Round 16: Saturday, 13 August 2011.
Old Haileybury v Old Melburnians at McKinnon Reserve.
Seniors.
1st quarter: OH 3.2.20 OM 4.2.26
2nd quarter: OH 4.3.27 OM 10.8.68
3rd quarter: OH 8.8.56 OM 13.11.89
Fulltime: OH 11.10.76 OM 16.12.108
Goals: Al Armstrong (3), Michael Davis (2), Ted De Fegely (2), Adam Morgan (2), Tom Paule (2), Jeremy Beaumont (1), Cam Beck (1), Ben Hayes (1), Nathan Henley (1), Chris Righetti (1).
Best: Michael Davis, Josh Freezer, Tom Campbell, Adam Marangon, Adam Morgan, Chris Righetti (but see below!)
By Lurch.
Banging away on their keyboards in their darkened bedrooms, the keyboard warriors peered through their Coke-bottle glasses at their computer screens as they made their predictions for Premier Section Round 16. All but one man and/or woman and/or beast predicted that the boys in Black and Magenta would prevail over those who wear the sacred Dark Blue. They still smarted, of course, from having predicted a victory for the Dark Blues over the Black and Magenta last time, only to have the bottom side beat the second-bottom side in a result which should never have happened. Only one keyboard warrior stuck true to the Dark Blue: Rah Rah, of Brahton, whose faith in the boys of the golden mitre was well-placed.
It was a chilly day as the OMs took to McKinnon Reserve, which, despite its location, had the feel of an English country green. Ready to take to it, Nick Madders shaved off his bogan locks for the big game to make himself more aerodynamic. As Lurch began recovering from funding the Bloods’ end-of-season footy trip at their bar during lunch, he saw the Bloods get first blood. Ted De Fegley responded by giving the OMs their first goal on the run. Adam Morgan’s set shot goal gave the Dark Blues the lead, 13-8. The battle then went both ways for some time, with play being rather sloppy by both sides, resulting in frequent turnovers. Michael Davis then provided a minor highlight as he fell backwards while kicking what turned out to be a goal. Tom Paule then marked and as his kick sailed through the big sticks the siren sounded to end the quarter and to announce the OMs’ lead.
The OMs were first into attack in the second quarter, but only came away with points. Luke Casey-Leigh (“LCL”) then got the loose ball, kicked forward, and Al Armstrong got onto it and kicked a goal on the run. It was 34-21. From Old Haileybury’s kick out Nathan Henley, playing his first game since being injured in the first game against Old Scotch, got the footy and sent a beautifully-weighted kick to Michael Davis, and MD’s set shot goal directly in front of goal increased the margin to 41-21. The Bloods attacked for a while, but were stoutly defended. Ben Hayes then stormed through the middle of the ground, put the footy on the boot, and kicked a massive goal. It was 48-21, and the OMs were getting away from the Bloods, dominating play, and making them look ordinary. There was more to come. Jonno Nash roved a pack and kicked forward, with the footy eventually finding Tom Paule, who took a great mark and kicked a long goal. It was 55-21, and there was a great feeling in the Dark Blue camp. The Black and Magentas scored their first and only goal of the quarter, but Chris Righetti won the footy in the middle, Tom Campbell received a free for a push in the back, and Armstrong marked and goaled to regain a 34 point lead at 61-27. Righetti then marked and goaled to give the Dark Blues a 41 point lead at halftime. It was a great quarter by the OMs, as their skills and disposal were generally very good. They ran, and used the centre corridor to good effect. Had they played this way all year the Dark Blues would be closer to the other end of the ladder.
