2025 ROUND 13 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 13, Saturday 26 July 2025
Old Melburnians FC vs Caulfield Grammarians FC at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 3.2.20 CGFC 1.4.10
2nd quarter: OMFC 4.3.27 CGFC 8.1.49
3rd quarter: OMFC 9.4.58 CGFC 3.10.28
4th quarter: OMFC 7.6.48 CGFC 8.12.60
Goals: Adam Richardson (3), Wilbur Brown (1), Hugo Dale (1), Ed Michelmore (1), Lachie Templeton (1).
Best players: Jack Spargo, Adam Richardson, Will Dethridge, Spencer Anderson, Matthew Payne, Wilbur Brown
Team: JerSpencer Anderson (36), Albert Brown (29), Wilbur Brown (14), Nicky Christian (21), Hugo Dale (23), Will Dethridge (12), Charlie Dowling (25), Tom Gleeson (61), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Oscar Hanisch (27), Ben Jackson (54), Sam Laube (20), Chris Long (11), Ed Michelmore (4), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (Captain, 1), Matthew Payne (6), Adam Richardson (17), Jack Spargo (2), Lachie Templeton (44) and Olly Williams (18).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Albert Brown, Wilbur Brown, Hugo Dale, Charlie Dowling, Ben Jackson, Chris Long, Ed Michelmore, Adam Richardson and Lachie Templeton.
They replaced Jeremy a’Beckett, Tom Facy, Oliver Hurley, Max Jane, Freddie McIntyre, Tom Spargo, Fletcher Teelow, Gus Williams and Noah Yze.
The Old Melburnians (fifth, six wins) took on the Caulfield Grammarians (fourth, seven wins). When they last met in Round 5, the OMs’ inaccurate 10.16.76 cost them the game, losing by four points. This game was an opportunity for redemption. Nine changes were made, with players returning from injury or travel following the double bye. Some had not played for a long time.
Played in mostly 12-degree temperatures, there was a prevailing north-northeasterly breeze with wind speeds in the 20s. It was a dry day but for a shower early in the second quarter.
The game began in very overcast windy conditions. The OMs had the wind as they kicked to the south. Despite kicking against the strong wind, the Fields scored the first goal after two minutes of play. Adam Richardson took four more to make his mark on the game, kicking a nice goal in play from the southwest on about a 45-degree angle. Play went both ways until Lachie Templeton scored the OMs’ second goal at the 10-minute mark. Appropriately, it was No. 17 – Richo – at the 17-minute mark – who kicked his second and the OMs’ third goal from about the arc, slightly east of its apex. It was 18-7. Albert Brown took a very nice leaping mark in the southwest pocket, but the Fields soon defended and cleared it. The OMs had an attempt at goal in play from the southeast pocket with the footy bouncing just in front of goal, needing a late leg break to go between the big posts, but it bounced straight and missed. Matthew Payne set up the OMs from halfback, but the forwards couldn’t make the most of the opportunity.
It was a frustrating first quarter. Although the OMs – with the wind – finished ahead, much more should have been done with that advantage. Each team had the same number of scoring shots and the OMs were fortunate that Caulfield was inaccurate. It was a very free-flowing quarter in which there seemed to be few contests with most OMs not putting pressure on the Fields, who moved the footy very well. The Caulfield boys were taller and stronger in most match-ups. It was believed to be its strongest team of the year, with several VFL players bolstering it.
The second quarter was a complete reversal for the OMs. The instruction was that it should be ‘Happy Smothers Day’, and the OMs’ pressure was fantastic. It briefly showered, the Fields goaled at the five-minute mark but then play went both ways. Although the Fields had multiple set shots from the southwest pocket, they missed all of them. The OMs’ pressure was relentless as they played the contested game they should have had in the first quarter. Richo and Sam Laube got the footy out of the centre and eventually Wilbur Brown took a nice contested mark in heavy traffic. At the 29-minute mark he drilled his set shot from inside the arc in the northeast to great adulation, soon after which the siren sounded. Although the OMs’ margin was three points less than at quarter time, they had – in effect – won the quarter. Caulfield’s wind advantage had been mostly nullified, and it had kicked a wasteful 1.4 in a carbon copy of its first quarter. Just as the OMs’ inaccuracy had lost the last encounter, could Caulfield’s cost it this game?
