Link to Sporting Pulse Report

 

Caulfield  10.18.78     Defeated by     Old Ivanhoe   11.15.81

 

The trip to Chelsworth Park wasn’t all that pleasant in the constant rain and with the expectation of a heavy ground. However, it was a great opportunity to face up to another top four team and one we know are very hard to beat at their home. A number of changes but another opportunity to see how far we have come in 2016.
In the early game the Reserves faced up to the opposition who only had 2 wins on the board but found it difficult to break away and we were only 1 point up at quarter time. Our second quarter was much better and set up a good win 13.7 to 6.6 and some more good signs from our young brigade. TJ Rothel is adapting well to a forward role, despite my respect for him as a very promising, key defender. Lachy Topp’s concentration continues to improve and therefore allows his natural ability to shine through and James Small is using his mobility to provide more drive. James Anderson reminds me of a young Dean Synman, high praise indeed although ‘Ando’ is still very much in a developmental stage. “Trotter” Gallop has a great attitude and workrate and is a future senior on-baller. Guys like James Easton have also got fitter and have the strength and mobility to contribute more effectively. Two goals from ‘Damo’ Simic, one beauty on the run and the other from a ‘climb and hover’, excited me as usual. I just hope in my lifetime I see him complete his dedication to assemble his god given abilities ‘cos he sure has some ability and generally makes beautiful contact with the ball to boot! Alex Young was also a welcome return, took some very good marks and kicks with penetration. Good work again Luke and Andy and your team. Keep the pressure on the senior players! Bad luck for Andy Clark who was having a good game until he busted his clavicle. Sam McDonald and Sean Stewart are a very good Reserves’ ruck combo.
By the time the seniors ran out it had become heavier at ground level although there had only been a light drizzle at best during the ressies. We were the first to score with a behind and Ivanhoe followed suit shortly after and then adapted a bit quicker to the conditions; their first goal a clever ‘check side’ conversion. In the following passages our low to the ground players, Silvestro, Barker, Presnall and Joe McLelland were all involved and the game developed into a bit of a slog. Our first goal came from a great piece of roving across the face of the pack by Harrison Mills. After that we went forward on a number of occasions but failed to make the most of our opportunities. The back six were under constant pressure but held firm, led by the indomitable ‘Domma’. One started to notice the difference in the ‘weight division’ of the two teams and it became obvious that the wide open spaces could be our saviour whenever the opportunity arose. The play remained ugly as the ground became more ‘chopped up’ and many kicks didn’t go far or with any precision. Greeny was working hard to lift his team mates and our defence was under constant pressure but held firm. I noted Old Ivanhoe’s direction with their kicks was more direct than ours around this time but our on-ballers were really hard at it. Just before the siren and after nearly 33 minutes of play, Tom Small goaled to give us the lead 2.4 to 1.3 at the first break.
In the second quarter, with Dec Reilly in commanding form in the ruck and around the ground, our defence really working well and our smaller men lifting their work rate we were looking good but our shots on goal were astray on a few occasions. Joe McLelland and Finn McEvoy were impressive on the last line against some very experienced opposition. Ryan Harris was again really hard at his opponent and the ball, Jordan Stewart was reading the play well and we were looking ok, especially when Declan, with a great mark of the heavy ball, kicked our third goal. However, within a minute, Ivanhoe responded too easily from a passage starting in the centre square. We replied again when Jack Woodman marked with one hand, found Declan to Jack Presnall to Silver and his short kick to Dan Meddings was converted for a good response. Again Ivanhoe answered courtesy of a soft free but within two minutes Tom Green put a major on the board when Tom Small centered appropriately. As the ball became more difficult to control, Ivanhoe kicked an easy goal into time on and only a great tackle by Tim Nixon and some very strong play by Louis O’Keefe stopped a repeat in the remaining minutes of the first half. 5.10 to 4.6 was again somewhat wasteful but at the main break but we were in the lead and hoped to increase it in the second half.
From the opening bounce of the second half it was soon apparent as to how much harder it had become for all players to hold their footing. Not long into the quarter there was a significant delay when, in a marking contest, Declan and an opponent went down heavily in a marking contest. Play was halted with the Ivanhoe player unable to move. As Dec came off with what appeared to be and was confirmed later, a busted nose, the Ivanhoe player was stretchered off and did not return. Almost 5 minutes had gone by before play resumed. It was a telling point in the game as our line-up was re-shuffled sending Louis into the ruck to replace Dec who was gone for the day. As hard as we worked, Ivanhoe were pegging us back with their biggest man damaging in the ruck, despite Louis’ best efforts. In fact Louis was awesome at this time but our forward set-up was unsettled. Twelve minutes in Ivanhoe kicked the first goal for the second half and the momentum had clearly changed.
