2025 ROUND 15 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 15, Saturday 9 August 2025
Old Camberwell FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Gordon Barnard Reserve, Balwyn
1st quarter: OMFC 3.3.21 OCFC 4.4.28
2nd quarter: OMFC 3.5.23 OCFC 6.7.43
3rd quarter: OMFC 4.9.33 OCFC 12.9.81
4th quarter: OMFC 5.13.43 OCFC 17.12.114
Goals: Jeremy a’Beckett (1), Hugo Dale (1), Ben Jackson (1), Will Nichols (1), Adam Richardson (1),
Best players: Will Nichols, Jack Spargo, Olly Williams, Hugo Dale, Hugo Hines, Wilbur Brown
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Spencer Anderson (36), Wilbur Brown (14), Nicky Christian (21), Hugo Dale (23), Will Dethridge (12), Charlie Dowling (25), Tom Gleeson (61), Ben Haysman (10), Oscar Hanisch (27), Hugo Hines (77), Ollie Hurley (56), Ben Jackson (54), Chris Long (11), Freddie McIntyre (7), Ed Michelmore (4), Will Nichols (Captain, 1), Adam Richardson (17), Campbell Rose (31), Jack Spargo (2), Gus Williams (50) and Olly Williams (13).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Jeremy a’Beckett, Freddie McIntyre, Campbell Rose and Gus Williams. They replaced Lachie Haysman, Jackson Paine, Matthew Payne and Lachie Templeton.
The Old Melburnians (eighth, six wins) took on Old Camberwell (sixth, seven wins). When they last met in Round 6, the OMs played one of their best games this year – the eighth-placed team beating the ladder leader 90-61. In this rematch, both were playing for a place in the finals, but the OM team that beat Camberwell last time was missing nine players, including midfielders and key forwards.
Played on a dry, sunny winter’s day under a blue sky it was 15 to 17 degrees and felt much warmer in the sun – ideal for those who like that kind of puffer-unfriendly weather. There was usually no perceptible breeze, with southwesterlies and south-southwesterlies of four to 13kmh (with ‘gusts’ of 9km up to 22kmh late in the day) playing no role in the game. It was the OMs’ first time at the location since 2009, at which time the new pavilion was being built and the upper oval was used.
This game was played on the well-worn surface of the western oval that was understood to be one of the largest in the VAFA. Apart from brief glimpses of life, the electronic scoreboard was dead and spectators blocked a small portable scoreboard. In the early stages of the first quarter the wings that disappeared off into the horizon were ignored by both teams, as they used the corridor. Kicking to the south and first on the scoreboard were the OMs, with Hugo Dale marking and goaling at the five-minute mark. His goal came amid three OM behinds that gave them a 0-9 lead before the Wellers kicked truly. A period of dominance by the double blue and gold added a behind and a goal to take the lead, which changed when Ben Jackson moved like lightning to get onto the loose ball under pressure in the southeast pocket, and slot a goal as opponents closed in on him. It was 13-15 at the 15-minute mark. The Wellers then took control of the game with the OMs not getting a look at goal as two goals and three behinds were scored against them. It took until the 29th minute for Jeremy a’Beckett to take a nice mark in the southwest pocket, about 35m out, and from about a 45- degree angle he put it through. The OMs were attacking as the siren sounded two minutes later.
Although the OMs were only seven points down, the Wellers had controlled most of the quarter but were unable to maximise return on investment. The OMs had done well to stay in the game despite also missing some reasonable kicks for goal, but they would have to lift their efforts to stay in the game.
The second quarter began with all play being on the western wing until Camberwell goaled inside three minutes and added another six minutes later without the OMs crossing the centre. Adam Richardson then managed a kick in play from the northwest but missed, while the Wellers hit the goal post twice in a row. They were now completely dominating with the OMs not seeing their own half of the ground. Freddie McIntyre managed to have a set shot from directly in front that looked good off the boot, but which drifted right as it neared the goal post. The siren sounded a minute later.
It was a quarter almost totally dominated by the Wellers. The OMs had both done well and were fortunate that Camberwell had again failed to capitalise on that dominance. In a low-scoring game, though, that 20-point halftime margin was ominous, and only made worse by the sight of livewire Charlie Dowling in the rooms with his ankle in ice. He had been due to kick seven goals in what was his return to the forward line. Ben Jackson, who had also given the OMs a spark up forward, was crook and now also out of the game.
The third quarter began with the Wellers goaling from the centre bounce. A while into the quarter the game was stopped for several minutes as a seriously injured Weller was stretchered from the field. The OMs had a rare but welcome highlight when Richo took a remarkable mark to the left of goal. In what looked like slow motion at the side of a pack, he reeled it from arm’s length with his left hard and drilled the set shot: the OMs’ first goal since the first quarter. It was 49-30 but Camberwell goaled from the centre bounce. Ben Haysman then set up Dale, who took a nice pack mark, but he missed his set shot to the left while kicking from directly in front. Campbell Rose also had a set shot, but it fell short, and then the Wellers showed how it is done, with four consecutive goals before three-quarter time.
The game was over at the last change and only got worse from then on. From the first bounce the Weller boys goaled. The OMs spent a bit of time forward, during which Captain Will Nichols ran and goaled in his trademark style. Two further attempts were made in play and although both were viable shots, both missed. McIntyre had another attempt at goal with a long set shot that missed to the right. Otherwise, the Wellers controlled the game and scored five goals.
The 71-point loss was the OMs’ worst of the season. Before this, the 21-point loss to Williamstown was the worst, and the OMs’ average losing margin was nine points. Although there were a few missed shots for goal, they - and nothing else the OMs could have done - would have made a difference. Missing key players all season, the OMs have done remarkably well in the circumstances, but this game was a bridge too far. Last week the team led second-placed Old Trinity at various stages and lost by nine points – but four of the players who made that possible were unavoidably unavailable for this game. Added to that were injuries during the game – and illness – that left the OMs with no bench. Several others had battled illness during the week. As for much of the year, several Under-19s played – some of them quite talented, but inexperienced. It was a tough game against a solid opponent and the OMs simply lacked the personnel to win it.
Captain Will Nichols was the OMs’ best player, leading the way with his example as he went hard all day in a wonderful effort against the odds.
Jack Spargo is an unsung hero of the OMs and another leader in his example, helping his younger teammates as he battled ceaselessly. He has had a fine season.
Olly Williams’s tackling was first class as he gave his team everything in any position he was put.
Hugo Dale returned to his pre-travel form as he hit his straps in the forward line.
Hugo Hines is a young up-and-comer finding his way at Senior level. He did some good things on a tough day.
Wilbur Brown is a good little player who played his first game on the ball, achieving clearance figures up there with the best.
The only good outcome from Round 15 was that the OMs – who cannot make the finals – will stay in Premier B for 2026 to give them an opportunity to improve together and go further up the ladder. Fitzroy was the only team that could have mathematically surpassed the OMs to send them down to Premier C, but it was defeated by ladder leader Old Ivanhoe and will go down to Premier C along with Hampton Rovers next year.
This week the OMs (eighth) return to Elsternwick Park for the last home game of the season, against the winless Hampton Rovers (10 th ). The Rovers proved difficult to overcome on their home ground in Round 7, although the OMs eventually prevailed, 84-42. Hampton will be looking for its first win, while the OMs will aim to finish the season in a positive fashion as a lead-in to a fruitful pre-season and a better 2026.
See you there.
Lurch.