Finals Round 1
Finals Round 1, Sunday 6 September 2026
Old Melburnians FC vs Beaumaris FC at Trevor Barker Oval, Sandringham
1st quarter: OMFC 3.2.20 BFC 4.1.25
2nd quarter: OMFC 8.5.53 BFC 8.2.50
3rd quarter OMFC 9.5.59 BFC 12.6.78
4th quarter: OMFC 11.6.72 BFC 16.7.103
Goals: Hugo Dale (2), Sam Laube (2), Jack Spargo (2), Ollie Tyrer (2), Nicky Christian (1), Harvey Coleman (1) and Lachie Templeton (1).
Best players: Lachie Haysman, Miles Tyrer, Lachie Templeton, Nicky Christian, Spencer Anderson, Harvey Coleman.
Team: Mac Anderson (76), Spencer Anderson (4), Louis Bunting (27), Charlie Canty (10), Nicky Christian (21), Harvey Coleman (14), Harry Cooper (23), Hugo Dale (15), Will Dethridge (12), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Laube (20), Freddie McIntyre (24), Henry Nicholls (25), Ned Nichols (3), 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
Charlie Dowling, Charlie Nairn and Sam Seccull were replaced by Charlie Canty, Henry Nicholls and Henry Yuen-Williamson.
Beaumaris defeated the OMs in Round 1 (69-95) and at Trevor Barker Oval in Round 10 (98-49), being the only team other than Collegians to win both games against the OMs. In the first game a very different team learning a fresh game plan under a new coach could be excused its loss against the newly promoted Premier C winner looking to prove it belonged in Premier B. In the second game, airline tickets were the OMs’ principal self-inflicted disadvantage.
Among the walk-up starters missing from the last game against Beaumaris were key position player Jeremy a’Beckett, big-bodied midfielder Louis Dalgleish, dangerous midfield/small forwards Ben Haysman and Johnny Maher, and defenders Will Richards and Olly Williams – only one by choice.
Despite the OMs finishing above Beaumaris, the game was played at what has been Beaumaris’ home ground this season while its own ground is being redeveloped.
The game began in very sunny conditions despite grey clouds. It was a dry day, but the ground was soft. Temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees during the game felt like 12 to 13 with westerly, south-westerly and west-south-westerly breezes of 9-17 km/h with gusts ranging from 15-28kmh generally favouring the northern end to which Beaumaris kicked first.
Miles Tyrer won the first hit-out at the centre chuck up. Henry Nicholls held off handballing, wheeling around and closing the gap before kicking to Hugo Dale, whose set shot just missed to the right. The OMs stayed forward with Jack Spargo on the western wing hitting up Harvey Coleman who kicked beautifully to Dale, and he played on and scored the game’s first goal after three minutes’ play. Beaumaris responded with a goal from the centre. Jack Spargo soon marked but was outside the 50-metre arc (most VAFA grounds have 40 metre arcs) and sent a short kick to Sam Laube. Normally the OMs’ best set shot, his kick hit the right goal post.
As Beaumaris headed out of defence, Gus Williams took a critical intercept mark in the middle, with the footy back in Laube’s hands after good work by Henry Yuen-Williamson. Laube’s set shot was spot on, giving the OMs a 14-7 lead at the 10-minute mark. A Beaumaris attempt at goal was marked and kicked out to the northwest pocket, where it was marked and immediately kicked back as a goal. It was 14-13. Dale had a huge kick for goal in play from the southwest pocket, in the clear, but it missed everything to the left. The OMs’ defensive pressure up forward was fantastic, with the Dark Blues dominating possession in their half, helped by Louis Bunting patrolling across the centreline. However, whenever Beaumaris got forward, it was more economical and dangerous than the OMs, goaling almost every time, as it did at the 24 and 25-minute marks to take a 14-25 lead.
Key forward/ruckman Jack Spargo showed the midfielder within him when he rucked, roved and eventually ran into the goal square, beating his opponents in a big contest to toe-poke the bouncing footy over the goal line. His goal at the 29-minute mark was truly skilful, determined, creative and entertaining. At 20-25 it proved to be the quarter’s last score as the siren sounded a minute later while the OMs ran out of defence.
