Eighth-placed Old Melburnians, facing the possibility of relegation to C Grade, met second-placed premiership contender St. Bernards on the rain-softened surface of the Junction Oval. The teams last met at St. Bernards in muddy conditions, resulting in a 41 point defeat of the OMs. Interestingly, this was also the only side the OMs beat in their last A Grade season in 2006. With St. Bernards guaranteed a finals berth, and the OMs needing one more win to stay in B Grade, it was clear which team wanted and needed to win the most.

 

The first quarter result was proudly brought to OM supporters by the letters B and D. Barclay Dixon, knowing he had to score four goals this game to be allowed to go on the OMs’ footy trip, kicked three in this quarter. With thoughts of sun, surf, and cocktails with little umbrellas he could not be stopped, showing his best form for the year. His opportunities were created by an OMs outfit with no passengers. St. Bernards was hit hard by furious tackling and constant pressure, with the OMs winning one-on-one contests and racking up a healthy total of one-percenters. The Snow Dogs were rattled, frequently dropping the ball, and turning it over to a superior force. The only downside for the quarter was that the two points scored by the OMs could have just as easily been one or two goals.

 

Oaten, up from the under-19s to play his second senior game, kicked cleverly over a contest to find nothing beyond it but the brilliant Tom Paule, who pounced on the loose ball and ran into to score the OMs’ only goal of the quarter. A slight relaxation of pressure allowed St. Bernards to score their first goal of the game in the 18^th minute of the second quarter. They scored one further goal before half time.

 

At half time the OMs left the ground 14 points up, but disappointed at having kicked 1.5 for the quarter when the game could instead have been put out of reach of St. Bernards. All expected a much stronger effort from the Snow Dogs after half time. The OMs had been in a similar position against Carey the previous week, and knew the third quarter would have to be a big one.

 

The third quarter was not big: it was huge. With James Mitchell and Haralambous dominating in the middle and around the ground, and the OMs’ defence led by prodigal son Sam Playfair repelling every one of the rare St. Bernards’ 50m penetrations, the poor Snow Dogs had no chance of reeling in the deficit. A lonely point was added to their tally. Meanwhile, Captain Turner was having one of his best games for the year, teaming up with Wilmoth and Davis to make the OMs’ 50m arc arguably the busiest place in St. Kilda on a Saturday afternoon. The OMs had about 80% of the play, with most of this being in their half of the ground. From the first bounce of the third quarter the ball went into the OMs’ 50m arc, where, after a fight for the ball, Riggas got possession, threw it onto the boot, kicked around his body, and scored the first goal. St. Bernards briefly tried to attack, but ran into the Dark Blue Rock of Gibraltar, which returned the footy to its rightful place in the OMs’ forward 50m. Hawkins tapped the ball behind him to McKie, who has become a reliable forward, and who proved it by drilling the first of his three goals. For him the memory of the fire and brimstone of hell in defence in 2007 is a rapidly receding memory. Captain Turner then kicked accurately to Hawkins, whose long shot for goal from the boundary landed in the top of the square, where Dicko enthusiastically booked his place in the OMs’ footy trip, scoring his fourth goal by kicking off the ground in the midst of heavy traffic. A long battle followed, with the ball mainly in the OMs’ half before that man, BD, brought the ball to ground for Paule, who found Turner, who found another 6 points for the OMs. Morrison, not wanting his own skills outshone by those of Paule, kicked beautifully from the hotdog wagon pocket to McKie, at the top of the 50m arc, and he scored from directly in front to end the third quarter in style.

 

The OMs had won the premiership quarter and the game, with a quarter remaining. At three quarter time, 50 points up, a stern challenge was still expected from St. Bernards, which is not in second place without good reason. However, it became apparent they excel at going forward quickly, and capitalise on turnovers. The OMs, however, were rarely giving St. Bernards an opportunity, and exposed their lack of defensive skills when the OMs sent the ball quickly forward. Not only was St. Bernards unable to cope with the OMs’ constant pressure, they were so rattled that when they were handballing and well in the clear they were missing their targets and dropping the ball.

 

St. Bernards goaled early in what became a long defensive battle in the last quarter. A long kick to Thompson hit the ground, where Morrison snaffled it, and kicked to McKie, who scored his third and final goal. St. Bernards scored another goal, after which Riggas goaled beautifully from a 45m set shot, directly in front. St. Bernards scored one further goal, to outscore the OMs for the quarter, but it was too little, too late. Andrew “Junior” Prowse had the footy as the siren went, and had an easy shot for goal after the siren. However, with the victory already in hand, and thoughts of sun, surf, and cocktails with little umbrellas in them going through his head too, he missed.

 

The 43 point margin equalled St. Bernards’ second biggest loss for the season, and was a stylish way for the OMs to secure their place in B Grade for 2009. It meant the last game of the season, next week against Caulfield Grammarians, will no longer decide whether Caulfield or the OMs are relegated. It also showed the OMs are capable, when playing their best (albeit still with key players missing), of beating finals contenders and, with consistency, being one itself.

 

This Saturday the OMs travel out to Glenhuntly Oval to play Caulfield Grammarians. The Fields have been relegated, along with Beaumaris, to C Grade as a result of the OMs’ victory over St. Bernards. They will be looking for revenge, whilst the OMs will be looking to continue their good form with back-to-back wins to finish off season 2008 on a high, and to build momentum for season 2009.