:: Seniors Report - By Lurch.
Playing 5th place Marcellin at Marcellin was a challenge with recent and distant history militating against an OM victory. The past three games have all seen Marcellin win despite late charges by the OMs, with both 2006 games being narrow losses. During the first quarter, when Marcellin had just kicked 5 straight goals, one of the old brigade of OM supporters voiced his belief that the OMs had not won at Marcellin for 20 years. History appeared destined to repeat itself…but the boys in Dark Blue had other ideas.

A late OM goal stopped Marcellin’s 5 goal run shortly before quarter time. Coach Fly was animated in the quarter time huddle, with the margin being 17 points. However, inspiration perhaps came from a more distant place. The Reserves had started their game late, and won with a late, narrow come-from-behind victory. From about 200 metres away, inside their change rooms, their spirited rendition of the Games Song could be heard, almost without attenuation, by the Seniors’ huddle. The Seniors never looked back from that point on.

Marty Kennon kicked off the Dark Blues’ fight back with one of his two goals for the quarter. Ed “Willo” Wilson put his body on the line with an impact that could be heard from well beyond the boundary line. The OMs’ running brigade stepped up, with Josh Russo, Ned Morrison, Chris Righetti, Will Kiel and newcomer Tom Bachet coming to the fore, and helping their team mates to a 6 goal quarter. Barclay Dixon was winning in the middle, and the backline only conceded a goal for the quarter.

Rod Matthews was invited by the umpires to meet them for dinner on Wednesday night, where they did not accept his explanation that he had been giving the native greeting of Geelong Grammar School to his Marcellin opponent. They further invited him to take a break for a couple of weeks. His ability up forward will be missed.

There was some excitement at halftime as a Marcellin set shot for goal after the siren was sprayed, and marked by a Marcellin player, who reckoned he could have another crack. Attempts to point out that the siren had sounded seemed to be in vain, and it took repeated soundings of the siren to convince some that play had ended for the quarter.

At halftime the OMs were up by 14 points, but their score – 9.4.58 – was eerily familiar. It was the same half time score in the disastrous game against St. Kevin’s. Being in front was perhaps more worrying than being behind. However, Marcellin’s supporters were worried about their position, and called upon their resident holy man to lead them out of the valley of Dark Blue. However, the OMs’ supporters have had greater cause to turn to prayer this season, and it was their prayers that were answered.

The third quarter saw Marcellin trying harder, and both teams were limited to two goals each for the quarter. At the final change the OMs led by 13 points in what was a significant margin in the context of the game, despite it being played on a superb sunny day, and on a ground in a condition possibly second only to the Junction Oval.

Recent games against Marcellin have been notable for Marcellin’s final quarter fade-outs. However, the expected fade-out did not come, and they maintained the pressure on the OMs, who only managed a goal for the quarter. When the margin was 12 points, late in the quarter, a very undisciplined act in the centre saw a free kick reversed and given to Marcellin, which pushed forward and goaled to cut the margin to 6 points. Marcellin was on a roll, scoring a point, and then goaling again from a set shot on a sharp angle to take the lead for the first time since the second quarter.

Only minutes remained. The OMs trailed by a point. Some OM heads were lowered, and more than one supporter and member of coaching staff feared that melancholy would overcome the Dark Blues. The ball was quickly taken out of the middle and sent towards the OMs’ goals, but only a point resulted. Scores were level. The siren would sound at any moment. There was a period of play after the kick out, then Charlie Wilmoth got his hands on the ball, and kicked a long, wild kick out of heavy traffic towards the goals. It looked like it had missed everything, but snuck in for a point, and was the most valuable point of the season. The OMs led by a point, and neither team would score again in the remaining time, which proved to be under a minute.

Great was the rejoicing at the OMs’ fourth win for the season as spectators took to the field to congratulate the victors.

Marty Kennon, Willo, and Ned Morrison all had long periods out of the team due to injury this season. All three kicked three goals, and put in efforts that showed that they know that with the privilege of playing for the Dark Blue jumper comes the responsibility of giving their all for it. Barclay Dixon played a solid captain’s game, being invaluable in the centre, and a handy supporter of “Junior” Prowse in defence. Junior again proved that he does not need the magnificent chest and shoulders of Lurch to shine as a key position player, and he has cemented his position at full back this season. Josh Russo – The Man with the Golden Ball – yet again showed why he has one, stepping up when he was needed most.

Playing his first Seniors game was Thomas Linacre Bachet, another of the new breed of Grammar boys for whom victory is not a novelty. He flies the Dark Blue flag both on and off the field, and as a member of the MGS 1st XVIII was involved in its famous victory over the very expensive Haileybury team of 2005. He brought aggression and enthusiasm to the game that showed he was making the most of his opportunity in the Seniors.

Geelong was a team renowned for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The new Geelong snatches victory during the game and holds it aloft at the final siren, regardless of the efforts of its foes. Let’s hope that the OMs have taken the first steps towards becoming the new OMs.

View a short video in the rooms after the game.

Tags: Andrew Prowse, Barclay Dixon, Josh Russo, Marcellin, Marty Kennon, Ned Morrison, Tom Bachet