The OMs had made a great start, having almost totally dominated the play, yet they had worryingly failed to capitalise on their opportunities against a Beaumaris side making the most of every forward entry.
Beaumaris was first out of the centre in the second quarter, but the OMs quickly gave Nicky Christian a shot in play from the northeast, which he missed, for a behind. The OMs kicked from the western boundary to Coleman, who immediately threw the footy on his boot and watched it bounced inside the empty goal square and – fortunately - just miss the goal post. It was two minutes into the second quarter that the Year 11 Melbourne Grammar boy had scored his second Senior goal. The OMs briefly led, 27-25, but Beaumaris easily took back the lead with a goal two minutes later.
Play then went between the arcs for a while including a nice save by Will Dethridge before Jack Spargo had a tough set shot from the northwest boundary, just missing to the right. Dale had tried to mark it before it went over the line for a behind. Miles Tyrer marked and kicked long. Freddie McIntyre had a chance at the back of several players in the goal square but was tackled as he went for goal and the ball spilled and was rushed. Beaumaris charged up the ground but was cut off. Dale took a nice mark and from a good set shot in the northeast he scored his second goal from inside the arc to give his team a 35-31 lead at the 15-minute mark.
Coleman sent a fantastic kick from the western boundary to Ollie Tyrer, who took a contested mark then drilled a perfect set shot from directly in front to give the OMs a 10-point lead. It was temporary as Beaumaris goaled two minutes later at the 19-minute mark. Harry Cooper saved a goal on the last line. His defensive kick was marked by Beaumaris. Its set shot was a behind, but it followed up with a goal for a 41-44 lead at the 22-minute mark. Laube took a nice mark, but his long set shot fell short. It was kept in play by a Beaumaris punch from the goal line. Play went both ways along the western boundary line until Beaumaris goaled three minutes after its last for a 41-50 lead.
Jack Spargo got the footy at the back of a contest, turned, and put through his second goal. Laube was flattened and received a free for ‘in the back’. His long set shot from the northwest just snuck inside the left goalpost to reclaim the lead, 53-50 at the 30-minute mark with the siren sounding a minute later.
The quarter had been a fascinating one: a bit of a shootout with the lead changing several times, and ultimately a great relief to be in front after it began looking like Beaumaris was getting away from the OMs. That said, it remained an incredibly even game with Beaumaris very threatening.
Beaumaris came charging out of the centre at the start of the third quarter but missed twice in two minutes before scoring a major for a 53-58 lead at the four-minute mark. This turned out to be the beginning of the end. The OMs briefly got into the southeast pocket but could not conjure up a shot before Beaumaris cleared out and goaled three minutes after its last. It was time for the OMs to respond, but Beaumaris attacked from the midfield. Although Cooper stopped it on the last line, Beaumaris persevered until goaling for a 53-70 lead after 12 minutes’ play. Beaumaris was playing man-on-man, and it was winning most contests. Things were even worse as before that goal, Charlie Canty was taken out by ‘friendly’ fire near the western boundary and had to be helped off.
When the OMs finally got deep forward, Jack Spargo and his opponent were jostling for position, and a surprising free kick was awarded against Jack. He had not been moving well since pulling up sore after kicking his last goal. Although Beaumaris raced up the ground it missed. When the OMs had another rare deep entry into the southeast another free was paid Beaumaris’ way and it goaled for a 53-78 lead at the 20-minute mark. It was completely outplaying the OMs, who rarely got over the centreline, and had not had any shots for goal. Finally, Nicholls’ very long kick from the top of the 50-metre arc went to the southwest where Lachie Templeton ran hard to mark it. Laube was receiving yet more unwanted attention in the goal square, so Templeton elected to go long, putting the footy into the goal square and through for the OMs’ only goal of the quarter at the 24-minute mark. It was 59-78. Christian had a good hard chase and tackle to win a free kick that he took from the top of the arc, but his kick went to the southeast as the siren sounded after 28 minutes’ play.
