2024 ROUND 8 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 8, Saturday 1 June 2024.
Match Summary
Old Scotch FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Camberwell Sportsground
1st quarter: OSFC 3.5.23 OMFC 1.1.7
2nd quarter: OSFC 8.10.58 OMFC 2.3.15
3rd quarter: OSFC 10.11.71 OMFC 9.4.58
4th quarter: OSFC 13.16.94 OMFC 12.4.76
Goals: Ned Nichols (3), Nicky Christian (2), Nic Daish (2), Harry Cooper (1), Sam Laube (1), Will Nichols (1), Will Richards (1), Adam Richardson (1).
Best players: Jackson Paine, Ned Nichols, Ben Harding, Sam Wundke, Jarrod Lienert, Harry Cooper.
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Alex Black (46), Harry Cooper (23), Nicky Christian (29), Nic Daish (33), Will Dethridge (88), Ben Harding (VC, 8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Laube (20), Jarrod Lienert (22), 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), Stuart Watson (21) and Samuel Wundke (7).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Nic Daish for the first time this season, and Stuart Watson, and welcomed Jarrod Lienert on debut. They replaced Tom Baker, Charlie Dowling and Ollie Tyrer.
Starting in dry, calm, cloudy conditions, they became wet in the second quarter, and quite dark late in the game. The negligible breeze was a variation of westerlies that did not help either team. A temperature range of 9-10 degrees was said to feel like 7-8 degrees.
Although the OMs twice got within cooee of goal in the early stages, and spoiled an Old Scotch attempt, it was Scotch that goaled at the four-minute mark by going coast-to-coast. It added another goal 17 minutes later in a game that had fairly-free moving play all over the ground, but with Scotch noticeably moving the ball far better and looking much more dangerous. The OMs were on the verge of having a scoreless quarter before Nic Daish received a free kick for a high tackle, and a further infringement put him at the top of the northern goal square for a goal at the 27-minute mark. It was 23-6. A Will Richards’ snap from the NW pocket was a behind, and the OMs were attacking as the siren sounded. They were fortunate that the Scotchies couldn’t kick straight, which could have boded well if they were to replicate their younger brothers’ extreme inaccuracy in the recent Cordner-Eggleston loss against Grammar. However, the OMs also had to get into the game.
The second quarter opened with brief, brilliant sunshine, but drizzle began to fall, and it became a light shower that drove away most of the already few spectators. Although the OMs attacked hard for a few minutes, Scotch bottled up play, giving no opportunity for a snap at goal. Ned Nichols had a set shot from the centre square of the small ground, but his kick was touched on the goal line. Scotch goaled in play at the six-minute mark for a 30-8 lead. It added another six minutes later, making the 28-point margin look potentially insurmountable, and with goals at the 16 and 18-minute marks taking the score to 49-8, it was game over. More Scotch goals followed, with the OMs not getting near their goal since the early attempt.
A late effort by the OMs gave Sam Laube a set shot from near the intersection of the SW boundary line and the arc, but even his superior set shot skills were trumped by the tight angle and distance. An infringement in the goal square gave Nicky Christian a set shot from between the eastern point and goal posts to score the OMs’ sole goal of the quarter at the 32-minute mark.
At halftime the OMs went into their rooms with a 43-point deficit and no signs that they could claw their way back into positive territory. Their best footy this season has been combative, at close quarters, but guarding grass and watching Scotchies with the footy from a distance wasn’t getting them into the game. They had to be right on their respective opponents….
The third quarter opened with the showers gone, but it was overcast. Inside two minutes, the OMs got an immediate result from a quantum shift in their approach to the game. Will Nichols got the footy and with a fantastic long set shot he goaled at the northern end. It was 58-21 and the OMs looked like they had already laid more tackles than in the first half: hard makes easy. There were already better signs, and a good feeling about how they were playing. A 50m penalty gifted Scotch a goal at the four-minute mark, but it was cancelled out when Laube received a free kick and goaled with a beautiful long set shot: 64-27. Adam Richardson made a really good effort to get the footy, and his kick hit up Ned Nichols, who ran in and slotted a goal. The OMs went again from the centre and that man – Neddy – ran again, picking a pathway through the Scotchies to slot his second. The scoreboard had died, but the score was 64-40: inside that 30-point margin that tends to be the borderline between hope and despair. The OMs had hope once more.
