Round 17 Match Report
Round 17, Saturday 22 August 2026
Old Melburnians FC vs Collegians FC at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 1.1.7 CFC 7.5.47
2nd quarter: OMFC 2.3.15 CFC 10.7.67
3rd quarter OMFC 2.5.17 CFC 16.11.107
4th quarter: OMFC 4.7.31 CFC 20.13.133
Goals: Hugo Dale (2), Nicky Christian (1), Freddie McIntyre (1).
Best players: Mac Anderson, Lachie Haysman, Hugo Dale, Charlie Canty, Henry Yuen-Williamson, Freddie McIntyre
Team: Mac Anderson (76), Spencer Anderson (4), Louis Bunting (19), Charlie Canty (10), Andrew Chirnside (86), Nicky Christian (21), Harvey Coleman (14), Harry Cooper (23), Lucas Cossettini (39), Hugo Dale (15), Will Dethridge (12), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Laube (20), Freddie McIntyre (24), 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 (34).
Match Report by Lurch
Sam Connock and Henry Nicholls were replaced by Andrew Chirnside and Will Dethridge.
The OMs (third) took on undefeated Collegians on a better surface with much better conditions than in Round 9 when Collegians won 97-37. Collegians have been winning by increasing margins in recent weeks….
The game began in overcast conditions with a few patches of blue sky among white clouds on a dry day. Game temperatures of 13-15 degrees were said to feel like 9-11 degrees. The wind was worst at the start, ranging from 26 down to 11 km/h with gusts of 39 down to 17 km/h beginning as a westerly that became a south-westerly and then a south-south-westerly favouring the northern end to which Collegians kicked first.
Against the Collegians juggernaut, the OMs made a great start with Freddie McIntyre goaling in play two minutes into the game. Collegians had two misses before goaling to take a 6-8 lead. McIntyre stepped up again, taking a set shot that fell short and was punched into the goal post. In a minor miracle, Collegians ran into goal and urged that it be signalled as one, but the umpires ruled otherwise. It was, however, only a brief reprieve for the OMs as Collegians goaled and followed up with another to make it 7-22 by the 23-minute mark with goals added at the 25, 31 and – after the siren – 33-minute marks for a 40-point lead.
As large as the deficit was, Collegians had had the wind, and the OMs have managed to dig deep and make a difference in similar games this season. The second quarter would determine whether the OMs had any hope of reeling in the deficit, or whether it would become the Lions’ 17th consecutive 2026 victim. Among the easier improvements the OMs could make was to reduce the turnovers that resulted in Lions’ goals and to get more numbers to the contest.
First out of the middle in the second quarter, the OMs briefly attacked before play went both ways until McIntyre kicked towards the vacant goal square, where the footy bounced to the right…. The Lions rushed another OM attempt, but the OMs kept them at bay for the first seven minutes, when they inevitably goaled. Scoring dried up as the OMs fought hard to stop Collegians doing more damage. When the inevitable goal came at the 18-minute mark, it was 8-60. The northeast pocket was crowded when Nicky Christian received a free kick for holding, and slotted his set shot from about 30 metres: the OMs’ only goal of the quarter, at the 24-minute mark. Although the OMs won in the middle, Collegians got away and ran into goal three minutes later. The siren ended a 29-minute quarter as the Lions scored a behind.
At halftime with a 52-point deficit the OMs could only hope to whittle it back to a less-damaging margin from a percentage perspective, as they were being outgunned.
Although the OMs won at the opening chuck up of the third quarter, the footy was immediately turned over and the Lions goaled at the four and six minute-marks with the breeze. Jack Spargo hit up Miles Tyrer inside the arc in the southwest, but Miles missed his set shot to the left. The Lions responded with a goal two minutes later at the 16-minute mark, followed by goals at 20, 22 and 25….
It was 16-107 when McIntyre and his midfield mates sent the OMs into attack. Will Preston followed up his marking attempt to tackle his opponent and win a free kick. Like a few of his set shots this year, his kick was long and flat, but this one faltered and it was punched through. The OMs were still inside their arc when the quarter ended after 29 minutes.
The Lions won the footy at the start of the final quarter and goaled with 49 seconds elapsed. The OMs put together a chain of possessions through the midfield to hit up Hugo Dale who snapped a goal from within 15 metres for an immediate response. It was 23-113. Jack Spargo skilfully set up Chirnside with a set shot from the northwest but with the breeze at his back he got the distance but missed to the right. Collegians rushed another attempt then goaled at the 16-minute mark. Lachie Templeton and McIntyre combined to give Dale a set shot that he converted from the northeast two minutes later. At 31-120 the OMs were hopeful of avoiding a 100-point defeat, but the Lions’ wish was their command, and with goals at the 24 and 26-minute marks of the 27-minute quarter the final margin was 102 points.
At the post-match it was advised that five VFL players had come into the already potent Collegians’ team. The OMs were missing several key players, and the result was preordained at the first bounce. For every OM going for the footy there were two or three Lions blanketing them, spoiling, and playing like it was the Grand Final. When the OMs worked hardest, they managed to dry up the Collegians’ scoring but could not capitalise the other way. Numerous forward thrusts by the OMs presented no opportunities for scoring shots, which were 11-33 for those that counted. Had the OMs played their best for four quarters they could have minimised the damage, but against bigger, stronger, more experienced well-drilled and undefeated opponents a win was never on the cards.
Mac Anderson was the OMs’ best player. Like his brother Spencer he played off the wing and gave the OMs scoring opportunities.
Lachie Haysman brought his creativity and experience to the midfield contest.
Hugo Dale is a great competitor and did well to score half the OMs’ goals against a defence that hasn’t lost.
Charlie Canty is an MGS boy who got to see the Wesleyan forwards at work as he battled hard in defence.
Henry Yuen-Williamson is another MGS boy. He made a handy contribution to the midfield, where he gave the OMs some wins.
Freddie McIntyre played between the midfield and forward, scoring the game’s first goal and giving the OMs other early opportunities that gave them a positive start.
This week the OMs (still third due to other results) remain at home for the last game of the regular season, taking on Williamstown (ninth).
The game is no dead rubber for either team. The OMs must win to book a place in the finals, with Collegians and De La booked in, but the other two spots up for grabs. Old Camberwell is fourth and less than two percentage points behind the OMs on equal wins. If the Wellers beat Beaumaris well enough, they could leapfrog the OMs. If Beaumaris wins, with an already vastly superior percentage, it could leapfrog the OMs.
To avoid relegation, Williamstown has to beat the OMs, and it needs Old Geelong to lose against De La Salle.
When the OMs met Williamstown in Round 6 they had a polished clinical 30-point win that really kicked off their season. Williamstown beat the OMs both times last year.
There’s a lot riding on this game. See you there.
Lurch.