At Fremantle on Saturday, interest was centred in the engagement between the two local clubs The South Fremantle club, which has risen out of the ashes of the once redoubtable, but now defunct, Fremantle Club, possesses practically the same combination of players who wore the red and white colours last year. The name is changed but that is all. The only noticeable absentees from their ranks on Saturday were O'Dwyer and Clarke, and the recruits included Williams (from West Perth), Dickens (from Richmond, Victoria), Kane (from Perth) and Makalls, Jamieson and Breene, three well-known juniors. East Fremantle entered the field without Chittleborough, Hammond, Williams and Kenny, and their places were filled by Watts (from Fremantle). Roberts (from West Perth), Richardson (a Claremont junior), and McNaughton, an old rugby player, and the positions of the men at the commencement of the game were as follows:
South Fremantle - Forward : Beswick, Breen. Brittain. Half-forward: Keenan (capt.), Dickens, Jamieson. Centre: Mathieson. Hodge, Hopkins. Half-back: McCarthy, Shaw, Ferguson. Back. Williams, Smith, Makaals. Followers: Gibson and Kane. Rover: McIntyre (vice capt.).
East Fremantle - Forward: Bender, Harnett, Pearce. Half-forward: S.Doig, Wakely, F.Cooper. Centre: Watts, Heinrichs, Richardson. Half back: Wilson (capt.), Roberts, J.Doig. Back: Ashton, McNaughton, Newton. Followers: Christie (vice capt.), Thomas. Rover: Sweetman. Central umpire: Mr. O'Mahony.
The weather was all in favour of a good match, and the attendance was satisfactory. At the outset the Easts asserted themselves, but the South's backs offered a stubborn resistance, and some pretty exchanges were witnessed. Christie on the one side, and McIntyre on the other, were conspicuous for good play. After about ten minutes' hard fighting. the Easts worked the ball up in front of their opponents' goal, and Sweetman, seizing an opportunity to score, snapped up the leather, and punted it between the posts. This was the only point scored during the opening quarter, the play being chiefly in the centre of the ground during the remainder of the term. East Fremantle were playing better football than the Souths, who, however, equalised the scores shortly after the start of the second quarter, through a piece of had play on the part of a blue and white player. The Souths were attacking and Ashton, who was keeping goal for the Easts, marked right in front. Instead of kicking the ball out of danger, he dribbled it along the ground, and Breen snapped it up and sent it between the posts. In play again. Easts scored the first behind of the day. The game was fast, and did not lack rigour, but it was not so open or so brilliant at in the previous Saturday's match. Wakely put up a second behind for the blue and whites and then Christie, who was repeatedly applauded for grand, dashing play, annexed another goal for his side with a running shot. On the bounce, the Easts were called up on to defend their goal, which they did in splendid fashion, Roberts being prominent in beating back the invaders. Christie registered a single point before the interval, and at half time the scores were: East Fremantle, 2 goals 3 behinds. South Fremantle: 1 goal.
In the second half there was too much crowding on the ball. The play was much in favour of the Easts right through, the Souths seemingly lacking cohesion. The red and whites scored their first behind early in the third quarter, after which Harnett notched a goal for the Easts. Two behinds were then registered in succession by the blue and whites, whilst their opponents only succeeded in placing another behind to their credit before the last change of ends.
In the last quarter the Easts further demonstrated their superiority. Cooper and Wakely each added a goal, and when the bell rang the scores were: East Fremantle: 5 goals 7 behinds, 37 points. South Fremantle: 1 goal 5 behinds 11 points.
East Fremantle well deserved their victory, for they worked hard for it. The Souths were weak forward, and, furthermore, they lacked unity. Concerted action is what is needed to achieve success, and South Fremantle would have done much better had they worked more in unison.
The star of the 36 was undoubtedly Christie, the sturdy East Fremantle follower. Years of football have not lessened this player's vitality on the field, and he has lost none of the brilliancy which characterised his play with the "red legs"' in Melbourne in the early part of the nineties. Heindricks, in the centre, did good service, and Wilson, Roberts and Newton formed a strong trio in defence. Wakely did not kick with his accustomed accuracy, but Cooper, the midget forward, frequently put in some clever work. "Jim" Doig, Sweetman and Thomas were the best of the others. The best man on the South Fremantle side was McIntyre, who roved with consistent brilliancy. Keenan, who acted as -captain for the day, marred an otherwise good exhibition by occasional ebullitions of temper. Gibson was a strong follower, but he often failed in his purpose by want of judgment. Hopkins played a fine game on the wings, and McCarthy and Ferguson (back), Hodge and Mathieson (centre), were also much in evidences The only fault that could be found with the umpire was that he used his whistle too often.
Game details including full match scores, goalkickers and team lists: South Fremantle v East Fremantle, Round 1, 1900