This match took place on the Upper Cricket Ground at the Queen's Domain on August 29th 1882.
A Tasmanian team chosen from the north and the south played a visiting Essendon side from the Victorian Football Association.
The weather was '
wet and threatening
' according to the Mercury newspaper and '
consequently the ground was wet and heavy, and before the ball had been in play many minutes it became very wet, slippery and heavy and members of both teams had difficulty in holding it.
'
Nearly 3000 people assembled at the ground to watch the game and Tasmanian captain W H Cundy, the Railway skipper, won the toss and decided to kick northwards.
The Mercury takes up the story '
At the start the Tasmanians played very strongly and it was though they were going to make a good stand against the visitors. Before the game had commenced many minutes W H Cheverton obtained a mark about 20 yards in front of goal and with a well judged kick secured
the first goal for Tasmania. The ball was sent down the west wing where Bagley got it and he carried it down to the south west corner of the oval. McLeod, G Cheverton, A Stuart and A G Douglas were all playing well for Tasmania at this stage while McShane made some
brilliant runs for the Victorians.
Shortly afterwards, Nully sent the ball to the centre of the ground from the west wing, where it was laid hold of by F Hughes who then secured the first goal for Essendon.
'
Tasmanian then rallied and played hard but Essendon started clicking into gear. The play was fast and furious and caused great excitement amongst the spectators. At half time the score stood at Essendon 4.13 to Tasmania 1.3.
After the break the Tasmanians played with all the skill and judgement they could muster but the Victorians proved too strong kicking another two goals 14 behinds to the Tasmanians five behinds.
Best players for Tasmania were Goddard, Bagley, Cundy, A Stuart, McLeod, Douglas and Cheverton.
The final score was Essendon 6.27 to Tasmania 1.8.
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Tasmanian football reached a pinnacle on June 13th 1960 when it defeated a Victorian league team for the first time. Although it was Victoria's second side it was still strong. Tasmania's performance was full of merit because some of our best players
were unavailable to play.
Those who were selected but did not play included J Ross, I Hayes, S Morcom, M Pascoe, D Parremore and T Leo (injured) and Darrell Baldock who had been selected as Captain but withdrew due to a family bereavement.
The team was coached by the wily veteran Jack Metherell. The game was a fitting climax to his career in football.
The game was played at York Park and Tasmania, under the leadership of former Melbourne and Victorian player Stuart Spencer won 13.13.91 to the VFL 12.12.84.
Best players for Tasmania were Stuart Spencer, Don Gale and Rex Geard.
The Tasmanians played the Victorians at their own game, their pace, cooperation and determination to succeed securing them victory.
Frank Johnson dominated the ruck early in the game but Rex Geard lifted his game and his fellow ruckmen did the same. Neil Conlan, conspicuous on the flank, moved into the centre when Sheehan went off injured, and immediately took control. His well directed kicks to
Hawksley and Withers gave them the breaks on the forward line.
Victoria did not produce the pace of a top line side throughout the match. Lester and Fitzallen controlled the wings for most of the game, with Dwyer becoming more prominent for Victoria in the latter half of the game.
Loring at full back was the surprise packet of the game, giving away inches and three stone in weight, he out manoeuvred Collingwood star Murray Weideman who was moved off him at three quarter time.
Spencer , at his brilliant best, out trumped the three Victorian rovers - Birt, Goggin and Campbell and inspired the young Tasmanian side with his every move. His baulking and damaging left foot turn had the Victorian defenders helpless.
A great tribute was paid to him when the Victorian captain Comben left his back pocket in an endeavour to curb Spencer and lift Victoria.
Tasmania always gave that little bit extra when the lead looked in danger and the last quarter was a thriller.
Victoria hit the front 15 minutes into the quarter but Tasmania fought back through the strong play of Withers on the flank who lifted the team with his inspiring play. Webb, held by Howell all day, finally came into the play and the elusive Moore was in everything. His
brilliant marking in front of the packs and his accurate shooting for goal made him a match winner.
