2024 ROUND 7 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 7, Saturday 25 May 2024.
Match Summary
Old Melburnians FC vs University Blues at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 1.6.12 UBFC 4.3.27
2nd quarter: OMFC 7.7.49 UBFC 4.7.31
3rd quarter: OMFC 7.8.50 UBFC 11.9.75
4th quarter: OMFC 8.11.59 UBFC 16.15.111
Goals: Sam Laube (3), Ned Nichols (2), Jeremy a’Beckett (1), Will Nichols (1), Will Richards (1).
Best players: Jeremy a’Beckett, Ed Michelmore, Ned Nichols, Harry Cooper, Ben Haysman, Sam Laube.
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Tom Baker (2), Alex Black (22), Harry Cooper (23), Nicky Christian (29), Will Dethridge (12), Charlie Dowling (28), Ben Harding (VC, 8), 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), Will Richards (14), Adam Richardson (17), Tom Spargo (37), Ollie Tyrer (32) and Samuel Wundke (7).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Will Richards and Tom Spargo, who replaced Harry Cudmore and Jimmy Harrold.
The game was played on a dry day with a mid-afternoon temperature of 14 degrees and a light SW breeze. It was a very sunny day and perfect for footy.
Following a welcome victory the previous week, over University Blacks, the OMs hoped to carry that form into this game against University Blues, under the watchful eyes of many past players at the lunch in the pavilion.
The OMs were first into the fray and dominated the early minutes of play without scoring a goal. Sam Laube received a free kick for a high tackle and nailed his set shot from the SW at the nine-minute mark. Blues were kept scoreless by the OMs for the next three minutes, after which they scored four goals from free kicks gifted to them by the OMs, who also failed to capitalise on their opportunities in front of goal: a few too many shots were set up from low percentage tight angles. It was a very frustrating first quarter.
The new, vastly improved OMs came out in the second quarter. First into action, they set up Laube, who unleashed in play for a very nice goal after two minutes’ play. Ned Nichols received a very rare ‘in the back’ free kick and scored a neat goal from his set shot. Blues ran up the ground but missed, and the OMs were soon back in attack. Will Nichols unleashed from the NE pocket. The footy headed towards goal, but was being pursued by a Blues’ defender, and Ed Michelmore had to get past that defender to see the ball through. In his fast-running attempt at getting his foot to the ball, Mich slammed hard into the right goal post. He never got boot to ball, and his opponent didn’t touch it either. To the ire of Blues’ supporters, it was signalled as a goal. It had, in fact, not been touched since leaving Willy’s boot, and it was his goal.
Continuing to dominate, the OMs gave Laube a set shot from about 35m out on a 45-degree angle from the NE, and his third goal followed his usual careful goal-kicking routine. So routinely does he score three, that having ticked that off so early in the game, Laube was seemed likely to exceed that and establish a new personal best during the game. At the 14-minute mark it was 37-29. Not yet finished with their welcome run of goals, the OMs continued, with Ben Haysman’s nice short kick finding Ned Nichols on the lead, and from about 30m out he slotted his set shot from almost directly in front. Ben Haysman then hit up Laube, and although he kicked a goal, it was disallowed as he had already been pinged for running too far while coming around the NW boundary line.
A protracted battle raged up and down the western wing until Will Richards got the footy, did a big U-turn in the NW pocket, swung around, and snapped a great goal at the 28-minute mark for a three-goal halftime lead. The OMs had been the opposite of their first quarter selves, being first to the footy, picking out and hitting their targets, getting into better positions for shots at goal, and being well-disciplined. Blues had been kept to four points in a dominant quarter by the Dark Blues, and all looked good for the second half of footy.
The third quarter did not start well, with Blues dominating, albeit kept at bay until the seventh minute when it goaled. Further Blues’ goals rained down at the nine, 17, 24 and 26-minute marks. A free kick gave Blues another goal four minutes later, and the seventh goal for the quarter came a minute later at the 31-minute mark. The OMs inexplicably played nothing like they had done in the previous quarter. Their solitary behind for the quarter told the story of Blues’ total dominance.
In theory, the OMs’ 25-point deficit was not insurmountable, and they were kicking to the north, which had been the scoring end, but they had to get cracking. After missing an early opportunity, they were helped by Blues missing an otherwise dead certain set shot. It was contagious, as the OMs missed their next attempt too, and when Blues goaled at the five-minute mark to take a 52-82 lead, it had to be asked whether it was ‘game over’. Captain Jackson Paine received a free kick but was playing with an injury and missed his set shot. The clock had stopped after Blues’ last goal and was showing the same time when it goaled again, to take a 53-89 lead that was now insurmountable.
A nice mark by Jeremy a’Beckett gave him a long set shot, and although it missed, the footy comically bounced hard off the spokes of the rear wheel of Hunter Watkin’s bike, which was lying down behind the goal. A spectating OM pointed to the bike and joked to Hunter, ‘Deal’s off!’. Blues goaled again, for a 53-105 lead, and on an already dirty day for the OMs, Ollie Tyrer went down hard and had to be helped from the ground at the 17-minute mark. The Blues goaled again before a’Beckett got the footy in the NW pocket and wheeled around, kicking on his left to score a really good goal at the 22-minute mark. It was the OMs’ first goal of the second half, and turned out to be the only one in what was a short quarter. The Blues goaled two minutes after a’Beckett’s goal, as an injured Tom Baker headed home in his civvies. When it rains, it pours.
The OMs’ best player was Jeremy a’Beckett. Eighteen years old and playing only his fifth Senior game, he was outstanding in his role as the OMs’ third tall defender. His efficiency stood out, and he took four intercept marks as well as managing a goal down the other end.
Ed Michelmore was tasked with negating former AFL player Marty Gleeson, who has been averaging 28 disposals per game. Ed kept him to 17 (many of which were kick ins) and played a self-sacrificing role for the team.
Ned Nichols’ 21 disposals included 15 contested disposals and two goals. A standout performer this season, he continues to give his all every week.
Harry Cooper has been in excellent form since his return from injury. He kept Blues’ dangerous forward, Sam Grimley, to a single goal.
Ben Haysman continues to play well in his difficult role at half forward. He notched up 16 disposals and many great defensive efforts.
Sam Laube kicked his fifth bag of three goals for the year and has proved to be a class player since joining the OMs. He has been the standout pathway to goal for the OMs, who need a few others doing what he’s doing.
This week the OMs (ninth) must regroup, find form, and tackle Old Scotch (sixth) at the Camberwell Sportsground. They would do well to rewatch the Cordner Eggleston (Scotch vs MGS) game played at Scotch on 24 May for inspiration. Grammar’s 1st XVIII has been weak in recent years, and everyone expected MGS to be towelled up by the Scotchies. Fifteen minutes into the final quarter, a Scotch goal gave it a 71-45 lead, surely ending the game. The never-say-die Grammar boys, who had stayed within reach throughout the game, responded immediately, kicked three more, and then the cousin of a great OM centre half-forward, Tom Seccull, took a screamer and slotted the winner on the siren. He, and some of his teammates, were at the OMs’ game on Saturday.
Let’s get some good support at Camberwell.
See you there.
Lurch.