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Caulfield   12.16.88    Defeated     Peninsula   12.10.82

Another ‘triple header’ at Glenhuntly and the day started well with an important win to the Under 19’s (fourth), defeating third placed St Bedes Mentone Tigers comfortably 9.17 to 5.8 although their respective positions on the ladder didn’t change. The importance of this win will be determined in the first semi final in two weeks time when these two teams meet again. As Old Melburnians (2^nd) defeated top team Beaumaris it had made the upcoming final series very interesting. Well done boys, I like their exciting style of play. With the strong possibility of the seniors taking us up a section for 2017, the importance of a strong, current Under 19 squad cannot be underestimated!

The Reserves also won comfortably and providing all the necessary paperwork has been completed successfully and in keeping with VAFA rules, we cannot lose top position leading into the finals. With Andre Lister returning from his long-term injury and Sean Stewart also playing, it was a strong line-up. Although not at their brilliant best, the team played well to defeat their 4^th placed opposition.

How impressive was the intellectual property on the sidelines? What other Reserves’ management team could boast the likes of Spittal, Price, Widjaja, Clarke, Twomey, McQualter? It was no place for mere mortals! My only concern was how come our on-ballers don’t win every clearance with Andre, Sean and Sammy McDonald controlling the ruck! And I heard the classic comment from one of the Mums during the match who asked what was her son doing up forward, just looking decorative! And I thought the Dad tended to be a bit harsh at times!

Without looking at the Ressies’ best-named players, I liked the form of TJ, Smally, Will Conly, Conor M-F, Easto and Clarkey and of course the three ruckmen, particularly Sean who again won plenty of ball around the ground. Bad luck for John Nankervis who strained a hammy as his ability is a real asset. Good to see Lachy Holmes back from injury, a cool dude under pressure.

The main game would be influenced by the strong breeze favouring the south eastern forward pocket, only detected when one went to the centre of the ground. For those who I heard pontificating from the boundary about no real advantage, walking to the middle and throwing a few tuffs of Kentucky blue/couch mix in the air is as good a guide as there is!

Having won the toss there was no hesitation by Tim Nixon in taking the wind advantage and play started with rather untidy footy for quite a time, numerous turnovers and 6 straight behinds prior to Louis O’Keefe’s goal just inside 11 minutes of play. Up until that time we had plenty of the ball, defended well enough when Peninsula went forward of the centre line and our on-ball brigade always looked dangerous despite the poor return on the scoreboard. Dec Reilly was going to cover some ground without permanent big man support and I was hoping the structure up forward would suffice as Dec worked hard around the ground. Whenever Peninsula went forward and that wasn’t all that often, our defence was solid and we had plenty of chances to convert at the other end. The concern by the supporters and no doubt the coaches, grew as the score rose to 1.10 to zero with 22 minutes of play gone. Persistence paid off however and Theo Thompson went long and direct with Millsy running on to it for our second goal at the 23 minute mark, hopefully the start of a goal spree. Within a minute and following Tim Nixon’s centre clearance, Jack Woodman kicked a great goal on his left across the body and all of a sudden, 3 goals 10 looked a lot better than 1 goal 10. The play was shared for the next couple of minutes but with Louis in the ruck  and quick hands from Nico to Will Barker who found Declan 25 out, Dec made no mistake to make it 4.10 and a chance to keep the opposition scoreless and perhaps us to kick more goals.

Jackson Small was great under pressure after Peninsula won the centre clearance and although constantly giving away weight to opponents his athleticism and growing experience is the key. When Peninsula went forward again from a clearance from defence, Jack Woodman again marked surely and the ball finished with a Dec Reilly mark for a long shot on goal; a behind the result. Peninsula used the outer side to defend but Dec had another long shot, losing accuracy in the attempt as the ball returned to the defensive outer region. With the score on 4.12 to zero and following some heavy tackling by the opposition, Will Barker took on their defence and goaled on the run after demonstrating the ‘beauty of the baulk’. Two more minutes of congested play ensued before the siren with the scoreboard showing 5.12 to zero; some wasted opportunities for sure.

