Round 16 Match Report
Round 16, Saturday 15 August 2026
Old Ivanhoe Grammarians FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Chelsworth Park, Ivanhoe
1st quarter: OMFC 3.3.21 OIGFC 1.5.11
2nd quarter: OMFC 5.4.34 OIGFC 4.8.32
3rd quarter OMFC 8.8.56 OIGFC 7.10.52
4th quarter: OMFC 10.10.70 OIGFC 8.16.64
Goals: Hugo Dale (3), Jack Spargo (2), Nicky Christian (1) Henry Nicholls (1), Will Preston (1), Lachie Templeton (1) Miles Tyrer (1).
Best players: Harry Cooper, Miles Tyrer, Lachie Haysman, Lachie Templeton, Hugo Dale, Oliver Tyrer.
Team: Mac Anderson (67), Spencer Anderson (4), Louis Bunting (19), Charlie Canty (10), Nicky Christian (21), Harvey Coleman (14), Sam Connock (87), Harry Cooper (23), Lucas Cossettini (39), Hugo Dale (15), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Laube (20), Freddie McIntyre (24), Henry Nicholls (25), Will Preston (11), Jack Spargo (2), Tom Spargo (1, Captain), Lachie Templeton (16), Miles Tyrer (17), Ollie Tyrer (32), Gus Williams (35) and Henry Yuen-Williamson (26).
Due to playing in clash jumpers some jumper numbers were different for this game (as shown above).
Match Report by Lurch
Jeremy a’Beckett, Andrew Chirnside, Louis Dalgleish, Max Jane, Ned Nichols, Sam Seccull and Fletcher Teelow were replaced by Spencer Anderson, Louis Bunting, Charlie Canty, Harvey Coleman, Sam Connock, Lachie Haysman and Henry Yuen-Williamson.
Particularly devastating was the news that Jeremy a’Beckett’s injury against Old Carey was season-ending. Every OM and supporter hopes that he will have a complete recovery and fight again in Dark Blue.
This week the OMs (third) travelled to Ivanhoe to play Old Ivanhoe (10th). As has been seen throughout the Premier B competition this year, ladder positions from second to 10th have often been meaningless as any team in that number range can (and often does) beat one that is more highly-ranked – as the OMs have found out more than once. Ivanhoe had everything to play for, as only three wins out of three and a percentage boost could save it from relegation to Premier C in 2027. It was also Ivanhoe’s farewell game to the old ‘Pine Lodge’ pavilion, which will be demolished and replaced. The OMs – after their abysmal failure against Old Carey the previous week – needed to win to get back on track, and to increase their chances of staying in the top four.
The game was initially played in sunny conditions with a few white clouds in the blue sky. Conditions were calm, but it soon became overcast and the breeze picked up. Played on a dry day, the game temperature ranged from 12 to 13 degrees (said to feel like 9-10) with innocuous south-westerly or west-south-westerly breezes from 9 to 11 km/h with ‘gusts’ of 11-19 km/h.
Chelsworth Park is on a southwest-northeast axis, and the wind generally favoured the northeast (Pine Lodge) end to which 10 of 18 goals were scored. The surface was soft.
The OMs had the breeze in the first quarter, with Jack Spargo kicking the first goal of the game before Lurch arrived a few minutes late to find that Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard was (almost completely) bare. Maintaining their momentum, the OMs had most of the footy but missed two difficult set shots and another attempt on the run. Befitting the very laid-back semi-rural setting among the trees was the OMs’ next goal. A chain of kicks along the northern boundary put the footy out in front of Hugo Dale with no other player within about 50 metres or more. He waited under he got the bouncing ball under control, looked around, and then scored one of history’s most stress-free goals with a casual toe-poke just over the goal line. At the 18-minute mark it was 3-15.
The Hoes goaled three minutes later. Although the OMs received a free kick it was paid downfield to Jack Spargo who put through his long set shot at the 25-minute mark with the quarter ending five minutes later. For a game with a lot riding on it for both sides, but particularly for the Hoes, there was no great intensity or urgency. It was a free-flowing game with occasional stoppages.
The OMs were first out of the middle in the second quarter and applied a lot of forward pressure but were unable to conjure up a shot at goal. Ivanhoe scored a behind then went very hard at it, but the OMs defended several times before a Hoe kicked into a goal post from point blank range. It was then the OMs’ turn to apply sustained forward pressure, but Ivanhoe prevented them from having any shots until Lachie Templeton took an intercept mark. Kicking from about 30 metres almost directly in front he goaled at the 15-minute mark.
