Link to Sporting Pulse Report

 

Caulfield  9 – 24 – 78     Defeated     Marcellin   10 – 6 – 66 

 

 

It was good to visit Marcellin after quite a few seasons and really good to watch the Ressies perform as well as we’ve seen for quite some time. How good was the opposition? Well it’s hard to judge and their form hasn’t been great obviously but I think the style and commitment by CGFC was terrific. Damo Simic had a sensational first half with 5 big ones and finished with 6. Jackson Small looks free of injury and will push for consideration, TJ Rothel getting back some valuable condition and there are others who will place pressure on the senior team members, exactly what we want. Well done to ‘Spits and ‘Pricey” and their growing bunch of support staff.

The main game commenced in perfect conditions and it was to remain that way for the rest of the game which could not justify our poor conversion rate. The opening was not really impressive football even though we got the ball out of the middle courtesy of Will Barker. Jack Wallace moved well early with a timely clearance but scrappy play ensued for a couple of minutes before Marcellin kicked the first goal of the game three minutes into the quarter. Barks got it out of the middle again but it was not pretty footy with missed opportunities in front of goal and lots of fumbling in complete contrast to the early game; different circumstances I know! The Marcellin smalls were doing some damage and it went end to end for some time. At the 10 minute mark our first goal was registered with Tim Nixon receiving a handball from Jordan Stewart. Andre Lister was winning the ruck convincingly giving us first use on many occasions at stoppages and Charlie Logan was very active including a centre clearance. The uncertainty by both sides in the decision making department was evident but Marcellin kicked the next goal with superior numbers in the forward pocket. Jesse Toniolo was next to win a centre clearance and just when our applied forward pressure looked like producing results, Marcellin received a ‘dodgy’ free to relieve. Brett Sinclair was becoming a good target to go to but we continued to fumble at ground level.  Toniolo to Barker to Greeny and onto Charlie looked ok but another behind resulted. Come on boys we need better conversion. Louis O’Keefe was doing to his ‘darnedest’ to lift the side with a strong mark and a great smother but what followed was still untidy stuff by both teams. Marcellin eventually kicked another goal after Louis was unluckily and unlawfully pushed out and there followed a series of behinds by our boys. When Barker – Tonkin – Sinclair created another chance for us, only a rushed behind eventuated. Then another behind and the decision making was a problem. We were not surprised when Marcellin went forward quickly and kicked their 5^th goal although we had the advantage of a light breeze. Fortunately Jordan Stewart replied just before the siren with the score 2.6 to 5.2 and lots of work to be done!

I reckon there would have been some ‘home truths’ at the break but Marcellin quickly went into attack in the opening minute before Dom O’Keefe defended well. Gradually working forward, a good tackle by Tom Small allowed Jack Wallace to find Jordy and he kicked truly. It really was annoying when shortly after, Marcellin ran onto a loose ball at half forward and responded. I felt Marcellin were getting greater numbers to the fall of the ball quicker than us but fortunately Tim Nixon, Tom Green and Will Barker were starting to combine well with increased work rate and Andre was continuing to feature around the ground. During this period our tackling looked better but we were falling down around half forward. Dom saved again in the back pocket but Will Barker was ‘run down’ in the middle – not enough voice perhaps? Our last line of defence continued to work overtime but Marcellin’s speed was obvious. I felt there was a change in the next contest when Greeny doubled up, his two possessions in a hot situation provided genuine momentum. Tom Small received a free of the ball but his entry forward eventually only gained another behind. The added intensity was welcome and we were starting to locate some targets but more behinds followed even after good movement forward. It had again become a game of mis-kicks and turn overs but the effort was good when frustration could have easily prevailed adversely. And there were some good signs, Dan Meddings providing a spark up forward, young Presnall, starting to emerge and Andre still controlling the ruck and our on-ball runners led well by Nico and Greeny. An even better sign was Tom Green and others using strength to wrest the ball from packs and Jack Presnall goaled just into time on. This was a lift and Jess Toniolo marked and distributed to Nico to Silvestro on to Jordy creating an opportunity for Will Barker who was great in traffic and slotted another goal. We had hit the front. For the next few minutes we had all the play and our press was forcing the opposition to fumble regularly before another goal came our way, created by Greeny, and, Louis converted. This was much better. Just before the half time siren Marcellin scored a goal to reduce our lead to 2 points at the main break.

