Seniors match Report: ROUND 18 -
CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS VS. OAKLEIGH
Caulfield 19.19.133 Defeated Oakleigh 12.17.89
CGFC GOALKICKERS:
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CGFC BEST PLAYERS:
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Radar's Report:
Round 18 for the ‘ones’ and ‘twos’. Semi for the Under 19’s. And an early Saturday morning visit to Elsternwick Park, aka Sportscover Arena, to watch the Thirds play their Grand Final under the tutelage of the redoubtable William Bowes. Bowesy has been there before (not necessarily at E Park) for Grand finals, is a multi premiership player for our club and always a cool head under pressure. It was a great contest with a decided wind advantage to the southern (golf course) end and the boys held Marcellin in that quarter with the score 1.3 apiece. We took the lead at half time 6.4 to 4.3. When Bowesy’s boys outscored Marcellin in the third quarter, despite Marcellin’s wind advantage, it was a matter of keeping cool heads in the final term. The final term was never really in doubt as the boys coasted to victory 14.6 to 7.9, a superb effort. The disappointment was Dan Gray’s serious leg injury necessitating surgery to his lower leg that evening. Really bad luck for Dan who missed the celebrations at The Racecourse with his team mates that evening but great to see him posting on Facebook with his premiership medallion.
It was a highly spirited win, not without its moments of frustration but a great start to the Club finals’ campaign. 5 goals from veteran Andy Strain, some inspired play by the diminutive Kosmo Malignaggi, constant effervescence from medal winner Jeremy Anderson and terrific team-work by the group as a whole. Marcellin’s key forward and leading goalkicker was well held by Luke Matias and the other defenders and Strainy had plenty of support in the forward half. Take veterans Andy Lawson, Strainy and Matias out of the squad and it is remarkably young, a really good aspect for CGFC. Good to see Matty Linklater playing again and plus there is no doubt many of the remaining youngsters can play higher in 2017 with the appropriate amount of commitment. Terrific to watch on Saturday guys. Great also to see so many of the Caulfield Grammar community there to watch Bowesy’s boys, a really good turnout by the Blue and White.
The Thirds’ premiership is a spur for our other three teams in the weeks ahead and is confirmation of the Club’s advance in 2016. It will be really important to maintain strength in the Thirds in the seasons ahead.
The Under 19’s match unfortunately clashed with the senior teams’ fixture but from all reports it was another terrific win. The boys jumped out of the blocks well, leading by almost 5 goals at the first change. The gap narrowed to 10 points at half time, we kicked 3.6 to nil in the third, the final winning score was 11.14 to 8.9. The boys will play their preliminary next week at Bill Lawrey Oval (Northcote) in an early start and as curtain raiser to our reserves and seniors at the same venue. Big Saturday coming up for all supporters.
I missed the first half of the Reserves match due to the Thirds GF. The first quarter 7.6 to 0.0 would have suggested a run away win but Oakleigh did fight back in the 2nd quarter with 5 straight goals. In the end 15.20 to 7.2 told the story of who had the ball the most! The second half was scrappy with both the wind and the relatively poor ground surface not helping. The Ressies will have to ensure their play sharpens next weekend but I think we got through without any major injuries. Best were named as Lachy Holmes, James Small, Al Burge, Conor Mengler-Francis and Sammy Wood but the match committee couldn’t find a sixth!! Damien Simic kicked another 4 to get within 6 of the leading goalkicker from Mazenod. The Ressies will have to be at their best next week and their line-up could well be strengthened. It doesn’t matter how strong sides are on paper! The boys have worked hard all season and deserve their top billing – now to get the job done at the business end!
Round 18, sitting on top of the ladder, can’t lose the double chance seems all too easy but Oakleigh at Oakleigh could present its challenges, not the least being the possibility of lack of discipline. As anticipated this possibility was well covered by Simon pre-match and the boys adhered to the demands.
It certainly wasn’t the finest display of the skills of our great indigenous game that unfolded but the boys did ensure that their temperament was controlled throughout the afternoon. We won the initial centre square contest courtesy of Tom Small, Tom Green and Jess Toniolo providing Will Barker with an early opportunity although a behind resulted. We were kicking against the breeze and Dom O’Keefe held up Oakleigh’s first forward thrust although his handball was astray. It was Dom again who relieved with a big clearing punch as Oakleigh attacked again, this time Tim Nixon crumbing and providing Louis O’Keefe with a shot on goal – 1 behind the result. After 7 minutes play Oakleigh kicked the first goal, a long shot from a free. They scored another a minute later after winning the centre clearance, followed by a behind from a snap. The general play had been fragmentary with the wind and rough patches making the ball a more difficult acquisition for both teams, in fact it was quite untidy play generally. Jesse T was again prominent a couple of times and Nick Tonkin with a typical sweeping clearance had some positive effect. It was good to see Jack Presnall use his pace and anticipation but after Ryan Harris was the recipient of Jack’s work, a further turn over resulted. After 13 minutes had ticked by, our kick in after a behind allowed the Oakleigh veteran, who must be close to or exceeding 40 years of age on my calculations, banged one through in his inimitable style. We needed to do some arresting at this stage. After Joey Mac, Tom Small and Jesse T got together, Greeny made the most of their work to kick our first – 15 minutes gone. We were obviously not greatly inspired by what was happening on the field when a couple of us became engaged in a discussion of how an alternative to the cost of a new O’Keefe family pet could easily have been a new bike for Mike! I knew I had to pick up my concentration but frankly the next 5-6 minutes of play was not all that absorbing with turnovers, constant boundary throw-ins and basic errors the norm. Fortunately when Tim Nixon was freed, he hit Louis on the lead for our second goal. There were only behinds for the rest of the quarter, Millsy nearly converting with a smart kick off the ground, Will Barker running on to a loose ball, Nico taking a ball from a stoppage and delivering to Nick Silvestro for a behind. Amongst these actions, Gater had saved across half-back with a timely mark and Joe McClelland read the play excellently in the middle. Late in the quarter Chris Diggle combined with Silver but Oakleigh locked it up. 2.6 to 3.4 was not a bad result into the breeze.
