CHAPTER 4

Woodfull -

Because some of the best players were unable to play regularly, results in 1929-30 season were not so good, but it gave some of the younger players invaluable experience. Of chief interest was the appointment of Club captain, , as captain of the Australian team for , and the Club arranged a farewell and a presentation, which was well attended by members and top officials. With the V.C.A. paying the fares, the Club visited Kyabram at Easter time and won two enjoyable games. For the season Frank Warne won the average, Bill Woodfull a special batting prize and George Keys won the . Woodfull made 287 runs in three , two of which were , for an average of 287. Warne made 329 for an average of 42.10, and Bill Sumner headed the aggregate with 382 runs for an average of 27.40. Keys took 28 at 25.93, and Howard Houston took seven wickets for 27.28 each. Highlight of the early part of next season was a welcome home to Bill Woodfull. Included in the party were the vice-captain, , and most of the Australian players. With Jack Melville, club secretary, as manager, Victoria defeated South Australia to win the Sheffield Shield. The team played at Horsham on the way back and rising junior, Joe Kinnear, took 9/54 and also made runs. The improvement in the first eleven was most marked. Against , with its strong bowling side, a score of 5/226 was worthy of comment. The University match, with Woodfull in charge, seemed to instil new life in the game, and a meritorious victory was gained through excellent . The batting of young Fred Jinks, with 125 not out, and the bowling of Frank Warne, contributed largely to a win from Northcote. The display by wicketkeeper “Occa” Hansen was excellent. Joe Kinnear had such figures as 7/45, 5/35 and 5/43. Warne took 6/63, 6/109 and 4/77, and Cliff Cox 5/38. Fred Jinks won three trophies for batting and Kinnear two for bowling.

Bill Woodfull was again the Club captain in 1931-32, and again lead Australia to victory over South Africa, but bad weather affected the dividend from the V.C.A. The ground committee had a busy time in the previous 12 months in the erection of a new stand. With this addition, the ground rivalled any one except one in the state. In recognition of the labour and the money he had expended, the stand was named the Robert Heatley stand. During the year the ground was a picture and the wickets prepared by veteran Tom Warne were the subject of continual high praise. On a holiday trip to Myrtleford, Fred Jinks scored 133 and Cliff Cox took 8/9. In Club games, Bill Woodfull (133) and Fred Jinks (100 not out), with 5/54 from Joe Kinnear, helped to defeat North Melbourne. In a defeat by Essendon, Harry De Gruchy’s 84 was best. Against St. Kilda, Frank Warne took 6/26 and Cliff Cox 3/36 and 4/27. In a score of 7/220 against Northcote, De Gruchy made 78 and Bert Warne (Frank’s brother and now curator) made 71. Dick Collins made 102, and this helped him to win the batting average. Cox, with 33 wickets for 16.52, won the bowling, but Joe Kinnear took two more wickets – 35- to finish third.

