2024 ROUND 5 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 5, Saturday 11 May 2024.
Match Summary
Fitzroy FC vs Old Melburnians FC at the Brunswick Street Oval, Fitzroy
1st quarter: FFC 2.5.17 OMFC 2.3.15
2nd quarter: FFC 6.6.42 OMFC 4.5.29
3rd quarter: FFC 9.6.60 OMFC 10.6.66
4th quarter: FFC 14.12.96 OMFC 12.7.79
Goals: Tom Baker (4), Sam Laube (2), Ned Nichols (2), Charles Dowling (1), Ben Haysman (1), Lachie Haysman (1), Adam Richardson (1).
Best players: Ned Nichols, Sam Laube and Ed Michelmore
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Spencer Anderson (36), Tom Baker (2), Sebastian Bentley (46), Harry Cooper (23), Nicky Christian (29), Will Dethridge (12), Charlie Dowling (28), Ben Harding (VC, 8), Jimmy Harrold (6), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Laube (20), Charlie McKay (42), Ed Michelmore (4), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (1), Jackson Paine (Captain, 39), Adam Richardson (17), Ollie Tyrer (32) and Samuel Wundke (7).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back key players Tom Baker, Harry Cooper, Lachie Haysman and Robbie Morrison, with the addition of Charlie McKay and the debut of Sebastian Bentley. They replaced Harry Cudmore, Henry Nicholls, Arthur Rush, Jack and Tom Spargo and Stuart Watson.
The game was played on a dry day with a temperature range of 17-18 degrees said to feel like 15-16 due to a mostly SE breeze bookended by east-south-easterlies, with a range of 9-13km/h. The game began in overcast conditions that became quite dark in the last quarter.
For the first time in a long time, the OMs trekked out to the very different world of Fitzroy and the scenic Brunswick Street Oval. The OMs have been in Premier A since 2016, with Fitzroy being in either Premier B or C until making its Premier A debut this season. Prior to this game, Fitzroy was winless and in last place on the ladder, but with the OMs ninth, saw it as a good opportunity to claim an inaugural Premier A victory.
The OMs were quickly out of the centre bounce with the footy spilling from a contest by Captain Jackson Paine, from which Sam Laube snaffled it and ran in an goaled within 30 seconds. It was an exciting start by the OMs, but Fitzroy then did almost all the attacking. Held out by the OMs’ stout defence, which only conceded a behind, Fitzroy eventually goaled in play at the nine-minute mark for a 7-6 lead in what was a free-flowing game. The OMs got within cooee of goal before Charles Dowling was tackled, but it was Fitzroy that goaled again at the 12-minute mark. Laube took a set shot from the SW boundary and missed everything, but the OMs kept at it and Laube redeemed himself with a set shot goal from the NW boundary line. Ben Haysman won a free kick for a high tackle, but missed to the right from about 20m out, directly in front. Tom Baker kicked the footy out of heavy traffic, hard up against the NW boundary, and it miraculously bounced through for a goal, but it was deemed to have been touched soon after he kicked. It was 17-15, and Fitzroy easily ran the footy up the ground, taking a mark immediately before the quarter time siren. A long set shot was taken from the SE pocket, and the result was cheered, but it was deemed that the Fitzroy player had moved off his line, therefore playing on, and it was disallowed without the scores changing.
It was a frustrating first quarter, with some missed opportunities, kicks into the forward line landing on forwards’ heads or two feet behind them, and the OMs were not moving the footy as well as Fitzroy. With few exceptions, Fitzroy players seemed to be shorter and lighter than the OMs, and yet won the aerial battle. Sebastian Bentley’s debut was brief, as he was tunnelled, landed heavily, and his day was sadly over.
First out of the middle in the second quarter were the OMs. Lachie Haysman had the footy, and with no-one forward of him, put it on the boot, bouncing it through for a goal within the first 30 seconds. It was a carbon copy (to the second) of the OMs’ first quarter start. It was 17-21 as the OMs continued to attack for the next five minutes without a result, after which Fitzroy went up the ground and ran into goal. The wind gusted in Fitzroy’s favour, blowing the last autumn leaves onto the ground in a sign that winter is fast approaching. Fitzroy pressed for a long time but was yet again held out by the incredible OM defenders. Eventually the OMs worked the footy nicely up the ground and Jacko marked on the lead. His set shot from a tight angle from the SE pocket only just missed. Fitzroy responded by running up the ground and goaling for a 30-22 lead at the 19-minute mark.
The next OM attempt was rushed, and the subsequent OM attack ended when an OM defender playing up the ground kicked directly to a Fitzroy player near the goal square. Yet again, Fitzroy responded with quick coast-to-coast movement and a goal. Now 36-23 at the 25-minute mark in a low-scoring game, the signs were ominous. From the middle the OMs got the footy deep to Baker, who wheeled around from about 10m out and put it through. Fitzroy responded four minutes later at the 29-minute mark with a goal in play to take a 13-point lead into the main break. The OMs were yet to get the ball moving well, which they had showed they were capable of doing really well in Round 1.
