hole in the skull, which had apparently been caused by a terrific blow.
As a result of the enquires made among the natives the police arrested an aboriginal known as Tommy Lawson on suspicion of having struck the blow which caused Hewitt’s death and he is at present in custody on a formal charge of drunkenness pending the outcome of the coroner’s inquest.
Hewitt, who was about 40 years of age was well known in South Australian athletic circles. About twelve years ago he played or a cricket team in North Adelaide, who were known as the Cambridge Eleven, and he surprised his opponents on more than one occasion by his wonderful fielding. He would stop the hottest hits when the ball was travelling on or off the ground, while his return was both accurate and rapid. On one occasion Hewitt scored 144 not out against Prospect. Hewitt played for a Milang team on the occasion of a turf pitch being used for the first time on the Unley Oval. In the football season prowess as an all-round man when he was a member of the Medindie team is well remembered by old footballers. He was not misplaced in any position in the field, but his particular forte was in the following department. As an athlete Hewitt took part in numerous sports gatherings, while as a swimmer he was a mean opponent. Besides his athletic excellences Hewitt excelled as an acrobat and gymnast, and he was for some time connected with a travelling circus. He also took part in a variety show, playing in farces and sketches. The Salvation Army likewise claimed seine of his attention, and while connected with the organisation Hewitt attained the rank of corporal. He was recognised as one of the most intelligent South Australian aboriginals at Point McLeay. He could read and write, and was conversant with a variety of subjects which are usually considered outside the ken of an ordinary native. Hewitt was a most quiet and inoffensive man, and general regret is expressed at the manner of his sudden death. For the past few years Hewitt had been earning a living at Milang as a fisherman.

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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:37 am

In 1885 A team of Aborigines played a few games of football
Here are the results of 5 matches played

29/5/1895
Wanderers 5-14
Aborigines 4-9

3/6/1895
Aborigines 4-9
Wanderers 3-7

4/7/1895
Wanderers 4-14
Aborigines 4-6
Drawn game, behinds did not count in the result

6/7/1895
Colleges 3-11
Aborigines 2-11

7/7/1895
Aborigines 4-16
Colleges 4-6
Drawn game

Here is an article written by a doyen of South Australian Football Historians, Bernerd Whimpress leading up to the series of games

* In May 1895 a number of Aborigines from the Port Mcleay and Poonindie mission stations were visiting the city and, knowing that some were good footballers, the SACA secretary John Cresswell, arranged 2 matches with them on Adelaide Oval on 29/5 and 2/6
On the evening of the first match the entrepreneurial Cresswell also organised the staging of a corroboree which according to some estimates attracted 20,000 spectators and was the biggest crowd pulling event staged on the Oval in the 19th century.*

20,000 people at a venue you could say an out'stand'ing success initiated by John Cresswell.

Here are some brief descriptions of the 5 games
The Aborigines were disadvantaged playing bare foot in the lush grass
A remarkable exhibition of little marking by the Aborigines in game 1
That man , Harry Hewitt was the captain
The Wanderers were a team made up of SAFA players [and others ?]
Alf Spender and Harry Hewitt excelled in the some of the skills of the game
In game 2 , 4 Aborigines wore football boots !
The Aborigines in game 3 wore uniforms [white calico jerseys and trousers]
In game 5 the Aborigines tackling was vigorous, and the game very fast

The Aborigines played 5 games for 1 win , 2 draws , 2 losses
The games were considered a success, but this Aborigine team never returned to play at the Oval again

The up'stand'ing John Cresswell also organised Athletics day on this Aboriginal tour
All 4 sprint + hurdle races were won by Alf Spender
In the last race over 120 yards Alf gave his opponent H Davison an 8 yard handicap start, and still managed to win



Last edited by Scrappy on Wed Jul 25, 2012 3:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Post by Lee Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:57 am

Well done for all these, they make fascinating reading.
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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 25, 2012 3:54 pm

Here is an article on another ball game in Adelaide

25/7/1893
* There has, it is true, been a little disquiet of late amongst the ranks of the faithful over the growing popularity of Association Football, or soccer.
This English game had its supporters in Adelaide at least by the 1890s, for the Register of 25/7/1893 mentioned a game between the Adelaide Rowing Club and the Association Eleven
By then local loyalties were , of course, firmly committed to Australian Rules which, in its pace and fluidity , has much in common with soccer.*

Im just imagining how things would have worked out if Soccer had a foot hole in Adelaide before Australian Rules [or indeed in Melbourne] ?

