Round 6, Saturday 20 May 2023.

Old Melburnians FC vs University Blacks FC at Elsternwick Park

1 st quarter: OMFC 1.3.9 UBFC 4.3.27

2 nd quarter: OMFC 5.8.38 UBFC 6.5.41

3 rd quarter: OMFC 9.12.66 UBFC 10.7.67

4 th quarter: OMFC 11.15.81 UBFC 11.10.76

Goals: Tom Baker (3), Harry Bede (1), Nic Daish (1), Ben Harding (1), Will

Nichols (1), Jackson Paine (1), Adam Richardson (1), Arthur Rush (1), Jock

Roysmith (1).

Best players: Ben Harding, Jackson Paine, Harry Bede, Hunter Watkin, Will

Nichols, Jock Roysmith

Seniors.

By Lurch.

Team: Tom Baker (17), Harry Bede (41), Harry Cooper (45), Nic Daish (33),

Will Dethridge (26), Josh Freezer (5), Ben Harding (8), Ben Haysman (10),

Lachie Haysman (9), Nick Madders (30), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3),

Will Nichols (3), Jackson Paine (39, Captain), Adam Richardson (56), Jock

Roysmith (35), Arthur Rush (58), Ed Smart (42), Jack Spargo (24), Tom Spargo

(37), Hunter Watkin (11), Stuart Watson (21).

Injuries forced several of the five changes to last week’s team, with Christopher

Akehurst (59), Louis Dalgleish (32), Charlie Dowling (28), Ben Jackson (54) and Ed

Michelmore (20) being replaced by Nic Daish, Nick Madders, Jock Roysmith, Arthur

Rush and Tom Spargo.

Last week’s 113-point mauling at the hands of Collegians was the OMs’ fifth loss in a

winless season. Although Uni Blacks chalked up their first win last week, against

equally lowly Old Haileyburians, the OMs (ninth) saw this home game as an

opportunity to get on the winner’s list against Uni (seventh). They were helped by the

function room disgorging past players from their pre-game lunch to add much-needed

support behind the goals. Last week Andrew ‘Junior’ Prowse turned up to watch his

first OMs’ game of the season, resulting in the OMs’ worst loss. From this game’s

lunch came his brother, Mark ‘Stump’ Prowse: what luck would he bring?

The game was played in most of Melbourne’s four seasons. With a temperature range

of 11-14 (said to feel like 5-11 degrees), it began under grey and white clouds with

some sun, later under full sun with light cloud, and ended in very dark conditions with

showers. Light breezes varied from westerlies to WNW and WSW but picked up in

the final quarter to slightly advantage the OMs.

Lurch missed the game’s opening minutes, arriving when the scores were 2-1. Harry

Cooper – in a new position – kicked long from around half forward on the NE

boundary to Tom Baker, who juggled and dropped a mark, but followed up, got the

footy, snapped, and goaled. Thereafter, it was almost entirely Blacks’ quarter as they

kicked three goals, between which Ned Nichols broke loose and set sail for goal, only

to be offline. Late in the quarter the OMs were in attack, and as the footy was kicked

to a better position for a shot at goal, the siren sounded to end the quarter a few

seconds earlier than the OMs’ would’ve liked. It was a disappointing quarter, which

had all the hallmarks of another dirty day at the office for the OMs – unless they

could click into gear very quickly. Blacks – said to be terrible – had looked

reasonably good.

Blacks dominated from the start of the second quarter and goaled after three minutes.

The OMs then attacked for a few minutes including a huge leap by Jock Roysmith in

a pack that unfortunately didn’t result in a mark. A free kick went to Captain Jackson

Paine for a high tackle, and he slotted his set shot from about 30m at the six-minute

mark. It was 15-34 but Blacks goaled minutes later. The OMs resumed the offensive

and had several scoring attempts, including one by Roysmith, whose set shot missed

to the left. When he later got the footy in the SW he started a chain of possessions that

ended with Will Nichols, who threw the footy on the boot and slammed it through for

an exciting goal. It was 23-40. The OMs quickly attacked again, but when Blacks

tried kicking out of defence, it went directly to an OM, who centred it to Ben Harding.

He was bowled over as he marked and was marched to the goal square for a

guaranteed goal. It was 30-41. A great passage of play unfolded when Will Dethridge

marked at half back, kicking to Hunter Watkin, who kicked beautifully to Baker.

