2024 round 6 senior men’s match report

Round 6, Saturday 18 May 2024.

Old Melburnians FC vs University Blacks FC at Elsternwick Park 

1st quarter:                 OMFC            3.6.24            UBFC             2.2.14

2nd quarter:                OMFC            5.8.38            UBFC             4.5.29

3rd quarter:                OMFC            9.11.65          UBFC             5.6.36

4th quarter:                OMFC            10.15.75         UBFC             9.9.63

Goals: Sam Laube (3), Jackson Paine (2), Alex Black (1), Charles Dowling (1), Jimmy Harrold (1), Ben Haysman (1), Ed Michelmore (1).

Best players: Jackson Paine, Will Nichols, Ben Harding, Adam Richardson, Harry Cooper, Sam Wundke.  

Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Tom Baker (2), Alex Black (22), Harry Cooper (23), Nicky Christian (29), Harry Cudmore (19), 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).

The OMs welcomed back Harry Cudmore, and the debut of Alex Black, who replaced Spencer Anderson and Sebastian Bentley.

The game was played on a dry, sunny day with scattered white clouds and a temperature range of 12-13 degrees said to feel like 8-9 degrees due to southerly, SW and SSW breezes with a range of 11-17km/h that favoured the northern end.

The OMs were first out of middle, with Ed Michelmore bursting out, running, and missing a shot on goal inside the first minute. The OMs kept pinging at the goal and missing or having attempts rushed. A terrible decision in the backline turned the footy over to Blacks for an easy goal at the four-minute mark, with another scored from a free kick eight minutes later. It was 3-14. Robbie Morrison took a nice speccy between the eastern wing and the centre square, with the OMs hitting up Ben Haysman, who slotted his set shot at the 18-minute mark. After the OMs spent some time in attack, Jimmy Harrold put the footy on his boot from about a 45-degree angle on the arc in the NW and just snuck the footy through for a memorable first-ever goal (for the OMs) at the 25-minute mark, giving the OMs a 16-14 lead. Yet again the OMs attacked, with Charlie Dowling very active in trying to create opportunities. The Blacks were making it a very congested, heavily contested battle, but Michelmore found a way around that problem, launching a monster from the centre square, with the breeze helping give his Dark Blues a magnificent goal at the 28-minute mark and a 10-point lead at quarter time.

From the outset of the second quarter the OMs were very active in attacking against the breeze, but their dominance in the first five minutes did not result in any goals. Blacks goaled at the eight-minute mark and continued to dominate the play. The OMs’ defenders were very busy and effective, with Harry Cooper’s defensive punch on the last line one of many crucial acts. When the OMs finally broke through Blacks’ defensive lines, they went via Michelmore to hit up Tom Baker, but his set shot from the SE was deemed to have been touched. The OMs maintained their attack in a tough, tight contest. Alex Black, on debut, got the footy amid a mass of players in the SW pocket about 20m out, put it on his boot as fast as he could, and snapped a fantastic first goal for the OMs, exciting his teammates, who mobbed him with congratulations. It was 32-22. Energised, the Dark Blues attacked again, Sam Laube won a free kick, and took his characteristic time and care over his set shot, resulting his usual accuracy with a goal from about 30m out on about a 30-degree angle from the SW. It was 38-22 at the 23-minute mark, and the OMs looked like they were starting to break the Blacks, against the wind. However, Blacks ran in and goaled a minute later. Jeremy ‘Jez’ a’Beckett took a fantastic mark from a towering vertical defensive leap that had his Reserves’ mates behind the goal crying ‘Jesaulenko!’

In a winning position at halftime, the OMs knew that Blacks would keep on coming, and had to be put away in the premiership quarter, with the stiff breeze at the Dark Blues’ backs. First out of the centre, the OMs gave Laube a set shot, which he uncharacteristically missed from the NE pocket. Captain Jackson Paine, who was clearly hampered in his movement, marked directly in front, and slotted his set shot from about 25m out. It was 46-29 at the six-minute mark. Five minutes later, Cooper gave away a 50m penalty and Blacks goaled. They had another set shot three minutes later, but totally shanked an easy opportunity. Laube marked in the NE on the arc and unleashed a booming kick from a set shot for his second goal. Jacko liked the idea of a second goal for himself, beating his opponent, burning him, and putting through his second goal for a 58-36 lead at the 18-minute mark.

Baker reverted to his former sport in attempting to soccer off the ground, but he was out of practice, and missed. The OMs pressed long and hard for a while. Dowling ran fast and at full horizontal stretch got his hands to the ball for a mark and a very clean set shot, goaling from about 20m out in the NW pocket to make it 65-36 at the 27-minute mark. The remainder of the quarter petered out until the siren, leaving the OMs in a good position with a 29-point lead to defend.

The final quarter began well, with the OMs first out of the middle. Laube is almost always certain to kick three goals per game (although he’s welcome to aim for more!), and after four minutes of play, he nailed his third from the SW about 35m out on an angle. At 72-36 it seemed safe to call it ‘game over’. Things then began to go badly. Blacks ran in and goaled two minutes later, and the OMs missed a couple of opportunities. Blacks goaled at the 19 and 25-minute marks, by which time it was 75-57, and goaled again a minute later. The siren now could not come soon enough. Mercifully, it did, and the OMs won their first game since Round 1. The OMs’ version of the MGS Games Song sounded sweet, despite many players who sang it last year having to look at the words, and some singing it for the first time in a tough season.

The OMs’ best player was Jackson Paine. Hampered by a back issue, he played a great captain’s game all day against Blacks’ best player, negating his influence, and managed two critical goals that helped get the OMs over the line.

Will Nichols racked up 32 disposals in a new role as an inside midfielder. He worked tirelessly from first bounce to final siren.

Ben Harding also had a new role, at halfback, and collected 44 possessions, setting the OMs up with his neat foot skills out of defence.

Adam Richardson rucked against a taller 202cm VFL ruckman. Against the odds, he performed his role so well that the OMs won the clearance battle.

Harry Cooper and Sam Wundke were inseparable as the OMs’ key big defenders. They used their superior body work to negate their opponents and did absolutely everything to put in game-winning spoils.

Debuting for the OMs was Alex Black. He attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2019-22 and was Co-Vice-Captain of Witherby House. He played in the 2022 2nd VIII. In 2023 he played for University Blues’ Thirds and Fourths, before coming home this year.

This week the OMs (now up to ninth on the ladder, with two wins) remain at home to take on University Blues (fifth, with one more win). It is essential that the OMs win this home game to create momentum, and every supporter is urged to come and help them do so.

See you there. 

Lurch.