Old Melburnians Football Club Inc

Round 3, Saturday 29 April 2023.

Old Melburnians FC vs St Kevin’s Old Boys FC at Elsternwick Park

1st quarter:                 OMFC                        3.1.19              SKOB             6.4.40

2nd quarter:                OMFC                        6.2.38              SKOB             10.4.64

3rd quarter:                OMFC                        8.4.52              SKOB             15.8.98

4th quarter:                OMFC                        12.6.78            SKOB             18.10.118

Goals: Ben Haysman (4), Charlie Dowling (3), Tom Baker (2), Chris Akehurst (1), Jacob Thompson (1), Brodie Tonkin (1).

Best players: Ben Harding, Jackson Paine, Ed Michelmore, Ben Haysman, Will Dethridge, Charlie Dowling.

Seniors.

By Lurch.

Team: Chris Akehurst (59), Spencer Anderson (36), Tom Baker (17), Harry Cooper (45), Will Dethridge (26), Tom Donnelly (43), Charlie Dowling (28), Ben Harding (8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Sam Kelly (38), Ed Michelmore (20), Ned Nichols (3), Jackson Paine (39, Captain), Will Richards (40), Ed Smart (42), Jack Spargo (24), Tom Spargo (24), Lachlan Templeton (44), Jacob Thompson (23), Brodie Tonkin (25), Hugo Watkin (52).

Injuries, a suspension and an absence forced four changes to last week’s team, with Akehurst, Donnelly, Kelly and Watkin coming into the team selected to take on St Kevin’s. It was a big challenge for the OMs on their home ground, as the team they met last played there when it won the 2022 Premier A grand final.

Like last week, the day was sunny with blue skies and white clouds, with temperatures of 14 and 15 degrees and a slight WSW to SW breeze that favoured the northern goals to which the Skevs kicked first.

Although the OMs were first out of the centre, it was St Kevin’s that goaled after two minutes, and again two minutes later. The OMs got on the board through Tom Baker, whose long set shot from the SE was on target. Apart from a rushed behind, the Skevvies then totally dominated, and their midfielders did not let the OMs near their forward line. Although St Kevin’s goaled at the 10-minute mark, to the OMs’ defenders’ credit, its next goal took another 16 minutes. It was then 7-34. The quarter was very free-flowing, with almost no stoppages and it looked like it was slipping away from the OMs until…Baker kicked long across the face of goal, where Charlie Dowling out-marked his opponent just west of the point post and put through a low set shot from about 15m out. This inspired the OMs, who won in the centre, from which Dowling emerged with the footy, ran and unleashed a thrilling goal. It was a good end to a quarter otherwise dominated by the Skevs.

St Kevin’s took early control of the second quarter and goaled after three minutes. The footy was then contested in the OMs’ half for five minutes until Chris Akehurst got the footy, shook off tackles, ducked, weaved and from about 35m slotted a fantastic goal on debut. It was 25-46, but St Kevin’s goaled from the centre bounce. The OMs then attacked, with Dowling laying a strong tackle on the NE boundary line that would have given him a shot at goal, but for the tackle inexplicably not being paid. The Skevs responded with a run up the ground and a goal. At the 15-minute mark it was 25-58 and it was looking unlikely that the OMs could come back – and even less so after another Skev goal. The OMs kicked out of defence to Baker who kicked long towards Dowling on the west wing, and he hit up Ben Haysman, almost directly in front, 30m out, and he finished the job.  The OMs made a late charge, with Dowling getting the footy in the NE pocket and kicking long on the run to goal as the siren sounded.

The halftime margin was under five goals, but the OMs had to tighten up their play if they were to reel it in and overtake the Skevs. Apart from the Skevs having numbers at every contest, too often they moved the footy with ease as there was no OM opponent within cooee.

