52 scoring shots to 1 told the tale as the Slippery Eel’s bag of six edged him ahead of scattergun Bert Healey in a bitterly contested internal goalkicking race and Will Johnson (snr) made a eye-catching OMs debut with four goals, some impressive pack marks and some bustling play around the stoppages. Mogs Neal sold some candy, snagged two goals of his own and made it through to the bye without an injury in what he publicly rated as his best game for the club.
Amidst the carnage Bangers Gobbo played his best game for the season with an immaculate display of overhead marking and precision passing. A refreshingly mellow Aaron Gregory slotted straight back into the middle and once again let his footy do most of the talking as he gathered possessions seemingly at will. A stiff onshore breeze also marked the return of Charlie Wilmoth who, even with cobwebs trailing in his wake, showed enough glimpses of the old magic to get the fans excited heading into the second half of the season.
In a familiar refrain Toby Dickson and Chris Stubbe generated run and carry out of a largely deckchair-friendly backline. Matt Lugg was again exceptional in the ruck and should expect a call from an increasingly desperate OGGS outfit any day now. Nick Amato also requested that I mention his last-gasp goal that is sadly not recognised in the official list of goal kickers.
The thirds head into a well earned two-week break at 7-1 and within a game of top spot. The European exodus and the dark days of July will ask questions of our depth but all the evidence suggests that this is a team capable of rising to these challenges.
Old Melburnians 26 26 182
Old Trinity 1 0 6
Best- Tim Gobbo, Steve Petsinis, Chris Stubbe, Will Johnson, Aaron Gregory, Toby Dickson
Major Goal Scorers- Steve Petsinis 6, Will Johnson 4, John Cooper 2, Michael Neal 2, Tom Lackmann 2, Tom Healey 2