Soccer took off in Adelaide just after WW2 when an influx of British and European migrants ventured to Australia

I also ponder just how good by World standards the Socceroos would be these days if Australians were 'first' introduced to a Soccer menu instead of Australian Rules Football

I would think that a George Giffen , or a Clem Hill on or any talented Footballer 'may' have also been OK to very good at soccer
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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 25, 2012 4:59 pm

There were 4 South Australian SAFA footballers/ Star Test cricketers of the 19th century
Joe Darling is one of them

Joe Darling
Norwood Footballer
Australian Test Cricketer
Left hand batsman ,
Tests 1657 runs @ 28.56
First Class 10635 runs @ 34.52


Dependable left hand batsman, and a inspiring captain of Australia
Didnt like Ernie Jones drinking habits in 1899 !
Once hit 29 off an over in a club game when aged over 50
In 1893 had a Sports depot in Rundle Street
Later became a farrmer and then a politician in Tasmania
Had a nickname Paddy [looked like the Australian boxer Paddy Slavin]

Joes best cricket series was the summer of 1897/1898 against England in Australia
His scores were
7 +101
36 +DNB
178 + DNB
12 + 29
14 +160[made the ton in 91 minutes]

537 runs @ 67.12

Only averaged 28.56 for his career, but batters in those days often enough played on tricky pitches, and at times on wet wickets known as stickys

Joe Darling played for Norwood in the mid 1890s
Was a left foot kick, and a defender
Was known to wear a cricket hat when playing football !

Joe Darling also has a Great Nephew who played Test Cricket
That was the South Australian batsman Rick Darling
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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:35 pm

George Giffen
Clem Hill
Ernie Jones

These are the 3 players I consider to be South Australias best cricketers that played SAFA football in the 19th century
You could write a book on these guys ....

If I posted all the exploits of the Big 3 It would take a long long time

Heres the Cricket stats on the Big 3
Will start with George

George Giffen [Norwood + West Adelaide]
RH batsman, RH off spin + RH medium
Tests :
1238 runs @ 23.35
103 wickets @ 27.09
First Class
11758 runs @ 29.54
1022 wickets $21.31

Played first for Norwood in 1878 and kicked the first goal for the club
Known to be a brilliant runner, and a superb kick
First cricketer to take 10 wickets in an innings in Australia
The first player to make 10,000 runs and take 1,000 wickets

George wrote a autobiography called With Bat and Ball
Oh to get my claws on that book

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Post by Scrappy Wed Jul 25, 2012 6:03 pm

Clem Hill [South Adelaide]
Left hand batsman
Tests :
3412 runs @34.21
First Class :
17213 runs @ 43.57

Out'stand'ing batsman, considered the best left hand batsman of his time
Im tipping Clem would be the best left hand batsman from South Australia to play Test Cricket
Perhaps 2nd only to Alan Border as the best LH batter to play for Australia
Thats a big wrap for Clem, but he has very good reviews written about him
He must be good, Bernerd Whimpress has written a book about him
The Hills are alive to the sound of cricket
Clem Hill had 5 or 6 brothers that played first class cricket
Have read his father played first class cricket as well !
A nephew Wyndham played for Western Australia in the 1930s
Clem Hill once made 3 consecutive scores in the 90s in Test cricket in 1902 [99-98-97] the 98 -97 were at Adelaide Oval

This is what Don Bradman had to say about Clem Hill
"" A superb player, the finest left hander ever, shortish, thickset, powerful, swift on his feet, a master of attack or defence.""

Clems career ended in controversy, after a fight with a cricket selector in 1911-12 season

That leaves Ernie Jonah Jones as the last of the Big 3 cricketers
Perhaps the most discussed and reviewed Australian cricketers in the 19th century
I will discuss Jonah at a later stage, its going to take me a while longer to research the great man

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