Finals Round 1 Match Review, 2022
Senior Men's Match Report
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Old Haileybury 17.10-112
Beaumaris 4.9-33
Seniors Match Report from the weekend.
It was Preliminary Final day for our Senior Men who took on Beaumaris at Elsternwick for a spot in the Grand Final.
After a hard fought Semi Final win over Fitzroy where we did not play our best footy at times our guys could not wait to take on the Sharks on the wide expanses of HQ of the VAFA.
Our record over the years has not been great against Beaumaris including 2 close losses this year where they just got their noses in front late.
Although our intensity had to be very high, we learned some lessons from last week about executing our roles and always staying disciplined.
After skipper James Paul won the toss, we kicked with the aid of the wind and needed to make the most of our opportunities. That’s exactly what we did as we kicked 6.3 to 1 behind and led by 38 points at the first change.
Beaumaris had no time and space, and our tackling pressure was through the roof. Every player was buying into doing all the little things that were assisting us in hitting the scoreboard.
Coming into the 2nd quarter into the wind it was important that we started well and did not give up our advantage.
Our ball use was going to be crucial in either extending our lead or reducing what Beaumaris could score with the wind to reduce the margin. Pleasingly our attack on the opposition continued and we were very smart with the footy meaning we won the quarter and went into the rooms at the long break with a lead of 47 points.
The chat at the half mainly led by our playing group was that only half the job was done, and we did not need to change anything just continue to play the same brand of footy. Again, we gave them no time or space when they had the ball, and our forwards were converting most opportunities and we went into the final break in front by 64 points.
Coming into the last term we spoke about finishing the game off in the right way and not deviating from what had gotten us to this position. With the intensity dropping in the standard of the match our lads still stuck to the task with great application and we again won the quarter into the wind and finished well on top for the day.
We had given everything we had to give ourselves an opportunity at a Premiership next week.
A fantastic win to break our hoodoo against Beaumaris with so much on the line.
Individually again our best 2 players on the day were Jack Lonie and Brede Seccull. Brede set the tone all day with his attack on the footy and Jack tore our opposition to shreds with his ball use and his ability to hit the scoreboard.
Underneath that we had a group of men who all played their role to perfection and made everyone associated with the Bloods very proud of the group that runs out for us on the weekend.
This returns us to A Grade Football in 2023 and beyond but coming into this year that was not the aim of the group, it was to be the last one standing and to hold the Premiership Cup aloft!
We loved seeing everyone support us on the weekend and urge you all to come back this Saturday at the same venue as we take on University Blacks in the big one.
See you at the footy!
Go Bloods.