Seniors – Slip, slide and wrestle to win

The Main Oval resembled a quagmire as players ran onto the ground for the penultimate round of home and away football. Despite not training on the ground during the week, and despite the groundsman’s best efforts, the Main Oval was in its worst condition for over a decade. Retired Blues, gathering after the Blue Bloods Luncheon were overheard commenting that this was the most trying conditions seen since the remodeling of the ground in the mid 90s. Most players took to the field with trepidation, but one man saw the state of the turf and was seen licking his lips and salivating at the thought of doing battle in the mud. That man was Ben McConnell. And McConnell did not disappoint.

The game started slowly with both teams trying to find a safe route through the mud. Neither could kick a major for over ten minutes until the Blues finally broke through. The Blues were able to kick two more for the quarter to go in at the first break 18 points up and with their foot on the throat of the bottom-placed side. Ed Clark was working well up forward, putting on a lot of pressure and attacking the ball with gusto. The game meant very little in the context of the season as Marcellin are B-grade bound and Uni Blues have a fourth place sewn up. Despite this players returned to the fray and fought hard, proving that the reason they play is not to do with the result but has much to do with being a member of a team. The Blues confirmed their win in the second quarter, kicking five goals and keeping the Eagles scoreless. Pat Smith has experience in the mud down Warrnambool way and he was adept at dealing with conditions as demonstrated by his pair of goals. Dirk Heinz was also showing skill in the wild conditions, taking a number of timely defensive marks to keep the Marcellin attack at bay. At half-time the Blues lead by 51 points and the match was all but over. Supporters gathered under the Pavvy roof for the final time this year, enjoying a delicious afternoon tea. As ever, the Heinz family sausage rolls were a treat and they were well supplemented by terrine with bread. A number of supporters could not tear themselves away from the spread and missed the resumption of play. Marcellin won the third quarter, kicking a pair of goals while keeping the Blues to one. Tim Muhlebach was working hard in the ruck as he deftly tapped to the industrious McConnell and the work-horse Charles Shaw. Shaw played well in his first game back up after spending some time aiding the Under 19s. Uni Blues tightened things up in the final quarter, again keeping Marcellin scoreless for the quarter. First-gamer Damon Byrne kicked two as did hard-running Tom Stainforth as the Blues kicked away to win by 67 points. It has been a long year for the Eagles from Bulleen, but the end is nigh. After two disappointing losses, the win was satisfying for the Blues but the know they have bigger fish to fry in the coming month.

University Blues: 12 – 14 – 86

Marcellin: 2 – 7 – 19

Best: B.McConnell, D.Heinz, T.Muhlebach, C.Shaw, P.Smith, E.Clark

Goals: P.Smith 2, D.Byrne 2, T.Stainforth 2, S.Chadwick 1, Q.Gleeson 1, M.Kilpin 1, B.McConnell 1, M.Torney 1, H.Vickers-Willis 1

Reserves – The Juggernaut rolls on through the mud

The Mighty Uni Blues Twos came up against bottom-placed Marcellin in a match that would have a bearing on if the Blues were able to get a top two finish for the finals. The season was effectively over for the Eagles and they played with their pride on the line. Both sides had to negotiate conditions more suited to persons wearing gumboots, but the Blues were able to do so with more aplomb. Despite some desperate defense, the Blues were able to kick four goals in the first quarter thanks largely to some great marking from Al Lyon across half-forward. Lyon often took overhead marks, gloving the slippery ball with ease. The second quarter was largely the same as the first. The Blues peppered the goals and were able to kick five. They could have kicked more but for some wayward set shots. Billy Girdwood was one suspect as he had numerous shots on goal for his two big ones. Despite his misses, Girdwood played well, getting plenty of the ball and dashing through play. Another dasher was Ben McClure who continually swept behind contests to collect the ball, then strolled through opponent’s tackle attempts to drive the ball forward. At half-time, the Mighty Uni Blues Twos lead by 64 points and had kept a lowly Marcellin side scoreless. The game ran low on legs in the second half, as the Blues’ efforts tired allowing Marcellin to have more possession and slow the scoring rate. The Eagles slipped through their only major for the game in the third term due to a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the stout Blues’ defense. Ben Millard lead the way in defense with another professional display while Tom Maddocks also continued his good form. The Blues were only able to add one goal in the third term but kicked three more in the last to run out 85 point winners. Unlikely ruckman, Jack Heinz, took to his role like a duck to mud, providing plenty of contests and taking some fine marks around the ground. Will Hartnell added two more goals to his plethora in the last three weeks while McClure, Lyon and Girdwood were others who added braces. The win keeps the Blues in second position on the ladder, 10% adrift of De La Salle, 10% ahead of Old Xaverians, and 19% ahead of Old Melburnians. In a tight race, the final four’s shape will be decided next week in round 18.

