2024 Round 01 Senior Men’s Match report
Round 1, Saturday 13 April 2024.
Match Summary
Old Melburnians FC vs Collegians FC at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 3.2.20 CFC 6.3.39
2nd quarter: OMFC 7.5.47 CFC 6.6.42
3rd quarter: OMFC 10.10.70 CFC 10.9.69
4th quarter: OMFC 15.13.103 CFC 12.10.82
Goals: Sam Laube (3), Tom Baker (2), Charles Dowling (2), Ben Haysman (2), Will Richards (2), Ben Harding (1), Jackson Paine (1), Adam Richardson (1), Lachie Templeton (1)
Best players: Ben Haysman, Lachie Haysman, Jack Spargo, Sam Wundke, Sam Laube, Ned Nichols
Team: Spencer Anderson (36), Tom Baker (2), Harry Cooper (45), Will Dethridge (26), Charlie Dowling (28), Ben Harding (8), James Harrold (6), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Laube (20), Ed Michelmore (4), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (1), Jackson Paine (Captain, 39), Will Richards (14), Adam Richardson (17), Jack Spargo (24), Tom Spargo (37), Lachie Swaney (16), Lachie Templeton (44) and Samuel Wundke (7).
Match Report
The following members of the OMs’ Round 18, 2023 team: Gus Borthwick, Dylan Clarke, Dan Coffield, Nic Daish, Justin De Steiger, Chance Doultree, Josh Freezer, Will McIntyre, James Regan, Ed Smart and Stuart Watson were replaced in the OMs’ first team for 2024 by Spencer Anderson, Tom Baker, Harry Cooper, James Harrold, Sam Laube, Ed Michelmore, Adam Richardson, Tom Spargo, Lachie Swaney, Lachie Templeton, Samuel Wundke.
At the end of the 2023 season, the injury-ravaged OMs played to avoid relegation to Premier B. The Premier A premiership was won by a surprisingly large margin by Collegians over St Kevin’s. In Round 1 of the 2024 season, the OMs faced the biggest challenge in the competition – Collegians. Although three of its key premiership players had retired, Collegians apparently considered its team to be as strong as its premiership side.
The game was played on a dry 18-degree day under a sunny blue sky with some white clouds and a light south-westerly breeze. MGS legends and guest speakers Jack and Tom Hawkins looked on from a packed lunch upstairs as the game got underway. Play went each way with the OMs getting inside their arc at the southern end of the ground before Collegians scored the first goal at the 7-minute mark in an evenly-balanced contest. The OMs won at the centre bounce, hitting up Adam Richardson about 25m out, directly in front, and he drilled the OMs’ first goal. Once again, the OMs won in the middle, with the footy ending up in Captain Jackson Paine’s hands, but his set shot went across the face of goal. Staying in attack, a snap from a pack also missed. When the Lions goaled at the 16-minute mark there was surprisingly little crowd reaction. In response, Ed Michelmore ran and carried the footy deep into the SE pocket, found no-one ahead of him, and had to kick towards goal. Debutant Sam Laube ran into the goal square and marked Mich’s kick under pressure, slotting his first goal for the club with a kick around the corner from a SE pocket set shot. It was 13-19.
A 50m penalty helped get the OMs to a stoppage at the top of the goal square, but Collegians got the footy and quickly got up the ground for a goal in play that was a bit too easy. Now 13-25 at the 24-minute mark, the OMs won in the middle, getting the footy to Laube, who drilled his second goal from the SE. Collegians spent some time in attack before finding a way through for another goal in play. It was 19-25 when the OMs won the centre bounce and powered forward, only to score a behind in play. A minor fracas flared up on the eastern wing while the Lions continued towards goal. The siren sounded, and they goaled for a 19-point quarter time lead.
It was a varied quarter, with the OMs keeping close to their men early in a good, even contest that kept the reins on the Lions, before giving them a bit too much leeway. The OMs missed some straightforward opportunities in front of goal and would have to work harder at both ends of the ground to stay in touch. Efforts in the middle were a strength.
Although the OMs won the opening bounce of the second quarter, their quick attack on goal missed to the right. Tom Baker, back in action for the first time since his injury early last season, got the footy at the back of a contest, turned, kicked from about 20m directly in front, and hit the right goal post. Laube won a free kick but his set shot missed, putting the ball in the NE pocket, where Will Richards got it, put it on the boot, went long for goal, and teammates on the line stood ready to help it through, but needed only to watch as it went through for a fantastic goal. Five minutes in, it was 29-39. Collegians won the centre bounce but hit the right goal post from a set shot. The Lions spent a long time in attack but were frustrated by the OMs’ stout defence. Clever movement through the NE pocket finished with a cross ground kick to Lachie Templeton, slightly west of directly in front, about 35m out, and he goaled at the 20-minute mark. Now 35-41, the OMs quickly resumed their attack and did incredible work to keep the footy in the forward line under enormous pressure from Collegians. Eventually, in a frantic, packed goal square contest, Will Nichols – on his knees – handballed up to Will Richards, who put it through the final metre under pressure to level the scores at 41 all, 25 minutes in.
A turnover on the eastern wing gave the OMs the footy, which they ran up to Baker, who crossed to Charlie Dowling in the NW. From about 20m out he drilled his set shot to give the Dark Blues a 47-41 lead at the 30-minute mark. Collegians had another set shot after the siren, but their fairytale finish of the first quarter was not repeated. The OMs had had to work extremely had to regain the lead, and one had to wonder whether they would have the fitness to see out the game unless they could play smarter and earn their goals more easily.
