Round 9 Match Review, 2023
Senior Men's Match Report
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Old Haileybury 09.08-62
Uni Blues 16.12-108
It was Round 9 for our Senior Men and we hosted University Blues after the competition had a week off.
There was a strong wind going to one end which we had use of for the first quarter.
We started well and put plenty of pressure on Blues and probably could have been a bit further in front at the first change but led by 27 points.
Kicking into the breeze in the 2nd term it was important that we controlled the footy and tried to take a bit of heat out of the game.
Disappointingly we struggled to get our hands on the ball and our opposition made us pay with a 7-goal quarter to go into the main break with a lead of 17 points.
We needed to make the most of the still strong wind in the 3rd quarter to build a lead that we could defend in the last. Disappointingly Blues were great at making it a scrap and we couldn’t get our noses in front and going into the last we were behind by 7 points. Up against it in the last term into the wind we were looking to keep it close and then score on the rebound. Again, our opposition were fantastic at taking their opportunities and kicked 7 goals to 2 for the quarter and at the final siren we went down by 46 points.
It is a familiar tail for our year currently where our effort is fantastic for most of the day, but we have lapses in concentration and at this level of footy we are getting hurt.
We need to just hang in there and believe in ourselves more and the results will start to go our way.
Individually our midfield gave everything they had with Corey Rich, Josh Gasparini, Brodie Steele and Trevo doing all they could.
Durras Seccull was great in a variety of roles.
Our backs did their best in tough conditions with James & Will Paul and Max Sinclair holding down the fort.
Up forward Castan Racunica, Jack Munro and Harry Jones were a constant threat.
Next week we head out to Camberwell to face Old Scotch and will have a big week on the track and look to knock them off.
See you at the footy.
Go Bloods!
For full pictorial coverage of the Seniors' match against Uni Blues go to the Gallery
Men's Reserves Match Report
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Uni Blues 23.12-90
Old Haileybury 02.5-17
Women's Match Report
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Old Haileybury 01.01-7
Old Melburnians 04.07-31
The Hearts celebrated Spud’s Game in our round 9 clash vs Old Brighton. This game gave our whole club the opportunity to reflect on a great man and encourage players to check in on their mates over the coming days and weeks, just as our mate Spud always did. It was awesome to have both our senior and reserves men’s teams as well as Uni Blues join the Hearts and Brighton teams on our main oval before the game. Our 2 captains, Junior & Tay, spoke extremely well and with some strong messages as they addressed all players, coaches, officials, umpires and supporters. A minute silence was also held so we could all remember Spud. A big thanks to Uni Blues and Old Brighton football clubs for their support of this day.
Our girls were really keen to play with plenty of Heart in this game, just like Spud had often asked them to do when he was coaching the team. It was great to have 4 current Haileybury school girls join us for this one as Poppy Murdoch, Bec Allen, Fern O’Brien and Jemima Shinsky all pulled on the Hearts jumper. It was evident that our girls were on from the start and were throwing themselves into the contest with fierce determination. The huge breeze that was blowing across the ground did little to curb our group. We were a goal up at quarter time and the belief amongst our girls was growing.
The Hearts kept up their attack in the second quarter with Holly dominating the hit outs to give Junior, Eloise, Ella and Poppy first use of the ball. Our backs headed by Gracie and Peta were superb and were holding up really well. Despite Brighton kicking a late goal we were able to maintain our lead at half time. With the aid of a slight breeze in the third term our girls went all out attack as they knew that maintaining a lead was critical. Tay kicked her second goal of the game to send us into the ¾ time break with a commanding 16 point lead.
The Hearts knew that we had to defend in determined fashion in the last term as it was clear that the Brighton girls would throw everything at us. Daniella, Pulli and Ari were superb after being asked to push back into defence and all of our backs held up really well. Not only did the Hearts hold Brighton to no score for the term, Serene in her comeback game from injury kicked a big goal on the run to seal the match with the Hearts running out 24 point winners. This was an awesome win on a very special day and a huge turn around against a quality side who beat us by 38 points in round 2. Our girls sung the song with gusto in the rooms after the game then the Brighton girls joined us for afternoon tea. Gracie Vanderwaal was awarded best player for the Hearts after playing a super game in defence. It was really nice to hear Stewie Loewe say some words about his great mate Spud at the men’s after match function with many of our girls in attendance.
Go Hearts !
Under 19's Match Report
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Old Haileybury 9-12-66
Parkside 6-4-40
After a week off, Old Haileybury U19’s followed up a great win against Old Carey with a fantastic win against Parkside at Parkside. After losing the toss and kicking against a 5-goal breeze our lads produced their best quarter of football for the year, keeping Parkside to 1 goal whilst kicking 2 ourselves. We then piled on 6 goals to nothing in the second term to end a great 1st half of footy. At half time we talked about making sure we “kept our head in the game” and that Parkside were a good side, above us on the ladder, and would surely make a game of it. That’s exactly what happened with Parkside kicking 4 goals in the first ten minutes of the 3rd quarter and really putting us under the pump. We fought back hard after that and managed to score one ourselves giving us a handy 19-point lead heading into the last quarter with a howling gale behind us. We dominated the last quarter, however the conditions worsened, and it became very difficult to kick goals and we ended up kicking 1 goal 7. Overall, it was a superb win in extremely difficult conditions and the guys should be praised for great first half and then finishing out the game strong.
Goal Kickers:
Yates, Whitaker, Connell 2
Gillon, Black, Giustiniano 1
Best Players:
Giustiniano, Cowell, Walstab, Connell, Adams, Hardeman