KYNETON comfortably accounted for Rochester by 19 points in 1963's second semi-final to claim a spot in the BFL grand final.

Bendigo Advertiser senior footy writer John Rice said the Tigers' superior fitness and much better understanding in their forward line were the telling factors.

"On the day the Demons turned in a second-rate performance. Experienced players fumbled easy chances and made mistakes expected only from novices," he wrote.

The Tigers led all day consigning Rochester to a preliminary final berth the following Saturday against Echuca, which had won the first semi-final.

Rice noted the usual drive from Rochy's big men just didn't come. And once skipper Con O'Toole left the field in the second quarter with a knee injury the Demons were "like a ship without a rudder."

Brian Jones was the only Rochester follower to get his share of "grabs" but he was also guilty of the occasional fumble.

"Kyneton high flier Kevin Parks had no peer when the ball was in the air and he topped off an excellent game by kicking five goals while resting in the forward line.
Those were the decades when one resting ruckman would take a forward pocket spot, while the other would have his 'spell' in one of the back pockets.

Parks gave his small men opportunities to break away from the packs as he repeatedly slammed the ball into their arms from the boundary throw-ins.

The Tigers also had another good forward in Rod Ward. He booted three goals from his half-forward flank.
"This former North Melbourne player did many fine things with elusive football and nice marking," Rice said.

SPECIAL comments writer Jim Elvey agreed with Rice that the Tigers' surer ball-handling and more cohesive teamwork were key elements in Kyneton's semi victory.

And he added their greater will to win was evident throughout the four quarters.

"The Tigers led Rochester to the ball all day showing plenty of speed and, surprisingly enough, they also won most aerial duels," he wrote.

Like Rice, Elvey named Kevin Parks as the player of the semi-final. "He gave a brilliant exhibition in the ruck and his high marking around the field was terrific.
"He capped off his fine game with five goals --- four of them kicked against the breeze in the second term."
The former champion South defender also weighed in with his comments about Rochy's defence.

"Graham Balch at full-back did a great job stemming quite a few Kyneton attacks. However, a direct example of Rochester's fumbling came when Balch and Brian Jones collided in the goal square allowing Tiger rover Ian Burt in for an easy goal.

"In my opinion, far too many Demons are out of form. They failed to reach understanding as a team and played individually."

Elvey named Brian Jones as Rochy's best trier. "He battled against big odds in the ruck and he attempted to bring the Demons back into the game while resting on the forward line.
"Jones booted three fine goals in the last term, but by then his efforts proved to be of no avail," said Elvey.

KYNETON stitched up a 25-point half-time lead by snaring four second quarter goals against the breeze.

Parkes WAS Kyneton at this stage, both writers said.
His strong marking and accurate kicking was something the Demons just couldn't counter as he drove home all four Tiger majors.

At the other end of the QEO, the Kyneton defence was outstanding. Elvey said that Greg Sewell was the pick of the defenders and had terrific back-up from Stan Stewart, Reg Ogden, Keith Rodda and Col Fraser.

"John Williams, the Demon spearhead, had a drastic day. His marking was excellent and he opportunities to put Rochester back into the game, but his kicking for goal was deplorable," Elvey commented..

Williams finished with just the one goal for Rochy.

Rice noted that the Demons were guilty of kicking "into the dead pocket" in the third quarter as they added 1.8.
"They had most of the play but instead of taking the direct approach to goal straight up the centre they ended up in the dead pocket."

The Advertiser senior reporter said the game was all but over at three-quarter time.

"Rochester's players made every attempt to lift their play in the last quarter and Brian Jones was their most effective player. It was a dying effort, though, and when Paul Sullivan, who played a steady game, kicked the Tigers' 12th goal the crowd started to walk to the entrance gates."
Rice noted the crowd had had enough and remarked that in his opinion the second semi-final "had flopped as a spectacle."

Elvey said the 19-point win by the Tigers had been hard-earned and he rated them "a great show" of winning the 1963 flag.

Second semi-final details, 2nd week of finals
Kyneton 4.2 8.2 11.4 12.7 (79)
Rochester 3.1 4.1 5.9 8.12 (60)
Goals --- Kyneton: K. Parks 5, R. Ward 3, R. Buckley 2, I. Burt, P. Sullivan. Rochester: B. Jones 3, G. Taylor 2, F. Rodda, J. Jordan, J. Williams.
Best --- Kyneton: K. Parks (best on ground), G. Sewell, K. Rodda, P. Richardson, F. Hanrahan, W. Easterbrook and R. Ward. Rochester: B. Jones, T. Zappia, G. Balch, J. McMahon, T. English and T. Lawrence (second half).
Free kicks --- Rochester 31, Kyneton 27. Umpire: D. Blew.
Attendance: 6296. (Comparison -- 1962 2nd semi-final crowd: 7914).

EARLY on and as the curtain-raiser in the second week of the 1963 finals series, Golden Square had won the reserves second semi-final.

The Bulldogs finished too strongly for Eaglehawk to win by four points.

At three-quarter time the Two Blues led by 14 points and appeared to have a firm grip on the game.

But they could not withstand Square's finish as the Bulldogs added 3.3 while Eaglehawk could manage only three behinds.

Final scores: Golden Square 6.8 (44) def. Eaglehawk 5.10 (40).

SIDELIGHTS: it seems ground invasion isn't such a new thing after all.

In his 'Sidelights' column in the Monday paper, Rice noted "two chaps from the crowd put on a comedy caper before the start of the senior semi-final."
Jumping the fence they ran to the city end of the QEO.
And after going through the motion of tossing a coin to select ends, they ran a lap of the ground to the cheers of the crowd.

There's no mention in Rice's report about whether the constabulary nabbed the ground invaders at the conclusion of their lap-of-honour.

Michelsen Medallist Bob Vagg of Echuca had the 1963 medal hung around his neck before the semi-final by donor and Advertiser editor, Cyril Michelsen.

Instead of the meal being pinned to the guernsey, Mr Michelsen hung the medal around Vagg's neck using ribbons in Echuca's club colours.

It was the first time ribbons had been used.
Vagg had polled 17 votes to become the first Echuca player to win the medal since Eddy Jackson in 1954.

Jackson went on to play with Melbourne in the VFL and Vagg's chances of replicating the feat looked bright. A number of VFL scouts watched each game in the 1963 BFL finals series.

AND Rice praised the performance of central umpire Don Blew.

He observed that Blew "allowed the player going for the ball every opportunity and he never stopped the flow of play by over-technical decisions."

"It is understandable why Blew is classed as one of the up-and-coming young men-in-white in the State."

Rice also noted that umpire Blew was sought out by two autograph hunters who knocked politely on the umpires' dressing room door.

"It's happened at last. Autograph hunters seeking the attention of a central umpire.

"Wonder if Blew's popularity has anything to do with the fact he's the brother of Essendon footballer Russell Blew?" he asked.

2013 second week of finals: selections
Saturday night, 1st semi: Eaglehawk by 19 points over Gisborne.
Sunday afternoon, 2nd semi: Strath Storm by 23 points over Golden Square.
2013 tally: 57 correct.

By Richard Jones