Link to Sporting Pulse Report

 

Caulfield  18.20.128     Defeated     Old Camberwell  11.9.75 

 

Arrived at Glenhuntly reminding myself 1998 is a long time ago now and my/our previous jousts with Old Camberwell are irrelevant, but there were others wearing blue and white that would also like to remind the ‘Wellers’ that we always come out on top!

Couldn’t get there in time for the start of the U19 game but pleased to see the boys in control in the last quarter against Old Ivanhoe. The 19’s duly won very well 11.17 to 3.12.

The Reserves looked in command early and outscored Old Camberwell in the first quarter despite kicking into the wind, led at every change to win 12.15 to 9.9. Good performance by the Ressies as they set the scene for the main game. (I later heard that the Thirds had a great win in their game – fantastic).

I presume we lost the toss as we kicked against the strong, blustery wind favouring the southern end. Finn McEvoy was the first to take my eye with good defence and he combined with Dom O’Keefe nicely to repel an early Camberwell incursion. We were a little vacant on the defensive side of the packs early but Will Baker, Charlie Logan and Tom Green were up and about, Chas particularly in traffic. Jordan Stewart was an early target for us with his usual, reliable hands overhead but Camberwell defended with the use of the boundary. It became an intense contest from one half back line to another for quite some time and while Camberwell went deep into the forward zone on a number of occasions our defence stood firm, likewise Camberwell’s at the other end of the ground. Sam Banfield, Finn McEvoy and Jack Wallace were all showing good signs, likewise Louis O’Keefe, Tom Green and Tom Small and some passages of play were really positive but no goals were forthcoming. Camberwell were pretty swift at ground level but our back six stood up, especially Tom Smith against the Wellers’ gun forward. Andre Lister was showing dominance in the ruck as we have come to expect and is ‘multi angled’ with his leap and balance, Finn McEvoy’s judgement was excellent with a saving mark in defence and Louis O’K and Dec Reilly combined, received a valuable block from ‘Smally’ but only a point resulted. Lloyd Everett and Jesse Toniolo received successive frees or I should say ‘deserved’ the frees. Ryan Harris’ quick recovery was followed by his great tackle but Camberwell stood tall in the back half. It was still end to end with both defences on top but no goals were forthcoming in the first 15 minutes of the game. During this period it was clear that Louis O’K was going to be important with the windy conditions requiring good anticipation and good recovery at ground level and with Dec Reilly back in the side and Jordy Stewart as a further marking option we had to make the most of this triumvirate. It was also clear that Jack Wallace with his interceptive ability and balance was becoming an important cog in the wheel. But Camberwell scored the first goal when a dropped mark allowed them to pounce halfway through the quarter, our only critical error so far. If we could continue to restrict their conversion opportunities it would be a major advantage, the wind being a ‘five to six-goaler’ in the old language. There was some concern when Camberwell scored their second major within 90 seconds of play at the 17 minute mark. We remained under pressure but it was good to see Sam Banfield making his presence felt and the realisation that his poise in traffic and preparedness to not take the first option if a better one was likely. Charlie Logan linked up with Jordy but we lost the initiative shortly after and when Ryan Harris chased hard to battle against superior numbers and without the cavalry arriving in time, he forced a ball-up. Ryan was in the thick of it again with a well earned free and started a passage via Jordan Stewart’s mark to Dan Meddings to Will Barker and with Louis on the end of the passage. So Louis kicked our first 21 minutes in and the intention was to hold the opposition to as few opportunities as possible. An unlucky free against Dom O’Keefe and a smart play-on from the opposition provided their third goal and the need for us to increase the tempo. There was a swing in momentum with Camberwell continuing to get forward although Dom was leading the defence well. After some good passages of play with handball in traffic a quick kick forward by Camberwell gave them another goal just into time-on. There were signs of the opposition half forwards becoming dangerous and we needed to tighten up. Nick Tonkin cleared another Camberwell assault as their on-ballers went up a cog or two and at the 27 minute mark, three of our defenders flew against one and they swooped on the spillage to kick their fifth goal. For the amount of play we had throughout this term we should have made better use but the last 4 minutes of the quarter was encouraging. When Jack Wallace sent us forward again Louis was ‘mobbed’ and Camberwell cleared too easily. At the other end, the other O’Keefe was holding firm supported by his back six. Four of Camberwell’s goals had come from good kicks on the angle so they had made the most of their opportunities and were pretty good at finding the ball when it went over the back of packs. The quarter ended just short of 32 minutes – Camberwell 5.2 to our 1.2. Not a bad result but we needed to mop up a little better.