St Kevin’s started the third quarter rather too strongly, with goals at the two and five-minute marks. The OMs then attacked, but turned it over, and when St Kevin’s goaled at the 10-minute mark it was 39-85. Ben Haysman then won a free kick for a push in the back. Taking his set shot from near the arc in the SE, his kick just made the distance to give him his second goal. St Kevin’s response was a goal from the centre bounce. Although the OMs got forward at times, they were unable to get possession within scoring distance, eventually turning it over for another St Kevin’s goal. It was 46-98 when Jacob Thompson ran to mark on the arc near the SW boundary. The siren sounded, adding stress to his already difficult kick, but the experienced forward slotted an awesome goal, bending the trajectory around the man on the man – JT’s first goal for the OMs.

St Kevin’s attacked at the start of the final quarter then the OMs had a crack. Dowling got the footy and ran, but there was no-one ahead of him, and he had to kick long towards goal. As the ball headed for the empty goal square it looked like a miracle goal was possible, but it hit the bottom of the west goal post. A nice, quick, clean passage of play up the west wing got the footy near Ben Haysman. He gathered it deep in the NW pocket and had time to turn around, straighten up, and slot his third. At the seven-minute mark it was 59-100 but St Kevin’s goaled within two minutes. Spencer Anderson took a great contested mark on the centre of the west wing, beginning a chain of OM possessions that ended with debutant Tom Donnelly. His long set shot from the top of the arc dropped short. JT snapped for goal, but missed, then St Kevin’s went coast to coast for a goal. Now 60-112, the OMs won in the middle, JT put his body on the line in a contest, the ball went to ground, Ben Haysman received a handball and waltzed into an open goal for his fourth. Winning again in the middle, the OMs gave Brodie Tonkin a set shot from outside the arc on the east side, and Tonks kicked a beautiful long goal. The Skevs attacked for a few minutes until they goaled. A Skev defender’s kick was intercepted and kicked to Baker, who tapped the footy down to himself, and finished with a nice casual goal, followed by the final siren.

At times it was a hard game to watch. St Kevin’s, which had unconvincing wins in the previous two rounds, ran itself into form in this game, and yet did not look so perfect as to be utterly unbeatable. They were slicker, though, dominated the aerial contests, hit targets and made less mistakes. The OMs have some good, young, talented players, who have few Senior games to their name, and are still adapting to the faster pace and higher standard and pressure. Often the right intention was evident, but execution under pressure resulted in turnovers. They will only improve. This game also resulted in the OMs’ highest score of the season thus far.

Ben Harding’s third game for the OMs maintained his record of 30-plus disposals a game. His work ethic is extremely high. Ben’s clever use of the ball by hand helps bring his teammates into the game.

Captain Jackson Paine gave his all in his new midfield role, racking up 22 disposals with 15 tackles.

Ed Michelmore moved into defence with Dan Coffield and Josh Freezer unavailable. Mich was at his dynamic best, using his speed to create lots of run off halfback.

Ben Haysman’s skill and speed made him a natural candidate for doing more on the scoreboard, and he responded to the challenge, leading the goal kicking with four.

Will Dethridge was moved onto key forward Shaun Kennedy after he scored several early goals. He not only did a great job negating Kennedy, but also provided composure out of the backline while under attack.

Charlie Dowling personifies competitiveness, with elite one-percenters. His 3.1 were almost four goals, and his ability to generate goals from nothing inspired his teammates.

Special mention goes to Harry Cooper. He has done extraordinarily well in his first three Senior games and kept former Carlton player Patrick Kerr to a solitary goal. He has quickly shown his skill, composure and potential in defence.

Debuting in this game were:

Chris Akehurst. Chris played for Sydney University and for the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He came to the OMs this year, joining his mate Tom Foley.

Tom Donnelly. Tom attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2007 to 2019. He was a member of Witherby House and played in the 2019 1st XVIII. He joined the OMs in 2019 and played in the premiership Under-19s team that year.

Next week the OMs remain at Elsternwick Park, where they take on Old Scotch, which last week towelled up Uni Blues by 103 points. It sits third on the ladder with a percentage of 200. The OMs are eighth, and yet to open their 2023 account. What better game to open it than against Old Scotch?

See you there.

Lurch.