Round 15, Saturday 5 August 2023.
Old Melburnians FC vs Old Xaverians FC at Elsternwick Park
1st quarter: OMFC 5.3.33 OXFC 2.1.13
2nd quarter: OMFC 10.7.67 OXFC 4.3.27
3rd quarter: OMFC 11.10.76 OXFC 6.7.43
4th quarter: OMFC 16.12.108 OXFC 8.7.55
Goals: Gus Borthwick (5), Jackson Paine (4), Ben Harding (2), Charlie Dowling (1), Ben Haysman (1), Sam Kelly (1), Ned Nichols (1), Ed Smart (1).
Best players: Gus Borthwick, Ben Harding, Dylan Clarke, Jackson Paine, Jack Spargo, Josh Freezer.
Seniors.
By Lurch.
Team: Gus Borthwick (4), Tom Cameron (12), Dylan Clarke (19), Dan Coffield (7), Will Dethridge (26), Charlie Dowling (28), Josh Freezer (5), Ben Harding (8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), George Hurley Wellington (31), Sam Kelly (38), Ed Michelmore (20), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (1), Jackson Paine (Captain, 39), James Regan (43), Ed Smart (42), Jack Spargo (24), Stuart Watson (21), Josh Wills (6).
Harry Bede, Nic Daish, Tom Fuller, Will McIntyre and Hunter Watkin, were replaced in this week’s team by Gus Borthwick, Tom Cameron (both for their first game this year), Dylan Clarke (on debut), George Hurley-Wellington and Ned Nichols.
Yet again this game began under sunny blue skies with a few white clouds. It was 12 degrees throughout the game, said to feel like nine due to a negligible breeze that apparently began as a 13kmh westerly and became a 9kmh south-westerly, albeit noticeably stronger at the start of the fourth quarter. It was a dry day.
The game was congested and manic in the opening stages. Charlie Dowling was taken high and took the OMs’ first shot from about 30m out but missed to the left. The Dark Blues kept at it, and when a free kick was paid downfield it was Captain Jackson Paine who kicked from about the arc in the SE on a 45-degree angle, kicking a true captain’s goal at the five-minute mark. It had the hallmarks of setting the scene for the day. The Xavs, however, then kicked back-to-back goals in two minutes for a 7-12 lead at the eight-minute mark. The OMs attacked hard for some time, with Sam Kelly eventually taking a free kick and hitting the right goal post from directly in front. Keeping the footy forward, the OMs fought in a very congested, well-contested battle until Ed Smart’s centering kick found Gus Borthwick directly in front, about 30m out. Gus made his return to football a very welcome one as he threw the footy on his boot and screwed the kick through for an exciting goal. It was 14-12.
The Xavs went for goal from the centre bounce, but the OMs touched it on the line. For a few minutes the Xavvers continued their attack, but the OMs held them out then turned the tide, going through the middle to Ben Haysman, who dished off to Will Nichols as he ran past, continued running and unleashed a long kick for goal from the SE. It dropped short in the goal square, where Jacko finished the job with a 2’ kick to push it over the line. It was 20-13.
From a stoppage between the right point and goal post there was a very tough, congested contest but Ben Harding got it on the boot and slammed it through for a lightning-fast goal. The OMs won in the middle, got it to Hardo, and he ran in from near the right point post, kicked under pressure, and scored his second goal in as many minutes. At the 28-minute mark it was 32-13 and OMs’ supporters couldn’t believe – after the poor performances of recent weeks - what they were seeing being done by their team against the Xavs. In the aftermath of Hardo’s goal, the Xavs got a bit upset, and gave away a free kick. Jacko took it, but missed from the SW. More concerning was the sight minutes earlier of Borthwick hobbling off the ground in his comeback game. Ed Michelmore then limped off the ground to add to the OMs’ worries.
The OMs had the breeze in the second quarter and were first into attack, but Jacko’s set shot dropped short. His Dark Blue teammates kept the footy in the danger zone, Smart and Dylan Clarke combined to set up Borthwick, who’d made a second Lazarus-like return in the one game, and he threw the footy on the boot from just inside the arc. He unleashed and scored truly, two minutes in. The OMs raced out of the centre bounce to set up Kelly, whose set shot from the arc in the NW was on song. At the four minute-mark it was 45-13, but the OMs weren’t yet done with their fun. Once again, they headed north. Will Nichols kicked towards goal, but was dropped after his kick. The free kick was paid downfield to Dowling in the goal square, who put through a languid one metre kick for a goal. Yet again the OMs went hard, giving Kelly a set shot and a miss from about where he’d scored earlier in the quarter. It was 53-13 and the OMs were totally dominating, but was it really already game over? Would the OMs put the cue in the rack and/or the Xavs turn it on?
An increase in the Xavs’ pressure created a stalemate for a while before Smart’s snap for goal on the run was touched on the line. James Regan took a nice contested mark, but missed his set shot from about 20m out, almost directly in front. A behind at the 19-minute mark was the Xavs’ first score of the quarter: a testament to the OMs’ defensive pressure. Unfortunately, the Xavs added a goal a minute later, but at least this sparked the OMs back into attack for the next six minutes. Ned Nichols got the footy, threw it on the boot, went long for goal and put it through. It was 61-20 at the 26-minute mark, but the Xavs goaled from the centre bounce. A couple of minutes later the OMs, through Clarke, hit up Borthwick, who snapped from near the arc almost directly in front, and his booming kick went through to make it 67-26 at the 30-minute mark. The Xavs had a set shot after the siren, but the OMs touched it through.
It was another great quarter by the OMs, who doubled their first quarter lead, and were almost completely dominating the game.
