2024 ROUND 03 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 3, Saturday 27 April 2024.
Match Summary
Old Melburnians FC vs Old Brighton Grammarians FC at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 3.0.18 OBGFC 3.4.22
2nd quarter: OMFC 6.3.39 OBGFC 5.7.37
3rd quarter: OMFC 8.5.53 OBGFC 13.9.87
4th quarter: OMFC 9.8.62 OBGFC 14.13.97
Goals: Sam Laube (3), Jackson Paine (3), Tom Baker (2), Will Richards (1).
Best players: Adam Richardson, Robbie Morrison, Will Nichols, Jackson Paine, Nicky Christian, Ed Michelmore.
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (32), Spencer Anderson (36), Tom Baker (2), Harry Cudmore (19), Nicky Christian (29), 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), Arthur Russ (58), Tom Spargo (37) and Samuel Wundke (7).
Match Report
Harry Cooper, Jack Spargo, Lachie Swaney and Lachie Templeton were replaced in this week’s team by Jeremy a’Beckett, Nicky Christian, Harry Cudmore and Arthur Rush.
Following their loss against the Old Xaverians, the OMs took on in-form Old Brighton without key position players including injured fullback, Harry Cooper, and ruckman Jack Spargo.
The game was played on a dry day with a temperature range of 15-17 degrees said to feel like 13-15 due to a mostly SSW breeze of 7-11km/h – although the BOM wasn’t behind the goal in the final quarter, where it definitely felt colder. The game began in very sunny conditions with a few white clouds.
The Tonners kicked with the breeze to the north in the opening quarter and goaled from a set shot inside the second minute. Play then went both ways, mostly in the middle, until the Tonner kicked a goal off the ground in the seventh minute. It was an energetic, close-quarters contest that then moved quickly around the ground. Tom Baker marked at full stretch, standing his ground at the back of a pack. He turned, and with no-one ahead of him, he had to kick towards goal from about the arc in the SE pocket. Although a Tonner desperately chased after the footy at full stretch as it bounced through the goal square, it mercifully beat him for the OMs’ first goal, at the nine-minute mark. Winning at the centre bounce and with the ball in dispute in the SW, Arthur Rush, on his knees, got the footy away to Will Richards, who was pushed as he kicked for goal, but was not denied another six points for the OMs, as he scored at the 11-minute mark.
Yet again the OMs were first out of the middle, going from the western wing to Captain Jackson Paine, who had to beat two opponents as the footy went to ground. He cleverly used his body to shut his opponents out, gathered it, snapped, and scored a fantastic and very-well deserved goal. It was 18-15 at the 20-minute mark. An OM attack that began near the eastern halfback flank somehow went right around the ground and ended up with Brighton walking into goal at the 28-minute mark, with the Tonners missing a set shot a minute later.
Adam Richardson won his own ball in the centre at the start of the second quarter, kicking long to the NW, where Jacko won a free kick for a high tackle, took a set shot from the arc on the NW boundary line, and brilliantly threaded the difficult shot through the goal inside the first minute. It was 24-22. A strong breeze now favoured the OMs. Brighton spent some time in attack but the stout OM defence only conceded a behind. Newcomer Nicky Christian showed good vision and good skills to kick to Baker, giving him a shot at goal that hit the right goal post almost halfway up. The Dark Blues kept it forward, Sam Laube marked and took great care in setting up his set shot from the NW, celebrating before it sailed through the goal. At the nine-minute mark it was 31-23. Ben Haysman won a free kick but his set shot from the NW boundary line went across the face and was punched through for a behind.
The Tonners responded with a very ugly but effective kick that just cleared the defenders for a goal, making it 32-30 at the 13-minute mark, after which a long stalemate followed. A Laube set shot from the NW boundary missed everything, and the OMs only managed a point from a goal square contest. Eventually Jacko had a set shot from about a 45-degree angle on the NW arc, taking his time, and kicking truly to make it 39-31 at the 23-minute mark. Play went both ways until a Tonner’s kick rolled through an open goal square four minutes later, leaving the OMs only two points ahead at halftime.
It was a quarter that saw the OMs do some excellent goal kicking from difficult positions – but also the exact opposite from the same positions - whereas Brighton typically scored from directly in front or from slight angles out from the point posts. It was worrying that Brighton was hitting the scoreboard more often – albeit inaccurately – but that inaccuracy could change.
