2024 ROUND 9 SENIOR MEN’S MATCH REPORT
Round 9, Saturday 15 June 2024.
Match Summary
Old Melburnians FC vs St Bernard’s FC at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 3.2.20 SBFC 5.0.30
2nd quarter: OMFC 7.4.46 SBFC 7.2.44
3rd quarter: OMFC 12.6.78 SBFC 7.4.46
4th quarter: OMFC 16.9.105 SBFC 8.7.55
Goals: Sam Laube (3), Ed Michelmore (3), Henry Nicholls (2), Adam Richardson (2), Charles Dowling (1), Robbie Morrison (1), Charlie Nairn (1), Ned Nichols (1), Will Richards (1), Stuart Watson (1).
Best players: Ed Michelmore, Will Nichols, Jeremy a’Beckett, Thomas Spargo, Adam Richardson, Robbie Morrison
Team: Jeremy a’Beckett (26), Spencer Anderson (36), Andrew Chirnside (49), Harry Cooper (23), Nicky Christian (29), Will Dethridge (88), Charles Dowling (25), Ben Harding (VC, 8), Jimmy Harrold (6), Sam Laube (20), Charlie McKay (42), Ed Michelmore (4), Robbie Morrison (15), Charlie Nairn (47), Henry Nicholls (31), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (1), Ollie Tyrer (32), Will Richards (14), Adam Richardson (17), Tom Spargo (37), Stuart Watson (21).
Match Report
The OMs welcomed back Spencer Anderson, Andrew Chirnside (for his second Senior game, the first being in 2021), Charles Dowling, Jimmy Harrold, Henry Nicholls and Ollie Tyrer, and saw Charlie Nairn make his debut. They replaced Alex Black, Nic Daish, Ben and Lachie Haysman, Jarrod Lienert, Captain Jackson Paine and Samuel Wundke (7).
The game began in sunny conditions with white clouds being pushed around by a south-south-westerly wind of 20km/h gusting to 30km/h, and it was 12 degrees (said to feel like 7). The wind remained a feature of the game. It was a dry day.
First out of the middle were the OMs, with Jimmy Harrold booting it towards the NE pocket, where Ned Nichols ran onto it, steadied, and kicked on the run for a goal inside the first 17 seconds. St Bernards had a brief crack without scoring, before Will Richards and Sam Laube both missed set shots. Robbie Morrison did good work to mark near the top of the arc and slotted his long set shot at the eight-minute mark for a 14-0 lead. Two minutes later the Snowdogs responded with a maiden goal and had to battle hard against the OMs for their second goal at the 15-minute mark. Only briefly did the OMs get forward before turning it over, with their opponents going coast-to-coast for a goal three minutes later, and another from a midfield turnover at the 20-minute mark. It was 14-24, but a free for holding five minutes later added to St Bernard’s tally as it maintained its total domination of the game.
After it kicked out on the full, the resultant free kick was used to great advantage by the OMs. Against the tide, they worked along the eastern boundary, culminating in giving Ed Michelmore a good contested mark, and a set shot slotted from directly in front at the 31-minute mark. The OMs were in attack as the siren sounded a minute later. They finished the quarter with a scoreline that flattered them.
From early in the second quarter there were more positive signs from the OMs. Charlie Nairn marked in the SW pocket a few metres in from the boundary line inside the arc and nailed a tight, long set shot for a quality goal on debut at the five-minute mark. A minute later, Mich nailed his set shot to give the OMs a 32-30 lead – but only until St Bernards goaled minutes later. Mich took another good mark but missed his set shot. St Bernards had another crack at goal, but the Dark Blues eventually worked forward and Laube received a free kick for a high tackle. He drilled his set shot from about 30m out, directly in front, to take a 39-37 lead at the 17-minute mark. The lead changed again with a Snow Dogs’ goal four minutes later. There was a 10-minute stalemate but for some St Bernard’s misses. Will Dethridge then kicked from the SW boundary line to the top of the goal square, where Adam Richardson took a great mark and put through his set shot: another for the OMs in the 31st minute. Yet again, the quarter ended after 32 minutes.