University Blues: 13 – 16 – 94

Marcellin: 1 – 3 – 9

Best: J.Heinz, Tom Maddocks, A.Lyon, B.McClure, B.Millard, W.Girdwood

Goals: B.McClure 2, A.Lyon 2, W.Girdwood 2, W.Hartnell 2, J.Eastman 1, B.Laidlaw 1, B.Merriman 1, H.Rankin 1

Thirds – Fourth Forfeit For Fractured Season

The email came through on Friday evening, advising all Uni Blues players that the Marcellin Thirds had forfeited the game. It was very disappointing news for the Tertiary Team as they look to build momentum toward finals. The season had already been derailed with three forfeits in a row earlier in the season and just as Coach Baumgartner was getting things back on track, Marcellin forfeited. Boomer now has one game against Old Scotch to get his charges in form for a September attack.

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

Marcellin: 0 – 0 – 0 (lose by forfeit)

Best: N/A

Goals: N/A

Under 19s – Fourth spot coming down to the wire

Finals football is still the dream for the Uni Blues Under 19s as they accounted for Marcellin on a windy day on Crawford Oval. The slickest skills were not on show today as the wind played havoc with each team’s ability to use the ball, but the Blues began the best kicking two goals to one in the opening term. Max Allen was again the target up forward, playing a crucial role as he has all year. Angus Nice was also continuing to play his role in another outstanding game to add to his collection this season. The Blues Unders lifted their workrate in the second term to really take the game away from the Eagles. Uni kicked three goals five behinds while the Eagles snuck through a solitary major to keep themselves in the game. Ryan Thompson was playing a crucial second string to the Blues’ forward line, kicking two goals for the game, and Jared ‘The Eagle’ Edwards was another who continued his run of form playing against his namesakes. At half-time, the margin was 24 points but some wayward kicking on the windy day meant that Marcellin were not out of the game. The third term was vital in the contest and the Blues responded kicking four more to take a match-winning lead. Nick Keating was leading the charge as he worked incredible hard to win the ball and find a team-mate with careful disposal. As the bell rang for the final break, Uni Blues were up by 33 points and it would take an almighty effort for Marcellin to win from here. Disappointingly, the boys in the blue and black took their foot off the pedal in the final term and did not add to their score. The Eagles were able to add two to soften the margin but some stout defending from the likes of Brad Gervasoni and Will Cunningham limited the damage. Henry Hanlon was also on hand to mop up and ensure that the Blues ran out 21 point winners. Incredibly, Marcellin kicked seven goals straight for the day, all the more impressive in lieu of the howling gale that was blowing across the ground. After the win, the Blues are half a game adrift of fourth placed Old Xaverians with one game to play. In an intriguing final round, Xavs take on third placed Beaumaris while the Blues will do battle against second placed Old Scotch. Certainly, Coach Embling will have his side raring to go next Saturday while hoping that Beaumaris can do the job on the Black and Reds. Go Blues.

University Blues: 9 – 9 – 63

Marcellin: 7 – 0 – 42

Best: N.Keating, J.Edwards, B.Gervasoni, A.Nice, H.Hanlon, W.Cunningham

Goals: M.Allen 4, R.Thompson 2, H.Hanlon 1, A.Nice 1, D.Zambon 1