Dale kicked long to a huge pack. The ball spilled to ground, where Nicky Christian gathered, snapped, and bounced the footy through for a goal a minute after Templeton’s. It was 19-33. Two minutes later Ivanhoe worked up the ground and goaled, had most of the footy and goaled in play to make it 31-33 at the 22-minute mark. The Hoes missed a set shot five minutes later but it was increasingly worrying that they were having more shots for goal, as some were eventually bound to be on target. Miles Tyrer had a quick snap from the ruck, but it was a behind. The siren ended a 30-minute quarter that showed that it was anyone’s game, with the Hoes’ 12-9 scoring shots for the game suggesting they might be the more likely winners.
First out of the centre chuck-up in the third quarter were the OMs, with MGS boy Harvey Coleman missing a shot on goal in play. Ivanhoe responded with a goal and then another from the centre to take a worrying 44-35 lead four minutes in. Henry Nicholls marked a midfield kick but missed his set shot to the left. Ivanhoe then dominated play and goaled to make it 50-37 at the 16-minute mark. Lurch noted that it was now or never for the OMs. Lachie Haysman - in his first game back after an injury – kicked a long set shot that was rushed on the goal line with the next OM set shot going out on the full. Dale then stepped up, getting the footy amid heavy traffic and snapping across his body for an overdue but fantastic OM goal. It was 55-44 after 19 minutes’ play.
From near the pavilion Dale unleashed a powerful set shot that went through at goal post height to reduce the margin to 51-50, five minutes after his previous goal. Henry Nicholls then took a great contested mark and drilled a nice set shot from about 30 metres, almost directly in front, only just sneaking it inside the left goal post to take a 52-56 lead. The siren sounded minutes later.
With the breeze the OMs had only managed to increase their margin by two points following Ivanhoe’s early surge that took away the lead. The Hoes had the breeze to the pavilion end in the final quarter, although so few spectators were at the game that there was no home crowd advantage. Only this quarter stood between them and relegation.
First out of the middle in the final quarter were the OMs who finished with a handball to Miles Tyrer who wheeled around in the southwest and with a powerful kick blasted the footy through for a goal. It was 52-62. Templeton then snapped and only just missed. Hearts were in mouths as the Hoes missed three times before goaling to make it 61-63 at the eight-minute mark. The OMs hit up Jack Spargo in the northwest. His set shot was too high and dropped short, where Will Preston took a strong contested pack mark and goaled from 10-15 metres, directly in front for a 61-69 lead 10 minutes in. The next 10 minutes saw play go each way without a goal. Ivanhoe blazed away in play and missed and came in off the northern wing to blaze and miss again. It was an excruciating 64-69 at the 24-minute mark. With so few scores and not many stoppages, it seemed destined to be short quarter.
Jack Spargo then skilfully marked as he ran towards goal while looking back over his shoulder. He could have run into goal and finished it, but decided to play it safe, go back, take a set shot from about 25 metres in the northwest – and missed….
It was 64-70 with 25 minutes played.
The footy was in Ivanhoe’s end in the last minutes. A Hoe received a free kick in the northeast pocket but was too far out to score. Rather than go long towards goal he dished it off, but it went nowhere useful and resulted in a stoppage. The footy continued to stay at Ivanhoe’s end until the siren sounded at the 31-minute mark to end the angst and announce that the OMs had managed to hang on by a mere goal, and that Ivanhoe – a premiership favourite and finalist in 2025 – would be relegated.
It could so easily have gone the other way. Ivanhoe’s 1.6 in the last quarter showed it had many opportunities to win. The OMs’ 2.2 made the difference. It was not a high-quality game, but the OMs dug deep when it mattered, made things very hard for Ivanhoe - and were also ultimately very lucky that the Hoes couldn’t kick straight.
MGS boys Charlie Canty and Harvey Coleman were in the middle of the players’ huddle for the song (which still needs much more practice) for their first wins with the OMs’ Seniors.
Harry Cooper was the OMs’ best player. He was crucial on the last line of defence and saved the OMs more than a few times with his high defensive leaps.
Miles Tyrer continued his domination of the ruck and added an eight-point goal in the last quarter.
Lachie Haysman made a welcome return for the first time in three matches, bringing his creativity and effort to the midfield.
Lachie Templeton continued his reliable work as the OMs’ in-and-under player, getting plenty of midfield ball and making the OMs dangerous up forward.
Hugo Dale was the OMs’ leading goalkicker and set up others with his long kicking.
Oliver Tyrer played off the wing and helped with the OMs’ transition.
This week the OMs (still third due to other helpful results) return home for the first of two home games to finish the regular season. They take on undefeated Collegians. When they last met, Collegians had an easy 97-37 win in heavy conditions against a stronger team than the OMs are likely to be able to muster next week due to injuries and absences. In recent weeks Collegians have been winning by increasingly larger margins. An OM win would be a miracle – but then stranger things have happened in footy.
See you there.
Lurch.