The third quarter began with a very even contest in both directions, but when Fitzroy goaled at the 12-minute mark, the OMs were not looking likely to score one of their own. It was 48-30 and bore all the hallmarks of going the way of the previous three results. However, the OMs then carefully worked their way forward to Dowling, who put it on the boot from the NW for a goal at the 15-minute mark. It was 48-36. The OMs attacked from the centre bounce, and Laube cleverly kicked from the SW to Baker on the lead, and he kicked a nice goal from almost directly in front, about 35m out. At the 17-minute mark it was 48-42. Were the OMs about to go on a roll?
Yet again the OMs attacked. Ben Haysman won a free kick for a push in the back, and from almost directly in front, about 20m out (about the same position from which he had missed in the first quarter), he goaled to level the scores at 48 all. The OMs were now unstoppable, unleashing a booming kick from the middle to a huge pack. Ned Nichols roved at the back of the pack (north side), threw it on the boot from a 45-degree angle about 20-25m out, and bounced it through for a thrilling goal. At the 21-minute mark it was 48-54. Fitzroy attacked for a while in the NE, but the OMs broke loose, sending the footy into another big pack. Yet again, Neddy roved around the back of the pack, and – just like his previous goal – bounced it through for yet another exciting goal.
At the 24-minute mark the OMs were leading 48-60 after five fantastic goals that came just when things were looking particularly bleak for the OMs. Fitzroy, however, steadied with a goal four minutes later. Fortunately, the OMs wanted more, and Ned marked in the SW pocket and had a set shot, but it went across the face. Fortunately, Adam Richardson was being held in the NW pocket, won a free kick, and kicked a great goal from a very tight angle to regain the OMs’ two goal lead at the 29th minute. Two minutes later, Fitzroy countered with another goal to reduce the OMs’ lead to a single goal at the final change.
The OMs were in the best position they’d been in for a while, with the game there to be won. Fitzroy had a comparatively large crowd urging it on, but it was the OMs first out of the centre. Baker received a free kick for being held, taking his set shot from almost directly in front, and goaling in the first minute. Fitzroy missed a chance two minutes later but goaled at the four- and 6-minute marks to take a 73-72 lead. It kept attacking hard, missing twice before goaling again at the 12, 15 and 18-minute marks for a 94-72 lead, almost certainly making it game over, as Fitzroy was totally dominating. It missed a couple of times to give the OMs some hope, and Sam Wundke saved the OMs on the last line. Baker took a great contested mark and took his set shot from about the arc, directly in front, but his kick faded, and it was touched on the line. He marked again and was hit in the face. He received the benefit of a 50m penalty when his opponent became unhappy, and Baker goaled from the goal line to make it 96-79 at the 24-minute mark.
The other quarters had been 30 minutes plus, but time was fast running out, and the OMs had to use every opportunity as Fitzroy sought to burn time. The OMs were in attack when the siren went surprisingly early after 27 minutes.
The loss put the OMs on the bottom of the ladder, with Fitzroy’s first Premier A win lifting it into ninth place. Fitzroy had wanted the win more, played all four quarters as opposed to the OMs’ sporadic efforts (which did include six goals in 14 brilliant minutes in the third quarter), and generally outplayed the OMs, including often using the corridor to devastating effort. The OMs were not able to find their rhythm or reproduce their Round 1 form, since which they have not put in a four-quarter effort. The ability and capacity are there, but the form needs to be rediscovered quickly. It is a very tough competition, and first on the agenda is finding five or six more wins to remain in Premier A, following which anything else is a very welcome bonus.
The OMs’ best player was Ned Nichols. He continued his terrific form, with his two memorable goals in the third quarter helping get the OMs back into the game.
Sam Laube continued to do everything well. Apart from his two goals he worked higher up the ground to get more involved in the play.
Ed Michelmore was influential in his clearance work, especially from the centre bounce.
Debuting for the OMs was Sebastian Bentley, a 180cm midfielder. Hailing from Western Australia, he came to the OMFC via Scotch College (Perth) schoolmate and OMFC Vice-Captain Ben Harding. Seb played in the Colts for the Claremont Tigers and for University FC in the Perth Football League, for which he was best on ground in its 2019 A Grade Premiership. In 2020 he was listed to play for the West Coast Eagles’ Reserves in the WAFL, and although COVID-19 prevented competition that year, Seb played in 2021. He has played in the OMs’ Reserves this year.
This week the OMs return home to take on University Blacks (sixth, with two wins). It is essential that the OMs win this game to get their season back on track, and every supporter is urged to come and help them do so.
See you there.
Lurch.