The third quarter opened with the footy passing through a pack of players to Baker, at the back, who turned, kicked for goal, and watched it bouncing in a nice straight, compliant line through for a goal inside the opening minute. It was only 45-37 long enough for Brighton to goal from the centre bounce. Things then got ugly, as the Tonners kicked two easy goals to be 45-57 at the eight-minute mark as they totally dominated the play. The OMs did not get close to scoring before Brighton added goals at the 16 and 19-minute marks, making it 46-69. A free kick and a 50m penalty gave the OMs a set shot and a miss three minutes later. Brighton responded by going coast-to-coast for a goal in play at the 23-minute mark, adding another five minutes later to make it 47-81. Another free kick and 50m penalty got the OMs forward, where Laube won a free kick for a high tackle, took great care over his kick from a tight angle about 25-30m out in the SW, and slotted it at the 30-minute mark to make it 53-81. The clock kept ticking, allowing the Tonners another goal three minutes later. The OMs were attacking as the siren sounded at 37:26, ending Brighton’s 8.2 to 2.2 onslaught.
Brighton really stepped up in the third quarter, with the OMs unable to match the bigger-bodied Tonners. They had kept up a relentless forward push that the OMs had to emulate, with the breeze, in the last quarter, to have any chance of saving the game. Could it be one of many famous OM comebacks at this ground?
Five minutes into the final quarter, Laube missed a free kick and set shot to the left, followed by Jacko missing a set shot from the NW boundary line inside a minute later. Brighton ran into an open goal but missed the unmissable, which would have been the sealer had it been slotted. Laube then took a great pack mark against much taller opponents, and from about a 45-degree angle on the NW arc, drilled his set shot. Eleven minutes in, it was 61-88 – less than 30 points down, with plenty of time left – and Laube had given the OMs hope. Brighton kept that hope alive as it missed again. Will Nichols’s fantastic lunging intercept against a Brighton defender gave him a set shot from the NW boundary line that went out on the full. When Brighton missed again it was 61-90 at the 20-minute mark, and time had run out for the OMs. A Tonner’s goal four minutes later put the result beyond doubt, and the sound of the siren was merciful.
It was a very similar outcome to the game against the Xavs the previous week: well and truly in the game at halftime after strong, even contests, with much stronger third quarter performances by the OMs’ opponents determining the outcome. Apart from the OMs continuing to kick for goal from low-percentage positions, Brighton set up with players spaced 10-15m apart on defensive flanks, ready to receive and run, with OMs running to their opponents too late. This helped give Brighton more scoring opportunities, with its players’ more mature bodies also an advantage against the young OMs.
The OMs’ best player was Adam Richardson. In the absence of ruckman Jack Spargo he carried the ruck load, taking his game to a new level. His combative effort is evident from his 17 contested possessions and seven clearances.
Robbie Morrison played what was arguably his best game in Dark Blue. He led his team with many ‘one-percenters’, using the footy effectively and continually setting the standard the OMs want in defence.
Will Nichols came off a week of being crook in bed to showcase his mental resilience with 26 disposals from the wing. His gut running all game set a high standard for his teammates.
Jackson Paine kicked three quality goals and competed hard in the air as he has done each game this season. He also worked hard defensively.
Nicky Christian (on debut – see below) had 22 possessions that quickly showed he was ready-made for Senior footy. Playing off halfback, his poise with ball in hand made him a valuable contributor.
Ed Michelmore racked up 20 disposals in the midfield, worked hard on his defensive game, and kept up his efforts until the final siren.
Debuting for the OMs were:
Jeremy a’Beckett attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2018 to 2023 as a member of (and 2023 Captain of) Ross House. He played for the 1st XVIII in 2022 and was 2023 Vice-Captain. He also played in the 2022 and 2023 1st XI. Jeremy played for the Sandringham Dragons in 2023. He is a 195cm (almost 6’5”) forward who showed good vision.
A side note: there is no older Grammar name than a’Beckett, with Edward a’Beckett No. 1 in the Register in 1858, after leaving…Scotch College.
Nicky Christian attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2018 to 2023 as a member of Ross House alongside a’Beckett as his Vice-Captain – but he was Captain of the 2023 1st XVIII with a’Beckett as his Vice-Captain. Nicky also played in the 2022 1st XVIII. He also stands 195cm tall, and has a premiership football pedigree.
Harry Cudmore attended Melbourne Grammar School’s South Australian cousin, St Peter’s College, where he played in the 1st XVIII. Harry subsequently played for St Peter’s Old Collegians FC in the South Australian Amateur Football League (the VAFA’s equivalent). His links to the OMs include fellow St Peter’s boys Ben and Lachie Haysman.
This week the OMs (ninth) take on yet another tough challenge in the form of 2023 runner-up St Kevin’s (fifth), which last week suffered its first loss of 2024, against St Bernard’s, by 52 points. With the game being played at St Kevin’s home ground, T.H. King Oval, Glen Iris, it will be a good test of the OMs’ resilience and ability to improve.
See you there.
Lurch.