2025 ROUND 11 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 11, Saturday 28 June 2025
Old Geelong FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Como Park, South Yarra
1st quarter: OMFC 2.1.13 OGFC 0.2.2
2nd quarter: OMFC 8.2.50 OGFC 1.4.10
3rd quarter: OMFC 12.7.79 OGFC 2.7.19
4th quarter: OMFC 13.8.86 OGFC 8.10.58
Goals: Jeremy a’Beckett (3), Hugo Dale (2), Oscar Hanisch (2), Ned Nichols (2), Leo Curtis (1), Sam Laube (1), Sam Seccull (1) and Noah Yze (1).
Best players: SJeremy a’Beckett, Ned Nichols, Tom Spargo, Will Nichols, Nicky Christian, Olly Williams
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Spencer Anderson (39), Albert Brown (29), Nicky Christian (21), Leo Curtis (88), Hugo Dale (23), Will Dethridge (12), Tom Gleeson (61), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Oscar Hanisch (27), Hugo Hines (77), Sam Laube (20), Chris Long (11), Ned Nichols (48), Will Nichols (Captain, 1), Matthew Payne (6), Sam Seccull (16), Jack Spargo (2), Tom Spargo (37), Olly Williams (18) and Noah Yze (13).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Hugo Hines and debuted Sam Seccull (more on him later). They replaced Ben Jackson and Ed Michelmore.
The Old Melburnians (sixth, five wins) came up against Old Geelong (fifth, six wins). When they last met the OMs had (what remains) their biggest win of the season: 94 points. This game was not expected to be anywhere near as easy, as Old Geelong treats Como Park as a fortress - at which few invaders triumph.
Played on a dry day under a blue sunny sky with a few white clouds, there was a prevailing almost negligible north-north-westerly breeze and a top of 15 degrees.
These two teams last met at Como Park sometime well over 50 years ago as this is the first year they have played in the same section since then. It is a massive east-west oriented oval that looked longer and wider than Elsternwick Park’s 165m length and 145m width. A massive home team lunch boosted spectator numbers, interest and atmosphere.
The game began in very still conditions that gave Old Geelong a negligible benefit as it kicked to the east in the first quarter. It dominated the first five minutes as it threw everything at the OMs. It seemed it was not going to be an easy game. Eventually the OMs broke free and crossed to Sam Seccull, on debut, and he hit up Hugo Dale near the northwest intersection of the arc and the boundary line. Hugo unleashed a huge but seemingly effortless kick that scored the game’s first goal at the five-minute mark. Geelong scored a behind in response before the OMs attacked with a nice chain of kicks towards Ned Nichols, this time wearing the No. 48, and through good use of his body he beat his opponent to mark and goal. It was 1-12 at the 10-minute mark. Through sheer desperation the OMs chased down and touched through an otherwise certain Geelong goal. Against a clearly dangerous Old Geelong, the OMs did well to weather the storm and come out on top at the first break.
Play briefly went each way in the second quarter before the OMs hit up Jeremy a’Beckett, too far out to score. He went short to Ned on the northeast boundary line. Under no pressure, Ned played on and slotted it from a tight angle in the second minute. Two minutes later Jez laid a great tackle in front of goal and goaled from his free kick. Although the OMs won at the centre bounce, it took several minutes of battling in the southeast pocket before the OMs managed a clever kick to Leo ‘Nards’ Curtis on a fast lead who took it in the southeast pocket while diving at full stretch with an opponent right on his hammer. His set shot taken from about a 45-degree angle gave the OMs a 2-31 lead at the eight-minute mark.
Old Geelong threatened to score, but the OMs turned the tide, sending the footy into the goal square amid a mass of players out of which Jez managed to throw it on the boot and kick over his head for an entertaining and skilful goal at the 13-minute mark. Geelong won in the middle, marked and missed a shot for goal. At the other end, Seccull had a set shot from the southeast but only just missed to the right. Ben Haysman was tackled high, took his free kick from the northeast boundary and kicked into the goal square where Noah Yze soccered it over from about two feet inside the goal line. An opponent got stuck into Sam Laube immediately after Yze’s goal, gifting Laube a free kick and goal from the goal square to increase the OMs’ lead to 3-44 at the 24-minute mark. It was beginning to look like Geelong would mirror Old Carey in having a goalless half against the OMs, but luck gave it a goal at the 27-minute mark.
