Round 12 - Saturday 11 July 2009 at the Junction Oval.
OLD MELBURNIANS v St. KEVIN’S OLD BOYS
SENIORS, by Lurch.
1ST Quarter: OMs 3.4.22 SKOB 0.2.2
2nd Quarter: OMs 3.7.25 SKOB 3.7.25
3rd Quarter: OMs 7.9.51 SKOB 5.9.39
Full time: OMs 9.11.65 SKOB 7.11.53
Goals: James Beaumont (4), Tom Seccull (2), Marty Kennon (1), Jono Miller (1), Ned Morrison (1)
Best: James Beaumont, Steve Greene, Tim Horne, Ned Morrison, Andrew Prowse, Josh Freezer
Lurch despatched a number of pests in the High Country and drove over 400km in time to watch the second-placed OMs take on third-placed St. Kevin’s. It was a trip worth taking.
The OMs had several key players missing, with Captain Turner and Playfair present as injured spectators. St. Kevin’s was also said to be missing some key players. With a history of epic battles, a tough and tight game was expected.
The game began with both sides attacking hard in overcast and blustery conditions which favoured the OMs. Good work in heavy traffic gave James Beaumont the footy. He ducked and weaved and goaled with style. Minutes later, James Ray sent a beautiful pass out of the centre to James Beaumont, who goaled from a set-shot. Freezer, Adam Marangon and other members of the OMs’ defence played well to deny St. Kevin’s a goal in response. Seccull then took a trademark strong mark, and kicked it across to Morrison, whose set-shot at goal was accurate. The score was 20-0. Simon Beaumont worked hard to stop the loose ball going out, and kicked to Morrison, who ran into an open goal and missed. St. Kevin’s spent much of the end of the quarter in attack, but the OMs’ defence stood firm. Fierce tackling by both sides characterised the quarter.
St. Kevin’s had the benefit of the wind in the second quarter, and scored its first goal early in the quarter after the OMs’ early attack on goal proved fruitless. Mark Hawkins then took to the ground for his first Senior game in 2009. Numerous attacks by the OMs only resulted in points, with perhaps only one being a missed certainty. St. Kevin’s scored consecutive goals to level the scores at half time.
The third quarter began in a worrying fashion. Against the wind, St. Kevin’s kicked the first two goals to take the lead for the first time. It was the first time either side had kicked goals against the wind. James Beaumont then stamped his authority on proceedings, marking and goaling. The footy was then kicked into the goal square. A huge pack went up for the mark, but it was James Beaumont, at the back of the pack, who swooped on the loose ball and goaled. Hawkins then reminded the OMs why he was a pivotal player for so many seasons by taking a fantastic two-grab mark. His shot on goal fell short, but Seccull marked it and finished the job. Two points were scored before Kennon, with his proven ability to create space in heavy traffic, did just that, and goaled. This quarter was characterised by crowded conditions, as all players were often in one half of the ground.
At three quarter time the margin was two goals, but as St. Kevin’s would be finishing with the wind, the margin gave little comfort. An intense final quarter could be expected, and the likely winner was far from certain. However, as the Rev. Lovejoy spoke to the OMs’ huddle, Lurch had a welcome premonition: he heard the OMs singing the OMs’ club song after the game.
Unfortunately, the road to fulfilling Lurch’s premonition was not a road easily traversed, as St. Kevin’s scored the first goal. There followed a long battle both ways, with the OMs’ defence performing exceptionally. All OMs played the kind of accountable man-on-man football too often missing in recent years, and it paid dividends. The deadlock was broken when Hawkins kicked to Millsy, whose set shot at goal took the score to 58-47. When St. Kevin’s goaled very late in the quarter, it took the margin to a worrying 59-53. The game was at its most intense from this point onwards. St. Kevin’s attacked again, sensing it had momentum. It did not bank, however, on the twin Dark Blue Rocks of Gibraltar, Prowse and Freezer, and their Band of Parsimonious Men, who allowed St. Kevin’s nothing. No words of Lurch’s could better describe the situation than these from 1940 which came to his mind at the time: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”.
Frantic checks were made of the time remaining, and it passed more slowly than the last minutes before the start of a holiday. St. Kevin’s was not giving up, and the slightest lapse by the OMs could let them through. The boys in Dark Blue, however, stood firm, and as the siren sounded with the OMs a goal in front, these words from 1940 aptly described the OMs’ last quarter: "This was their finest hour." The icing on the cake came after the siren: James Ray’s kick off the end of his toes had found Seccull, who very appropriately finished the game with a goal against the wind from 50m.
The OMs have played in some remarkable final quarters in 2009, with most being characterised by very satisfying goal sprees. This final quarter only produced two goals, and only one of them was scored before the siren. This final quarter was, however, without any doubt, the OMs’ best quarter of 2009. Every OM played his best.
James Beaumont scored goals at crucial times and otherwise directed much of the play. He was a critical component in the OMs’ win. Greene’s skill and coolness under pressure was invaluable in turning the tide more than once when the momentum was with St. Kevin’s. Horne and Morrison played a very important role in the middle against St. Kevin’s strong midfield. Morrison ran hard all day, and was still going flat out in the final quarter, wearing out his legs and finishing the day several inches shorter. Prowse last year became one of the most dependable OM defenders, and his return to his 2008 form has been very timely. Standing solidly with him is the OMs’ “Find of 2009”, Freezer, whose composure and ability under pressure is astounding. The VAFA is seeking legal advice on preventing him from doing any gym work on the basis he would change from being a “weapon” to a “lethal weapon”.
This week the OMs travel to Bulleen to take on Old Carey. Old Carey always provides the OMs with a strong challenge, and, currently sitting second last on the ladder in relegation territory, will be desperate to win. In their home game last year they won against what was then a lacklustre performance by the OMs. A far superior effort can be expected from the 2009 iteration of the OMs. Get out to Bulleen to support the Dark Blues in their campaign to make the 2009 finals.
