Link to Sporting Pulse Report

Caulfield   18.21.129     Defeated     Ormond   7.17.59

The ‘Rivalry Round’ has come and gone with the result for CGFC very satisfying indeed. The senior team has taken over top position, the Reserves and Thirds also sit on top of the ladder and the U19’s remain in fourth place after receiving a walkover from Old Trinity, a worrying sign from a leading A Section Club.
I had the pleasure of attending our lunch to provide a joint presentation with Ormond champion Bruce Bourne regarding the long-standing rivalry with Ormond, covering the years from the early sixties to the present; the only disappointment being unable to watch the whole of the Reserves’ game but duty called!
All players wore black arm bands today in honour of David Lauritz who sadly passed away during the week after bravely battling illness for quite some time. David was an outstanding contributor to not only our football club but to the Caulfield Grammarians’ Association and the greater Caulfield Grammar community generally. David was an exceptionally fine gentleman, always available for guidance and support and a wonderful supporter of sport in general. Our condolences go to the Lauritz family.
The Thirds continued on with their aim to remain in the top four and ‘Bowesy’ was very pleased with their effort against Ormond and interesting to see the names – Max Slonim and Nick Karoly in the line-up, both former senior players and able to provide considerable value to the Thirds. 
Missed the Reserves game due to the luncheon but gained the odd peek out the window in what was a very close tussle all day. Good to see Finn McEvoy make a successful return after injury.
I couldn’t get to my usual vantage point until the 10 minute mark of the first quarter in the main game and missed the how’s and why’s of our first two goals, kicked by Will Barker and Louis O’Keefe. Once I had occupied my chair it was obvious our boys were ‘on-song’ with some really quick ball movement and Ormond were doing all the chasing. Will Osborn was fluent as has become the case most weeks and when he passed to Tom Small another goal was only averted by an Ormond smother. Sean Stewart’s skill at ground level came into play and his delivery to Louis O’Keefe was spot on for Louis to kick his second for the term, 11 minutes gone on the clock. Within two minutes Will Baker cleared from the middle with assistance from Tom Stewart and Brett Sinclair’s mobility was too great for his opponent as he marked Tom’s entry on the lead and converted for our fourth goal, Ormond looking confused and their bench looking at moves to counter the Field’s pace and precision. 
When Ormond did manage to get forward and receive the umpire’s adjudication in their favour, their kicking for goal was poor, allowing Jordy Stewart, Will Osborn and Tom Green to combine and take the ball back to our scoring zone. Brett Sinclair was causing problems for the opposition and after providing Greeny with an opportunity, Ormond forced the ball out of bounds to avoid another Fields’ goal. Caulfield’s handball was precise and their movement really quick. When Tommy Stewart roved superbly to kick his first at the 16 minute mark, there was considerable, much deserved excitement for Tom whose reward for good footy in the Reserves had been warranted.
Ossie again cleared from the centre and Tom Stewart’s following free kick produced a behind. Harrison Mills, Brett and Louis combined but Ormond cleared with one of their few coordinated series of kicks and handballs; they had rallied somewhat after our initial onslaught. The next goals came from the boot of another Caulfield Grammarian but he was on the opposition team, 20 minutes of play gone and the scoreline 5 goals to 1 in our favour. We still had chances up forward and Tom Small under pressure kicked a behind and Ormond were now applying more pressure at the contest. With play being mainly between the respective half forward lines for a time, Jordan Stewart and Chas Logan cleared from defence with Louis and Dan Meddings working together up forward but only a behind the result. Our next break came with a penalty against the veteran Ormond defender, kicking in after a behind, exceeded his territory and Dec Reilly was delighted with the opportunity to kick from point blank range for our sixth goal.    For a time we tended to ignore first option, a point made by Greeny when returning to the bench. Ormond went forward a number of times but our defence was holding up well and the rebound strong, particularly from half back. Our 7th goal for the quarter was the result of a great spoil and quick handball from Ryan Harris to Will Barker and finishing with Nick Silvestro who made no mistake from a set shot. The final three minutes of the quarter consisted of both back lines holding up and repelling attacks, Gater and Tonks prominent and Barks busy as usual around the packs. 7.5 to 1.2 was a great start. 