FIVE TEAMS IN THE FIELD had to play with Fitzroy. Gunston was quickly in form with 98 in the second game, in which Alan Jinks took 4/13 against North, followed by 5/68 against Colts. A fine win was secured During the 1932-33 season the Club fielded five fully equipped teams and a successful against top team Fitzroy, with Gunston making 87, and Micky Price, later to be Club captain, season was experienced. A tribute was paid in the report to the Club and Australian captain, Bill 36 not out. Woodfull made 53 against South and 105 in the next and final match against Woodfull, for the able manner in which he had upheld the tradition of the game in the Northcote. Bill Kinnear making 48 and 62 in the same two games. series of Tests in England. Gunston won the batting with 42.87 (343 runs), Woodfull (average 61 for four innings) The opening match against South Melbourne saw the debut of two Brunswick again won a special trophy, Alan Jinks was top bowler with 16.88 (26 wickets), And H. Collins representatives – Eddie Gunston and Maurie Sievers – on a bowler’s . Sievers went on to won a fielding trophy. play for Victoria and Australia. On another bowler’s wicket against Collingwood, Cox took 5/46 and Kinnear 3/6, and with Woodfull making 56 not out and Collins 35 not out the match A GOOD YEAR FOR CARLTON was won by Carlton. Sievers was top score with 69 in the next match against Fitzroy. Still another Warne appeared in the next match, Vernon taking 6/70 against Hawthorn-East Two Carlton teams reached the semi-finals in the next year, but the premiership eluded Melbourne. In the same game Sievers showed his ability with a not out . them. It was a season of good performances, and the form of Woodfull and the marked Gunston showed his quality with 106 not out against Essendon, and Frank Warne helped improvement by Bill Kinnear made them one of the most successful opening pairs in Victoria. with 60. Frank Warne made 76 and Alan Jinks, in his first game, took 4/22 and Cox 6/39 The acquisition of Horry Grangel, Gordon Warren and W. Gray also strengthened the side. against the Colts. Frank Warne had a great double, with 79 and 6/94 against North Melbourne. Warren, 117 not out (St. Kilda), H. Collins, 157 (Northcote), Woodfull, 124 not out Sievers scored 74 in the last game of the season against University. The wicketkeeping of (Fitzroy), and Kinnear 100 (Collingwood), were stars, while Grangel had merry innings against Hansen and the fielding of H. Collins, Sievers and Fred Jinks were specially mentioned. Melbourne (87) and St. Kilda (63). In the bowling line Trembath took six wickets against Carlton reached the semi-finals in the next season, but sadly missed Woodfull (in the Test Hawthorn-East Melbourne, Jinks was consistent throughout and Gray had two bowling bursts. team to England) and Frank Warne (who left to play cricket in England). There was regret at In addition, Jack Hale, more famous as a footballer, appeared on the scene as a left-hand the death of Frank Blake, who had been treasurer for 20 years. His place was taken by Tom bowler. His Brilliant catch helped his team to defeat Fitzroy in another match. Woodfull won Walker. The finances were assisted by the V.C.A. dividend of £150. the batting with 59 (aggregate 477), with Kinnear second (585 runs), Jinks took 39 wickets at Another good player appeared on the scene. He was young fast bowler Tom Trembath, 19.14 to win the bowling. who took 4/19 in the opening match. He was most consistent, and took 6/42 in the fourth game, against Northcote. Against Essendon he took 5/48. Gunston, Roy Gardiner (another Brunswick STARS RETIRE FROM GAME boy) and Sievers all made runs against Northcote. Then, against Melbourne, Sievers made 85 and Bill Kinnear (still another boy from Brunswick) made 76. Dick Collins, with 86, and Season 1936-37 was, according to the Carlton report, one of the most memorable in the Gunston, with 61, were best against Essendon. Woodfull made 103 not out and Fred Jinks 66 history of Australian cricket. Not only did Australia retain the “ashes”, but attendance records against Colts, and Woodfull followed with a masterly 132 not out against North Melbourne. were shattered, principally because of the increased accommodation at the M.C.G. In addition, Victoria’s sensational victory in in the deciding game for the Sheffield Shield was a Roy Gardiner (77) and Fred Jinks (65) were the stars in the next game. This left Carlton to fitting climax, but in pennant cricket, Carlton’s performance was disappointing. The retirement meet St. Kilda in the semi-final, and, although Alan Jinks took 5/98, Gardiner batted brilliantly of Test captain, Bill Woodfull, was a severe blow, and Dick Collins, appointed captain in his for 51 and Trembath hit Don Blackie for two successive 6’s, the match was lost, and St. Kilda place, broke down in the first match. Bill Kinnear then led the side and carried out his task went on to win the premiership. Gunston won the batting average, Woodfull (average 158 for creditably. The other elevens did well, the seconds and Metropolitan League winning four innings) gained a special trophy, and Trembath, with 26 wickets for 15.03, was best premierships and the other team being runner-up. bowler. An innovation was a club championship, and first winner was Alan Jinks, with Tom

Trembath only three points away second. HOUSTON BEGINS AS TREASURER Feature of the opening game was a fine display by a Colt, Harry Parkinson, who made a brilliant 75. Eddie Gunston batted well in the next game and, against St. Kilda, Tom Trembath After good service with the first and second elevens, Howard Houston became treasurer in had an inspired burst with the ball to help Carlton to win by 18 runs. Kinnear, Parkinson and 1934-35 and continues to hold that office in this, the Centenary Year, being a V.C.A. delegate Ralph Empey all passed 50 in the next game, but Essendon won. in addition. Another good season was experienced, and again Club captain, Bill Woodfull, was Highest total of the season was against Colts. In a score of 356, Kinnear made 136 and congratulated on leading Australia to another Test victory in England. He then retired from first Gunston 70. Jinks took 5/63. In a game against Prahran, which was affected by rain, Parkinson class cricket, but continued to play with his Club. He and his partner, , were scored 56 not out. Kinnear (95) and Bill Williams (76) were best in the final game against accorded a testimonial match by the V.C.A. In recognition of his 20 years as scorer, Bill Harper University. was made a life member. Kinnear won the batting average with 37.75, with Gunston runner-up. Trembath was best The Club suffered a setback when, through residential qualifications, Sievers and Gardiner bowler, with 28 wickets for 21.15, but Jinks took most wickets.