Round 9 - Saturday 20 June 2009 at the Junction Oval.  

OLD MELBURNIANS  v UNI BLACKS

SENIORS, by Lurch.

1^ST Quarter:             OMs                3.3.21                        UB                   3.1.19

2^nd Quarter:             OMs                5.7.37                        UB                   6.4.40

3^rd Quarter:              OMs                8.11.59                     UB                   15.9.99

Full time:                   OMs                10.14.74                   UB                   19.13.127

Goals:  Tom Paule (3), James Beaumont (2), Charlie Gardiner (2), Tom Seccull (1), Toby Beaumont (1), Michael Davis (1).

Best:   Tom Seccull, Ed Mitchell, Angus Lapin, Steven Greene, Will Harvey, Tom Paule.

The OMs returned to the Junction Oval to take on middle-of-the-table Uni Blacks on what was a very overcast day. It was the last game in the first half of the season’s fixture.

The OMs kicked against the wind in the first quarter. Paule signalled his intentions early to make this quarter his own. With characteristic hard running, he ran powerfully towards goal, but although his kick slewed sideways, a Uni Black’s defender was unable to mark it, and with a great second effort Paule kept running, gathered the loose ball, handballed to Michael Davis, and he finished the job. Minutes later, Paule marked with his back to goal, turned around, and kicked truly. The score was 15-0 before Uni scored a goal. Paule, however, was still on fire, and from the middle of a heavy pack 25m out from goal he snapped a stylish major.

Uni then turned the tide, starting with a kick which cleared the pack, and Captain Turner was unable to beat two opponents, who combined for a goal. Seccull, going into attack, then forsook his trusty left boot for a handpass to a team mate about to get crunched, and Uni goaled from the turnover. The OMs’ (and particularly Paule’s) good early work was quickly undone, leaving the scores close at quarter time.

Within a minute of the second quarter starting, James Beaumont kicked from just inside 50m, and his kick cleared a jumping Uni defender on the goal line. The OMs then played poorly, allowing Uni to score two goals and take the lead. Haralambous got a free kick in the centre. Trevor Spry is one of the Gentlemen of the Steam Age. He still recalls his former headmaster, John Bromby, proudly showing him South Yarra’s first telephone in 1880. Spry is the shy, retiring type who is often seen but rarely heard at OMs’ games. He exhorted Haralambous, with a strong wind at his back, to kick long. This he did, allowing Toby Beaumont to take a trademark leap and great mark at the back of the pack. Toby goaled to restore the lead, 34-33. Uni responded with a goal to retake the lead, then attacked again from the centre, but only good work by Freezer to touch the footy on the line prevented greater damage being done. In the absence of Prowse due to injury, the backline was under siege, and Freezer did well to stop a number of attacks.

At halftime it was disappointing to trail Uni by three points, not having made the most of the wind, and not having played well. The upside was still being in the game. The third quarter started with Uni scoring the first goal. Michael Davis then kicked to the top of the square, where Simon Beaumont spilled the footy, his brother James picked it up, and goaled. Uni scored two goals before Seccull intervened with a mark and goal from 50m. Lapin did some handy work to get the footy to Seccull again, but his shot on goal was off-line. Seccull was otherwise in good form, taking several strong grabs in the quarter. After several controversial decisions, Gardiner steadied the OMs’ ship with a goal. Seccull had another shot on goal, but was again offline. Uni kicked three consecutive goals, and only a touch on the line by Freezer stopped it being four. The score was 58 to 79, and Uni then continued its scoring spree, finishing with nine goals for the quarter, and a 40 point lead. The OMs were frequently turning over the ball, with Uni pouncing on their mistakes. Although Carey’s pressure the previous week was perhaps more constant and intense, the OMs played as if under more pressure, not taking the first option, and either not hitting targets by hand, or handpassing to team mates about to get crunched.

At three quarter time there was still some hope, with the knowledge that if the OMs starting playing well they could achieve anything. It was the winter solstice, and the lights were turned on for the last quarter. Paule marked a kick from the centre bounce, and goaled from 45m. Seccull took two good marks, but was unable to convert. Gardiner goaled late in the quarter to reduce the margin to 74-115, but Uni continued scoring and finished with a 53 point win.

Seccull presented well all day, taking almost every mark in a contest, and he was only let down by his goal kicking. Ed Mitchell bolstered the defence, which was under siege all day, and was well-supported by Greene. Paule owned the first quarter, and had creative bursts in the others. Lapin’s sparkling skills, hard running and determination were valuable. Harvey put in the tough, relentless and skilful effort usually expected of him through the middle.

New to the Seniors in this game was Alex Carter, a member of the MGS 1^st XVIII from 2006-08, including its premiership side last year.

This loss was the biggest and most disappointing of the season. That it was against a side which last year was in A Grade, and that some key players were missing does not explain the loss. 

This week the OMs take on Old Camberwell at Balwyn. Old Camberwell is currently on the bottom of the ladder, and battling to avoid relegation in the second half of the season, which starts this round. The OMs were beaten at Balwyn last year, and, after the loss to Uni, will be out to show their best football. Get out to to Gordon Barnard Reserve and support the Dark Blues.