It was the Red and Blacks that goaled first, three minutes into the third quarter, after which they had most of the play following a likely halftime roasting. It was 10 minutes in before the OMs had a shot, with Regan missing a set shot from the SW. Jacko marked a couple of minutes later, took his set shot from the SE, and screwed the ball around and just inside the left goal post for a fantastic goal. It was 75-35. The Xavs then hit the post and dominated the play, but the OMs held them out until the 25-minute mark when an OX goal was scored. Borthwick received a free kick for a dangerous tackle, but his set shot from the SW, about 30m out, missed to the right.
Outscored in the third quarter, the OMs had to win, and win well, as percentage is increasingly critical in the fight to avoid relegation. At least someone upon high seemed to like the OMs, as He sent a stronger southerly breeze towards the OMs’ goal at the start of the final quarter. The Dark Blues were first into attack. From a stoppage in the NE the footy came into the goal square, where it was hotly contested, but Ben Haysman eventually found a way to put it through. It was 82-43 after two minutes’ play. The OMs were on the western wing when a Xav had two 50m penalties awarded against him, putting Borthwick in the goal square for his fourth goal. He hadn’t left the square when a Xav gave away another free kick, and Borthwick kicked his second in a minute! Six minutes in, it was 94-43.
The OMs went again, man of the moment Borthwick got the footy and snapped towards goal, but it fell short. OX rushed the ball up the ground, but Josh Freezer put an end to that – at least for a few minutes until the Xavs goaled to make it 95-49 at the 16-minute mark. The OMs were attacking from the NW when another unwelcome sight was Dowling going down and clutching his leg in agony. This happened as word went around to suggest that Michelmore’s injury may have ended his season. At the 26-minute mark the Xavs scored a goal during a lull in play, and they had little to celebrate in scoring it. Smart got the footy near the edge of the centre square, unleashed, and watched with a delight shared by all OMs as a teammate shepherded it through the goal square for a fantastic long goal. Kelly and Jacko combined to tackle a Xav, but it was Jacko who took the free, slotting his fourth goal from the NW. The siren sounded an OM win after 31 minutes, and although the Xavs had a kick after the siren, it didn’t change the score.
It was a win that few could’ve seen coming, given the results of recent weeks, and the continual loss of players to serious injuries. The OMs were undeniably helped by the inspirational and timely return of Borthwick, who helped lift everyone, along with the debut of Clarke and the first OMFC game this season of his Port Melbourne teammate Tom Cameron. Captain Jackson Paine set the scene with the first goal, and was inspirational all day with his attack on the ball. Best of all, after seasons of being exhorted to do so, the OMs finally listened…and took the first option! This resulted in exciting, fast-moving, devasting ball movement that resulted in goals, goals, goals. Every player must realise how much better this is than handball, handball, handball, turnover. The celebrations in the rooms were incredible, with past players from the lunchtime function joining them with gusto. Apparently nine former OMFC captains were in the rooms before the Seniors ran out at the start of the game.
Gus Borthwick – in his first game in 12 months – racked up 20 disposals and kicked five goals in an unbelievable effort. He did his damage both in the midfield and at half forward.
Ben Harding had yet another 30 plus disposal game, with his efficiency at an all-time high despite receiving the usual close attention from opposition players. He also thrived amid some classy teammates.
Dylan Clarke had 33 disposals in his debut game. Really clean by hand, combative around the clearances, he lifted his teammates with his efforts.
Jackson Paine kicked 4.3 and set up three or four other goals through his strength in the air and ruck work up forward while bringing his trademark pressure on the game. He has had an epic first year as captain.
Jack Spargo once again excelled in the ruck, both outclassing and outmuscling his opponent all day.
Josh Freezer (and his brother defenders) had a field day in defence, picking off incoming high balls or those coming in from kicks under pressure, both the result of the OMs applying defensive pressure up the ground.
Debuting in this game was Dylan Clarke. He attended MGS from 2014 to 2016 as a member of Creese House and played in the 1st XVIII every year, culminating in being its 2016 Captain. He was also in the 2016 Athletics team. Dylan played 24 games for the Bombers in the AFL between 2018 and 2021, kicking six goals.
Stuart ‘The White Ghost’ Watson was chaired off the ground at the end of his 150th game for the OMs. Originally a Haileybury boy, he had the good fortune to become a Grammar boy and left in 2011. He joined the OMs in 2012 and has played 121 of his games in the Seniors since his first Senior game in 2013. Fifty of his 71 goals have been in the Seniors, although he has played in positions all over the ground. Stu is renowned for his fitness, and his fearless and ruthless attack on the ball.
The Ghost’s MGS classmate, Nic Daish, also recently joined the 150 club. In Round 14 he played his 151st OMFC game. Daishy had an astonishing debut in 2012, playing 14 of his 15 games in the Seniors as an exciting midfielder. His form earned him a place in the VAFA’s Under-19 Big V team that year. Since then, he has played 142 of his games in the Seniors, in which he has kicked 53 of his 55 OMFC goals. Daishy continues to be very competitive, and can create something from nothing at stoppages.
With Old Haileybury losing, the OMs remain in ninth place on the ladder, but now equal with the Bloods on five wins each. The Bloods, however, have a higher, albeit now reduced lead in percentage, which the OMs must overhaul if they are to remain in Premier A in 2024.
This week the OMs trek out to T.H. King Oval in Glen Iris to take on St Kevin’s, which beat the OMs 118-78 in Round 3. St Kevin’s is fourth on the ladder, and last week dealt third-placed Old Scotch a 48-102 thrashing on Scotch’s own turf. The OMs’ fate is still in its own hands. Any wins in the remaining three games will be invaluable. There are few greater challenges than this week’s game. Your support is essential.
See you there.
Lurch.