Camberwell got it out of the middle immediately but Charlie and Nico combined to clear at half back. Working the ball forward, Declan had a quick shot for goal but only 1 behind. After two minutes play, Dec executed a great tap from a ruck contest and I think it was Greeny who handballed quickly to Sam Banfield who snapped a great goal; good start to the quarter. Will Barker got it out of the centre but Camberwell defended well and moved the ball impressively through our lines. Nick Tonkin handed off to Tim Nixon and Nico’s long kick was marked by Declan but he only kicked a behind from the set shot. When Declan marked the kick-in his quick delivery to Tim Nixon was smart play. Tim was slightly closer than where Dec had been but he kicked out of bounds trying to allow for the wind. I think it was Nick Silvestro who applied a great tackle and his resultant free found Jack Belkin in the middle who ran on and converted superbly at the 5 minute mark. Chas Logan, Tom Green and Tom Small all combined to provided Jordan Stewart with a good chance to convert but another behind resulted from the angle. As the play continued, mainly at ground level in the windy conditions, Ryan Harris mopped up beautifully and found Declan who again missed a golden opportunity from a spot that was becoming his ‘arc of inaccuracy’. It was an entertaining game despite the errors in the wind and befitting of the old Caulfield V Camberwell rivalry with a number of bruising encounters. Tom Green was helping the defenders when needed, Will Barker’s constant energy was obvious and Tom Small using his strength at contests. Andre was also controlling the hit outs and Will Barker with pace, used a clever ‘off-side’ to convert with 11 minutes play gone.

Caulfield were busier around the spills but Camberwell were up for the fight and it took a great tackle by Jack Wallace to hold up a strong Camberwell attack. Shortly after clumsy defence provided Camberwell with a chance up forward they converted with a quick kick off the pack for a goal; the defence had been a bit lacking during these moments. Jesse Toniolo was in the thick of things with a strong smother and Greeny sent us forward in his typically exciting style but Louis was all tied up by about three defenders. It was a good contest as expected and Nick Tonkin took a great grab under pressure and Jack Belkin sent it deep forward shortly after but Camberwell defended smartly with the use of the boundary line. Just after the clock ticked over the 17 minute mark Will Barker provided a classic roving demonstration to kick a goal and level the scores. The next 5 minutes was torrid stuff and highlighted by Sam Banfield’s cool play under pressure. A good piece of play by Camberwell in heavy traffic, when they went almost the length of the ground before being turned back by our defence, was followed by a kindly free from the umps. There was no one in the back half of the ground making life difficult for our forwards. Finn McEvoy was continuing to exhibit his emergence as a senior player and generally we expected to be scoring more frequently but Camberwell deserve some acknowledgment around this time. 

When Tim Nixon was ‘crunched’ near the centre of the ground it probably provided the sting we needed and Louis marked surely again and kicked the next goal to put us 6 points in front, 22 minutes into the quarter. There was 10 minutes more of combative play during which Sam Banfield marked their kick in, after another CGFC behind, gave off to Tim Nixon who converted, A few more behinds occurred when goals were possible with the play in our half mainly. At half time it was 7.11 to 6.2 in our favour and some disappointment that our conversion rate was spot on, but it was far better than the previous week and the goals had been spread around.