Will Dethridge was slapped in the head in front of an umpire but did not receive a free kick for a high tackle, resulting in Scotch playing on and goaling at the 17-minute mark. Harry Cooper snuck forward and received a free kick, with ‘Big Red’ drilling his set shot from directly in front. Robbie Morrison came into the game in this quarter with some nice defensive marks and spoils. Richardson took a good mark in the NW pocket and followed up with a fantastic long set shot that scored a goal deserving of more than just six points. Now 71-52, there was even a hope of overhauling Scotch in this exciting, productive quarter. Richards took a fantastic mark, falling backwards with the ball as he took it, and his beautiful set shot sailed through the goal as the siren sounded.
The OMs finished the quarter with a truly astounding 7.1 to 2.1 – all done by the same blokes who could only manage 2.3 in the first half. As is always the case, getting in first, they won the free kicks that had previously been won against them. They almost totally dominated the Scotchies, who were shellshocked, and the quarter could not have gone long enough for the OMs, who could have continued to capitalise with their overwhelming, enthusiastic and accurate play. The last break gave the Scotchies an unwelcome chance to regroup.
At the start of the final quarter, Cooper, in the ruck, got the footy to Alex Black, setting up Laube with a long set shot that dropped short. Scotch scored an unwelcome goal at the three-minute mark, and attacked again, only to be stopped by Sam Wundke on the last line. Play went both ways for a while and was often very congested, which is the Scotchies’ preference on their small ground. When they goaled in play at the 13-minute mark to make it 85-58, it was probably the sealer. Undeterred, the OMs attacked, the footy going to ground in the goal square, where Ben Haysman, Neddy and a Scotchie fought for it, but it was Neddy who toe-poked through his third. It was getting dark and was 85-64. The OMs had to pick up the pace – and their men – as the tight wearing of their opponents in the third quarter had noticeably dropped off, and Scotch capitalised, with a goal at the 19-minute mark making it 92-64. Ed Michelmore was pursued as he ran with his face raised to the heavens – not seeking salvation, but a long, high ball that would at some point come his way. He got it on the SW boundary, where Ben Haysman kicked to Christian, and he drilled a nice set shot. It was 92-70 at the 21-minute mark, with time fast running out.
A confusing period of play unfolded that somehow gave Daish a free kick, and without a man on the mark, he played on and goaled from directly in front. With 29 minutes gone, it was too late to win. The siren went two minutes later as Scotch kicked a goal, but the kick was after the siren and was disallowed.
Not for the first time this season, the OMs were at their best – and worst – in the same game. They showed extremely well what they can do at their best, and it is high quality and exciting footy, but a quarter or two is rarely enough to win a game. It is mostly a young, inexperienced team with a lot of innate talent, and when it eventually transitions from producing bursts of brilliance to sustained excellence, who knows how far it could go?
The OMs’ best player was Jackson Paine. He played a significant role when he moved into the midfield in the third quarter, helping his team get back into the game in a huge way. It was a terrific Captain’s effort.
Ned Nichols kicked three goals and was lively whenever he went near the footy. He is extremely valuable in both the midfield and forward line, making it a balancing act deciding where best to play him for maximum scoring potential.
Ben Harding was the OMs’ only significant ball-winner, racking up 34 disposals and stepping up in the second half to get the midfield back on track.
Sam Wundke played yet another solid game in a backline under siege. He continually helped negate Scotch’s attack and won the ball back.
Jarrod Lienert helped rebound many of Scotch’s forward 50 entries on debut from the VFL. He showed how useful he could continue to be if he can play more games in Dark Blue.
Harry Cooper played yet another steady and solid game in defence and competed well in the ruck to help get the OMs back into the game in a big way.
Debuting for the OMs was Jarrod Lienert. Another 195cm addition to the OMs, he attended Unity College at Murray Bridge in South Australia. Jarrod played in Sturt’s 2016 SANFL premiership. After 23 games with Port Adelaide in the AFL (2018-21) he played a further 11 for St Kilda in 2022.
There is a bye on the King’s Birthday long weekend.
On Saturday 15 June 2024 the OMs (ninth) return home to Elsternwick Park to play the final game of the first half of the season, against St Bernard’s (eighth). Both teams have two wins, and this game will be critical to both in their battle to avoid relegation. All possible support for the OMs will be welcomed by the boys in Dark Blue.
See you there.
Lurch.