In the second quarter we were into attack early and a good piece of play from Theo Thompson who combined with Sam Banfield placed immediate pressure on the Peninsula defence, stopped only by a free to the opposition who controlled play around the outer wing. Winning the ball back and surging forward, the Fields attacked again and very clever use of the body by Brett Sinclair created an opportunity, Will Barker running onto the ball and with a great kick, he goaled at the 1.50 minute mark, a great opening. Peninsula won the centre square contest but Tim Nixon led a determined defence unit, the following 2 minutes of play seeing constant rebound by both teams. Peninsula finally broke their duck at the 4 minute mark with a mark in the forward pocket and a clever goal from the angle.

Nick Silvestro and Barks were great through the middle with neat handball and for a time we were able to lock the ball in our forward zone. Tom Green eventually displayed a usual ‘Greeny’ effort in traffic and enabled Will Osborn to snap a goal with 6 minutes gone. When Ryan Harris got the centre clearance, Peninsula stood firm and cleared to the wing. There was a great tackle by Jack Woodman, another show of strength by Brett Sinclair but a lucky free to Peninsula stopped the attack. Nick Silvestro was desperate under the pack on two occasions but Peninsula were finding some momentum and kicked their second goal at the 10 minute mark. Lloyd Everett ‘stole’ a possession when Peninsula attacked, Barks was brilliant through heavy numbers and a resultant pass to Brett Sinclair should have delivered more than a behind. In the conditions, the play was quite untidy by both teams with the next goal, to Peninsula, coming from a kick off the ground. Louis was relieving Dec in the ruck, brother Dom earned a free deep in defence and after Theo’s handball resulted in a turnover, Joey McClelland got himself in a position to earn a free to stall Peninsula’s assault. Jordy Stewart’s sure hands were an adjunct to his experience and judgment as he held up a Peninsula attack and Barks was in everything with a really strong tackle. Unfortunately Tom Green’s hard earned free went out of bounds on the full and there was plenty of room for improvement in our disposal. Louis’ strength won a ruck contest and I thought it a good sign when Ossie and Charlie Logan ‘gang tackled’. Peninsula were lifting their work rate and kicked their third goal after 20 minutes play, followed by some determined play by Timmy Nixon enabling Brett to Barks to Sam Banfield whose kick fell short. When Peninsula worked the ball back to their forwards, Jackson Small’s contested mark held them out. Soon after Hugo Gates, who was working hard constantly, held up another attack but the next passage of play, a forward thrust by Peninsula saw a free to them and their ‘play-on’ response allowed them to kick their fifth goal – 7.13 to 5.0 was certainly wasteful and hopefully, would not come back to bite us! The final 8 minutes of the quarter saw only one scoring shot, a behind to Peninsula. Our defence held up during this period but our ability to run through their lines had faded. 7.13 to 5.1 at half time, some wastage and work to do.

The third quarter could not have started better when Will Barker got the ball out of the middle and 40 seconds later was the one who snapped a goal. Louis O’Keefe was the next to add to the scoreboard and right on 2 minutes of play, was awarded a free and converted to extend the lead to 6 goals. Peninsula kicked a goal following a free in the middle, another free at centre half forward and a mark in the goal square. It was 11 minutes before another goal was scored during which time there were some frustrating turn-overs by the Fields, a definite upturn by the opposition players and more misses in front of goal by our boys. I recalled a pertinent point, raised earlier in the season by Simon, that our inaccuracy in front of goal could cost us at some stage. May that day never come! We simply need to be better at this! As it turned out Dec and Greeny were involved in the play that allowed Louis to cap it off with our next major at the 15 minute mark. Peninsula were pushing their full numbers back in an effort to block our opportunities and it took a free to Barks who kicked our next and 11.16 to 6.3 was looking better on the scoreboard. The play continued to be very congested punctuated by a brilliant tackle by Lloyd Everett, Joey solid down back and into time-on, Theo Thompson took the initiative, loaded up from a long way out and bombed our 12^th goal to take our lead out to 8 goals. Peninsula kicked another late to take them to a position where they would have to kick 7 in the last and keep us scoreless, clearly a strong position for the Fields.

