ROUND 14 UPDATE vs AQUINAS & HAILEBURY

23rd July 2008

SENIORS LEAD ALL DAY AGAINST RESILIENT AQUINAS

 

 

AQUINAS

 

2.1-13

 

7.2-44

 

9.4-58

 

11.7-73

 

OLD MENTONIANS

 

5.4-34

 

8.5-53

 

13.9-87

 

15.11-101

 

 

OLD MENTONIANS

 

Goal Kickers: R. Ironmonger 3, D. Teasdale 2, B. Fairbanks 2, A. Palmer 2, C. Twentyman 2, T. Speers 2, D. Cochrane, D. Field
Best Players: R. Ironmonger, L. Mitchell, J. Thompson, A. Palmer, D. Cochrane, D. Emerson

 

 

Always a danger game playing a side facing relegation as we headed out on the new magnificent Eastlink on our way to Aquinas College in Ringwood. A couple of changes had Mitvalsky and Prowse in for Snowy and Moon. We won the toss and kicked with a 3-goal breeze blowing into our forward pocket.

 

 

Aquinas were intent on playing the far side of the ground which meant us coming up into the wind from the dead wing. They opened with the first goal of the match before Ricky Ironmonger laid a great tackle and kicked truly. Teaser was working hard into the wind and passed long to Banksy in the square for his first of the day. A clever crumbing goal and then a free and 25m penalty gave Speersy 2 quick goals in a minute. Norts and DC were strong contributors for the quarter. Squeaker McCloskey was knocked down behind play and Speersy seemed a little groggy as well; both not to return to the field for those reasons. Teaser added a final major into again into the wind as we led by 21 points at quarter time.

 

 

Two down for the game soon became 3 down as DC went off after rolling his ankle, again not to return. Thomo again was continuing his recent good form down back as too were Laner and Louie Mitchell around the ground. Cocky marked strongly in the pocket and goaled to open the second as we stretched our lead 40-13. Aquinas played the school side into the wind and began to run all over us as they snagged the next 5 majors in a row to take the lead 43-41. Teaser dribbled one through and then assisted with shepherding 2 players as Chad slotted the final goal of the half. Up 53-44 at the half.

 

 

The Third quarter was tough with virtually no bench and it was great to see the whole team step up. Great quarters from Norts, Billy Carroll, Ricky, Teaser, Chad, Thomo, Emo and Chicken Palmer. Aquinas opened the third qtr with the first before we put in our best quarter slamming on the next five to Ricky on the run from CHF, Chad and Fielder snaps and Chicken the last two to put the game back on our terms. Panthers by 29.

 

 

The last qtr saw a couple of goals each as we went onto win by 28 pts. 6 in a row now with a massive test, Old Geelong at Como Park next Saturday. More importantly, NOB’s got done so we are now a game and % off 2nd spot with 4 to play.

 

RESERVES DEFEAT ANOTHER FINALS CONTENDER IN TOUGH BATTLE AT AQUNINAS

 

 

 

AQUINAS                               2.0       4.0       5.2       5.4-34

 

OLD MENTONIANS            2.3       2.9       7.11     9.12-66

 

 

Goal Kickers: A. Kiantos 2, P. Monahan 2, T. Wiltshire, M. Lawes, R. Goulding, M. Lumsden, M. Wilton
Best Players: R. Goulding, M. Wilton, D. Alexander, D. Stevens, J. Dodd, D. Forsyth

 

 

 

For the second week in a row we came up against a team sitting dangerously in 5th spot on the ladder. And just like last week, we had to face a team knowing that it was a must win game to keep their finals chances alive. With a game break, and a much healthier percentage, the Panthers needed a win to effectively put another challenger out of the contest for the final spot in this year’s finals.

 

 

We approached the game with confidence on the back of a great month, notching up 4 wins in a row, and getting back into the final four. However the fact that we had to face 4 teams that have defeated us this season in the final 5 rounds, ensured that the confidence was balanced with the understanding that the good work over the past month was only enough to give us a chance at a finals appearance, not to guarantee us one.

 

 

As expected, Aquinas came out very hard and gave us no easy possessions. They were playing like it was a final for them, which it effectively was, and nothing was going to be easy for the Panther team. We started with the aid of the breeze, however we didn’t capitalize and only led by 3 points at quarter time. The usual hard work of the skipper Daryl Stevens was fantastic in the middle, but we couldn’t get clean use out of the stoppages as the Aquinas team were very good at close checking and tackling in numbers.

