Round 5, Saturday 13 May 2023.
Collegians FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Harry Trott Oval, Albert Park
1st quarter: CFC 3.6.24 OMFC 1.0.6
2nd quarter: CFC 10.9.69 OMFC 1.2.8
3rd quarter: CFC 18.14.122 OMFC 2.5.17
4th quarter: CFC 24.18.162 OMFC 7.7.49
Goals: Adam Richardson (3), Charlie Dowling (2), Tom Baker (1), Ben Jackson (1).
Best players: Charlie Dowling, Ben Harding, Jack Spargo, Will Nichols, Ned Nichols (see below)
By Lurch.
Team: Christopher Akehurst (59), Tom Baker (17), Harry Bede (41), Harry Cooper (45), Louis Dalgleish (32), Will Dethridge (26), Charlie Dowling (28), Josh Freezer (5), Ben Harding (8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Ben Jackson (54), Ed Michelmore (20), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3), Will Nichols (3), Jackson Paine (39, Captain), Adam Richardson (56), Ed Smart (42), Jack Spargo (24), Hunter Watkin (11), Stuart Watson (21).
A very different OMs’ team was assembled to take on the very considerable might of Collegians, with Akehurst, Bede, Dalgleish, Will Nichols, Richardson, Watkin and Watson replacing Anderson, Daish, Kelly, Richards, Tom Spargo, Thompson and Tonkin.
The game was played under cloudless sunny blue skies, with temperatures of 14-16 and negligible southerly to SSW breezes. The ground was soft but didn’t unduly affect the play.
The OMs needed to show a lot more fight than they did against Old Scotch in order to overcome the Lions, and they were first into attack. Throughout the quarter they were noticeably in good voice, full of vim and vigour, and had a sense of urgency about their play. However, it was the Lions that goaled first, inside the first two minutes. They then had several more attempts, between which the OMs occasionally got past the centre, but the Lions were foiled by poor kicking, a desperate smother in or near the goal square, and Josh Freezer leaping on the mark to knock an attempted set shot to the ground. It took Collegians until the 10-minute mark to score a second goal. The OMs’ breakthrough came when Ned Nichols killed brilliantly out of the centre bounce, with Charlie Dowling marking in the NW and slotting a nice set shot within a minute of the Lions’ goal. It was 14-6. The Lions had several more attempts that were either inaccurate or stopped by the OMs’ defenders. When Dowling won a free kick, he set up Captain Jackson Paine near the top of the arc, almost directly in front, but he missed to the left. Despite the OMs’ efforts, Collegians probably had the footy 80% of the quarter, if not more, and kicked a third goal at the 25-minute mark. Through hard work and good luck, the OMs remained in touch at quarter time.
After some promising signs in the first quarter, the OMs’ effort dropped right off after a failed attempt at goal, and thereafter the Lions completely dominated the quarter. They ran to position in numbers, every player always having at least two options, and routinely switched play coming out of defence. The young OMs, by contrast, often found themselves trapped against the boundary line in the pockets, overusing the ball by hand until turning it over. They were totally outclassed with 7.3 to two behinds, and at halftime there was no obvious way they could turn the game around. To make matters worse, Ed Michelmore was lost to injury.
The OMs emerged from the halftime break with a new plan to be more direct and to use the corridor. It had an almost immediate effect. After a brief battle inside the arc, the OMs set up Adam Richardson, who nailed a perfect set shot from the NW in the opening minutes. The Lions goaled minutes later, and then again from the centre, and then another after a free kick for holding. The carnage continued, and when the quarter ended, the Lions had almost doubled their score, with 8.5 to the OMs’ 1.3. It was hard to watch.
Like the third quarter, the final quarter also started with some promise. The OMs won the first contest, the ball went to ground near the goal square, and Tom Baker grabbed it, snapped, and goaled within 30 seconds of the first bounce. The OMs won at the centre bounce and set up Baker with a set shot, but it was offline and dropped short. A frantic effort was made to keep the footy forward, and when Paine was taken high in the SE pocket he was given a free kick, but while everyone prepared for his set shot, Richardson took advantage and waltzed casually through the goal square to finish the job. The Dark Blues were showing signs of life, and were dominating the play, but it was the Lions that goaled minutes later. Ned emerged with the footy from the centre bounce and hit up Richo, who dobbed a nice set shot from the SE. It was 136-36.
The OMs began going the long way home via the NW boundary but turned it over for a Collegians’ goal, to which another was added within a minute. It was 149-36 when the OMs lifted again. Paine was blatantly held while leading for a mark in the SE pocket, but a free was not paid. The free kick that was paid within a minute was to Will Nichols, way out on the boundary towards the eastern wing. To give himself a chance at getting the distance, he ran around the man on the mark and set sail for goal. It went across the face of goal, where Ben Jackman launched himself skyward with an incredible leap that unfortunately missed the mark. A tough contest fought in the SW helped set up Dowling, who slotted an awesome goal from the boundary line about 15m out at the 18-minute mark, but Collegians goaled from the centre bounce, and it was 155-48. The final minutes of the game were devastating for the OMs: best player Dowling received a broken jaw – and a free kick paid against him – and the high-leaping Ben Jackson was also injured. Lachie Haysman won a free kick and took his set shot from near the arc and SE boundary intersection, but just missed to the left, with the final siren sounding under a minute later.
Following a dirty day for the OMs, five players were ultimately named as the best players.
Charlie Dowling was the OMs’ standout player. He won his position, and his efficiency was first class. To lose him to a broken jaw late in the game was a terrible way to end his great effort against the odds. All at the OMs wish him well for a speedy and complete recovery.
Ben Harding continued his perfect record of another 30 plus possession game to make it five out of five for the OMs’ terrific recruit. His consistent top level of performance in every game really lifts his teammates.
Jack Spargo battled his guts out in the ruck all game and could deservedly hold his head high.
Will Nichols never stopped trying to do everything he could to get his teammates up and about.
Ned Nichols continued his very consistent year-to-date in the midfield, sparking his teammates at times with his willingness to take the game on.
This week the OMs – now ninth, and in the relegation zone – take on University Blacks (seventh), which last week won their first game against winless Caulfield (10th). The game will be played at Elsternwick Park, and the OMs must regroup to make the most of this opportunity to get a first win on the board and to rise out of the danger zone.
See you there.
Lurch.