Shortly after the bounce to start the second quarter, Oakleigh cleared through the middle but Jackson Small rebounded with penetration for Dec Reilly to take a shot on goal; he made no mistake, a good opening. There were numerous overruns of the ball at ground level necessitating 4 consecutive ball-ups, with no more than 5 meters covered, as the numbers at the ball made it difficult for either team to go deep. Tim Nixon got another free, hit Declan on the lead but his kick was rushed through for a minor score after 7 minutes of play. Oakleigh were determined to score but only achieved consecutive behinds, both on the run. With almost 10 minutes gone, Chris Diggle marked a kick-in, got it to Tom Small who created the opportunity for Louis on his trusty left and our 4th goal was tallied. Within a minute after some good ruck work by Declan, Greeny with a great conversion, gave us some ascendancy. For nearly 10 minutes the play was mainly between the respective half back lines and when occasionally deeper, each last line applied some saves. Jackson Small was defending superbly with great judgment on when to punch and did it with gusto. The ‘young guns’ (Finn, Joey and Digs) all combined before a ‘stacks on’ at half forward. Kicks from both teams were all over the place but Oakleigh scored the next goal when they went almost the length of the ground to convert. Barks was emerging as Oakleigh’s biggest threat with his dash and clearances in traffic and it was he who presented Tim Nixon with an opportunity that was taken with a huge kick and conversion to extend out lead. In the next three or four minutes, Oakleigh missed a couple of ‘sitters’, Andre, who was generally controlling the ruck took a huge leap and fortunately fell softly. Jack Presnall’s great closing speed was demonstrated on the outer side and it was Barks who delivered again with a terrific read and goal deserving the superlatives I heard from some opposition supporters. We had the better of the remaining 4 minutes of play and Louis kicked a goal after a combination of Dec and Ossie, Louis copping a bit from the crowd who may well have remembered his 11 ‘big ones’ a few seasons ago on this very ground. 10.8 to 4.9 at half time gave us a good hold on the match.
Oakleigh had obviously been ‘revved-up’ during the break and goaled inside of a minute’s play of the 3rd quarter. Jordan Stewart marked strongly but his handball was a turn over and Oakleigh could only manage a behind. Oakleigh kicked the next goal after almost 6 minutes of play when Jacko’s pass was intercepted. There were constant turnovers by both teams but neither could really make the other pay. I reckon we blazed away too often during this period and Oakleigh marked in the square unattended on one occasion. Just when it was getting really untidy again, a chain of hand passes had Barks on the end of the chain to kick our 10th goal. Another frustration was passages of play involving good passing by foot ending up out of bounds; maybe the wind was more awkward out on the ground than where I was. I should say there were good passages of play but not enough conversion. A Toniolo handpass initiated the next goal, Tom Small the scorer and I should say it was excellent defensive pressure by our forwards that set it up. In the final 15 minutes of the quarter, my note taking was limited, possibly as a result of the game appearing to be a foregone conclusion and the main concern the well being of our team. Oakleigh did kick three of the four remaining majors of the quarter, ours coming from Tom Green running on to a loose ball as is his want. After Oakleigh converted close to the siren, the score stood at 13.13 to 9.13 our way and we would have the wind advantage for the last term.
Digs kicked a quick one (inside 15 seconds), Dec another at the four minute mark, Oakleigh kicked the next two and after Tom Small applied a great tackle Barks performed his favourite act, running on to a loose ball for a goal, his third for the day. Dec kicked two in a minute later in the quarter, Oakleigh responded and Barks kick his fourth for the last goal of the day. Tom Small and Dec kicked two more behinds and the last thing I recall before the siren was Gater, solid all day marking in defence. Final Score 19.19 to 12.17 not our greatest victory but Oakleigh are never easy at home and had defeated our main contenders, Mazenod the previous week! No major injuries thank heavens but plenty for the selectors to ponder during the week. There will be some disappointments no doubt but the match committee has to do their job honestly and without fear or favour. Simon had made it clear from the start, no favours only effort and results the reward. Fortunately with the Ressies also participating it helps but then they will have to leave a few out too. Stick with it boys.
Goals – L O’Keefe 5, Reilly 4, Barker 4, Green 3, Nixon, T Small, Diggle
Better players (in no particular order) – Green, J Small, Lister, L O’Keefe, Barker, McClelland, D O’Keefe, Nixon.
Go Fields!