Early in the second quarter we had some good passages of play but our forward entries were not as required and a couple of times we kicked to 2 on 1 situations that favoured the opposition. Ossie marked and found Dec Reilly on the lead for the first goal of the quarter inside of 3 minutes and Dec’s kick was superb from the angle. Inside of 6 minutes, a saving mark in defence by Jordy and good team work from Ryan Harris and Joe McLelland provided a chance for Brett whose delivery forward was an opportunity for Ossie to read it superbly and run into an open goal to make it 9 goals to 1. There were more opportunities for us but Ormond were starting to work the numbers in defence, had a number of opportunities to score but their kicking for goal was poor. The game had certainly evened out in general play with both defences standing firm. After 11 munities of goalless play, Will Osborn kicked one from a move started by Dom O’Keefe down back and involving Will Barker, Damien Simic and Charlie Logan. It was also Damo who kicked the next, running from the forward pocket and ‘check-siding’ it after some great sharing in traffic by the Fields. Louis kicked our 12th major 2 minutes later, from the angle after Brett and Meddo combined across half forward. Ormond kicked their second goal form a centering delivery to their key forward. This provided them with impetus and it became an arm wrestle for almost 10 minutes with goals hard to come by. During this period there were a number of turnovers by Caulfield and some untidy play, punctuated with some good staff e.g. great, consecutive tackling by Ryan Harris. Will Barker, cool and balanced as usual in traffic and courtesy of a handball from Tom Small, goaled after 29 minutes of play to make the difference 11 goals but Ormond rallied just before half time after a ruck infringement. 13.9 to 3.8 was expected to provide an opportunity for a very big win. 
The third quarter did not go as planned with only 1 goal from each team and constant turnovers that marred the spectacle and although with no real danger as far as the eventual result. Ormond kicked theirs 6 minutes into the term via an unattended goal square; we kicked ours 20 minutes later, Damien Simic making sure of his chance. The fact that each side kicked 1.6 for the term, in very good conditions was proof that neither side were happy with their effort. I thought our general use of the ball by foot was poor, our options not great and we were beaten around the packs too often. We always seemed to have numbers at the ball but the coordination just wasn’t there. The three quarter time siren sounded with 14.15 to 4.14 a fair indication of the average style of play. 
I know there was criticism of too many Fields getting drawn to the contest and that seemed reasonable cause of the poor spectacle in the third term. When our first goal for the final quarter came in less than a minute it was a good start. Ossie started the forward move and I think Damien Simic was a good target but a Tom Stewart smother was the catalyst and Dan Meddings located Dec Reilly who kicked our 15th goal 50 seconds form the start of the quarter. Dan was a key in the next goal with a good smother and then ran on with the ball to convert and to start what would hopefully be a strong finishing quarter. The game tended to stalemate again for quite a time with Ormond very dogged but unable to convert as our defence held firm. One thing I did notice was the amount of times our handball receivers were standing still rather than being on the move, one of my constant sources of annoyance from a bygone era it must be said! The game was sort of ‘fizzling out’ and the urgency didn’t appear to be there was my notation at the time. There were some good passages and some strong individual efforts, Gatesy having a good day down back, Brett always using his mobility to effect, a credit to his fitness and generally the back six working well together, despite losing Jackson Small with a bad ‘corky’ earlier in the game. Our next goal came from Tom Stewart with a smart check side kick and hopefully the ignition for more majors. As it turned out the second half of the last term was more Ormond’s with three goals to one, Dan Meddings converting into time on from a handball from the hard working L O’Keefe. We probably should have kicked a couple more from set shots that went astray but 18.21 to 7.17 was a significant victory against an opponent that had plenty to play for, the dreaded relegation word looming for them. 
The goals were well spread, the defence pretty sound again and some encouraging play throughout the game but it almost seems as though we wasted too many opportunities on the day. Not sure how the coaches saw it but I know they are not satisfied with mediocrity and will drive the point home in the coming weeks. The goals were well spread, not a bad sign and I see this as a real strength of our playing group. Getting to the top of the ladder was great news at the end of the day and the pressure will come when Tim Nixon returns, young guns McEvoy and Presnall impressed in the Ressies and the Sandringham guy’s availability is always uncertain but welcomed. 
The Club is very well placed, is eagerly looking forward to Juddy’s visit this Thursday and the challenge always remains for the President and committee and the coaching and medical staff to continue to provide the outstanding commitment provided to date in 2016. 
Goals – L O’Keefe 3, Reilly 3, Barker 2, T Stewart 2, Simic 2, Meddings 2, Sinclair, Silvestro, Osborn, Barker
Better players in no particular order – 
Harris, Osborn, Sinclair, Green, J Stewart, Barker, McLelland, Gates  
Go Fields!