From the start of the third quarter until the OMs’ first goal took 28 seconds. Kicked from the NE pocket, the ball tumbled along the ground towards the goal, pursued by a Snow Dog and the fleet-footed Mich, who toe-poked it through. St Bernards rushed an OM attempt, and Neddy snapped and hit the left goal post. It was 54-44. Ben Harding received a free kick and went short to Henry Nicholls, in the NW pocket. He honoured the trust placed in him by slotting a nice goal from about 35m. The OMs attacked again, with a long kick to a goal square contest with Laube one of many crammed into it – but it was he who finished the job. At the 23-minute mark it was 66-46, but the OMs had to build on their lead. New boy Nairn took a good mark on the run on the eastern wing and hit up Laube in the NE pocket. His set shot sailed through the goal at the 27-minute mark. Not done for the quarter, the OMs gave Will Richards a mark in the NW pocket, and from about 30m out he drilled a more difficult set shot than the one he’d missed earlier.
It was a very good quarter by the OMs, with their 5.2 to two behinds putting them in a prime – but not guaranteed – position for a win. Too often this season the OMs have gone MIA, and the Snow Dogs had shown how in the first quarter how they could dominate proceedings.
First into the fray in the final quarter was St Bernards, which goaled in the third minute. The OMs then had it for a while until a bomb into a big contest almost directly in front of goal saw Henry Nicholls take a great pack-splitting mark. He drilled his set shot at the eight-minute mark for an 85-53 lead. Was it safe yet to say it was game over? Nicholls took another mark and tried goaling from a set shot from outside the arc in the SE on a 45-degree angle, but he just missed. St Bernards kicked two behinds before the OMs resumed hostilities. In a team hit with significant injuries, Harry Cooper was ruckman, defender and forward all in one. Kicking from the SE, he hit up The White Ghost (known to his parents as Stuart Watson). The defender and sometime forward took great care in lining up for his set shot, and his goal at the 20-minute mark gave the OMs an unbeatable 92-55 lead. Four minutes later, Dowling marked almost directly in front and kicked a long set shot goal. Richardson gave the OMs their second 100-point score of the season with a nice mark setting up his goal kicked from close to the goal in the 26th minute.
More than a few players had to look at the words of the OMs’ version of Grammar’s Games Song as they sang the classiest club song in the competition with gusto. After so many near-misses and so many missing quarters, a third win had finally been banked at the end of the first half of the season. Having gone missing for a good part of the first quarter, the OMs’ three-and-a-bit quarters of footy was far better than in most games and were enough to get them over the line. The capacity and ability have always been there – but too-often not shown for long enough. Playing with a patched-together team, the 10 individual goal kickers were indicative of what a team effort the win had been.
Even Lurch was smiling. It was a great way to start off his 50th birthday party that night. Thank you, OMs!
The OMs’ best player was Ed Michelmore, who played one of his best games for the club in a new role as a key forward. Equal top-scoring with three goals, he applied first class pressure all day, with his speed and agility making him too hot for the defenders to handle.
Will Nichols was acting captain with Jackson Paine on the sidelines. He had 23 disposals, laid 15 tackles and kept St Bernard’s best midfielder to 14 possessions in an outstanding effort.
Jeremy a’Beckett had three quick goals scored against him in the opening quarter but showed maturity beyond his years as a first season Senior player by owning his opponent for the remainder of the game, helping shut down St Bernards.
Tom Spargo had 10 rebounds and seven spoils including team-lifting third efforts. He did a remarkable job, stepping up to take the place of Sam Wundke, who withdrew on the morning of the game.
Adam Richardson had yet another very good game. Despite going down early with what looked like a serious injury, he returned to the field to take control around the ground and kick two goals.
Robbie Morrison’s stellar season continued as he showcased his athleticism and ability to negate quality opponents. His anticipation to read the flight of the footy has been excellent, resulting in more marks and spoils alike.
Debuting for the OMs was Charlie Nairn. He attended MGS from 2010 to 2020 and was a member of Rusden House. He was a member of the 2019 1st XVIII and was named as a member of the 2020 1st XVIII that had the misfortune of never striking a blow due to COVID-19 restrictions. Charlie joined the OMFC’s Under-19s in 2022 and has played in the Reserves since 2023.
This win gave the OMs an important jump out of the relegation zone and into eighth place on the ladder. However, a tough assignment awaits this Saturday: Collegians (fifth) at Harry Trott Oval. Collegians are the reigning premiers and were embarrassed by their Round 1 defeat at the hands of the OMs. Having won five and lost four, they are only outside the top four by percentage, and have a plethora of reasons to want to beat the OMs. Always tough to beat at home, the OMs will do extremely well to come away with another win against Collegians.
See you there.
Lurch.