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Caulfield   4.13.37    Defeated by    Mazenod   18.12.120

I offered the opportunity for anyone to write this report – no takers! So here goes!

Very good conditions at Bill Lawrey Oval and lots of interesting memorabilia in the ‘pavilion’ for me to look at during the breaks in the day. As the day wore on Bill Lawry Oval was not such a pleasant place to be!

In another spirited game between our Under 19 team and Old Melburnians, our boys came out on top although with one report that will have to be defended during the week. Despite the pleasant conditions and limited wind resistance, scoring (or conversion) proved difficult for the lads and only two goals had been scored at half time, both by CGFC, the score 2.9 to 0.7. It was however an absorbing contest and by three quarter time we led 5.11 to 0.10. The scoreboard suggested that this lead should be unassailable but the message was clear at the three quarter time break – ‘the pressure must be maintained’. The boys responded well and the result of the match was clear in the first 5 minutes of the term, the main interest being would OM’s be kept goalless! The final score was 9.12 to 2.13 and our boys will meet Parkdale Vultures next weekend making it consecutive grand final appearances from fourth position on the ladder, an indication of the fighting spirit of the group. Well done Josh and the team.

The Reserves started well enough against the slight breeze with Sam Wood and Will Conly kicking goals and the score 2.1 apiece at the first break. It was a really good second term, holding Mazenod to only two behinds and with Woody, Damo Simic and Harrison Mills converting, the lead at half time 5.3 to 2.3; a solid position to build on. What followed was a very poor display by CGFC allowing Mazenod to convert twice inside three minutes, a further goal after 7 minutes and a fourth after eight and a half minutes play. The disturbing sign was the lack of discipline by CGFC, especially in the early part of the quarter allowing Mazenod to get themselves into a strong position. Late goals to Damien Simic and Conor Mengler-Francis redressed the balance and we went to the last quarter leading 7.5 to 7.3. The final term saw some better application by the Fields but allowing Mazenod to carry the ball, too often uncontested from their defence, gave the opposition the chance to enter their forward zone far too easily. After 6 minutes of play Tom Stewart kicked truly to put us back in front but it was disappointing to see the team disciplines fail, trying to mark from behind an example and Mazenod goaled at the 10 and 13 minutes marks to take back the lead and were too determined for our boys winning 9.4 to 8.8. It was a very disappointing result from a position of strength at half time. All the application that earned the team the right to be minor premiers now need to be reinstated as we face up to Williamstown CYMS next Saturday. The required adjustments will no doubt be highlighted in the coming training sessions.

The seniors commenced with a free kick to gain the first obvious centre clearance with Tim Nixon to Brett Sinclair to Tom Green, a behind the result. It was a tight opening with Mazenod’s defence under initial pressure. The first goal of the match came after Mazenod roved to Andre’s ruckwork and a mark at centre half forward resulted in their first goal from their centre half forward. It was a tight contest and Jackson Small’s mark in the back pocket was timely as Mazenod again looked threatening. The first sign of real trouble was the ability of Mazenod to break our tackles and consecutively. A good combination by Will Osborn and Tim Nixon finished with Louis O’Keefe, the resultant kick out of bounds, not what was needed. With 10 minutes of play completed Theo Thompson kicked long and we opened our account as Brett Sinclair shepherded the ball through. Hopefully we were under way. There was plenty of pressure down back for the Fields as Mazenod were getting forward too often for our liking. Jackson Small and Dom O’Keefe led the defence admirably as Mazenod maintained the pressure but too often, when chances presented themselves, our field kicking was poor – was it Mazenod’s pressure or our lack of application, probably both! An encouraging passage of play involving Dom O’Keefe to Tim Nixon to Jackson Small to Jack Presnall to Tom Small resulted in no happy ending, Mazenod sweeping forward with relative ease. Half way through the quarter, Mazenod found a loose man at CHF and their second goal was registered.  Another Mazenod promotion was stopped by Dom and Gater  who managed to lock it up and there was some momentum as Jacko cleared, Joe McClelland marked strongly but Tom Green’s delivery forward was turned over and Mazenod held firm. When Jack Presnall received a free, the result, a behind, was a chance missed as was a following snap for another behind from Theo Thompson’s entry. As Tim Nixon and Jordan Stewart relieved Greeny snapped another behind but we appeared to be getting into the game more. Similarly to their Reserve’s style, Mazenod used loose back-men as a means of clearance and then made the most of their opportunities to move the ball long and quick, converting for another goal after 23 minutes had elapsed. The pressure was continuing to build as Mazenod swept forward for a behind and followed up with a juggled mark and goal placing enormous pressure on the scoreboard. What was really disturbing was the lack of action by key players and the fact that Mazenod could smell blood as they tackled fiercely and broke our tackles as well as making the most of our constant turn-overs. At quarter time we were staring down the barrel with a 1.4 to 5.5 deficit.

