When the newly-formed Perth team took the field against Fremantle on Saturday it was never for a moment thought that they could become famous all at once by beating last year's premiers and the team that made such a close finish with West Perth on the previous Saturday. But as the game progressed it was evident that the red and whites had more men worthy of their steel to conquer. So well did the new combination of players shape that a surprise was nearly effected, and the game was only won by Fremantle in the last few minutes, and then the difference in the scores at the finish was only three points. The match was played on the Fremantle Oval, which was not affected by the recent rains, and a fair number of spectators watched the play. The Perth team was made up chiefly of ex-Rover men and the leading players in the Perth Juniors' Club, with a sprinkling of outsiders, among whom was the veteran " Poss " Watson, late of the Fremantle club. The teams and the positions of the men at the commencement of the game were as follows: Perth: Burke, J. Messer, Scott, back; Wills, Crase, O'Farrall, half-back; Orr, Kennedy, Glaskin, centre ; White, Coward, Watson (capt.), half-forward ; Brittain, Sands, Keating, forward; Kane, Clarke, followers ; Hussey, rover. Fremantle : Shaw, Smith, O'Dwyer, back; McCarthy, McCallnm, Keenan, half-back; Hopkins, Mathieson, Chadwick, centre ; Clark, Douglas, Watts, half- forward; Bee, Craig, Beswick, forward; Lunt, Lethridge, followers; Mcintyre, rover. Central umpire : J. Orr.
The Perth team was attired in uniforms of blue knickers, with red and black guernseys and stockings, and they received an encouraging cheer from the onlookers as they filed on to the ground led by Watson, who was unanimously elected captain. In the first quarter the play was remarkably even, each side scoring 3 goals, while Fremantle got five behinds to Perth's two.
The game was not being played in a too friendly spirit. Orr was kept busy with his whistle. In the second term» the visitors held their own with Fremantle until the latter part of the quarter. The home team then went ahead, and increased their tally to 5 goals 12 behinds, whereas, when the bell rang for half-time Perth's score had not been altered.
Refreshed by the ten minutes' interval the visitors played with great spirit in the third quarter and the home team was kept on the defensive during the greater part of the term. O'Dwyer was cautioned for rough play during this period, and several other players on both sides had free kicks given against them for breaches of the rules. At three-quarter time Perth had brought their score io within seven points of Fremantle's record, and in the final bout the red and blacks played so earnestly that they steadily reduced the lead held by their opponents. Five minutes before the bell rang the points on the board were even, and great excitement prevailed during the remainder of the game. Fremantle made a rush on the Perth's goals just before the call of time, and, securing three behinds in quick succession, won the match by the bare majority of three points.
The exhibition of football was not of a very high order, and Fremantle appeared to hold their opponents too cheap. Several members of the local team had evidently been taking lessons from the West Perth's style of play, for they put in a lot of neat and effective hand-ball work. In kicking for goal, the Fremantle forwards were very erratic and the Perth men also missed seme easy chances.
For the winners, the best players were Lethbridge, O'Dwyer, Chadwick, Douglas, Mathieson, Clarke and Mcintyre ; and the most conspicuous on the Perth side were Orr, Clark, Kennedy, Coward, Watson, Wills, Kane, Crase, Hussey and Brittain.
Game details including full match scores, goalkickers and team lists: Unions/Fremantle v Perth, Round 10, 1899