:: Under 19’s Report - By Doc.

Dear OM,

Very sorry for not writing for a while but when you’re trying to build an honesty amongst the playing group I have learned that the press can be your worst enemy. I have in the past few weeks been badgered by some players for not posting a report or even the goal kickers and best, but you have to balance the equation sometimes*. and when you have no best, and goals are being kicked for all the wrong reasons sometimes it’s best to ignore the emails of very good friends who are just trying to maintain the website, and plead that you ‘have had no time’* I hope you all understand.

At the half way point of the season we sit in sixth place in second division with four wins and five loses, and only one game out of the four. A reasonable start to the season beating Collegians and Whitefriars followed by a slump fuelled by player injuries and a rude awakening.

Our meeting against St Bedes Mentone fell on a Friday night. Friday night Football in the amateurs? Yes, it’s a feature that both the coach and committee have been keen to promote for the Unders. It gives everyone the weekend to relax and enjoy family, study or even to cast the eye over the seniors, if willing. I digress* The Tonners crushed us like, as their name would suggest a ton of bricks. A 140 point loss without score is hard for any ego to take, and when we lost the captain with a head injury in the last quarter, that left only one 2006 Under standing. I think our captain’s was not the only head hurt*

We continued to lose players at a staggering rate and at one stage had 21 Unders sitting it out or playing up the order. We lost the next four games, but not without fighting. Paradians was close out there and if we had a time keeper we may have even won it. A lesson learned. Brighton finished over the top of us, kicking seven in the last and looked much the better side. Beaumaris was close too, and if some players had remained fit we may have even won it. Camberwell was a 2 point game in there favour. All in all, we may have lost five in a row but three of the games were by under two goals and an arm wrestle all the way.

Last week we accounted for Banyule, who were an honourable adversary and then this week Caulfield showed fight but a bigger, taller OM’s unit proved too good on the smaller Oval 1. Interestingly, this week we may have turned the corner and begun to understand that ‘Easy comes from Hard’. A simpler game style (one we have been working on for months) showed that forward pressure and momentum are a force to be reckoned with.

We have significant issues to deal with over the next five weeks, none of which are to do with the sides we play. Our fitness, mental toughness and UNITY will all be questioned. We play Camberwell, Collegians, Banyule and Whitefriars, and have an opportunity to put our best foot forward for a finals place. It will not be our opposition that beats us this time, it can only be ourselves.

Now is the time to stand and fight for everything Dark Blue. Now is a time of judgement.

Tags: Caulfield Grammarians, Ferguson, Haralambous, Higgins, ower, Seccull