Tom Green did get the next goal after 18 minutes of play with a great snap but our defence remained under pressure. No goals for either team were forthcoming for well over 10 minutes but after 29 minutes, Ivanhoe’s number 5, a very experienced performer, kicked 2 goals in 3 minutes for his team to take the lead. Fortunately, just before the three quarter time siren, a hard earned free to Jackson Small and a 25m penalty and resultant goal gave us back the lead, 7.13 to 7.9 at the final break.
It was Ivanhoe’s number 5 again who kicked a goal with thirty seconds of the bounce as we gave up our lead. Despite some stout defence by our young group, Ivanhoe’s superior strength was telling in the conditions and the effort by our players was commendable given the forced changes to our line-up. The ball was tending to be in the opposition half too often but we received a boost after nearly 8 minutes of play when Dan Meddings gathered cleverly and kicked a fine goal. As play see-sawed and our defence worked overtime it was a real boost when Greeny gathered superbly at half forward with help from Jacko and Meddo Tommy kicked the goal. Just after Greeny and Ossie combined for what looked like a certain goal but only a point was recorded. The next 7 minutes was frantic stuff with Ivanhoe goaling and then Tom Small with a great captain’s goal put us 9 points up with 25 minutes gone. This was heading for a magnificent victory. Just after some more good defence, including desperate stuff by Finn McEvoy, an out of bounds on the full, allowed Ivanhoe to convert for 6 points at the 25 and a half minute mark. Fate was against us when a desperate attempt to avoid another Ivanhoe goal failed and their most dangerous player all day put us to the sword with 28 minutes gone and the score 11.15 to our 10.18. We certainly rued some missed chances earlier but you can’t turn the clock back. I guess in the end Ivanhoe wanted it just that bit more and we were exposed by our lack of experience in the clinches!
There were turning points in the game, particularly when Dec Reilly was forced from the ground and became our second key ruckman to be hospitalised in a week following on from Andre Lister’s unfortunate broken wrist in the previous round. Dec’s loss was extremely difficult to cover against Ivanhoe’s big man but Louis O’Keefe’s constant physicality as Dec’s replacement was inspiring although it robbed us of important fire power up forward in the second half. Few players would have handled the challenge as well as he and the O’Keefe contribution was outstanding on the day, Dom inspirational as our leading defender.
This was one of the most physical contests we have seen for some time and the learning curve will be noteworthy for the second half of the season. Sure there needs to be a post mortem during the week as to how we could have shut down the dangerous, Ivanhoe small men but money can’t buy experience as they say and I’ll back our talented group to absorb the knowledge and take it forward. Simon’s analysis will be important on Tuesday for his players and his address post game was impressive.
We were always going to be challenged physically purely on a ‘weight for age’ basis as the game wore on, particularly at the challenging Ivanhoe ground which has always been a fortress for the home side. We just needed more of a ‘buffer’ and again our goal shooting could have been better. It’s been identified all along as a real development need and the players have to be stronger mentally in this area. You can give them all the technical information they need but it is in their hands to improve this aspect of their game. I have observed one of the best goal kickers in amateur football always honing his skill after every training session, in his own time. He believed it to be imperative if he was to maintain his consistency. He also believed the harder he practiced the luckier he got so even some of his ‘mis-hits’ may just ‘snuck in’!
I know one thing for certain, that hard slog yesterday will be worth plenty for our less experienced players as long as they want to develop and get better.
After the break we face up to Marcellin at Glenhuntly. The line-up will change again and it will be a test for our depth, which we consider to be strong. Our casualties grew in this match which reminded me that a number of the boys ‘played sore’ in this match and could not be replaced during the game with our limited bench after half time. That was another test for us and had we taken the points in this game, it would have been one of the best CGFC victories for some time.
Disappointing result but not our worst defeat by any stretch. The week off will come in handy given the additional injuries and there may well be more opportunities opening up for those who wish to grab the chance.
I was proud of the boys yesterday and with good performances by our other teams we have much to look forward to.
My supporter of the week acknowledgment goes to Geoff Noblett, our ever reliable time-keeper, surely one of the most thankless tasks in footy. Geoff, a former player and father of former senior player Tim, is an outstanding member of the Club. Geoff we appreciate your effort as always.

Goals – Green 3, Tom Small 2, Meddings 2, Mills, Reilly, Jackson Small
Better player (in no particular order) -   Reilly, Green, Gates, McEvoy, L O’Keefe, D O’Keefe, J Small, Harris, McLelland, Meddings.    

Go Fields!