The Victorians, sensing the game was slipping away from them, packed the ball but it was a costly mistake. they gave away unnecessary free kicks and left their forward line too open, allowing Don Gale, who had dominated all day, to clear time and time again. He was ably
supported by Murray Steele.
It was a terrific last few minutes. Cool and determined Burnie Payne took a lovely mark and goaled to give the Tasmanians the lead again. Then the dynamic Spencer put the issue beyond doubt by kicking a point.
The siren sounded , giving Tasmania victory by seven points.
Pandemonium broke loose as thousands of spectators jumped the fence and swarmed onto the ground around the victorious Tasmanian players.
Scores: Tasmania 4.7, 7.6, 10.8, 13.13.91 defeated
Victoria 1.6, 5.10, 8.11, 12.12.84
When the final siren sounded the 15,600 Tasmanian fans went wild with delight. The result was a great achievement and promised to be the precursor of greater things to come in Tasmanian football.
Back Row: J Fitzallen, M Pascoe, S Morcom, I Hayes, J Ross, R Geard, D Parremore.
Third Row: N Conlan, G Smith, T Shadbolt, M Lawrence, G Mason, C Moore, B Strange, B Payne. Second Row: J Pelham (Trainer), D Gale, K Sheehan, J Hawksley (VC), J Metherell (Coach), S Spencer (C), A Webb, B Loring, D O Lewis (Mgr).
Front Row: M Kelleher, M Steele, R Withers, D Lester.
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This contest for the NWFA premiership took four weeks to decide !
The game began on the 9th September 1905 and with 12 minutes 55 seconds to play remaining Mersey led Devonport by 7.5.47 to 2.5.17.
At that stage, the crowd invaded the ground and despite the efforts of police and officials, refused to be moved with the result that after a half hour delay, club delegates conferred and declared the game "
finished for the day.
"
At the NWFA meeting the following Tuesday, Chairman J H Henry pointed out that under the present rules, the game could not be awarded to the team leading when the game was called off, as "
full time had not been played out.
"
Finally, it was decided to play extra time.
However neither team was available until September 30th, and on the appointed day Mersey arrived but Devonport failed to appear.
Unsure of what to do next, Mersey officials eventually decided to send their team - half of whom were in street clothes - onto the field.
Central umpire Allan Murray bounced the ball and Mersey, with no opponents, went through the motions of kicking eight goals before the bell sounded, giving them the premiership.
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One of the most remarkable matches of all time was between Burnie and Penguin in 1936 at West Park. The game was played in a steady downpour all day and the conditions undoubtedly contributed to the fact that Penguin began with only 16 men.
Despite the lack of numbers, Penguin put up a game fight to only trail by 41 points with the game almost over.
Then, a hurricane hit the ground and surely this must be the only game of senior football in Australia to have continued through weather like this.
In blinding rain and gale force winds, players found it almost impossible to keep their feet and many lay down flat in the mud.
For a time, there was panic in the crowd as the hurricane threatened to demolish the grandstand, and the Penguin side was depleted even further as players struggled from the ground - first to ten men, then finally to six.
Burnie, the locals, fared slightly better - eleven stalwarts braved the elements to steer Burnie to an 8.10.58 to 2.5.17 win in one of the strangest matches ever played.
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One of the most dramatic games in football history was the match to
decide the State Premiership in 1967.
Wynyard played North Hobart at West Park, Burnie on 30th September.
The game had been played at a fast tempo all day with both sides giving their best in some of the most entertaining football played during the season but the finish and the ten minute fiasco that followed will never be forgotten.
The match ended in uproar with Wynyard up by one point. But a kick by North Hobart skipper John Devine was marked just before the siren by full forward David Collins. Umpire Pilgrim of the NTFA awarded the mark to him but as Collins went back to take his kick from just
outside the goal square, spectators swarmed onto the ground and tore down the goal posts. As police and officials tried to restore order the behind posts were also torn out. Players, trainers, umpires and spectators all clashed while Collins waited with the ball but
finally the umpires were escorted off the ground by the police.
Thousands milled around on the ground for over an hour until officials declared the game a "no contest." Collins waited on the ground fro 30 minutes after the siren until police escorted him to the rooms with the ball firmly tucked under his jumper.