Although the scoreboard ‘only’ showed a 19-point deficit at the last break, the four-goal lead was more like eight as the OMs now had several injuries and were rarely able to get into their half let alone within range of goal during the third quarter. They were not playing well enough to look likely to make up that deficit – short of replicating their lucky and plucky Round 13 win against Old Geelong, having then also kicked a solitary goal in the third quarter – but then eight in the last.
Beaumaris led the way at the start of the final quarter, but the OMs defended hard then went through McIntyre from the northwest, but his kick was rushed through. Play raged backwards and forwards on the western wing before several stoppages and spot fires sparked by Beaumaris in the OMs’ forward line. When Beaumaris goaled at the 11-minute mark for a 60-84 lead it was game over, with another goal five minutes later eliminating any doubt. The OMs won in the centre and after several contests Ollie Tyrer laid a tackle and won a free kick slotting his set shot to make it 66-90 at the 17-minute mark, only to have Beaumaris counter with a goal five minutes later.
The OMs moved the footy around until Christian marked and kicked a nice set shot goal from the northwest at the 25-minute mark while a police helicopter continued to hover nearby for a free view of the game. Although the OMs battled in the northwest in search of another goal, it was Beaumaris that scored one, four minutes after Christian’s, then added one behind before the siren ended the game after 34 minutes.
Undermanned from the beginning, the OMs made an impressive start but missed a few too many early opportunities that would have put useful scoreboard pressure on Beaumaris. They dug deep in the second quarter to take the lead at halftime when it had looked like Beaumaris was beginning to get on top. In the third quarter Beaumaris went man-on-man and shifted up a gear, which the OMs – by now also with some injuries – were unable to match despite continuing to work hard. The imbalance in the middle was made obvious by having so few forward entries that quarter. In the final quarter the OMs were better by a goal than in the third and did well to limit Beaumaris’ score, which could have blown out. To their credit, they never gave up, ultimately losing by a lesser margin than last time.
Could the OMs have played better? Yes – as well as they played, they could have eradicated some of the backline turnovers made when not under pressure, and made more of the scoring opportunities, especially in the first quarter. Could they have won? Possibly, but it would have been truly against the odds, with too many handy players out, and injuries during the game making the task even harder.
Lachie Haysman had tough day in the middle, the part of the ground missing the most walk-up starters due to pre-game injuries. Despite that, he battled hard all day, getting to contests to extract and supply his fair share of the footy.
Miles Tyrer continued to show why he is so important to the team with his excellent tap ruckwork despite being only a year out of school and in his first final.
Lachie Templeton has been the OMs’ best ball hunter and, in his youth, had played alongside some of his now-opponents. They focussed on shutting him down but although his output was less than usual, he did his best with his trademark in-and-under creative work in the centre.
Nicky Christian was on song, sharing rover and ruck rover duties with Lachie Haysman, using his speed to break lines and feed his teammates.
Spencer Anderson is a Patrick Cripps-sized wingman who played one of his better games of the season, using his strength to break tackles and break lines.
Harvey Coleman was not overawed despite being in Year 11. A cousin of Nicky Christian, he played off a half forward flank and used his superior reading of the play and kicking skills to pick and hit up the right targets, also contributing a memorable goal.
Although naturally disappointing not to go deeper than one game into the finals, last year the team finished eighth – one outside the relegation zone. It has made enormous strides this year under Senior Coach James Byrne’s direction with the support of his line coaches. OM legend, 2009 B Grade premiership winner and VAFA poster boy Josh Freezer coached the backline. OMFC player, two-time Thirds’ premiership coach and 2026 Reserves’ coach Harry Healey guided the forwards. His Reserves played and lost their final in the preceding game – a step up from missing the 2025 finals. Yul Mustapha has coached the OMs’ Under-19s and Reserves and this year was the Seniors’ midfield coach. Together they made a monumental difference to this exceptionally young but very promising team.
Making the finals should make the players hungry for a premiership next year – if they stick together and work harder and smarter. In recent years some of the most promising Premier A teams have missed or lost grand finals because selfish players chose to go away during the season. The smart teams learned from that experience, with players then making a commitment to play the entire season, with premierships resulting. The OMs must learn from that recent history, follow the proven path – then reap the rewards.
See you in 2027.
Lurch.