 

 

We regrouped at quarter time, and played much better in the 2nd term. However, we wasted opportunities, kicking 6 straight points. The defense was outstanding, and rebounded us into attack time and time again. With Dave Alexander leading the way, we starved the Aquinas boys for scoring chances, although their accuracy ensured they took a 3 point lead into the major break.

 

 

It was imperative that we came out after the break and set up a good lead by ¾ time as we were going to have to work against the breeze in the final term. We quickly took the lead, and made better use of the footy around the ground and in front of goals. Russ Goulding was great in the middle, moving the ball quickly and long into the forward line, whilst Matt Wilton played his best game of the year, and showed why he was a permanent senior player in 2007. Aquinas still kept the pressure on, but the number of attacks we were able to create grew, and by the last change we had added 5 goals 2 behinds for the quarter, and  set up a handy 21 point lead.

 

 

The game was far from over and the players asked each other to dig deep for another 25 minutes, and especially focus on not giving their individual opponents any space. To their great credit, we basically choked the life out of Aquinas. Every time they got the footy they were tackled and given no room to use it effectively. Comnbined with this was our desperate attack on the footy, led by Dave Forsyth who just kept giving 2nd and 3rd efforts all day. The result was that we were able to keep Aquinas to just 2 behinds for the entire final term, which was probably our best quarter for the game.

 

 

The challenges just keep coming and now we face Old Geelong at Como Park next Saturday. After receiving a hiding earlier in the year, in the Grand Final rematch, it is a huge opportunity to see where we are really at in 2008, and continue our charge towards the finals.

 

 

 

UNDER 19s OVER HAILEBURY IN A CLINCHER!

 

OMFC:            2.1  5.4  8.4  13.8 (86)

 

 

OH:                 5.7  7.9  10.11  11.15 (81)   

 

 

Goal Kickers: D. Bardoel 5, C. Labrooy 4, R. Howard 2, J. Brohier, J. Lumsden

 

 

Best Players:  C. Labrooy, R. Howard, B. Felsenthal, S. Royston, M. Christopoulos, D. Bardoel

 

They might have stumbled over a couple of the words in the Club song, but the Under 19’s sang it very loudly and proudly after we defeated Old Haileybury by five points on Saturday.  The boys treated this game as a final and were rewarded with only their second win for the year.

 

 

Haileybury had first use of a very strong wind and scored 5 goals 7.  We had plenty of the ball however, with Scott Royston playing well in the ruck and Daniel Hull taking many marks as a loose man in the back line.  When we did get the ball forward, Cam Labrooy was outstanding, kicking 2 goals for the quarter.  Cam played a great game, dominating on the wing and half forward flank, kicking a further two goals for the game.

 

 

We trailed by 4 goals at quarter time, and proceed to outplay Haileybury in the second quarter.  The desperation and commitment of the young Panthers was great.  This was exemplified by the desperation of Sam Kent who was great at full back, and the tackling of Kyle Goulding who made several of the Haileybury players wonder what had hit them.  All throughout the game all of our players put great pressure on the opposition, causing plenty of turn overs.  Haileybury kicked a couple of goals for the quarter, but we were able to reduce their lead to 17 points at half time.

 

 

After a spirited talk from Jamie the boys continued their good play after the break.  Matthew Christopoulos  and James Fisher were very good on the ball and Ross Horward was everywhere on the forward line.  Brett Felsenthal took over the role of loose man in the back line, and repelled many Haileybury attacks.  We were determined to restrict their scoring, and it looked like we would succeed, as Haleybury failed to score a goal, even with the use of  the wind, until late in the quarter.  They ended up with 3 for the quarter, and they got those with the help of some dubious umpiring.  A very fortunate free kick allowed them a goal after the siren, and it seemed that all our had work would come to nothing.

 

 

In other games this year, we might have lost the plot, and let the opposition run away with the game.  Even after they scored an early goal, we did not concede.  A long goal from Jamie Brohier got us back in touch, but with a minute to go we were still 7 points behind.  However David Bardoel, who had already kicked 3, produced a great snap goal and we had a chance.  The ball went back to the centre and Scott Royston won a free kick.  With quick thinking he kicked the ball long to the goal square, where Buzz managed to grab the loose ball and slam it through to give us a five point lead.  The remaining 40 seconds seemed to take an eternity but the siren sounded to give the Panthers a great, and well deserved win.

 

 

Every player made a contribution to the victory, and the determination of our players was outstanding.  With a bit of luck we might be able to fine tune the Club song a couple more times before the season’s end.

 

 

Next week we take on Caulfield at home.