AFANA Footy BBS

In the movie Gallipoli, there is a scene where the Western Australian recruits are playing the Victorian recruits in a game of footy. I noticed that they were using the handball. This was supposed to be in 1915. I remember the article on this board last year about Carlton's use of the handball in the 1970 Grand Final and how it was not used much before then. My question is, was the handball even in the rules in 1915?

> In the movie Gallipoli, there is a scene where the Western Australian
> recruits are playing the Victorian recruits in a game of footy. I noticed
> that they were using the handball. This was supposed to be in 1915. I
> remember the article on this board last year about Carlton's use of the
> handball in the 1970 Grand Final and how it was not used much before then.
> My question is, was the handball even in the rules in 1915?

Hi Bob -

You are right in that in the early days of footy, handballing was very seldomly used. In the earliest days of the game - probably the mid to late 19th century, the game was pretty much a kicking and marking game. But as the game evolved, handballing was employed more, but usually only as a defensive measure. In the 1937 GF, the ratio of kicks to handballs was 10:1.
And yes, it was Ron Barassi who is credited with revolutionizing the game with his instructions to handball at all costs during the 1970 GF. But it was really Geelong's great Graham "Polly" Farmer (1962-67) who turned handballing into an attacking art form. He was probably one of the first players to use the "long" handball passing tactic as he could accurately handball to a teammate from 30 meters.
There is a story that as a kid in WA, Farmer would practice for hours handballing by aiming for a partially open car window.

Hope this answers your question.

Lisa
AFANA
Chicago

Thanks Lisa. In the scene in the movie, there were two handballs and one kick. So I guess the Aussie film makers can occasionally make historical goofs, just like their Hollywood counterparts.

> Thanks Lisa. In the scene in the movie, there were two handballs and one
> kick. So I guess the Aussie film makers can occasionally make historical
> goofs, just like their Hollywood counterparts.

Hi Bob -

It may not have been a goof. I tried sifting through my resource books but could'nt find anything specific regading the extent of handball usage during the period of WWI.
maybe it did take a bit longer for sides to employ handball more.

Lisa