Glenelg Wins Football Final

OUTPACES STURT IN LAST QUARTER

	1st	2nd	3rd	Final	Pts
Glenelg	2.1	4.3	6.9	12.11	83
Sturt	2.3	4.8	6.14	9.16	70

CROWD: 17,281 at Adelaide Oval.

Glenelg's Brilliant Speed Sweeps Opponents Off Feet

TO PLAY PORT FOR PREMIERSHIP

By ROVER

Leading at the end of each of the first three quarters, Sturt entered the last quarter of the League football final at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday with an advantage of five points, only to be swept off its feet by a series of brilliant dashes by Glenelg, which enabled it to secure a match-winning break.

It was a thrilling finish to a game which had until then, possessed few exciting periods. The scores, however, were never far apart, and this held the interest of the crowd of 17,281 — not particularly satisfactory in view of the fact that, despite inclement weather, 19,327 watched the 1933 final between Sturt and Norwood.

Sturt had several opportunities in the second and third quarters to gain a lead which would have put it in a position to withstand Glenelg's last-quarter burst, but inaccuracy forward and the inability of its tall men to hold the ball in the air, meant that Glenelg was only five points behind instead of five goals when the last term began.

Glenelg's form was a vast improvement on that which it showed against Port Adelaide, and a repetition would enhance its prospects of seriously challenging Port in the grand final next Saturday.

Obviously the enforced rest from match play did little good to Sturt. On the other hand, Glenelg clearly had benefited from its experience against Port Adelaide the previous week. Of its players, Leak and Hale (for Sturt and West Adelaide respectively) were the only men who had played in a previous major round. This suggests that Glenelg will probably show a further improvement in form next Saturday.

Against Sturt on Saturday it took G1enelg three quarters to completely shake off the feeling, almost of awe which prevented it from attacking such an experienced side with the vigor and confidence needed to win. After drawing level with Sturt it could not muster sufficient confidence to force home its advantages.

Sturt, on the other hand, suffered more from over-confidence than lack of it. It seemed content, for most of the game to hold a slender lead and to concentrate on keeping Glenelg in check only to have its plans completely up set. Instead of walking over a dejected Glenelg side in the last quarter, it found itself unable to stand up to the ferocity of the lamb which had become a tiger.

Sturt Tall Men Fail

Early in the game the possibility that Sturt's strongest weapon — high marking by its tall men — might fail to have the effect expected of it was apparent. Twice Whitehead failed to hold comparatively simple marks within easy kicking distance of the goal and Sturt's early attacks were beaten back, scoreless. Faulty play by Sturt gave Glenelg its opportunity to open the scoring. Interference with Johnston, over-running with the ball by Robertson, and a free to Link for pushing in the back allowed Glenelg to beat right up to the goal mouth.

Neither side handled the ball cleanly, and during the first ten minutes of play hardly one mark was taken cleanly. This was probably the effect of the gusty wind, but Johnston took a soaring mark to score G1enelg's answering goal after smart handball had enabled Sturt to register the first goal of the day from Wundersitz. The defence lines of both sides stood firm against many attacks, but Goldsworthy, proving more than a handful for Sims, frequently forced Glenelg through to the Sturt full backs, who were called upon to work hard throughout the quarter. The tall half-forward took a towering mark to score Glenelg's second which put it in the lead.

Sturt regained its two-point advantage shortly before the quarter ended. Whitehead, who had several times missed from good positions, kicking a goal.

Sturt Misses Opportunity

Glenelg took the lead again early in the second quarter with a goal from Owens, made possible by the definite ascendancy of Sallis at centre and Goldsworthy at centre half-forward. Then Sturt mulled the first of its two great opportunities to win the match. It completely outmarked Glenelg in the forward lines and attacked persistently, but five or 10 minutes of strenuous effort produced only fire behinds. Fortunately for Sturt, Mussman capped the run with a goal before Glenelg lifted the long siege.

Percy, flashing into prominence in ruck combined well with the smaller men, and most of Sturt's prolonged offensive was nullified when Colyer, sprinting at full speed, kicked a goal on the run. Sallis, handling the ball with great sureness, and revealing brilliant pace, was almost the sole source of Glenelg's attacks, and had it not been for the defensive work by Tuohy and Wadham Glenelg would have held a lead at half-time instead of being five points behind.

Inaccuracy in goalkicking hampered Glenelg in a series of fast attacks early in the third quarter. Sullis was still playing as man inspired, and almost single-handed he kept up the pressure in spite of these disheartening failures by the forwards, and he was rewarded by two great goals from Owen and Link.

