With the Sydney Swans hosting Hawthorn this week, Classic Matches looks at the first VFL clash between these two clubs.

South Melbourne v Hawthorn,
Round 9, June 29, 1925
Lake Oval

When the University club withdrew from the VFL in 1914 (not because of World War I, but because of the difficulty of fielding full-strength sides), the League faced a dilemma it did not solve until just before the start of the 1925 season.

Because of University’s demise, the VFL was left with an unwieldy nine-team competition and declared at the end of the 1924 season that it would introduce a tenth club.

The issue dragged on until January 19, 1925, while the VFL checked the credentials of all applicant clubs, including Public Service and Prahran.

The VFL then shocked the football world when it announced that THREE news clubs – Hawthorn, North Melbourne and Footscray – would be admitted to the competition.

Hawthorn played Richmond at the Glenferrie Oval in its debut match, but went down by 39 points, while South Melbourne defeated Carlton by 38 points at the Lake Oval in the opening round.

By the time South was scheduled to play Hawthorn in a VFL match for the first time, at the Lake Oval in round nine, the Southerners had won just three of its eight matches, while Hawthorn had notched just one win, by 16 points over fellow newcomer Footscray in round five.

However, the Mayblooms had been competitive in most matches and were expected to push the Southerners all the way in their round nine clash.

South in that match was able to name West Australian Fred Wimbridge for his fist match after he had served a 13-week residential qualification period following his move from West Perth.

South also welcomed the return from injury of star winger/rover Mark Tandy and centreman Bill Condon, although skipper Paddy Scanlan was missing because of injury.

The Lake Oval was heavy following mid-week rain, but it did not seem to worry South as it raced to a 23-point lead by quarter-time.

South full-forward Ted Johnson kicked two of South’s three goals, while Fred Condon added the third just before the quarter-time bell.

The Argus reported that “South Melbourne was overwhelmingly superior” in the first quarter and was dominant in the air.

The newspaper added: “Playing with better system, and having the advantage in the air, South Melbourne improved its position in the second quarter”.

Johnson kicked his third goal in this quarter, while Wimbridge (who played just eight games in his only season with South) kicked his maiden goal for the Southerners.

South led by 35 points at the main break and appeared to cruise over the second half to prompt The Argus to describe the match as “lifeless”.

South led by 60 points at the final break and the only interest in the match centred around Johnson’s goals tally.

Although South eased up late in the final quarter for Hawthorn to kick two consolation goals, the Southerners won by 67 points.

Johnson kicked two goals in the final quarter to give him a match tally of seven and he went on to kick a season’s total of 60.

This matched his total for the 1924 season and he always will be regarded as one of the club’s greatest full-forwards.

He topped South’s goalkicking each season from 1923-28 and is eighth on the club’s all-time goalkicking list with 385 in 136 games from 1923-31. Recruited locally (from the Leopold club), he represented Victoria seven times.

In summarising the South-Hawthorn match, The Argus headline read: A DULL GAME. The report said: “It was unfortunate for Hawthorn that they met a very strong side.”

South won just twice more that season to finish eighth, while Hawthorn collected the wooden spoon with three wins.

SOUTH MELBOURNE    3.6     7.9     11.11     15.14 (104)
HAWTHORN                     0.1     2.4        2.5           5.7 (37)

Goals: Johnson 7, F. Condon 2, Barnes 2, Wimbridge 2, Brown, O’Meara.

SOUTH LINE-UP
B: Joe Scanlan, Les Woodfield, George Stewart
HB: Frank Laird, Charlie Nicholls, Charlie McDonald
C: Syd Hogg, Bill Condon, Mark Tandy
HF: Martin Brown, Charlie Stanbridge, Fred Wimbridge
F: Jack Barnes, Ted Johnson, Ted O’Meara
FOLL:  Harry Alexander, Fred Fleiter, Fred Condon
COACH: Charlie Pannam