The OMs won the centre bounce at the start of the third quarter, with Paine marking seconds later, but his set shot missed to the right. Working hard, the OMs kept it forward, and Ben Harding won a free kick for a high tackle, converting it into a goal from the SW from about 40m. It was 54-43 after four minutes. Paine missed a set shot but the OMs continued to fight hard, with Will Nichols helping set up Laube, who marked just before the line and slotted his set shot to make it 62-43 at the 11-minute mark - against the reigning premiers. Was this too good to be true? Perhaps it was, as Collegians goaled a few minutes later, and added another within minutes to make it 62-56 at the 19-minute mark. They then turned it over to the OMs, who took full advantage by turning and beating the Lions down the ground, with the ball passing through several hands before being gifted to a grateful Ben Haysman. He put it through, 23 minutes in. It was 69-56 and the OMs attacked again. Baker took a nice mark and kicked a long set shot from the SE on about a 25-degree angle but hit the goal post for the second time.
Collegians were soon down their end, scoring a goal, and an OM indiscretion turned it into an appalling double goal. The OMs were in attack when the siren went at the 33-minute mark, with the double goal leaving a bad taste in OM mouths: all that good work undone in minutes, and a 19-point lead turned into a solitary point at the last change: too close for comfort against the premiers eager to prove there was no premiership hangover.
The OMs opened final quarter action with Paine missing a set shot from the NW to a backdrop of a large contingent of very vocal, passionate OM supporters. Full back Harry Cooper made a very welcome comeback after a lengthy absence through injury last year, and cut off the Lions’ attack, sending the footy long up the western wing. Dowling took a great contested mark and slotted an awesome set shot from a similar position to Jacko’s earlier attempt near the NW boundary line. It was 77-69. A call of holding was made against Collegians but ignored as they played on. Play was stopped, dissent followed, and a 50m penalty put Jacko in the goal square, and his first goal for 2024 on the board. Now 83-69, a tough, hard battle raged in the middle until Ben Haysman marked in a great contest and scored a fantastic goal from the NW, outside the arc to make it 89-69 at the 15-minute mark. Was it too early to call it the sealer?
Robbie Morrison sent a nice long kick deep forward, but another set shot was missed. It was a game-high margin of 91-69. Baker marked and took a long set shot that missed everything to the right. Collegians then launched a desperate, prolonged attack without the Dark Blue Rocks of Gibraltar giving away a single goal. The talented OMs then overcame vastly superior numbers in the NW pocket to give Baker a great mark despite being blatantly held. While Dowling cunningly distracted the Lions by drawing their ire, Baker simply played on and goaled. Collegians fired up and goaled, then added another to trail 97-82 at the 27-minute mark. The OMs, however, put their final -winning – stamp on the game with a set shot goal immediately after the final siren by Baker from the NW pocket.
It is rare that an entire premiership team ever plays again and the Collegians’ team last Saturday was no exception. Despite that, it was well-stocked with premiership players against an OMs team whose last game was a relegation battle – albeit a team now restocked with then-injured players and some fresh blood. The OMs got better as the game went along. May this be the first of many such good wins this year.
Ben Haysman was the OMs’ best player in the tough half forward position that demanded strict adherence to structure. He worked himself into the game and showed enormous courage.
Lachie Haysman was outstanding in performing his task of negating Collegians’ most attacking defender in what was a very team-oriented performance.
Jack Spargo’s 31 disposals (23 contested) showed the big bloke’s dominance in the ruck all day in arguably his best game for the OMs as he gave his midfielders first use time after time.
Sam Wundke stepped into the gaping centre halfback hole left by Josh Freezer’s retirement and was defensively excellent, with 13 spoils and his clever reading of the play.
Sam Laube’s three goals on debut helped set the OMs alight as the South Aussie speedster showed off his quality work rate and attacking capability, paired with his defensive pressure.
Ned Nichols was involved in everything, with the little terrier racking up 27 midfield possessions and 12 tackles in yet another very good game for the OMs.
Four players debuted for the OMs.
From Aquinas College in Perth (2011-14), James Harrold is a housemate of fellow West Aussie and OM vice-captain Ben Harding. James previously played 97games for East Fremantle in the WAFL, with three games in Essendon’s VFL side in 2021, and the two seasons for the Essendon Doutta Stars in the EDFL. Footy is both his passion and his job, as he currently works for the AFL Players’ Association.
Sam Laube attended Sacred Heart College in Adelaide. He played for the Goodwood Saints in the Adelaide Footy League before a year at University Blacks’ Under-19s in 2018. From 2019 to 2022 he represented the Goodwood Saints again, but in 2023 played alongside classmates at Sacred Heart Old Collegians. Fellow South Aussie Lachie Haysman introduced him to the OMs.
Lachie Swaney attended Sydney Grammar School and played for NSW clubs including UNSW’s Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs and the Sydney Swan’s VFL team. He played for Carlton’s VFL team and was also at University Blues in both 2021 and 2022. In 2023 Lachie played for EDFL club Maribyrnong Park.
Sam Wundke attended Marryatville High School in Adelaide. Standing at 194cm tall, he played for SANFL teams North Adelaide (30 games) and Sturt (42, 2020-22). Last year he played for Glenunga in the Adelaide Footy League. Fellow South Aussie Ben Haysman brought him into the OMs.
This week the OMs (3rd) take on Old Xaverians (9th), who succumbed to St Kevin’s in Round 1. The game will be back at the newly-renovated Toorak Park, which has been the venue for some great battles between these two clubs in recent years.
See you there.
Lurch.