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Adelaide, Melbourne Photo. Co., 1882. An albumen paper photograph (197 × 268 mm), on the original mount, ruled and captioned in gilt (external dimensions approximately 304 × 383 mm). The photograph is moderately flecked (a production flaw), with some loss to silverfish (confined to the edges and one portion of the background, all well clear of the subjects); mount a little mottled and lightly tidemarked, with a few trifling edge chips and surface blemishes; overall, this absolute rarity is in good condition, now loosely backed up with stiff card in a custom-made Mylar sleeve. Those featured in the photograph are (left to right, top to bottom) E.J. Ronald (president), T. Goode, C. Marchant, T. Fitzpatrick, W. Dishley (captain), H. Dowding (vice-captain), W. Brown, R. Wallace, J. Copinger, and G. Robertson (umpire); E.H. Haddrick, J. Mead, J. Taylor, G.H. Strutton, M. Coffee, W. Featherstone, J. Butler, and J. Marchant; W. Brice, R. Skinner, T. Robertson, and F. Brown. In a lengthy article in the 'Adelaide Observer' on Saturday 6 May 1882 ('The Football Season of 1882'), the author 'Goal-Post' notes he 'would like to see the [South Australian Football] Association still further extended, and the Kensingtons return to their old status, and the West Torrens admitted to the seniority. Eight clubs in the Association would be found to be none too many, and it must be remembered that the greater the number of clubs which constitute the Association the more do its actions represent the football of the colony'. Later in the year, on Saturday 26 August, he writes: 'In the absence of any senior matches on Saturday, I journeyed down to the trysting-place of the two leading junior clubs at the foot of West-terrace, the North Parks and West Torrens meeting to decide the junior premiership of the year. As a display of football, all things considered, I don't think any one could complain, always bearing in mind the fact that two junior teams were competing. In one thing I fancy the seniors might learn from them, and that is in their notion of how to play together; but this is altogether nullified by the miserable execution that invariably follows their attempts to put this theory into practice. It is worse than useless to attempt to give a little mark at a distance of from 5 to 10 yards, and only kick the ball along the ground. In shepherding each other they are fairly efficient; in kicking some of the players are very proficient; and in marking, too, some of them are nearly first-class; but in keeping their places they have a great deal to learn. Of all on the ground I think Robertson, of the West Torrens, was far and away the best. This player will today play in the ranks of the South Adelaides in the deciding contest with the Norwoods for the premiership of 1882. I noticed several old first twenty men in the two teams. Lukey, late of South Park, Davis and Shawyer of the Vics., playing for the North Parks; while Coffee, of the Norwoods, and Dishley, of the South Parks, played for the West Torrens; and all of them, I think, showed to very great advantage in their less pretentious sphere. The game, which was fairly exciting, was won by the West Torrens by 3 to 2. As they started the second half with a debit balance of two goals against them, they must lie credited with playing a good uphill game. In the first half the Parks got 2 goals and 7 or 8 behinds, to about half-a-dozen behinds, but in the second half they were never in it, not even getting the poor comfort of a behind. I don't think any one troubled to count the behinds secured by the victors in the last part of the game, but I should think twenty would scarcely reach the correct number'. The SANFL West Torrens Football Club was not formed until 1897; in 1991, the club merged with neighbouring Woodville Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles. Seller Inventory # 122286
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