2025 ROUND 9 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 9, Saturday 14 June 2025
Old Carey FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Dunshea Oval, Carey Bulleen Sports Complex
1st quarter: OMFC 4.6.30 OCFC 0.3.3
2nd quarter: OMFC 6.7.43 OCFC 0.8.8
3rd quarter: OMFC 11.9.75 OCFC 5.10.40
4th quarter: OMFC 14.10.94 OCFC 7.15.57
Goals: Hugo Dale (3), Will Nichols (3), Jeremy a’Beckett (2), Ben Haysman (2), Oscar Hanisch (1), Hugo Hines (1), Ned Nichols (1), Lachie Templeton (1).
Best players: Will Nichols, Albert Brown, Nicky Christian, Jeremy a’Beckett, Ned Nichols, Oscar Hanisch.
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (38), Spencer Anderson (39), Albert Brown (19), Nicky Christian (21), Leo Curtis (18), Hugo Dale (31), Will Dethridge (30), Tom Facy (46), Tom Gleeson (26), Oscar Hanisch (88), Ben Haysman (10), Hugo Hines (61), Ben Jackson (8), Chris Long (11), Ed Michelmore (4), Ned Nichols (2), Will Nichols (Captain, 1), Matthew Payne (7), Jack Spargo (29), Tom Spargo (16), Lachie Templeton (33) and Olly Williams (13).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Captain Will Nichols, Spencer Anderson, Will Dethridge and Lachie Templeton, and debuted four players: Hugo Dale, Tom Facy, Hugo Hines and Olly Williams (more about them later). They replaced Charlie Dowling, Lachie Haysman, Sam Laube, Jackson Paine, Adam Richardson, Campbell Rose, Arthur Rush and Ollie Tyrer.
The Old Melburnians (eighth, three wins) came up against Old Carey (third, five wins) for the second time this year. They last met in Round 1 in what was generally a good quality game but for the OMs giving away eight goals in the second quarter and inaccurate kicking for goal resulting in a mere five-point loss. Following injuries and a lacklustre effort against Williamstown last week, eight changes were made. The biggest challenge for some was just finding their way to the Dunshea Oval through the monumental construction works of the North-East Link. An overpass has been built hard up against the eastern end of the ground.
Played on a dry day under a white cloudy sky with late sunshine, temperatures ranged from 11 to 12 degrees (said to feel like 7 to 9 degrees) with northerly and later north-north-easterly breezes of 11 to 15 km/h and gusts of 28 km/h easing off to 13 km/h by game’s end.
Dunshea Oval is an east-west oriented oval. The OMs kicked to the east in the first quarter. They went immediately into attack but got nothing from their first two attempts. In response, Carey raced up the ground, but had its kick rushed. The OMs resumed their attack. Ben Jackson flew for a mark and although unable to take it, he worked hard to knock it on, and eventually Ben Haysman, under huge pressure from Carey opponents, put it through for a goal, three minutes into the game. A 50m penalty gave the OMs a set shot at goal, which newly returned Captain and - ironically - Carey boy (!) Will Nichols took, kicking truly two minutes later. Matthew Payne missed a set shot, a Carey defender kicked out on the full, and Jez a’Beckett took the free kick. From the boundary outside the intersection with the arc he took a run up, unleashed, and put through a huge, skilful kick at the nine-minute mark. The OMs were noticeably going hard and fast in a way not seen this season and were not giving Carey a look at its goal. Unfortunately, for all their first-quarter dominance, the OMs’ inaccuracy remained a worry as multiple ‘gettable’ kicks for goal were missed. Would they come to regret this later? Finally, the OMs kicked over the top of traffic, finding two OMs with no opponents within cooee of them, and Oscar Hainisch was the one to run in and goal. It was 1-27 at the 17-minute mark. Carey then spent some time forward, running into goal eight minutes later – and hitting the post! It had a goalless first quarter.
The Dark Blues dominated the opening four minutes of the second quarter before Carey kicked for a certain goal – and missed. The OMs also missed more opportunities before Lachie Templeton was mown down from behind as he ran into goal and kicked. That kick missed, but he was given a free kick that didn’t, to lead Carey 5-37 at the nine-minute mark. Carey threatened, but still couldn’t buy a goal, while the OMs ran along the northern boundary line, Hugo Hines tapped down nicely to Jez, in the pocket, and he answered his teammates’ call to go for goal, drilling it from 20 metres out on about a 35-degree angle. It was 5-43 at the 17-minute mark. Carey spent much of the remainder of the quarter trying to score its first goal but only managed three more behinds to end the half goalless.
Although Carey was first to clear from the first bounce of the third quarter, it was marked by an OM and quickly sent forward. Jez attempted to kick backwards over his head, sending the footy very high but not very far, where it was marked well by Hugo Dale, who slotted his set shot for his first Senior goal, inside the first two minutes of the quarter. He was mobbed by teammates. It was 8-49. Was this game over yet – or was Carey too good to let this slide any longer? Play went both ways until Carey slotted its first goal of the game at the seven-minute mark. The OMs responded from the centre bounce with a chain of handballs and a kick over the top to Hugo Hines, who marked and scored his first Senior goal. Once again the OMs burst out of the middle, with Dale out-marking his opponent and goaling at the 10-minute mark to make it 15-61.
