Interesting letters have been received by Mr.C. M. Hickey, secretary of the Australasian Football Council, from Master Eric Cullen-Ward and Lieut. J.J. Simons. During the visit of the American boys to these shores a few years ago Mr R. A. Munro King, of Sydney, an enthusiastic supporter of the national game, gave a prize of £A100 under the terms of a travelling scholarship, among the public schools of Sydney, young Cullen-Ward being the successful competitor. The idea was to lecture in all the schools and colleges possible in California, as well as to coach the boys. His duties were faithfully and earnestly carried out . The American game was banned from the universities in California in 1905, and the Rugby code substituted, Rugby being now the universal football game all along the Pacific Coast. So brutal had become the American game that the parents of the boys would not allow them to engage in any pastime with the word football attached thereto. And, that is how Rugby crept in, the parents being absolutely unaware that it was a game of football at all. For the same reason our game has been designated field ball. From the letters (says the “Australasian”) it has been gleaned that Rugby has captured the universities and many of the high schools. And, strange as it may appear, this condition of affairs has been chiefly brought about through the energies of Australians hailing from Sydney. A great amount of diplomacy was used, the Americans calling it Australian Rugby, under the impression that it was the national game oi the Commonwealth. If it had been called British or English Rugby, the game would not have been adopted, as “soccer” collapsed after being introduced as British Association. Lieut. Simons suggests that an official invitation be sent to Captain Davy, of the Vancouver High School, either by the Australasian Football Council or by the military authorities. This organisation is known as the 101st Cadet Corps, has 800 studcnts, the boys being of a fine type. The corps is highly thought of by the citizens, and was only prevented by circumstances over which they had no control from attending the Coronation. In the event of an invitation being sent, no money guarantee is required All that would be looked for would be housing the boys. The corps would give military exhibitions in the open air, as well as play football. It is to be sincerely trusted that either the Football Council or the military authorities, or both, can see their way clear in forwarding the official invitation necessary. The visiting party would number 60 youths and officers, the youngest of whom would be 15 and the eldest 19 years of age. But both Messrs. Simons and Ward, while very enthusiastic regarding the progress made, emphatically aver that unless coaches are appointed by the Australasian Football Council to maintain the interest and to instruct the American lads, the game must ultimately die out.

cf http://www.flickr.com/photos/us_embassy_newzealand/5255638387/in/faves-rugby_pioneers/ and following pictures…

As I mentioned in the article above the games in 1893 began at the ‘Friendly Societies Ground’ aka ‘Amateur Sports Grounds’ which came to be Olympic Park & the site of the new stadium where Rebels play.

I’ll defer to your local knowledge of Melbourne grounds (old & new), but I gather the area encompassing the new stadium & Olympic Park is all referenced collectively as part of the “Amateur Sports Grounds” (two sports ovals). http://www.aamipark.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-276/70_read-63/

Of course the majority of all those matches were played when there were only three points for a try and had that still been the case last Friday the winning margin would have looked far less significant.