2024 ROUND 12 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 12, Saturday 20 July 2024.
Match Summary
Old Brighton Grammarians FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Brighton Beach Oval, Brighton
1st quarter: OBGFC 1.9.15 OMFC 0.0.0
2nd quarter: OBGFC 5.10.40 OMFC 2.1.13
3rd quarter: OBGFC 6.16.52 OMFC 3.4.22
4th quarter: OBGFC 9.19.73 OMFC 4.8.30
Goals: Jeremy a’Beckett (1), Harry Cooper (1), Charle Dowling (1), Henry Nicholls (1).
Best players: Jack Spargo, Jeremy a’Beckett, Ben Harding, Gus Williams
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Spencer Anderson (36), Harry Cooper (48), Will Dethridge (42), Charlie Dowling (15), Ben Harding (8), Lachie Haysman (54), Sam Laube (20), Charlie McKay (84), Ed Michelmore (4), Charlie Nairn (40), Henry Nicholls (31), Will Nichols (1), Jackson Paine (Captain, 39), Will Richards (13), Adam Richardson (41), Jack Spargo (29), Lachie Swaney (21), Lachie Templeton (51), Ollie Tyrer (32), Gus Williams (33), Sam Wundke (24).
Note that these jumper numbers are different for many players due to the OMs playing in clash jumpers.
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Charlie Dowling, Lachie Haysman, Ed Michelmore, Adam Richardson, Jack Spargo, Lachie Swaney and Lachie Templeton and debuted Gus Williams. They replaced Andrew Chirnside, Nicky Christian, Harry Cudmore, Ben Haysman, Ben Jackson, Robbie Morrison, Stuart Watson and Hugo Watkin.
It was a miserable wet day, with the game starting in a light shower. The WNW to westerly wind ranged from 20-32 km/h all day (mostly at the higher end), with gusts up to 46 km/h that made the 11-degree game temperature feel as cold as 5 degrees or as ‘warm’ as 7.
For the second time this year the OMs faced Old Brighton, this time at Brighton Beach Oval, at which the OMs have not won since some distant time before 2006. The Tonners had only lost one out of their 11 games: the OMs had won three for the season, but had some talented players bolster the team.
The game began in the middle of a Timboon dairy paddock although the rest of the ground was quite solid, albeit covered with drab brown grass. Lurch arrived several minutes late to find Brighton already had a goal on the board. The OMs rarely got into their half and did not have any opportunities to score when they did. Meanwhile, a combination of the OMs’ pressure and the Tonners’ inability to play the windy home grround they usually master resulted in very inaccurate scoring that kept the OMs in the game. A good sign against the top team was that there was no lack of genuine effort by the OMs, and it prevented Brighton from having the game on its own terms.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the second quarter, the OMs struck early, with Henry Nicholls getting the footy in the NE, wheeling around, throwing it on the boot, and slotting a welcome goal. Two minutes later, Jeremy a’Beckett got the footy in the SE, did a Matthew Lloyd to test the wind, and – finding it blowing into his back in line with the goal, steered his kick through to perfection. Despite having had two successful scoring shots to the Tonners’ ten, the OMs now only trailed 15-12. Brighton, however, now stepped up, and although play continued to go in both directions, it scored two goals against the wind to show that it was possible. The OMs then clamped down, and Will Richards had a set shot from the SE but played on and kicked out on the full. Charlie Nairn set sail but missed to the right at the 20-minute mark. When Brighton goaled six minutes later it had outscored the OMs against the wind. At the end of the quarter a Tonner tackled an OM, winning a free kick, which became a goal after the OM gave away a 50m penalty.
At the start of the third quarter the OMs kicked into the wind in the NE pocket, and from there a clever short kick set up Charlie Dowling in front of goal, and he slotted it 90 seconds into the quarter. The OMs attacked again from the centre bounce, but their attempt was rushed. It was 40-20. So resolute were the OMs that Brighton took until the 10-minute mark to have a shot at goal with the wind – and missed. Five minutes later the sun had a good crack at trying to peek through the grey clouds and managed to bathe the scene in an Impressionist light. The Tonners now dominated but only managed to score behinds. Eventually the OMs managed a quick burst of play off the northern wing to give Nairn a set shot, but he only just missed. Brighton goaled two minutes later at the 23-minute mark. Captain Jackson Paine had a set shot from the NE but the spin on the ball made it just miss to the right. After the siren sounded, Brighton had a shot, and although it was a long kick, it was mercifully offline.
At three-quarter time, trailing by 30 points in a low-scoring game, the OM still had some hope. They had the wind in the final quarter, and had learned through their second quarter mistakes how to use the wind to the eastern end. They had also shown that even against the top team, they could still score quickly from centre clearances. Five, or six goals – or more – was theoretically possible. Jacko had an early snap from hard up against the SE boundary line, but only managed a behind. Brighton did likewise before eventually scoring a goal to undoubtedly seal the game. Big Red Harry Cooper marked and then kicked a very nice set shot goal from the NE at the 21-minute mark to make it 67-29 but Brighton responded minutes later. The OMs made a late attacking run with Dowling hitting the right goal post on the inside edge.
It was a tough day at the office, but - against the best team in the competition - the OMs had not given up and had not allowed themselves to be heavily scored against as could easily have been the case.
Jack Spargo’s game made him an easy choice as the OMs’ best player. Returning from a lengthy break due to injury, he was super combative and made a very welcome return to the ruck. Spargs had 23 disposals of which 20 were contested in an excellent performance against the best team in the competition.
Jeremy a’Beckett never changed ends as he played as a seventh defender against the five or six-goal wind and went forward when the OMs had it. His 11 rebounds and a goal were a great return for Jez in his first year in the Seniors.
Ben Harding was one of only two OMs to rack up more than 20 disposals for the day, with 27. He was as busy as always, and on a day with few winners for the OMs, he held his own against quality opponents.
Gus Williams on debut (see more below) showed he is at home in Premier grade footy. He sat on an opportunist Brighton forward and did a great job.
In a long-overdue debut for the OMs’ Seniors was Gus Williams. He attended Geelong College from 2012 to 2018. Gus was a member of the College Athletics team from 2014-18, competing in the triple jump from 2015-18. In 2018 he was also a member of the 1st XVIII and rowed in the 2nd VIII. In 2019 Gus played in the OMs’ Under-19s, culminating in being a part of the premiership team that memorably defeated Old Brighton by a point. Since then, he has done a lot to show he deserved a place in the Seniors.
With results helping the OMs, and their own defensive effort limiting the damage as much as possible, by a mere 0.55% the OMs climbed out of the relegation zone and into eighth place on the ladder, giving their place to University Blacks. Six rounds remain to be played, and for the OMs it is still a battle to avoid relegation, with another three – possibly four – wins required to ensure 2025 will be spent in Premier again.
This week the OMs have the second toughest assignment in football, returning home, but playing St Kevin’s, which has lost two games for the season and is second on the ladder. At times the OMs have matched up well against them and will give everything they have to try to secure one of those desperately needed wins.
See you there.
Lurch.