The Glory of '04
As part of an ongoing peek back into Uni Blues history and with an eye fixed on this Saturday’s reunion for the 2004 Triple Premiership, we relive events in September 2004 (courtesy of the season’s final edition of “Blues Brief”)…
SENIORS
The University Blues football club completed its dominant 2004 season on Sunday, beating St.Bernards in the A Grade Grand Final. For the players, it was a feeling of exhilaration and joy, for the support staff, a sense of relief that after 44 years of Uni Blues wilderness we had finally one the big one again.
The first five minutes of the game was a solid arm wrestle, with both teams trying to enforce their own style of play on the game. It was Uni who got their run working first resulting in our captain Boots kicking the first goal of the game after all this excitement and hoopla. The game was on and the Uni Blues were here to play. Matt Torney - The Panther (which I will now refer to him as) - was a shining light up forward and he had two goals beside his name early. Mark Paterson - Thunder and Lightning - was using his superhuman strength to dominate the packs. James Hayter - Peter Hore, J.Pest, Party Boy - was being a real pest to Dan Jordan down back. I've never played on J.Pest but I reckon it would be like having a really cold shower with someone pouring vinegar over a big graze on your bum, and chewing on a big ball of foil: annoying. Anyhow, by quarter time we had skipped out to a 5 goal to 3 lead - an above par start considering we were kicking into a relatively stiff breeze.
The second quarter beckoned to be one in which the Uni Blues could really put their foot down. It was evident that we were a stronger side, and now with the wind the task was going to be easier. It proved true with the professors really tightening the noose around St.Bernards necks. Our resolute backline led by Party Boy held the Dogs goalless, our on ball brigade led by Thunder and Lightning racked up countless possessions, and our exciting forward line led by The Panther fired six goals on the board.
(For some strange reason I am now feeling extremely dizzy it is the weirdest feeling it's almost like my body doesn't exist and I am just typing with my fingers, Whoa).
Half time, Blues up by 47 points did we give up? Should have we given up? It would have been an insult if we did, so we didn't. We were kicking into the zephyr now so it was a little harder but a nil all draw would have been a good result. I would say that we nearly broke even with them, you are never going to have a grand final go all your own way. One highlight of the third quarter was The Muhl's pose on the ground after a marking contest. You know the footage of that gymnast when he is running in to do the vault and he just goes head first into the pommel horse? It looks like he is dead on the ground. The Muhl lay there with his legs folded underneath him like they had crumpled like a car bonnet when it gets smashed in. His face was motionless, he could see the light like Patrick Swayze on Ghost, but like Patrick he chose not to go the light because he still had unfinished business. 30 seconds and the Muhl was up again and taking marks all over the ground.
Great recruiting JK.
The last quarter ran quite smoothly as the Uni Blues juggernaut ran rampant over the second best team in the league. Everyone had a part to play, and they played it well. Final margin 11 goals. I will now use this opportunity to say something about every player on the team.
Damien Guengerich - Ultimate team man and professional, stronger than araldite
Ross Young - Best player in the league, thank god he plays for us
James Hayter - Party Boy, J.Pest
Andrew Lowcock - Huge head, Huge hands
Luke North - Looked every bit the male model
Quinton Gleeson - Still crying because we beat St.Bernards
Campbell Roydhouse - 33 smothers
Michael Kordick - Still crying because it wasn't wet and cold
George de Crespigny - Slinks around and kicks goals every now and then
Matthew Torney - The Panther
Thomas Wilcox - The Duke
Drew Solly - The Tripod
Tim Muhlebach - The Muhl
Mark Paterson - Thunder and Lightning
Timothy McKinnon - His cousin played for St.Bernards
Jackson Brooke - His girlfriend lives with my sister
Luke Fishley - Had a great day in the sun for his skin
Peter Steele - The first number 49 to win a premiership
Hugh Nailon - After all these years you reckon you could have got a smaller number?
