Season 2007 commenced with a new coach – Russell “Fly” Morris, a new captain – Barclay Dixon (OM 1997), new faces – Ty Menzies (from Western Australia), OMs returning to the roost – Jake Berry - and young OMs taking the step up to the seniors – Nick Peters, Sam Playfair, Ned Morrison, Ben McKie, Tom Bennison, Nick Lawler and Peter Kennon. There was also the challenge of B Grade, and its untested foes. This challenge was well and met against SKOBs.

The weather forecast was for showers and a thunderstorm, so the game was actually played in perfect, dry, sunny conditions, on the VAFA’s best ground. The OMs scored first, with a point, followed by two quick SKOB goals. Josh Russo left the ground after the opening bounce, with an AC injury. Large packs made it difficult to score despite the ball often being in the OMs’ forward line, whilst the SKOBs made quick and successful forays into their forward line. It was looking grim until a three goal burst by the OMs secured them the lead.

The first quarter saw goals scored by Ed “Willow” Wilson, Ned Morrison, and Jake Berry. Hamish Turner slotted a beautiful set shot with little daylight. Marty “Moose” Kennon slotted two, with his second being a great running goal from the scoreboard pocket on a nasty angle. The start of the second quarter saw goals by Millsy and Richo. Nick Peters kicked long out of defence, into the middle, thence to Turner, who handballed to Morrison for a goal. Another slick passage of play resulted in a goal to Hamish “Terminator” Turner, whose ruthless devotion to the Dark Blue jumper resulted in a battered Skev being taken from the ground. Morrison kicked to Willow, who converted truly from a long set shot. Berry goaled in play to complete a six goal term for the OMs.

At half time the team’s aim was to kick another twelve goals in the second half. Moose scored the first of the quarter, followed by Angus “Guus” Waddell, from a long set shot. Ed Mitchell – one half of Ze Brothers Mitchell (the other being James, who was doing admirable ruck work at the centre bounce) – quickly tired of backline duties, and wandered down to the forward line. Here, he climbed Hamish “The Stepladder” Turner for an awesome mark that was beautifully finished with a goal from the boundary line.

Nick Peters followed up with his first senior goal, and Millsy ended a five goal term by running into goal for six points. So accurate was the kicking that at one stage the score was 17.6: a score more likely to have been 6.17 in 2006. The final quarter was beautifully commenced with a goal from the hard-tackling Benno. Richo kicked his second, and Millsy scored a goal in play, followed by another from a set shot courtesy of Nick Lawler’s pinpoint pass. Pete Kennon, inspired by cousin Marty’s example, scored a goal of his own, following which Moose scored his fourth, to remind Pete which Kennon was the multiple goal scorer. New recruit Menzies did his bit to ensure he kicked the twelfth goal of the second half.

The game was won with a genuine team effort that made it difficult to choose the best players. A number of players have rigs unrecognisable from their ’06 models, and that fitness was telling. The Skevvies were run off their feet in a very intense game that did not abate until the second half of the last quarter. In every key statistic the Dark Blues were supreme. Thirteen players scored goals. Fitness freaks like Junior Prowse held up the back line. The young brigade tore up the middle, delivering to the forwards, and putting their own scores on the board. Only time will tell whether the SKOBs are indicative of the standard of B Grade. Whilst predictions of premiership glory are perhaps premature, it is worth noting that some big names await their return from injury, including James Ray, Mark Hawkins, Will “Shep” Panton, Will Sangster, and – ominously for opposition backlines, Lurch

Tags: Bennison, Berry, Kennon, Menzies, Miller, Mitchell, Morrison, Peters, Richardson, Seniors, Turner, Waddell, Wilson