ROUND 15 vs OLD GEELONG / CAULFIELD

1st August 2008

SENIORS TRIP OVER AGAINST OLD GEELONG

 

OLD GEELONG                       1.2       6.2       8.2       14.7-91

 

OLD MENTONIANS                 1.7       8.9       11.14    11.17-83

 

Goal Kickers: B. Fairbanks 7, B. Carroll, S. Cleeve, D. Cochrane, T. Speers
Best Players: B. Fairbanks, S. Fairbanks , D. Emerson, J. Thompson, T. Mitvalsky, C. Graham

 

A great day for footy by the Yarra at the massive Como Park , home of Old Geelong in a huge 3rd vs 4th match up. A few big in’s with Cleeve back from Sandy as well as Graham and Shagga. Outs being DC, Fielder and Big Laner.

 

Our first qu arter saw us with the majority of the play for the qu art er but some inaccurate kicking saw Old Geelong score the first whilst we added 7 behinds before Banksy kicked our only goal for the qtr after a long pass from Cleeve. McCloskey had a banger of a first qtr was covering everything across half back and Prowse was providing lots of run on his wing. Graham was winning everything in the ruck and Norts as usual was into everything.

 

The second qtr was the Banksy show as he nailed 4 goals and had 3 opponents. Graham and McCloskey continued their good form as too Cocky up forward and Emerson and Ballsy down back. Cleeve, Cocky and Speersy added goals whilst OG’s added 5 of their own as we stretched our lead to 19 points at the half.

 

The st art of the last half had OG’s score the first of the qtr. The backline was playing well as a unit as Scotty Fairbanks and Thomo along with Mitvalsky were having great games.

 

Norts and Ricky were busy and a couple of individual efforts from Scotty Fairbanks and Louie Mitchell helped Big Banksy add a couple more majors with Billy Carroll as we extended our lead to 5 goals at 3 qtr time.

 

The last qtr – the least said about this the better. Simply put, Old Geelong got first use of the ball out of the middle and scored 6 unanswered goals to win by 8 pts.

 

The loss sees us drop from 3rd and out of the 4 to 5th on %. Our final 3 games for the year see us play Fitzroy at home next week followed by a couple of teams out of finals contention, Prahran at home and South Melb Districts away in the final game of the season.

 

OLD GEELONG PROVE TOO STRONG FOR PANTHERS

 

OLD GEELONG                       4.2       10.9      11.11    14.13-97

 

OLD MENTONIANS                 2.3       2.4       8.4       9.7-61

 

Goal Kickers: T. Bournon 4, B. Coghlan, M. Lawes, M. Lumsden, J. Moon, J. Dodd
Best Players: M. Lumsden, G. Smith, M. Elliott, R. Goulding, D. Field, P. Monahan

 

The trip to Como Park gave the Panthers the opportunity to atone for the belting handed out earlier in the year, but we needed to bring our A game as Old Geelong were sitting 2nd on the ladder, and rarely lose at home.

 

We started well, and had our share of the ball early, but failed to make it count on the scoreboard. Just like the previous week at Aquinas, we were made to pay for our inaccuracy as the opposition made the most of their shots on goal. Not only did we kick 3 behinds, but three shots also failed to score, hence we went in to the first break trailing by 11 points.

 

The 2nd quarter was nothing short of disastrous. We basically went to sleep and got caught out by our lack of accountability, especially though the midfield. The defense had no chance to stop the onslaught as the running Geelong boys created space and just kept driving the ball into the forward line with ease. 6 goals to none was what we deserved, and exactly what we got.

 

Some sole searching at the main break obviously helped the team find the passion that has seen us playing so well in recent weeks. We came out and played with renewed vigor, and the goals soon began to flow. The defense, led by the in form Gerard Smith, kept working hard, and now had some support from the midfield, whilst Mat Lumsden continually presented himself across half forward, playing his best game for the year. The midfield managed to turn the tables on their opponents, who were now trying to become accountable themselves.  The Old Geelong boys were taken by complete surprise, and we piled on 6 goals for the quarter to their 1.

 

Unfortunately we were unable to sustain the effort in the last quarter, and the superior fitness of the Old Geelong team was too much for us to handle. They eventually ran out comfortable 36 point victors.  

 

Next week we come up against top of the ladder Fitzroy Reds at Keysborough. This is a huge game for the reserves and a win will see us very close to confirming the last spot in the final 4.

 

UNDER19s

 

OMFC:             0.5  1.7  2.13  3.15 (33)

 

Caulfield:         11.3  2.5  5.8  9.13 (67)

 

Goal Kickers: T. Cashion, J. Lumsden, R. Smale

 

Best Players:  S. Royston, M. Christopoulos, L. Hull, D. Hull , A. Gooodrich, W. Stone

 

The Under 19’s played very well against Caulfield Grammar at Keysborough on Saturday.  Caulfield are well entrenched in et four , but that did not deter our boys, who threw everything into the game.  Although the scores don’t reflect it, the day was perfect for football and in the end it was our inability to convert our chances which cost us the game.

 

In the first quarter we had plenty of the ball and with Scott Royston and Kyle Goulding rucking well, they gave Matt Christopoulos plenty of opportunity to drive the ball forward.  However we could not kick a goal, and at quarter time trailed by four points, despite having more scoring shots than the visitors.  The second quarter was a very even affair, with both sides kicking one goal two, ours coming after a great effort by “Kilo” drove the bal forward for Tom Cashion to convert.  Luke Hull and Warwick Stone, who had both played for the School that morning, both were good contributors, and showed that we have a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years.

 

We wasted many opportunities in the third quarter, and our only goal came from a great snap from Robbie Smale.  Unfortunately we lost Sam Kent, who had continued his good recent form at full back.  Unluckily Sam has broken his collar bone, and he will be missed in the last three games. 

 

While the forward line players couldn’t convert, those in defence were great.  Al Goodrich, Luke Ingram and Daniel Hull were very good and James Fisher stood out on the ball.

 

Unfortunately we couldn’t maintain the pressure and we let Caulfield slip away for a couple of late goals.  The final margin of thirty four points did not reflect the closeness of the game or how well  the Panthers played.  All in all it was a great team effort which deserved a better reward.

 

This week we play our last home game for the year, and are looking forward to taking on Mazenod.