The opening minutes of the second quarter saw 5 consecutive ball ups within a 10 metre radius. Greeny was having a dip but a chance for Dec Reilly went astray for a behind when goals were desperately needed. Mazenod were attacking in contrast to us and a couple of umpiring decisions went against us as often happens when one’s momentum is at a low ebb. The defence responded well a number of times but it was just a matter of time before they faltered as Mazenod made the most of another turnover to goal after 9 minutes of the quarter had elapsed. We were certainly having trouble breaking clear despite some commendable efforts by Joey McC and Lloyd Everett and as Jack Wallace tried to provide some momentum. It was becoming clearer that we had a real battle on our hands and the large crowd containing so many of the Blue and White army would be disappointed. We could still be in the contest if we could break through but it was a real telling point when Mazenod’s constant pressure and our errors, some unforced, presented the opposition with opportunities, two of which resulted in 2 goals in as many minutes. When one looks back on this second quarter, the 1.5 to 8.9 half time deficit could have been worse and we were still in the game although a super effort was going to be required and one that needed every gun firing!

After Mazenod were first into attack, Jackson Small, although with his hands full on a very experienced and proven performer, saved deep in defence. It was Jacko again who set up a chain with Theo and Barks, ending with Louis O’Keefe who converted with a set shot and hopefully the spark to light the much wanted fire. Neither team could break through for some 8 minutes. Jacko and Lloyd were fighting hard down back, Jack Wallace placed a great tackle and we had more momentum but it was unrewarded due to lack of numbers when they were required most. It was another error at ground level that gave Mazenod a chance and they took it with great pleasure, knowing they were driving in another nail! Within a minute Mazenod kicked an easy goal from a chest mark and the situation was becoming dire. There was some relief when forward pressure from the Fields via Louis O’Keefe and Will Osborn kicked truly but we needed much more effort. Jack Wallace and Theo Thompson got it out of the centre and a subsequent kick to the square by Greeny provided some impetus but Mazenod’s well organised defence cleared. Louis marked strongly but the ball finished out of bounds on the full. There was a lift in our intensity and some expectation of reward but Mazenod kicked the next goal to stifle our efforts. Nothing was working, Greeny’s shot on the run adding only 1 more point to the score but we were limiting Mazenod’s attempts. Well into time-on the opposition pounced on a loose ball for their 12^th major and just prior to the three quarter time siren they kicked their 13^th to take a 10 goal lead as our disconsolate team made their way to the gathering.

The final term began with a Tom Green clearance but the opposition defence again held sway. Nothing was going right for us as Mazenod forced the ball forward with strength and commitment to convert within 2 minutes of the start of the final quarter, a mortal blow. Our fumbling was still evident in the pressure cooker of the contest and although the boys tried to apply themselves mistakes were common and Mazenod remained controlled, clearly determined to finish us off without mercy. They kicked another goal on the run inside of seven minutes of play, another 3 minutes later and one of the obvious differences between the two outfits was Mazenod’s surety of the ball handling below knee level, a real problem area for us. For over 10 minutes we managed to rein in the goal scoring by Mazenod although they kicked their 16^th goal just before time-on. A further sign of our plight was one of the central umps almost shepherding Andre in a ruck contest just prior to Mazenod kicking their 17^th goal. When Dec Reilly delivered to Will Barker for a conversion it was a meek response to the deluge that had been applied by Mazenod. Almost the final act of the game was another behind on the run from a Jacko, Jordy, Greeny effort and the siren saw the scoreboard revealing an 18.12 to 4.13 pounding that had us all horribly disappointed with the display.

Our four goals came from Louis, Theo, Ossie and Barks. It was difficult to find a winner in our line-up. Acknowledgement was given to only five players – Theo Thompson, Tom Green, Lloyd Everett, Jack Wallace and Jack Presnall. By the following day at another amateur venue there was no consolation in hearing that Mazenod declared this to be by far their best effort for the season. In such an important game for our club, the dismal performance by our side was unacceptable. We know there is far more ability than shown in this game but to not produce anywhere near the best on such an occasion is unfathomable. The harsh truth was delivered to the players behind closed doors and rightly so. You achieve nothing by ‘sugar coating’ the performance. The truth may hurt but it needed to be told.

Second semi finals in amateur football are like gold in sections below premier A; they are akin to premierships when clubs are committed to a rise through the ranks. Of course it is not the end; finishing first or second provides another opportunity if needed. This performance was so bad that there is only one direction the team can go and there will be no stone unturned during the coming week to prepare for the preliminary final. The driving force must be not only to gain a place in Premier B in 2017, it must be to face Mazenod again to defy the second semi final performance. What exists now is an opportunity to rise, earn a place in a grand final and defeat the ‘odds against’ that would now be speculated for a CGFC premiership. Now is the opportunity to make this one of the grandest seasons since 1920!

Go Fields