Although the OMs had a brilliant 6.1 to 1.2 second quarter and a 40-point halftime lead, it still felt like Geelong remained a real threat and that it was too soon to call it ‘game over’.
The third quarter opened with play both ways until a free kick to Oscar Hanisch gave him a goal and the OMs a 11-57 lead at the 7-minute mark. Matthew Payne then ran in from the southwest for a certain goal but kicked a step too soon, with the footy coming off the outside of his boot for a nearside behind by about one foot. As Geelong defended against another OM attack, two OMs gang tackled the defender, and Olly Williams received the free. He produced a fantastic kick that Jez took in a diving mark and converted from directly in front. Geelong responded with its second goal of the game. Sam Seccull then marked about 20-25m out, almost directly in front, scoring his first Senior goal for the OMs and was duly mobbed by his teammates. It was 18-72 at the 19-minute mark. Nine minutes later Dale dived at full stretch to mark and goaled from about 25m.
At the final break the Dark Blues had the game won, having kept Geelong to a very low score. The only blemish was some inaccuracy in front of goal in the third quarter.
Old Geelong missed a set shot in the opening minutes of the final quarter, after which the game fell into a funk until Hanisch marked in the southeast and kicked through the empty goal square to give the OMs a 20-85 lead, 10 minutes into the quarter. Few would have guessed that it would be the OMs’ last goal of the game. Geelong began to dominate and goaled five minutes later. Ben Haysman hit up Dale with a laser-directed kick that found him in the middle of a group of OGs, but his promising-looking kick for goal just missed. Geelong then kicked six goals to restore some pride and to win the second half, but it was too little too late for it, losing by 28 points.
It was a fascinating game, with Old Geelong coming out hard and making the OMs work very hard to get on top of them in the first quarter. The second quarter was extraordinary by the OMs, setting up the win, with the third quarter adding to their lead. Although the OMs seemed to take the foot completely off the throttle in the final quarter to let Geelong back in, they had been running hard up until then to dominate all over the huge ground, and – among other reasons – were a bit spent. It was a solid win at a ground renowned as a graveyard for visiting teams.
Jeremy a’Beckett was the OMs’ best player. He continues to play consistent and high quality footy, either leading or contesting as required, and is also clean off the deck for a big bloke.
Ned Nichols brought his high-energy game to playing in the middle with clean disposal and he worked hard in both directions.
Tom Spargo played on a VAFA representative player and set up the OMs’ defence very well. He continued his good form.
Will Nichols – as for his brother Ned, above.
Nicky Christian showed great dash from the backline to drive the OMs into attack. He used the ball very well.
Olly Williams. In Olly the OMs have found a brilliant young hybrid defender who can play tall or small. He is fast and powerful and has slotted into the defence quickly and successfully.
On debut was Sam Seccull, wearing the MGS shorts he wore when he defeated Scotch with the winning goal in the 2025 Cordner-Eggleston Cup match (what more could a Grammar boy want?). He attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2012 to 2024 and was a member of Ross House. Sam played in the 2023 and 2024 1 st XVIIIs. He joined the OMs this year in the Under-19s and also plays for the Sandringham Dragons. Sam is related to Tom ‘Big Sexy’ Seccull, a once-in-a-generation centre half-forward and 2009 OMFC premiership player.
This week the OMs (now up two places to fourth, with six wins) take on what is currently the biggest challenge in Premier B – Old Ivanhoe at Chelsworth Park, Ivanhoe. The Hoes have won nine games, lost two, have the highest for/against percentage (the OMs are third) and sit on the top of the ladder.
Unfortunately, Lurch will be in New South Wales, missing seeing perhaps his 10 th game in 20 seasons, but hopes that YOU will be there to cheer on the OMs in the ultimate test of their exciting new brand of footy.
Lurch.