2024 ROUND 10 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 10, Saturday 22 June 2024.
Match Summary
Collegians FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Harry Trott Oval, St Kilda
1st quarter: CFC 1.3.9 OMFC 2.2.14
2nd quarter: CFC 6.6.42 OMFC 4.4.28
3rd quarter: CFC 8.8.56 OMFC 8.7.55
4th quarter: CFC 15.13.103 OMFC 8.10.58
Goals: Ned Nichols (2), Ben Jackson (1), Sam Laube (1), Charlie Nairn (1), Henry Nicholls (1), Will Nichols (1), Ollie Tyrer (1).
Best players: Will Richards, Will Nichols, Spencer Anderson, Will Dethridge, Robbie Morrison.
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Spencer Anderson (36), Andrew Chirnside (49), Harry Cooper (23), Nicky Christian (29), Harry Cudmore (19), Will Dethridge (88), Ben Jackson (54), Sam Laube (20), Charlie McKay (42), Robbie Morrison (15), Charlie Nairn (47), Henry Nicholls (31), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (1), Lachie Templeton (44), Ollie Tyrer (32), Will Richards (14), Adam Richardson (17), Tom Spargo (37), Stuart Watson (21), Sam Wundke (7).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Harry Cudmore, Ben Jackson, Lachie Templeton and Samuel Wundke, who replaced Charles Dowling, Ben Harding, Jimmy Harrold and Ed Michelmore. This was the first game of the second half of the season, with the OMs having previously had an extraordinary win against the reigning premiers in Round 1.
The game began in very cloudy conditions with a negligible south-south-westerly breeze. It was dry, and 12 degrees.
Kicking to the south, the Lions drew first blood with a goal two minutes into the game. Play then went both ways until Andrew Chirnside had a set shot with a good-looking long kick from directly in front that drifted to the right. When a long kick came from the NE, Ben Jackson took a great high-leaping pack mark. Taking a long time preparing for his set shot from directly in front, his preparation paid off, goaling for the OMs at the 24-minute mark. The OMs burst out of the centre bounce, with a long kick unleashed from about the centre square towards the goal. However, a free kick was paid at the origin of the kick, but it was rescinded when the goal resulting from the original kick was very sensibly awarded instead. The long kicker? Not for the first time this season in the same situation: Will Nichols. The OMs were going through the NE pocket towards goal when the siren sounded. Although Collegians seemed to have more of the ball in the first quarter, wayward kicking cost them, and the OMs got on the scoreboard at the right time to take a quarter-time lead. Collegians were solid, but were not playing like the premiers they were last year, having lost some of their best players to retirement.
The boys in Dark Blue dominated the early minutes of the second quarter. Jackson used his pace to intercept Collegians’ kick out from full back. Kicking from the SE, he missed his set shot to the right. Three minutes later Collegians took the lead with a goal. The game was evenly contested, with the OMs responding three minutes later, coming off the eastern wing to Will Nichols, who kicked neatly across the ground to Ollie Tyrer. He took his set shot from the SE, about 30m out, and gave the OMs a 15-22 lead. The Lions, however, goaled from the centre bounce, and added another inside two minutes later for a 27-22 lead. Will Richards and OT combined try to hit up Henry Nicholls in the SE. He was pushed out of the contest, and from his free kick about 35m out on a 45-degree angle he slotted his set shot to take the lead back for the OMs.
At the 15-minute mark Adam Richardson was taken down hard in a tackle that put him out of the game, and saw his opponent given a red card that has become a very rare sight. Spencer Anderson took a great mark and had a set shot from near the SE boundary line. His very good 35m kick went to the middle of the goal line, where it was marked by a Collegian, with no OMs within cooee to ensure it went through. It continued being a free-wheeling game, with Collegians scoring an easy goal at the 24-minute mark for a 34-28 lead. Each team spoiled the other’s next attempts at goaling and another Lions’ shot was knocked through. They received a free kick and advantage and were running towards goal when the siren sounded. It must’ve been marked just in time, as a goal was kicked after the siren.
The OMs were first out of the middle in the third quarter. Ned won a free kick, his opponent vociferously protested, and Ned was marched to the goal line to goal inside the first minute of play. It remained a fairly even contest, with Collegians having marginally more of it, or at least using it a bit better. When Sam Laube marked in the NW he unleashed a huge kick that just made the distance, and with his famous accuracy, made it 40-43 at the nine minute-mark. The Lions missed an unmissable shot from directly in front of goal. Following a period of unremarkable play, they kicked two goals in quick succession to take a 56-41 lead at the 15-minute mark.
A lengthy battle was fought before Ned unleashed from near the NE corner of the centre square, with his massive kick becoming an awesome goal. Six minutes later, Charlie Nairn marked and goaled from directly in front with a set shot bomb, getting the OMs within one point at the last break. While it was satisfying to be in that position, missed opportunities were frustrating. More than a few times, the OMs made the mistake of kicking too deep into the forward line, usually within about 5m of goal, giving Collegians the opportunity to bottle it up.
At the start of the final quarter it was very dark, cold, and the breeze had sparked up. Although the OMs were first into the fray, Collegians soon had most of the ball. An OM gave away a silly 50m penalty to gift the Lions the first goal at the four-minute mark for a 63-55 lead. They goaled from the centre bounce inside a minute later, and scored another goal from the next centre contest. From the next centre bounce they ran into goal but the ball was touched. Goaling at the eight-minute mark, Collegians took an 82-55 lead. Was it game over? The OMs were yet to strike a blow and would have to turn the game around quickly to have any chance. Their first score came with a Chirnside miss in play at the 13-minute mark, but at 83-56 it was already game over. The OMs had multiple cracks at goal but the Collegians making it a very congested contest, only one behind was added. Collegians then ran up the ground for a goal at the 24-minute mark and added insult to injury with a goal on the final siren. It had been a 47-3 quarter.
The Lions stepped up their efforts in the last quarter, perhaps having been reminded at three-quarter time that the team only one point behind them had beaten them in Round 1. The OMs, already depleted before the game with many of its best players out, lost more players during the game. Collegians moved from fifth into the Top Four, while the OMs were fortunate to remain eighth, as although St Bernard’s won and leapfrogged from ninth to seventh, Uni Blacks lost to take ninth place.
Will Richards played his best game this season with a great mix of inside and outside ball. His 23 possessions were the most by any OM, and he ran tirelessly up and down the wing all day.
Will Nichols spent the five days before the game in bed with the flu. Despite this significant setback to his pre-game preparation, he played his heart out for the Dark Blues. His leadership in the absence of Captain Jackson Paine was inspirational.
Spencer Anderson continued to show great improvement and a growing confidence in his abilities. He played in defence and also spent some time on the wing.
Will Dethridge had 22 disposals playing at half back. His efficiency continues to improve, and he had a nice balance of good defensive and attacking football.
Robbie Morrison’s terrific season continued to develop. He has become an important intercept player as his anticipation for the contest has improved, giving him confidence to throw himself into the fray.
Next week the OMs return home for the rematch against the Old Xavs (sixth, with two more wins than the OMs), who defeated the OMs 79-47 in Round 2. The OMs still need at least three (and possibly four) more wins from the remaining eight games to stay in Premier in 2025. With more players lost to injury, the challenge becomes greater. The more support they have, the better.
See you there.
Lurch.