With the wind for the last time in the third quarter, the OMs probably needed to score five goals. They started very well, with Richo marking and putting through his set shot from the top of the arc only two minutes into the quarter. The OMs backed up, setting up Hugo Dale with a mark in the southwest pocket on about a 45-degree angle. He put his set shot through two minutes after Richo’s. It was 39-21. Caulfield then took control until it goaled at the 10-minute mark. Spargo had a difficult set shot from the southeast pocket, narrowly missing it at post height. A long OM attempt from the centre square also missed. At one stage almost every player from both teams was in the southeast pocket, making it impossible to score a goal – until Ed Michelmore had a set shot from outside the arc, just east of the centre. It seemed destined to miss to the right but came back and went through at the 28-minute mark to give the OMs a 47-27 lead. Could this goal be the difference? Laube took a set shot when the wind suddenly became the worst it had been all day, and he missed to the left.
At the final break the OMs had a 20-point lead. Would it be enough in this low-scoring game? Caulfield had to more than double its score to win, but it had the wind in the final quarter.
Only one minute had ticked over in the final quarter when the Fields kicked their first goal. They rushed an OMs’ attempt at goal then added another goal at the four-minute mark to make it 49-40. It was a very dangerous period in the game with the wind still strong. Captain Will Nichols received a free kick in the northeast, ran, kicked, and missed. Caulfield ran up the ground and goaled at the eight-minute mark. It was 50-47 with far too much time remaining for the OMs’ liking. The OMs launched a desperate defence that prevented any scores and got the ball forward themselves, although were unable to find a pathway to goal.
Eventually a free kick gave Caulfield the goal it needed to take the lead for the first time since their first goal, 50-53 at the 21-minute mark, with another two minutes later that was surely the sealer. OMs looking at the clock and hoping the quarter would end early now hoped for more time to claw back the lead. The Fields’ next set shot hit the goal post before the OMs went forward again, only to have Laube go down hard as one of many going for the footy, and he was helped off the ground. For the remainder of the quarter the OMs stayed in attack but only added a rushed behind to their score at the 33-minute mark, falling short against Caulfield for the second time this year.
It was a very disappointing loss because – as good as the Fields were – the OMs did not play their best, in particular playing too loosely in the first quarter. Allowing Caulfield to score three quick goals early in the final quarter sealed the defeat. Losing key playmaker Ned Nichols in the second quarter harmed the OMs’ chances, and the absence of big Jez a’Beckett was also felt.
Ruckman Jack Spargo was the OMs’ best player. He led the clearances and – in doing so - his team, keeping it in the game with his consistent play.
Adam Richardson made an excellent return after an extended absence following an injury. He was fantastic in any position he played, seeing action at both ends.
Will Dethridge played well as an undersized player in an undersized defence against one of the stars of the competition.
Spencer Anderson is bigger than Dethridge, but the same comments otherwise apply.
Matthew Payne was a barometer for the OMs’ game. He was lively and dangerous, and the OMs could have used two of him after losing Ned Nichols.
Wilbur Brown made a great return after an unavoidable absence of several months. He did a fantastic job on a quality opponent.
So close is the competition that this loss sent the OMs from fifth down to eighth. They remain mathematically capable of going down to Premier C in 2026 - or finishing on top of the ladder. Next week the OMs return to Elsternwick Park to take on Old Trinity (second, 10 wins). The OMs put in a very poor performance against the T-Boys at Bulleen in Round 4, with the 63-80 scoreline flattering them. The challenge on Saturday is huge, but if the OMs play their best, anything is possible.
See you there.
Lurch.