It was, in some ways a strange last quarter, over 8 minutes elapsing before a goal was scored by Peninsula, running the ball the length of the ground after a turnover in our forward line. Up until then we had not been without opportunities but we couldn’t ‘close the deal’. Our defence remained tight for a further five minutes before Peninsula kicked another with a strong lead and mark as their bigger forwards started to emerge. I made a note at the time that ‘we need a lift’ as it didn’t look anywhere near the level of commitment that was required, regardless of the scoreboard. Still almost 5 goals ahead but with momentum lacking, all we needed was to settle it down with a goal but frankly, we never looked like it, there were too many ineffective players in fact. Peninsula kicked another goal at the half way mark and should have converted again from the pocket but only scored a behind. When they marked our kick-in they followed up with a rushed behind, their bench were up and about, all players wanting to get on the field! Gater marked and saved what could have been another opposition goal but Peninsula’s momentum continued and they secured their 11^th goal as we appeared unable to penetrate their resolve. Jordan Stewart took a timely mark but just inside the 22 minute mark, Peninsula kicked their 12^th goal and were all over us. Peninsula immediately went forward again and the feeling was that it was going to be difficult to save the game; we needed to score! Peninsula kicked a behind and soon after Jacko contested in the air and saved with a mark. Lloyd Everett also marked importantly but Peninsula’s strength was a problem for us, their bigger men intent on ‘monstering’ our boys. Harrison Mills also saved with a mark deep in defence as the clock ticked by, all quarters having gone over 30 minutes and 26 and a half minutes showing. Louis earned a free on the last line in a critical situation but they marked his relieving kick. Fortunately Peninsula’s kick went out of bounds. Barks was in the thick of things but Peninsula were marking everything that came their way and continued to maintain the pressure. After they marked yet again the boys worked it over the boundary line in defence and the siren sounded just short of 28 minutes, phew!!

12.16 to 12.10 and a welcome victory, deserved but not without its moments of frustration. A win is a win is a win! A wake-up call? Maybe but we were one big-man short, especially against a strong marking side and we know we can play much better. Well done Simon and the team, challenged but with the chocolates! Losing Dan Meddings early in the game did not help and placed limitation on the rotations! But that’s footy and you have to overcome obstacles to be the best!

Goals – Barker 4, L O’Keefe 3, Mills, Reilly, Woodman, Osborn, Thompson

Better players in no particular order – Tonkin, Thompson, Barker, Reilly, Gates, Nixon, L O’Keefe, J Small

Another challenge next Saturday hosting Old Ivanhoe at Glenhuntly Park to maintain our top position.

Best wishes to ‘Meddo’ and hope he recovers quickly.

It was great to see the Thirds perform yesterday despite another bad injury to young Tim Mollard. Well done Bowesy, Luke and the boys. Certainly ‘towelled’ the opposition to gain entry into the Grand Final. We need to remember also that our Thirds have the value of a couple of experienced players like Strainy and Andy Lawson but are generally a squad of youngsters, many of whom could be of value to the Reserves.

Best wishes to Tim Mollard whose unfortunate injury (badly broken arm) was such that he could not be moved until the ambulance arrived, causing a 45 minute delay to resumption. Excellent support by our medical team in the interim and hopefully Tim returns to full strength in due course. He was being operated on this morning (Monday).

 Plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks and you have to acknowledge the efforts by Peter Small and his committee, the excellent match committee, the enthusiasm and demands of Simon Williams and the general support of all and sundry, especially Scottie Williams who is simply a superstar off the field. And let’s not forget the playing group, they have committed to be the best and have the ability to achieve it.

Go Fields