Unfortunately, his set shot from directly in front was sprayed to the left. Watkin

gathered cleverly on the SW boundary line and kicked to Lachie Haysman, who kick

to Baker. His marking attempt was spoiled, but he followed up, threw the footy on his

boot, and slotted his second goal. At the 28-minute mark it was 37-41 and looking

good for the OMs.

However, it was time for the footy gods to be unkind to the OMs yet again, with Nick

Madders going down with a leg injury. Unable to move, he was stranded on the

ground while the game was dangerously allowed to continue (not the first time this

has happened) until the play was almost right on top of him. The quarter ended soon

afterwards with the OMs trailing by three points.

The mood at halftime was buoyant for the first time in a long time, and although

victory was far from certain, the attitude and appetite for it was palpable.

The Dark Blues were first out of the middle at the start of the third quarter, but it was

three minutes before Watkin, coming out of the centre, kicked to Roysmith, who set

up Baker with a nice overhead mark on the lead, directly in front, and he goaled. The

OMs finally had the lead, 44-41. Attacking again, Watkin was on fire as he kicked

from the NE boundary line to Roysmith, who took a nice contested mark and drilled

his set shot from the NE. At the five-minute mark it was 50-41. Roysmith was also on

song in this quarter, taking another nice mark on the west wing. He kicked to Ned,

who sent it on towards the goal square, where Adam Richardson was tripped while

going for the mark. He was not paid a free for the trip, but instead received one for a

non-existent push in the back – but the OMs weren’t complaining! He drilled his set

shot from the NE for a 56-41 lead, 10 minutes into the quarter. Blacks then attacked,

held out by a vigorous OM defence for five minutes until it conceded a goal.

It was critical for the OMs to resume their momentum, lest the Blacks get some and

sow doubts in the minds of the Dark Blues. A great string of possessions ended with

Watkin marking on the run in the NE, but his set shot missed to the right. After

further failed OM scoring attempts, Blacks went coast to coast for a goal. It was 59-53

at the 28-minute mark. A great battle raged in front of goal, with Baker eventually

getting a free kick from the NW boundary line, about 15m out. He tried bending his

kick through, but it hit the right goal post about halfway up. It was at least the fourth

consecutive miss by the OMs and could yet prove a decisive factor in which team

would win. To prove that point, Blacks then goaled to level the scores at the 26-

minute mark: 8.12.60 to 9.6.60. The OMs won at the centre bounce, kicking into a

back, from which someone seemed to throw the ball out to Nic Daish, who could only

quickly throw it on his boot and kick towards the empty goal square about 40m away.

A Blacks’ player tried to chase it down as it bounced through the goal square, but it

just beat him for a much-needed and thrilling goal. Blacks won in the middle but

missed a shot at goal. The OMs then repeated the mistakes of the previous week,

overusing the dreaded handball in defence in the SW pocket until it was inevitably

turned over, and Blacks kicked an arsey goal, to end the quarter with a 66-67 lead. It

had become very sunny as the clouds separated.

It felt like it was a good quarter, and in many ways it was. However, both sides kicked

four goals, the OMs missed viable opportunities, and through poor decisions and poor

play, kept Blacks in the game by leaking too easily after losing possession up forward.

As good as the OMs’ defenders are, they need their forwards and mids to be equally

as defensive, which will go a long way to improving the OMs’ play. The quarter also

saw the loss to injury of Tom Spargo, leaving the OMs with only two on the bench.

Trailing by a point at the final change, the game was well-and-truly in the balance.

The Blacks struck first but missed from point blank range. The OMs then attacked but

turned it over. The overconfident Blacks overused the footy getting out of defence,

with a lazy cross that defender Harry Bede casually intercepted and strolled into goal

for a comically easy goal – his fourth in 27 Senior games. He gave the OMs a 73-68

lead. Richardson was given a long set shot but missed to the right. The sunny

conditions of late in the third quarter had now become so dark that the lights were

turned on halfway through the quarter.