The boys in Black and Magenta came out strongly at the start of the third quarter, scoring the first point and goal of the quarter. Armstrong took a good contested mark hard up against the boundary line in the SW pocket and his trademark long kick was marked by Morgan as he fell heavily on his back. Morgan then goaled from directly in front, but the Bloods responded with a goal from the centre bounce. Despite an OM mark, the Bloods were awarded a free kick and a goal, shrinking the margin to 75 to 46. The OMs had stopped running, and it was the Bloods who were running free, unchecked, getting easy possessions. After a lengthy battle, with the Black and Magentas long in attack, Armstrong, Turbo Timmy Davis and Paule combined to get the footy to Nathan Henley, who dobbed a goal. It was 82-48. The OMs spent some time in attack without result, and then the Bloods took the footy up the ground and goaled. The Dark Blues had a long fight up forward before Armstrong handballed to himself and finished with a goal. After the siren sounded the Bloods had a shot for goal but missed. It was not a great quarter, with the Bloods outscoring the OMs and the OMs not playing as well, but it was far from the OMs’ worst third quarter effort.
The game was by no means over at the start of the last quarter, with the Bloods quickly scoring the first goal, and soon following it up with a second. With history threatening to repeat itself, Henley kept the OMs on course by plucking a great mark out of a contest, getting a small kick away to Jeremy Beaumont, and he goaled from a set shot. Beaumont had another chance minutes later from a difficult angle, but was offline. When the OMs went forward again, Beaumont missed a shot but De Fegley marked on an angle, was flattened after he marked, and was put directly in front of goal, scoring his second. It was 102-68 and the OMs remained firmly in control of the game. The Black and Magentas went into attack, hitting the post, and then spending a long time in attack without scoring. The game became dull with little happening. Old Haileybury eventually scored a point before the Old Melburnians ran the footy up the ground, where Cam Beck goaled at close range. The siren sounded to seal the OMs’ fourth win of the season.
It was a fairly unremarkable game with no real highlights. The first quarter was solid, the second quarter was excellent, the third quarter was a bare pass, and the final quarter was narrowly won without the football being too thrilling. The OMs played some very good footy at times, and won the game that had to be won.
The names of the goal kickers on the VAFA website were incorrect at the time of writing this report, but the names in this report are correct, and they will appear on the VAFA site in due course. The list of best players is also oddly incorrect, and although the correct list is unknown, Michael Davis was deemed the OMs’ best player. It was his best game of the year as he showed some of his 2009 form, working creatively as he ran into attack, and showing off his good disposal. After his return last week after a long layoff, Paule was back and firing in the way that has won many games for the OMs, bursting out of the centre, getting past opposition players and kicking skillfully into the forward line, also scoring two goals for himself. Al Armstrong once again did some very good work, and De Fegley continues to improve, with his second and third efforts being his most noticeable improvements. Adam Marangon was often very good bursting out of defence, and it was very handy having Josh Freezer and Tom Campbell back from VFL duties. Adam Morgan once again contributed quite handily to the team, and with Nick De Steiger’s injury making the game against Collegians his last for the season, Morgan’s good form must continue.
Old Scotch was hoping for a victory by the Dark Blues, who obliged while at the same time the OMs hoped the Xavs would give the Scotchies the beating the boys in Red and Black so love to dish out. With the smell of finals in the air, the Xavs did the right thing by the OMs. The OMs’ win moved them back into ninth position, above Old Haileybury on the bottom. The bottom two sides have won four games each, with percentage putting the OMs up. Old Scotch remains on 4.5 wins, with Old Trinity still on 5.5 wins. As two games remain, the OMs could finish anywhere from 7th to 10th. Next week the OMs play Old Carey in the last game of the season at the Junction Oval. As Old Carey narrowly lost this weekend, it needs a win to get into the final four. The OMs narrowly lost to Old Carey in their last encounter, and must win this game to attempt to avoid relegation. The OMs’ final game, against second-placed St. Bedes at St. Bedes, will be an even tougher assignment. Meanwhile, there is always the possibility that Old Haileybury, Old Trinity and Old Scotch will win one or two of the last games. The OMs need to win and to pray that other results go their way. Be at the Junction Oval next week to see them give their all against Old Carey.