Round 14 Match Review
Senior Men's Match Report
Beaumaris: 12.12.84
Old Haileybury: 11.9.75
Joni Mitchell’s, “You do know what you’ve got till it’s gone” has resonated lately and Saturday was another reminder. Saturdays are for sport and spectating and while there was less of the latter, it was great to have the physical and emotional roller coaster of football back. The seniors, sitting second on the ladder, were taking on third placed Beaumaris at Banksia Park.
Matt Charlesworth made his debut in the seniors and after only one training session during the week, some rust was to be expected from the lads. It proved to be the case and the windy conditions didn’t help. The home side appeared to be a bit more assured and led for most of the day. Trevo was required to ruck for long terms with Durras and Will Gown providing the odd chop out. Jackson Ross was lively in the forward line, but too often delivery was haphazard.
The Bloods found themselves 39 points down at the last change but momentum, an underestimated motion, changed after a couple of early goals. While always up against it, the fight was there (as it had been all day) but things began to go our way – the bounce of the ball, the inches of difference and it was Beaumaris who seemed to lack the cohesion. It ended up being a 5 goal to zip last quarter. The boys had saved the best until last but it wasn’t to be enough. The backline, facing a taller opposition all day, kept the home side scoreless in the last quarter. Bitters again led the way despite knee discomfort.
We didn’t play well enough to claim it was “one that got away”. But to be beaten by 9 points was frustrating but also encouraging as we know how much improvement there is in the squad. Brede Seccull, Dino Karamoshos aand Rayner Seccull were good all day and no doubt a number of players will appreciate having had the hitout.
On the ladder, we slip to third with 4 games to reclaim the double chance. Back to Princes Park on Saturday. At this stage the same rules around spectators are in place so you can follow the scores on the VAFA website.
Men's Reserves Match Report
Beaumaris: 18.25.133
Old Haileybury: 4.5.29
This week against Beaumaris was a real test for a very small, very young side with very little in terms of experience. When we ran out the size difference was noticeable but to the boys credit they never stopped trying.
The game started with us up and about kicking three goals in the first quarter to lead by a goal at quarter time as a group we committed to be being more accountable and defending better across the ground and we did well across the quarter kicking three goals to two . We did have a breeze our way but the boys really worked hard, were first to move and played positively. In the second we lost Gleads very quickly with tightness in his lower calf and decided to ice him up and we hope he has a speedy recovery and gets back to us when he is 100%, Cooper Wenk suffered a shoulder injury which left us with the bare 18 players, with a strong breeze our opposition kicked 8 goals on the back of some rather frustrating turnovers early in the quarter. After half time we committed to get back to playing positive footy again and we did that kicking the first goal of the quarter, we lost Owen Gora to concussion which left us playing 17 on 18, one man down. That was hard to watch because the boys as a collective really dug in and chose to compete rather than switch off and have a mental break and you could see belief growing, they were able to match Beaumaris through work rate but could not hang in there handing back goals at the end of the quarter as they tired, which was inevitable.
The final quarter started with us trailing by about 70 points and they kicked the first goal very quickly but we never gave up and hung in there with them in what was a scrap, we competed and went head to head with an opposition with a strong wind behind them, our stated aim was to only let them have 4 goals and we were able to do that. Again the level of performance between round 12 to round 14 was night and day. Yet again, the only disappointing part was our inability to implement the game plan over 4 quarters, We just could not get back at them in the end and although we did not give up, going forward, we have to find the resilience and a way to compete across 4 quarters with what we have and to read and react to each other better.
Jordy Hurley and Lorenzo and Jack Grenda didn’t quit trying, Gora before being injured was great and Jett Facey and Ben Schauder were terrific in the way they attacked the game. Frazer Shehen played his best game for the club. As a developing side we need to get a few more things going right for us more regularly and that comes down to preparation and concentration on the day. We can go down the track of worrying about things we can’t control like how big and strong the opposition is or we can get on with the business of finding a way to deal with it and I think we are.
The good thing about footy is we have a game this week to turn it around again and we will be working our tails off this week to learn the lessons and implement them so success is not too far away.
Under 19's Match Report
Old Haileybury: 14.15.99
St Kevins: 4.10.34
After a two-week break from footy due to the lockdown the boys were raring to go against St Kevins on our home deck. Excited to put our fitness to the test and continue on from our great performance against Kew the rooms were buzzing prior to the game with Finn Star Magic amping up the boys and Skipper Max Sievers providing his words of wisdom.
The first quarter saw the bloods take full advantage of the strong winds piling on 6 goals and holding St Kevins goalless. With courageous acts from Jess Laity across the midfield, lockdown defence from Liam Hall and speed and finesse from Finn Star Magic down forward the boys were looking locked in all around the ground.
The second quarter forced the boys to take on a new style of attack with plenty of run and carry and short sharp kicks around the ground against the wind. Tarli Reed brought the intensity with his repeat efforts all around the ground while Stuart Connolly competed with strength in the ruck. The boys were able to hold St Kevins to only 2 goals with Jackson Williams playing fantastic lockdown defence and Ben Bishop-Schoff streaming off the back flanks.
After halftime the blood boys sought to put the nail in the coffin in the premiership quarter with the wind on our side. Castan Racunica showed off his agility and power in the forward line piling on two goals while Max “first option” Sievers displayed his classic fancy footwork across the midfield. A four goal quarter cemented a 11 goal lead heading into the final term.
The last quarter replicated much of the second with both sides only managing two goals. Continued strong efforts from Keaton Law, Gus Bonwick and Jack Hardeman ensured the big victory with the game ending 14.15 99 to 4.10 34.
The Bloods are keen to take on Marcellin next week with finals in sight. GO BLOODS!