Although Carey goaled in response, and a long set shot by Jez fell short, the OMs remained in attack and Ben Haysman gathered and kicked a trademark checkside goal. Now 21-68, 15 minutes into the quarter, one could have thought the OMs could breathe easily, but Carey goaled two minutes later and continued to threaten to do more. However, the OMs defended well, turned the tide, and eventually Dale marked and kicked brilliantly over the top to Ned Nichols. He ran onto the footy, had a paddock in front and no-one behind, and goaled at the 27-minute mark. It was 28-75. It was now – surely – game over. Carey, however, hoped otherwise, goaling at the 29 and 30-minute marks for a 35-point deficit at the last break.
The OMs attacked first in the final quarter. Ben Jackson had an open goal square into which he could run and goal but elected to snap – and miss. Carey lifted its tempo, but the OMs matched it as play went both ways with intensity. Despite attacking long and hard, Carey took until 10 minutes into the quarter to score a goal, and after the OMs spent some time forward without goaling, Carey goaled at the 17-minute mark to make it 55-76. This prompted a Carey supporter to comment – with reference to Carey’s Round 1 comeback and win – ‘Here we go again, Carey. Just like last time!” Meanwhile, Lurch called on the OMs to boost their percentage. One team listened and one supporter left as the OMs kicked three goals. The OMs worked along the northern boundary and kicked out of heavy traffic to Willy Nichols, who boldly threw it on the boot from the boundary line in the pocket and nailed it at the 19-minute mark. Two minutes later Dale marked at the northwest intersection of the boundary line and the arc and nailed his set shot to make it 55-88. The OMs worked hard in an intense battle in front of goal with the captain ducking, weaving and finding a way through the impassible logjam to blast the footy through from almost point-blank range for a goal and the OMs’ last score: 55-94 at the 23-minute mark. The remainder of the quarter saw Carey attacking hard for a return of only two more behinds until the siren announced the OMs’ win after 29 minutes of play.
Both teams were understood to have many important players missing, but the impressiveness and importance of this win by the OMs on this very large oval with the youngest, most inexperienced team in its recent history cannot be overstated. After a lacklustre performance the previous week, this week’s performance lacked no lustre. Although initially (and typically) wasteful in front of goal, the OMs improved to kick 8.3 in the second half. They were fortunate that Carey managed only eight behinds in the first half, but that was also in large part due to the OMs’ constant pressure that also denied Carey opportunities. Although the game opened up in the second half, and Carey kicked four answered goals (two late in the third and two early in the fourth quarter) to close in on the OMs, the ‘new’ OMs were not phased, rising to the challenge by kicking three goals and preventing Carey from scoring another. The OMs were much cleaner in their play, and although Carey often kicked to players on their own, they dropped many marks, only to find an OM gathering it and scooting off at top speed. It was a very impressive display after too many disappointing games, and the effort, intensity and teamwork must become the blueprint for the rest of the season.
Debutants
Hugo Dale attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2012 to 2024 and was a member of Witherby House. He was a member of the 2024 1 st XVIII and was deputy vice-captain of the 2024 1 st XI. He played a game for the OMs last year and this year has been enjoying kicking goals for the Under-19s – and now the Seniors.
Tom Facy attended MGS’s South Australian brother, St Peter’s College, from 2014 to 2018. He played in its 1 st XVIII and then dutifully played for St Peter’s Old Collegians from then until 2024. Tom joined the OMs this year and has played in the Reserves.
Hugo Hines attended MGS from 2011 to 2023 and was a 2023 co-Vice-Captain of Hone House. He played in the 2023 1 st XVIII with more than a few current Senior OMs. Hugo was a member of the winning 2022 and 2023 Snowsports teams, and co-Vice Captain of the 2023 team. He played his first OM game in 2023 and has been an Under-19s player this season.
Olly Williams is the brother of OM player Gus. He attended Geelong College from 2013 to 2022, becoming a Calvert House Prefect. Olly was a member of the 2022 1 st XVIII and rowed in the 2021 and 2022 1 st VIII. In 2023 and 2024 he played for University Blues. The OMs’ new lucky charm, Olly has four wins from four games – the others being in the Reserves.
This week the OMs (now finally out of eighth place and into seventh spot, with the competition’s third-best percentage) return home to take on Fitzroy for the first time this season. Both teams came down from Premier A at the end of last year, with Fitzroy (in Premier A for the first time) winning both encounters to help take the OMs down with them. Neither team has yet booked its place in Premier B (or Premier A) for 2026, with Fitzroy winning one out of its first nine games – in ninth place – in greater danger of Premier C in 2026. It will remember last year and hope to find that form against the OMs again. The OMs must make next week the second game in a run at the top four, which is currently only two wins away.
See you there.
Lurch.