1920 - (Part 1) A BLACK DAY

FEDERAL ASSOCIATION

Umpire Brutally Assaulted

Club Suspended for Season - Three Players Stood Down for Life

The Association took a determined stand on Monday last in regard to a report by an umpire of rough play, which should have the effect of keeping the game popular with the public. The play of some of the teams has been anything but satisfactory of late, but until last Saturday no action was taken by any of the umpires to report adversely on the games, the view, no doubt, being that discretion was the better part of valor.
The game last Saturday between Chelsea and Moorabbin, played on the former’s ground, was the most disgraceful exhibition yet given in the Association matches. Umpire Smith, who had charge of the play, had at the previous Association meetings reported Mr McCauley, delegate of the Chelsea club, for unseemly conduct on the field and the club was fined 10s 6d. This apparently riled the Chelsea supporters, for as soon as Smith appeared on the ground he was given a hostile reception, which culminated in an assault during the progress of the play.
After the conclusion of the game Smith, who had been badly handled, had to be escorted to the railway station by a police constable. A. Dawson of Moorabbin, who went to Smith’s assistance, was also knocked about. He managed to get to the dressing room, but the crowd were menacingly waiting outside for him.
Whilst some were endeavouring to break into the dressing room Dawson’s club mates managed to get him away by the other side. He got into a buggy and drove off, but was pursued all the way to Mordialloc, where the aid of the police had to be obtained and two men were given in charge.L. Coates, Secretary of Moorabbin club, reported to the Association on Monday that although Moorabbin won the game, it was the most disgraceful exhibition he had ever witnessed. Moorabbin had played some rough and dirty teams, but none could be compared to Chelsea. He was, however, not complaining of rough play, but as to the way Umpire Smith was barbarously treated by the Chelsea players and spectators. Prior to the ringing of the final bell Smith was struck in the mouth by a Chelsea player. Dawson went to Smith’s assistance, only to be ill-treated, if anything worse than Smith. It was not safe for any club to go to Chelsea unless they were protected with a regiment of soldiers and a machine gun.
Umpire Smith, in his report said that the game was very rough from the start. At quarter time he had to caution two Chelsea players for unnecessary rough play, but it did not have much effect. During the second quarter he awarded Moorabbin a free kick and a Chelsea player threw the ball in the other player’s face. He called out to the Chelsea player that he intended to report him, and from thence on Chelsea players objected to his decisions. Moorabbin players were tossed about like shuttles. Smith stated he was not responsible for what happened in the last eight or nine minutes, as he was struck a heavy blow by Johnson, of Chelsea. He was greatly indebted to the Carrum constable and some Moorabbin players for protecting him after the match, otherwise he would have been torn to pieces.
Smith reported Laidlaw for objecting to umpire’s decisions, for wilfully kicking to the danger of a player and also striking him in the mouth. He also reported Laidlaw for throwing the ball at and striking him in the face, and also for using bad language.
Smith, who attended the meeting, further stated that as he was leaving the dressing room he saw McCauley standing in the doorway in the attitude of a Philadelphian lawyer, with a piece of chewing gum in his hand and as he was walking past McCauley said, “well if you don’t want it you need not have it.” As he was talking to another delegate on the ground, he heard McCauley make a joke to eight other players at his expense, and he knew at once he was in the gun. The game had not gone a minute before Laidlaw grabbed Kemp by the leg. Laidlaw appealed for a free kick for rabbiting, but as he did not get one, he became abusive.

Continued Part (2)

Continued Part (3)

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