Seniors – Leave opponents out cold after mauling them on the Main

 

The winter solstice has passed meaning the days are now getting longer, but that certainly does not mean it is getting warmer. Today was a traditional winter’s day in Melbourne. Days like today are fuel for the fire to global warming deniers, but a cold day of football is not a representative sample of our fine Earth. This type of weather is where players like Ben McConnell, Quinton Gleeson and Mark ‘The General’ Paterson come into their own. In fact, you can imagine

McConnell being born into a quagmire and taking to it as a proverbial duck to water. And our man did not disappoint. McConnell did his best work on the cricket pitch area where not a blade of grass was to be seen. The centre circle was also absent, leaving umpires and players with no clue as to where true centre was. It mattered not as both teams were inconvenienced by conditions. The game, as with all games, would be won by the team who dealt with extraneous factors better. The Blues started the game well, kicking three of the first four in an exceedingly close first quarter. Barely an inch was given, and the boys from St Bedes/Mentone added their second goal late in the quarter to limit the damage in the first quarter. Jack Watts began well in the ruck, throwing himself at contests repeatedly as ball-ups and throw-ins dominated the game. Watts looked to inspire his team in the second quarter as both sides were playing for fourth spot on the table and the four points were crucial. The game was billed as an ‘8 point game’ but as far as this scribe is aware, that is as statistically impossible as giving 110%. During the second quarter, the pressure was not alleviated and both sides were only able to add one goal each. Tim Hunt (3 goals) was running everywhere, picking up the ball and disposing as though it was dry. It wasn’t until the third quarter that the Blues were able to break the back of the Tigers. The clouds parted and the game broke open. Both sides were kicking goals but the Blues were kicking more. Pat Smith (4 goals) added a couple. Tim Muhlebach, inspired by the World Cup, side-footed a perfect soccer pass to set up Dave Gregory in the goal square as the Blues added seven majors for the quarter. Matt Torney was brilliant off half-back, demoralising his man as he repeatedly ran forward and delivered incisive kicks. John Meagher also demoralised his opponent as he continually spoiled, kept his feet, and took the ball from defensive areas. As the bell for the final break rang, the Blues lead by 37 points and looked to hold all the cards. But, as evidenced by the round two meeting of these two teams, the boys from Mentone do not give in. They kicked one early in the last to give themselves hope, but from there the Blues ran the game out in style. Matt Kilpin is playing some superb football in defence, and he helped the Blues to a 54 point win over an opponent that has previously had the wood on Uni Blues. But, ever so slightly, the tables are turning as the Blues have won two of the last three (obviously not statistically significant) and now hold fourth spot by 4 points and some serious percentage.

 

University Blues: 15 – 12 – 102

St Bedes/Mentone: 7 – 6 - 48

Best: M.Torney, J.Meagher, J.Watts, B.McConnell, P.Smith, M.Kilpin

Goals: P.Smith 4, T.Hunt 3, M.Paterson 2, Q.Gleeson 2, D.Gregory 1, E.Clark 1, D.Nicholson 1, T.Muhlebach 1

Reserves – Another week, another big win

The machine that is the Mighty Uni Blues Twos kept on ticking over as they easily accounted for their opponents, the Tigers from St Bedes/Mentone. Despite changes at the top and bottom end of their side, they were still able to go out and hold their opponents to one scoring shot for three quarters of football. St Bedes/Mentone’s headache began in the first quarter as the Blues shot out of the blocks, kicking six goals two behinds to no score. The mid-field of James Van De Pol, Jackson Brooke, Damon Byrne, and Albert Weddell were all over their opponents and, at times, it appeared as though the Tigers could not even get their hands on the leather. Coach Maddocks had a wry smile as he walked to the huddle, happy in the knowledge that his biggest headache is trying to explain to his players how they can get better. The game was effectively over from this point, but nobody told the players as the headed back out to put their bodies on the line once more. Hamish Rankin typified this attitude as he burrowed in and continually won the hard ball. Van De Pol enjoyed the hands from Rankin as he weaved his way forward to deliver to the irrepressible Girdwood brothers, Tom and Billy. The Girdwoods finished the day with three goals each in a display that put a smile on the dial of the old man. The downside to the second quarter was that St Bedes/Mentone were able to get a score, a solitary goal. At half time, the Blues lead by 58 points. A splendid defensive effort by the Bairnsdale boys, Tom Clavert and Jack Eastman, meant that the Tigers were again scoreless in the third quarter. They put players behind the ball to stem the flow of goals and it worked, but meant they had nothing to go forward to when the won the ball. Players ran out the game in style, St Bedes/Mentone able to get some respect by kicking two goals in the final quarter and the Blues as the ran out 86 point winners. Sam Roache finished the day with a pair as the Blues shared the goals around with half of the side kicking at least one. The Blues were happy with the win as they look to build percentage in the lead up to the finals. The Mighty Blues Twos are in top spot but only percentage separates them from second and third, and only one win and percentage separates them from fourth. Clearly, every win and every goal is crucial in this tight race to the pointy end of the season.

