Round 14, Saturday 29 July 2023.
Old Brighton Grammarians FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Brighton Beach Oval
1st quarter: OBGFC 5.1.31 OMFC 0.1.1
2nd quarter: OBGFC 6.6.42 OMFC 1.4.10
3rd quarter: OBGFC 11.8.74 OMFC 2.5.17
4th quarter: OBGFC 14.15.99 OMFC 6.8.44
Goals: James Regan (2), Charlie Dowling (1), Sam Kelly (1), Ed Michelmore (1), Jackson Paine (1).
Best players: Ben Harding, Will Dethridge, James Regan, Jack Spargo, Josh Freezer.
Seniors.
By Lurch.
Team: Harry Bede (5), Dan Coffield (61), Nic Daish (33), Will Dethridge (32), Charlie Dowling (13), Josh Freezer (20), Tom Fuller (43), Ben Harding (8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Kelly (38), Will McIntyre (4), Ed Michelmore (25), Robbie Morrison (15), Will Nichols (1), Jackson Paine (Captain, 39), James Regan (36), Ed Smart (2), Jack Spargo (40), Hunter Watkin (19), Stuart Watson (21), Josh Wills (6).
Note that these were clash jumper numbers, most of which are not the player’s normal number.
Justin De Steiger (19), George Hurley-Wellington (32), Jake Nicholas (61), Will Richards (13), Jock Roysmith (4) and Nick Voyage (25) were replaced in this week’s team by Harry Bede, Charlie Dowling, Sam Kelly, Will Nichols, James Regan and Hunter Watkin.
For the third consecutive game, this one began under sunny blue skies with a few white clouds, but it gradually become darker. Temperatures ranged from 17 down to 16 degrees, said to feel like 11 to 13 degrees due to a stiff NW to NNW breeze that began at 32km/h and tapered off to 17km/h.
Brighton Beach Oval is on a NW to SE axis, with the Tonners kicking to the SE goals first. Coupled with the NW wind and the downward slope, this gave them the first quarter advantage. They were first out of the middle then the OMs got as far as the wing before turning over possession through overusing the footy, giving the Tonners a goal in the opening minutes and another in play minutes later. A very welcome sight was the first game back for Charlie Dowling since getting his jaw fractured against Collegians in Round 5. When he delivered a very good bump it was the OMs’ first time inside their arc, but it was a Brighton goal that followed soon afterwards. When the OMs finally managed to do some attacking, they missed one on the full and when they managed a behind at the 15-minute mark it was 24-1, with Brighton adding another goal for the quarter.
The OMs were struggling to get near their end, but the second quarter and the advantages of the SE end would be the only way to assess how they were placed in this game. They made a better start with the wind. Captain Jackson Paine missed a long shot at goal to the left. Lachie Haysman intercepted a Tonner defender’s kick and sent it into the goal square. A pack flew for it, the ball came to ground and was headed for a certain behind, about to cross the line to the right. Ed Michelmore was lightning quick and got his boot to it about a foot and a half before the line, angling it through for a very unlikely but extremely welcome goal as Brighton’s No. 17 couldn’t pull up in time, and flew almost horizontally over the fence, with his flailing feet almost beheading Lurch. It was 32-8. Brighton then controlled the game for some time before James Regan missed a set shot to the left. The Tonners responded with a goal. When an OM centering kick went to ground, the newly returned Will Nichols grabbed it, had a hurried snap, and hit the right goal post. It was 40-10. Ben Harding threw the footy on the boot for a fantastic long kick from the SE boundary, which Regan marked between the right goal and point posts. To his chagrin and the OMs’ confusion, he was made to take his kick from the southern pocket and kicked across the face. The siren sounded soon afterwards.
The first half confirmed that the SE was the scoring end and that the OMs did have a few more opportunities in the second quarter with those advantages, but that they were not able to set up kicks from good positions, resulting in 1.3 for that quarter.
Although the OMs were first into attack in the third quarter, Brighton then ran up the ground and goaled, after which the Tonners dominated the play for a long time. They scored several goals before Dowling got the footy in the northern pocket. It was a tough kick from outside the arc, but he finally gave the OMs their second goal of the game. It was 68-16. The OMs attacked again, and after Brighton’s No. 17 was red-carded off the ground, Regan’s free kick gave him a set shot that he missed to the right. Jacko took a set shot after the siren from a similar position to Dowling’s kick, but it went left and dropped short.
The Tonners totally dominated the early stages of the final quarter and scored two early goals. When Sam Kelly handballed to Regan in the southern pocket, he had no-one ahead of him, and had no choice but to put it on the boot and launch towards goal. It bounced en route and seemed destined to be stopped by the Tonner in the goal square, but the ball bounced so high it went right over the defender and through for a memorable and amusing goal. Regan missed a set shot to the left before Hunter Watkin and Kelly combined well to enable Kelly to throw it on the boot and slot a goal. Dowling received a free kick for being taken high, but his set shot from the southern pocket was also pushed left by the wind. It was 91-32 before Brighton goaled against the OMs’ momentum. Back in attack, Tom Fuller kicked from the south to Jacko, who gathered, threw it on the boot, and goaled. Regan then received a free kick and drilled his set shot too, with the final siren sounding soon afterwards. The OMs had outscored Brighton in the final quarter.
It was yet another tough day at the office for the OMs. Undermanned and outclassed, they had no chance against the Tonners. Although they improved their effort in the second half, they missed too many opportunities and did not have enough of them to win. Still missing too many key players, the OMs did not have the personnel, and with more players rotated through the Seniors than at any other club this season, the stability needed to enable a team to gel has been unavoidably absent.
Ben ‘Hardo’ Harding produced another workmanlike effort, giving his all in the face of close attention, despite which he managed to chalk up 25 disposals.
Will Dethridge played on one of Brighton’s VFL-listed players for the second time this season, and totally negated the forward’s impact.
James Regan was a terrific inclusion, proving to be the OMs’ best forward. With a bit more accuracy he could have had a handful of goals.
Jack Spargo racked up 20 disposals in the ruck and showed his real strength lies in getting involved after stoppages.
Josh ‘Fridge’ Freezer battled hard all day in defence and did well against all the odds.
With Old Haileybury beating Uni Blues to go a game and percentage ahead of the OMs, the challenge of staying in Premier A has just been made even harder. Four games remain, and the OMs (four wins) have to overtake the Bloods or Xavs (both five wins) or Blacks (six wins) to stay up. This week the OMs return home to take on the Xavs, whose measure they had for much of the game at Xavier until injuries and inaccuracy took their toll. It is the second last home game of the year, and the boys will appreciate as much support as they can get from you, the supporters.
See you there.
Lurch.