In the third quarter we continued to dominate the centre clearances and attacked but only behinds were scored. Finn McEvoy was growing in confidence and his marking more certain. We were applying better pressure across our half forward line to lock the ball in. Finn defended well again to the boundary and Andre was getting to contests all over the ground. Timmy Nixon took a hard earned free and Greeny was active and providing a headache for Marcellin’s coach who was now thumping the box in annoyance rather than celebratory. We took our biggest lead for the match when Tom Small was awarded a free and converted at the 8 minute mark followed by quite frantic play from both teams with accompanying turnovers. Charlie Logan stole a loose ball but Marcellin repelled and attacked only to be held up by Hugo’s saving mark in defence. I was impressed with our defence as Marcellin attacked. Harrison Mills was busy and found Louis O’K but only another behind was recorded. For a time there was a bit too much ‘finessing’ in the forward half but we were getting more possessions than the opposition and there was consistent vibrancy among the group. ‘Domma’ was doing a great job and beat two players to save again and there was a nice piece of action in the middle with Andre feeding Nico and Jordy took a great mark. Three consecutive behinds was wasteful and we were not making the most of our opportunities. Gater stopped the flow around the boundary again and at three quarter time, 7.19 to 7.5 was frustrating but an indication of the control we had around the ground.

The final quarter did not start as planned with Mazenod scoring a goal from a free inside of 4 minutes. We again had plenty of the ball but more behinds were forthcoming. Our aerial power was more significant than Mazenod’s and although we exhibited some nice passages of play we simply couldn’t convert six-pointers. It was half way through the last term before Dan Meddings put a goal on the board and Meddo was adding some forward pressure and pace in the forward half. It was good to see Sam Banfield looking more and more comfortable on the ball as an impact player and his contribution will grow and grow if I’m any judge. Having lost Brett Sinclair earlier with a bad ‘corkie’ there had been a bit of juggling in the forward half and a Tom Green handball allowed Dan Meddings to kick a goal half way through the last. Marcellin kicked their 9^th goal close to time-on. Tom Small was in the back half and saved with a strong mark, Jack Wallace was still prominent and Tim Nixon kicked a further behind before an impressive piece of play by Jack Presnall saw our 9^th goal arrive. I guess it was annoying to the coaches that with so much of the play Caulfield was failing to produce suitable scoring! It was encouraging to watch our boys running hard and not just to chase opponents. Marcellin did kick the last goal of the match a minute before the final siren, the final score of 9.24 to 10.6 certainly wasteful but there are more good signs emerging. My personal opinion, that is only relevant for a certain time, is that the current squad are still learning to combine together given the large influx of new players, and those not necessarily new to the club. Whilst Brett Sinclair and Andre Lister for instance have played successfully in past seasons, the new guys are still learning to understand their movements and intentions. And going through the list, the number of brand new or near to it guys could prove my point – Silvestro, Banfield, Toniolo, Logan, Harris, Smith, Mills, Belkin, Presnall, Wallace, Thompson, McEvoy; a handful of senior games between them and terrific talent within. My case rests! They will continue to improve in terms of teamwork!

What I did catch was from the coach’s words post game, from outside the crowded rooms, was a wonderfully pertinent comment – ‘don’t be afraid to kick for goal’ (or words to that effect), perfect reminder boys.

And it reminded me of a quote from the great John Newcombe (former Wimbledon star and a great Aussie tennis champ) – “I’ve only made one demand of myself and that is I give everything mentally and physically. Maybe that’s why I have a great 5 set record. I’ve never had a fear of losing. Once I know I’ve given everything mentally and physically, losing is secondary”.

Better players – Barker, Nixon, Green, Lister, D O’Keefe, Presnall

Goals Presnall 2, J Stewart 2, L O”Keefe, T Small, Meddings, Barker, Nixon

Old Camberwell at Glenhuntly next week and a bit of history between these two teams but it relates to 1998 and I suspect there is no one left to remember apart from me and a few other pensioners! Should be a great occasion with a luncheon and Peter Knights as Guest Speaker. Selection will also be interesting this week. There are a couple coming back, hopefully Brett will be ok and I don’t think there is any other senior in doubt (maybe the Sandy boys’ availability) and certainly some good performances in the Ressies. Nice problem to have!

Go fields

10