1916
If there ever was a season when Balmain were odds-on favourites to win the flag, it was 1916.
It was one of the founding clubs when the game was resuscitated in Sydney in 1903.
They continued their participation until 1910 then re-emerged in 1913 only to combine with a second grade club called Northern Districts to form the Central Western Club for 1914 & 15. This merger produced only mediocre success.
By 1916 the country was deeply involved in WWI and many of the footballers in Sydney had gone to the front.
Fortunately a move to suspend football, following the South Australian model was rescinded when most clubs found themselves buoyed servicemen from around Australia who were temporarily posted to Sydney before going overseas. Others seeking work also moved into Sydney and they, like today, filtered into their local team. The difference then was that you HAD to play with the team in whose district you resided. And there were others who left their town to escape from being hassled about having to sign up for the army.
Spitefulness against the young men who failed to enlist was rife in those days and those who were employed in essential industries could wear a badge to show that they were exempt. Even wounded soldiers who returned from the front copped abuse.
Balmain recruited Jack Ashley from Port Adelaide where won the 1914 Magarery Medal. They also picked up a young J Scott from the East Perth Club. He was a big ruckman who was described as a good mark and kick. They had a further interstater in Webb and a competent full forward in Turville.
Ashley was no slouch, he represented Combined Sydney against SA side, Norwood in 1908 and again against South Melbourne in 1909. When Balmain folded in 1910 he played with East Sydney.
In May 1916 though, Ashley was talked into training with the Balmain Rugby League club where he even played a game. It was following this episode that the Balmain AFL club offered him the captaincy, which in those days also included coaching. Ashley had previously played with Balmain in 1908-11.
All in all Balmain developed into quite a handy side and were very much touted as favourites for the flag.
They won all their home and away games that season and were at unbackable odds, but, they got beat.
|
Round
|
Opposition
|
Result
|
For
|
Against
|
|
Round
|
Opposition
|
Result
|
For
|
Against
|
|
1
|
Sydney
|
Won
|
8-6
|
3-8
|
|
10
|
East Sydney
|
Won
|
9-10
|
2-9
|
|
2
|
Newtown
|
Won
|
8-10
|
4-5
|
|
11
|
Sydney
|
Won
|
4-14
|
4-3
|
|
3
|
South Sydney
|
Won
|
9-12
|
4-7
|
|
12
|
Newtown
|
Won
|
7-10
|
1-12
|
|
4
|
Paddington
|
Won
|
4-8
|
2-9
|
|
13
|
South Sydney
|
Won
|
15-19
|
1-1
|
|
5
|
East Sydney
|
Won
|
7-12
|
3-6
|
|
14
|
Paddington
|
Won
|
12-11
|
9-5
|
|
6
|
Sydney
|
Won
|
9-15
|
2-2
|
|
15
|
East Sydney
|
Won
|
7-20
|
5-6
|
|
7
|
Newtown
|
Won
|
7-7
|
3-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
South Sydney
|
Won
|
6-15
|
0-5
|
|
Semi
|
Newtown
|
Won
|
6-13
|
3-11
|
|
9
|
Paddington
|
Won
|
8-11
|
4.9
|
|
Final
|
Paddington
|
Lost
|
3-4
|
6-14
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
*CFinal
|
Paddington
|
Lost
|
1-8
|
3-14
|
*Challenge Final. These were the days before a four team playoff where first, second, preliminary and grand finals made up the final series. In this case, if a minor premier were defeated in the final they had the right to replay the game.
The Rugby League immortal, Wally Messenger, captained Paddington in the final but we are unsure if he played in the Challenge Final the following week. He probably did after making several appearances for Paddington throughout the season. He was reported as improving with each game “… and his form on Saturday left little to be desired, while his kicking was in keeping with his well-earned reputation.”
The Messenger family owned a boatshed at Double Bay.
This was Paddington‘s second successive premiership and the following year they went on to win another. The fact that Victoria Barracks and other army establishments were deep in Paddington’s area did have some bearing on their recruiting.
Jack Ashley won the long kicking contest at half time of the Challenge Final, booting 63 yards where distance and accuracy was counted.
While it is true that Balmain did participate in their first grand final in 1904 they had to wait until 1997 before they won their first flag in the Sydney senior competition.
Last Modified on 18/05/2014 08:23