Cameron Penny - The Wrecking Ball
Edward Clark - The first time in history that number 65 has ever got BOG in a Grand Final
This is James Scambler signing off on a triple premiership year for the University Blues Amateur Football Club.
UNIVERSITY BLUES 5.1 11.4 13.8 18.13 (121)
ST. BERNARDS 3.3 3.5 6.8 7.13 (55)
Goals: Uni Blues: Clark 5 Torney 4 Gleeson 3 De Crespigny 2 Muhlebach, Nailon, Lowcock Scambler.
St Bern: N Mitchell 3 C Mitchell 2 McIntyre D Jordan.
Best: Uni Blues: Hayter Clark Torney J K Brooke Penny Paterson.
St Bern: Clarke Keunen B Jordan N Mitchell McIntyre Blunt.
Jock Nelson Medallist: Ed Clark (University Blues)
RESERVES
It was so important for the entire club for the Uni Blues reserve side to have a good start on the weekend, and it could not have been any better than what was delivered. The pre match video had the entire side ready to eat a football, and from the first bounce it was on.
An eight goal to zero first quarter was surely the best way to start a grand final. The Blues moved the ball quickly, running in waves, leaving the Old Scotch opposition flat footed. Jesse Brooke danced through the midfield, as elusive as he had been all year delivering to forwards. Mark Rigby had two goals on the board before our opposition could contemplate a suitable match up. Ryan Martin ran whereever he wanted to cutting the midfield to pieces, occasionally glancing to the wing to read the home made banner, '#56 in the record, #1 in our hearts'.
The second quarter saw the Blues kick into the wind. Scotch attacked early with the first two goals of the quarter indicating that there was a game to be played out here. Terrific play by Blues tall defenders in John Meagher, Adam Terrill and John Wood allowed Blues runners to carry the ball through the lines and score the first goals against the wind for the day. Chris Brookes across centre half forward lead hard time and time again providing targets, and then turned with ball in one hand to keep the ball moving, not allowing Scotch defenders to recover in time.
The second quarter unfortunately was when we lost a couple of our prime movers from the first half. Jesse Brooke (dislocated elbow) and Mark Rigby (broken arm) were both forced from the field. It was at this stage that I look back at the terrific depth of our club. Here we loose possibly the best two on the ground to date and they are replaced by players who immediacy have an impact on the game.
The beginning of the second half provided Blues spectators with some of the most one sided football for the season. Blues kept Scotch scoreless through some terrific run from John Wood at centre half back and Tom Irvine in the back pocket. Simon Cheel and Bernie Gates were running their tags all over the ground, finding space and cutting into the opposition defence with pin point passes. Marcus Coleman was dominating the ruck, kicking goals from inside the centre square and when he was resting, Paul Fairbank continued to soften up the opposition.
This provided Blues with a ten goal lead going into the final quarter. From here it would have been very easy to let ourselves go and allow some late goals to be awarded to our Grand Final opponents, but it was not to be. With the pride we played with all year we once again outscored Scotch 5 goals to 2 into the wind to run out 95 point winners. On top of this to cap of a fantastic game, Josh Tanner pulled down one of his customary marks of the year, I'm sure anyone who was there will be talking about that mark for years to come. As Captain Tom Hutchins and Coach Dave Mathews raised the cup, we knew that every single player in that side could leave the ground with their heads high, knowing that they gave their all and provided our supporters withy the voice to assist the club towards their first senior premiership in 44 years.
UNIVERSITY BLUES 8.3 14.6 17.16 22.22 (154)
OLD SCOTCH 0.1 7.2 7.2 9.5 (59)
Goals: Uni Blues: Martin 4 Rigby 3 Rankin 3 Brookes 2 Cheel 2 Coleman 2 Millard 2 Gates Hutchins Callery Fletcher.
Old Scotch: O Crane 3 Dick Josephs Sutcliffe Elliott Teasdale Ashton.
Best: Uni Blues: Martin Tanner Cheel Coleman Wood Thomas.
Old Scotch: Snaddon Knight Teasdale Rodski Holt Elliott.
