The ushering in of the 1898 football season, which took place on Saturday, was not marked by any demonstration or even an ordinary display of interest on the part of the lovers ot the game. There are four senior teams which hare elected to do battle under the auspices of the West Australian Football Association, The West Perth (last year's premiers), Rovers, Fremantle and East Fremantle. In these contests the latter team has taken the place of the Imperial team of last year, and the personnel of the new team is made up to a large extent of those who played under the ausipices and colours of the Imperial club.
In the metropolis the season was opened with a match between the Rovers and the East Fremantle on the Association Cricket Ground. The attendance was only moderate, but as the season advances and the rivalry between the teams becomes more keen, it is expected that the interest in the Australian winter game in Western Australia will largely increase. The ground was not too favourable for a first class exhibition of the game, the surface having recently been top dressed and the ground play and fast runs were thereby interfered with. This, combined with the want of training on the part of the players, may account for the mediocre display which was given.
The teams were composed as follows: Rovers. Watson, Greaves, and Ryan (forwards), Tredennick, Sinclair, and O'Donnell (half-forwards), Johnson, Boxhall, and Johnson (centres), Kennedy, Wills, and Crase (half-back), Arnott, Raid, and Whelan (backs). Graham, Price, Longworthy, and Martin (followers), and Hussey (rover).
East Fremantle. Wilson, Sutherland, and Robinson (backs), Graves, Keenan, and Noonan (half-backs), Atkins, Mullaney, and Everard (centres), Lockwood, Burns, and Oxley (half-forwards), Ward, Cooper, and Herbert (forwards), Christie, Sweetman, Chittleborongh, and Newton (followers).
The play, although at times fast, with even occasional dashes of brilliancy, was not of a description to induce excitement or to provoke admiration. In the first quarter the East Fremantle team made a good start, playing well forward, but thoe defence of the metropolitan team was too strong. The oval, through the agency of Wills and Johnson, was forced towards the Port players' goal, and after a deal of scrimmage and give-and-take play, Ryan secured it and scored the first goal of the season by a well-directed kick. The home team there after until the end of tlie quarter assumed the aggressive, but mainly through the agency of the half-backs of the East Fremantle team, who played well together, they wore unable to add to the score before the bell rang for a change of ends.
The same tactics were adopted by the visiting team in the second quarter, the ball being secured at the bounce and sent well up towards their opponents' citadel. Some smart play was exhibited by the centremen of both sides, Johnson and Atkins giving a very fast and well judged exhibition. The East Fremantle team rallied and once again attacked the goal of the home team, but they were repulsed, and the ball being worked up to the other end, mainly through the agency of Johnson, Tredennick seized an opportunity and secured a second goal for his side. The visitors again attacked, and their followers keeping well on the ball, they were playing well over their opponents and in dangerous proximity to the goalposts when half time was signalled.
As in most games, the third quarter was the period in which the best play was seen. The Rover team, gaining confidence, kept the play well across the centre line and time and again attacked, only to be forced to retreat by their opponents' defence. In this quarter the players had a tendency to bunch unnecessarily, with the result that the teams for a time became disorganised. Some clever play was made by Johnson on the wing, who by this time had his opponent Atkins beaten. The ball being marked well forward, Watson secured and nicely placed the third goal to the credit of the metropolitan team.
In the final quarter the Rovers practically had, the Fremantle men at their mercy, though tbey themselves were tiring from the effects of the fastness of the game and their inefficient training. Hussey forwarded nicely, and Tredennick again got an opportunity which he did not lose, adding another goal to the score of the Rovers.
The play from this out was of an uninteresting character, and the contestants were evidently relieved when the bell rang.
Undoubtedly the game of the forty was played by H. G. Johnson, and his dashes shone out above the efforts of any of the others. Tredennick also displayed good dash and judgment, and his kicking was highly creditable. Wills was of inestimable value to his side in repeatedly relieving and Boxhall in the centre was the best of the others. The East Fremantle followers, and particularly Christie, were by far the best-conditioned men of the team, but as a whole they were never dangerous, and from the start were seen to be unequal to their opponents.
The play was characterised by an absence from roughness or unseemly conduct on the part of the players, for which, to a large extent, the central umpire, Mr.Orr, who performed his duties fairly and impartially, was mainly responsible.
Game details including full match scores, goalkickers and team lists: Rovers v East Fremantle, Round 1, 1898