The OMs attacked long and hard, with many stoppages. When the ball went over the

line in the SE and was thrown in, Baker’s kick was touched off his boot en route to

the goal square, where magic happened. There was a mismatch there between Arthur

Rush and Blacks’ best player, Campbell Moorfield. Moorfield was head and

shoulders above Rush, with perhaps 15-20kg on him, but that wasn’t the mismatch –

it was Rush’s quick-thinking, talent and improvisation. As the footy came in for what

seemed a certain stoppage, Rush was pushed forward, seemingly out of the contest,

but – sitting on the ground with his back to the goals, kicked the incoming footy

backwards over his head – right through the middle of the goals! The large peanut

gallery erupted, rushing to the fence to celebrate, and Rush – on debut – was mobbed

by his ecstatic teammates. Watch (or rewatch) it at the 21:11 mark of the fourth

quarter video: https://www.vafa.com.au/vafa-tv/r6-prem-old-melburnians-v-uni-

blacks/

Lurch called it the sealer. It deserved to be, as none could surpass it. Having probably

missed seeing less than 10 games since the start of the 2006 season, it was the most

incredible OMFC goal that Lurch has seen since then (and yes, Army, yours was

great).

The goal gave the OMs an 80-69 lead. Victory was not yet certain, as there was time

yet for Blacks to goal and score another quick one from the centre bounce. It was now

very dark, spitting rain, and soon showering. It became so dark that everyone feared

the game could be called off with the result in the balance. Blacks attacked from the

centre bounce but couldn’t goal. The OMs then attacked for a while, and a kick from a

stoppage in the SE hit up Daish, but his long set shot missed. Blacks then attacked.

The siren sounded just after they marked in front of goal, but their goal after the siren

only improved their losing margin. The game was won: the OMs’ first win of the

season. The wet puffer-clad masses filled the change rooms, where a few hearts were

in mouths as the OMs’ version of the Games Song was to be sung for the first time by

a few who didn’t know it, but all went well.

Ben Harding continued his outstanding form, once again leading the OMs’ disposal

and clearance counts. Hardo is ranked No. 1 in the competition for disposals,

clearances and contested possessions.

Jackson Paine was terrific in the midfield, racking up 22 disposals, 18 tackles and a

goal. He played a critical role in keeping his team in the contest in the early stages.

Harry Bede, in his second Senior game for this season, Bede made an excellent

return to Senior form. He won lots of the ball in defence and provided drive off

halfback.

Hunter Watkin played his best Senior game yet, winning a heap of the ball on the

wing, and set up some important goals.

Will Nichols played in the middle and gave everything, running out the game with his

last quarter ensuring the OMs’ win.

Jock Roysmith was excellent in his second Senior game for the OMs. He proved he

is the player the Dark Blues were missing, providing a link between the arcs, with an

excellent work-rate.

On debut was Arthur Rush. He attended Melbourne Grammar School from 2009 to

2021 and was a member of Ross House. In the COVID-19 curtailed/non-existent

seasons of 2020 and 2021 he was a member of the 2 nd XI both years and played in the

1 st and 2 nd XVIIIs in 2021.

Any win after a long drought (in this instance, the first of the season, after five losses)

is a good win, and this one was a great team effort. However, this must be the first of

many more if the OMs are to avoid relegation to Premier B. With Caulfield

Grammarians winning their first on the same day, the bottom four sides all have one

win, with the OMs still ninth, thanks to their percentage taking a hammering in the

loss against Collegians the previous week.

The OMs – who for most of last season were on track to play finals - find themselves

in the unusual position of losing a lot of experienced talent after last year, creating a

team with a mix of some experience but also many young players with little Senior

game experience. 2022 Premier A joint best and fairest Gus Borthwick’s long-term

injury late last season is an irreplaceable loss. OMFC warrior and Big V ruckman

Nick De Steiger was seriously injured and retired, as also was (and did) rock solid

defender Oscar Hosking, and frequent best player Charles Lill has a long-term injury.

Forward/defender George Hurley-Wellington, X-factor player Justin De Steiger and

Josh Wills have been unavailable. Important defender Daniel Coffield was injured

earlier this season, and other regular players currently sidelined by injury include

Brodie Tonkin and Ed Michelmore. Creative and dangerous mid/forward Cam

Banfield, VFL player and occasional game-winner Sam Dunell, and Chance Doultree

have changed clubs. It will take a while for the younger players – some of whom are

very talented – to develop, and for the frequently changing mix of players to gel as a

consistent team.

Next week the OMs travel to Princess Park, Caulfield, to take on fellow one-win team

Old Haileybury. As they were beaten by Blacks two weeks ago, the OMs must

consider this to be a winnable game, but the Bloods’ thinking would be the same. It

will almost certainly be an epic battle and a close game.

See you there.

Lurch.

P.S. Mark Prowse, you’re required to attend every game henceforth.