Glenelg was then 11 points ahead, and everything was instantly thrown into the scales. The ball flashed all over the field with Glenelg still holding a slight general superiority, but gradually Sturt regained the upper hand, Longmore bolting goalwards and Mussman, from a free, scored goals, and Sturt was in the lead once more. During the remainder of the quarter Glenelg appeared to have collapsed after staking its all on its earlier burst. Only a repetition of its second quarter inaccuracy — another fire behinds being kicked in succession - prevented Sturt from obtaining a match-winning lead.

Glenelg's Great Pace

Indicative of the general over-confidence of the Sturt team. Tuohy attempted to mark the ball from behind a pack in the goalmouth early in the last quarter, but the ball dropped from his hands, and Owens, standing nearby, whipped it through the goal. Sturt snatched back the lead immediately at the indirect result of good play by Morton, but was then staggered by a series of irresistible dashes by Glenelg. Colyer roved with great speed, and was a leading light in these sorties. Sallis, Percy and Goldsworthy also rose to great heights to shatter the morale of the Sturt defence, and with Glenelg three goals in front and playing strongly, Parsons made several changes in the Sturt team.

Mussman (centre half-forward) and Day (centre) changed places. Tuohy went to half back, and Sims and Parsons alternated as goalkeeper. Aistrope went off the ground with a hip injury, and Cameron (19th) took his place.

Sturt struggled desperately against Glenelg's rising tide of confidence, but, after Morton had scored one of the three goals required, a long attack yielded only two points, and Sturt was a beaten team long before the game ended.

Scorers of Goals And Behinds

Glenelg — Owens 4 goals 2 behinds; Colyer 3.3; Percy 2.1; Goldsworthy 1.2; Link and Johnston each 1.1. One behind was rushed.

One of Goldsworthy's kicks hit a goalpost.

Sturt — Whitehead 2.3; Morton and Mussman each 2.2; Wundersitz and Longmore each 1.1; Parsons 1.0: Baxter, 0.3; Golding and Biggs each 0.2.

Sallis Outstanding Player

If any further evidence of his class as a footballer were needed, Sallis gave it on Saturday. Rarely has a player so completely and consistently throughout a match dominated the play. He covered the area between half-back and half forward, and was never at fault. His great pace, the outstanding ease with which he handled the ball, no matter how awkwardly it came to him and his shrewd disposal were features of his wonderful display. He was easily the match winning factor in Glenelg's play, for when the remainder of the team lagged behind Sturt during the greater part of the match, he set an inspiring example of speed, courage, and resource, which other Glenelg players eventually emulated.

There was a wide gap between Sallis and the rest of the Glenelg team, but to Goldsworthy and Bergin as units of a half-forward line which successfully stood up to the strong Sturt defence, much praise is due. Goldsworthy marked brilliantly and kicked with great power. Bergin's fast ground play,and clever handling of the ball on one of the flanks was also valuable in carrying on the good work of Sallis.

Glenelg beat Sturt by sheer pace in the last quarter, and in this phase of the game Colyer, Link and Leak were brilliant exponents. Colyer's meteoric dashes goalward were demoralising to the opposing defence. Another important factor was the greatly improved form of the Glenelg defence. Brock subdued Mussman much more effectively than had the West Torrens defence in the first semi-final, and Hale (when not rucking), Whittaker and Birrell were the best of the backs. The last-named, playing his first league game, showed form which suggested that he will be an outstanding figure in the grand final, for which he should certainly be retained. Johnston and Percy (best of the high-marking men after Goldsworthy), Shakes and Hill (dashing support of Sallis on the centre wing): Griffiths and James (sound on the last line of defence) were worthy of special mention in a side in which every member pulled his weight.

In a defence totally incapable of matching the speed of Glenelg's sorties in the lost quarter Tuohy stood out for Sturt. Apparently exhausted at the end of the first half, Tuohy staged a remarkable succession of brilliant leaps and dazzling runs in the second half, which made him the most prominent defender on the ground. When shifted to the outer defence from his position in goal he continued to relieve with irresistible speed and determination.

Headon, always reliable on a half-back flank, gave him the best support. Had the other Sturt backmen been as consistent as he, Glenelg would not have won. Baxter was to Sturt what Colyer and Link were to Glenelg. He roved with indomitable courage and skill. Longmore covered much — probably too much — ground at centre wing. His great speed led him into his one fault — running too far with the ball, but there is no doubting his ability, particularly in kicking on the run. King also provided an interesting duel with his opponent on the other wing, and Wundersitz, though not as prominent as usual, roved with his customary elusiveness and skill. Morton and Mussman battled hard at full forward and half-forward respectively, but Sawatzke, Robertson, and Whitehead failed to establish the devastating superiority in the air expected of Sturts rucks. They could not grip the ball with certainty in the air; Wadham, Sims and Parsons were occasionally brilliant, but not consistently so.

L. C. Thomas umpired well.