University Blues: 16 – 10 – 106

St Bedes/Mentone: 3 – 2 - 20

Best: J.Van De Pol, J.Brooke, J.Eastman, A.Weddell, H.Rankin, T.Calvert

Goals: W.Girdwood 3, T.Girdwood 3, S.Roache 2, B.Merriman 1, B.Laidlaw 1, S.Gilbertson 1, J.Eastman 1, R.Kennedy 1, J.Townley 1, A.Weddell 1, T.Foott 1

Thirds – Take the points in a walkover

Very disappointingly, players from Uni Blues Tertiary Team were greeted with the news that their opponents could only muster 11 players and would have to concede. Coach Baumgartner was confronted with 22 fit young men all looking to play footy. Wisely he decreed that there would be a scratch match, 11-on-11. It came to pass that Hayter’s Henchman took on Quin’s Quarterhorses in a hard-fought affair. The Henchman came out firing on all cylinders, calling into question Quin’s selections, but Quin had been told as a child the fable of the tortoise and the hare. He knew. An inspired move at half-time saw Quin throw himself into the ruck to combat the Henchman and the Quarterhorses never looked back. They took the lead late in the fourth term to run out two goal winners. Coach Boomer was pleased, explaining to his charges that event like today galvanise sides and could make all the difference late in the season.

University Blues: 0 – 0 – 0 (win on forfeit)

St Bedes/Mentone: 0 – 0 – 0 (lose on forfeit)

Best: Quarterhorses

Goals: N/A

Under 19s –

Completing another perfect weekend for the University Blues Football Club, the Under 19s took the points against St Bedes/Mentone Tigers. The Blue boys seem to love a close game, such is the pendant for only winning by small margins or even drawing games. The percentage has looked healthier and Coach Embling is quickly aging. Embling decided on a theme for the round ‘Drive Your Own Destiny’. And the Blues responded as they peppered the goals in the first quarter. The result was three goals six as they held the Tigers to two behinds. The message at quarter time was clear: kick straighter. The Blues responded as they added two goals one but St Bedes/Mentone were able to kick three goals five to get themselves back in the game. Charles Shaw was providing a target up forward for key mid-fielders Angus Nice and Llewyn Butler. The Blues lead by two goals at the half-time break as Embling inspired his players to grab their opportunities and ‘drive their destiny’. The players did just that during the premiership quarter. Corey Somerville was lively up forward and Tom Ruggles, that great man, continued his dominance in the ruck. Ruggles has not been in the best for a couple of weeks and has been struggling for form but today he was back to his best. The Blues kicked five goals for the quarter and went into the final break 28 points up. But just to give supporters and coaching staff a fright, the let the Tigers back into it. The Blues could only kick one for the final quarter as St Bedes/Mentone kicked four goals two to get themselves back into a winning position. But some solid defensive work from Hugh Bucknall meant that the Blues were 9 points up as the final siren sounded. Shaw finished with five goals for the game in a welcome return to form. The Blues remain in fourth spot in the race to finals as Coach Embling looks to guide his young team toward some September success.

University Blues: 12 – 8 – 80

St Bedes/Mentone: 10 – 11 – 71

Best: C.Shaw, A.Nice, H.Bucknall, T.Ruggles, L.Butler, C.Somerville

Goals: C.Shaw 5, T.Emmett 1, L.Butler 1, A.Dugdale 1, A.Ahearn 1, J.Birch 1, C.Somerville 1, T.Ruggles 1

 

“The sand people are easily startled, but they’ll soon be back. And in greater numbers” – Obi-Wan Kenobi