 The first part (6 minutes) of the third quarter was really encouraging with the pressure more on Camberwell although they had the wind at their disposal. Dec Reilly kicked two goals, three minutes apart and our defence was terrific and providing drive when they were engaged. With Andre dominating, Camberwell’s on-ballers were roving to him but the combination of Barker/Harris/Banfield/Small etc made sure of our opportunities to hold the opposition scoreless. It was a great piece of play just on 8 minutes in when a quick kick from Tim Nixon from a centre square ball-up enabled Tom Small to mark in a one on one situation. Tom converted with a great kick into the wind and we looked like running all over the top of the opposition. There was a brilliant ‘run-down’ by Jack Wallace that destroyed Camberwell’s centre clearance and Finn McEvoy again defended well during Camberwell’s next attack with the wind. I guess sooner or later Camberwell would score and this they did with a goal from a free at the 11 minute mark. There were no more goals for over 10 minutes as we defended well with great activity from our on-ball brigade and from our flankers. Dan Meddings led the way with a terrific defensive punch to the boundary to bring a Camberwell attack undone and it was good to hear Tom Green giving clear instructions to his fellow players as our positioning was making it very hard for Camberwell to intrude.

Our forwards were also working really hard and although they were unable to convert during this period they locked it in and further frustrated Old Camberwell’s plans. There was a bit of a ‘dust-up’ late in the term and Camberwell did score a goal from a pack mark but we continued to hold up well. Jesse Toniolo roved superbly in the middle of the ground and we worked harder than the opposition through the middle of the ground. Just as we went deep forward again, Camberwell rebounded from back pocket to forward pocket and they kicked another goal from the angle. Two minutes later, Tom Green was brilliant in the middle, burst through the traffic, found Tom Small for Tom’s second goal of the quarter. Although Camberwell goaled again from a free, we led at three quarter time 11.15 to 10.6 and basically had the game won with a quarter to come and the wind at our back.

As the final term started, Andre tapped superbly to Tim Nixon, off to Charlie Logan who kicked superbly from a long way out and our 12^th goal had been scored in the first 10 seconds on the term. Before Louis kicked another in just over 3 minutes, Barker/Tonkin/Stewart brought about a behind, Tom Small was crashing bodies in contests, Lloyd Everett also tackled strongly and Barks was unusually run down from behind. When Camberwell looked dangerous, Hugo Gates was aggressive, forced a behind and then we kicked two more behinds.  The pressure applied was making Camberwell fumble often. It was great to see Jess Toniolo rewarded for his efforts with a goal and Will Barker’s hand ball out the back to Jesse said to me that the boys are continuing to understand each others game. Dom deserved more support when he was out-marked by Camberwell’s experienced big man, Domma giving away 6 inches and at least 6 stone!

Louis used his strength a little later to give off to Dec Reilly who finally converted from his ‘arc of inaccuracy’ and his return to the team is a huge boost. Another piece of smart play was by Sam Banfield to Dan Meddings who kicked a superb goal on the run. Meddo is also gathering confidence with each game.

The remainder of the quarter provided good signs – The back six settling in nicely with impressive new faces (McEvoy/Tom Smith/Jack Belkin), the on-ball brigade (Nixon/Harris/Barker/Logan) tough and exciting, the additional options up forward and the important contribution and experience of Andrew Lister and Sam Banfield. With Tom Small now being allowed the freedom of a full ground role and the exciting emergence of other young guns (Wallace, McEvoy, Toniolo, Logan, Silvestro, Belkin).

But wait, there’s more – players in the Reserves with senior experience (TJ Rothel, Jackson Small, Mills, S Stewart, Mengler-Francis etc) all waiting for their opportunity and Jack Presnall and Brett Sinclair due back soon.  I’ve probably forgotten a few!

And so the final term played out with more behinds but goals from Ryan Harris and Dan Meddings and a final, better scoring ratio than in round 3. Nice win boys, hopefully no serious injuries and another home game (I think) against local rivals Oakleigh. Sometimes Saturdays are so satisfying!

Goals – L O’Keefe 3, Reilly 3, Barker 2, Tom small 2, Meddings 2, Banfield, Nixon, Belkin, Harris, Toniolo, Logan

Best – Barker, L O’Keefe, Banfield, Nixon, Harris, Lister (only allowed six)

Go Fields!

 

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