The game was never replayed and the title for that season was not awarded.
Collins still has the ball and a few years ago went to the ground and attempted the kick again with the result - a goal.
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July 18th 1908 saw the wildest melee ever at a football match on the North West coast.
Ulverstone were playing Mersey and the trouble began midway through the last quarter after a tough first three quarters, at the end of which Mersey led 5.13.63 to 3.4.22.
Tempers flared when Mersey player Gibbens clashed with Ulverstone's A W "Nipper" Devlin.
Angry players converged and an all in brawl developed. Supporters tore pickets off the fence and joined in.
Despite the efforts of five police and the umpire, the crowd could not be cleared off the ground, so the umpire walked off and abandoned the game.
The Mersey team and supporters left by rail under a shower of stones.
Civil and tribunal action followed. E Williams (Ulverstone) was suspended for life for 'cowardly play.'
A W Devlin (Ulverstone) was disqualified for 12 months for 'unduly rough play'. Harry McDonald, who played 346 games for Ulverstone was disqualified until the end of May 1909 for striking Gibbens.
Jack McDonough was disqualified for the rest of the season for striking and C Smith was fined ten shillings in court.
None of those disqualified ever served their sentences because in 1909 Latrobe, Ulverstone and Penguin broke away from the league to form the NWFL which lasted only one season before the NWFU was formed in 1910.
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In 1913, Launceston the Northern premier, caused a sensation when the team refused to take the field in the State Premiership decider against Cananore, because of a dispute over the central umpire engaged for the match.
Cananore was awarded the match on forfeit and Launceston was disqualified by the league, a sentence which was not lifted until midway through the 1914 season.
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Western Australia accepted an invitation to come to Tasmania following the match against the VFL in Melbourne.
Few victories have given Tasmanian football fans such satisfaction as the eleventh hour victory against the WA side on June 14th 1970.
Tasmania was fired up by a statement made by Wa captain Graham 'Polly' Farmer who stated that if his side could not beat the Tasmanians "we ought to give the game away".
He had to eat his words when Tasmania gained revenge in a memorable match.
Tasmania stole the game with phenomenally accurate goal shooting and fierce tackling in the opening two and a half quarters, lost it late in the third and for most of the last when it switched to fancy short passing and won it again in a steamrolling final three
minutes.
Two men held the game in the plam of their hands in the final few minutes. West Australian centre half forward Mal Brown who had been switched to full forward and Tasmanian half forward flanker John Bingley.
Brown captured the lead for WA for the first time with a goal 26 minutes into the final term.
But the crowd of nearly 20,000 held its breath as Bingley marked with three minutes left on the clock. He was a notoriously bad goalkicker and sure enough his kick flew wide and Marshall kicked a point.
The crowd had almost given up hope when Brown marked , a long way out, but he too kicked a point.
All hope seemed lost as Longford coach Paul Vinar, a former national long distance running champion put plenty of distance into his kick out from goal. The ball flew to the wing, Stirling grabbed it, Devine chipped in and found Baldock, who hit Bingley on the chest
about 40 yards out on the flank.
Could he or couldn't he ? This big question had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Bingley kicked the goal snatching victory by two points and the wild scenes of jubilation among players and thousands of spectators reflected the pleasure of everyone at the ground.
Paul Vinar, the coach of Longford and a former Geelong player won the Lefroy medal for best Tasmanian player.
Scores: Tasmania 6.1, 13.2, 14.5, 18.10.118 defeated
Western Australia 1.3, 6.7, 10.10., 17.14.116
Back Row: D Baldock (VC), M Urquhart, J Bingley, K Edwards, J Jillard.
Middle Row: F Newell (Head Trainer), R Hall, A Thiessen, A Bowden, J Frost, A Hodgetts, L Styles, P Vinar, D R Plaister (Mgr).
Front Row: R Johnson, J Bonney, C Coombes, R Steele, J Devine (Capt./Coach), J Marshall, R Graham, S Dac, R Stirling.
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Legendary Games
