Round 9, Saturday 17 June 2023.
Caulfield Grammarians FC vs Old Melburnians FC at Glen Huntly Park, East Caulfield
1st quarter: CGFC 4.7.31 OMFC 0.1.1
2nd quarter: CGFC 5.7.37 OMFC 6.7.43
3rd quarter: CGFC 11.13.79 OMFC 6.7.43
4th quarter: CGFC 11.13.79 OMFC 15.10.100
Goals: Jock Roysmith (3), Tom Baker (2), Ben Harding (2), Ben Haysman (2), Henry Nicholls (2), Will Richards (2), Spencer Anderson (1), Ed Michelmore (1).
Best players: Ben Harding, Lachie Haysman, Jock Roysmith, Will Richards, Harry Cooper, Ed Michelmore.
Seniors.
By Lurch.
Team*: Spencer Anderson (36), Tom Baker (38), Harry Cooper (32), Nic Daish (33), Will Dethridge (40), Chance Doultree (2), Oscar Dowd (58), Josh Freezer (19), Sam Gibbons (14), Ben Harding (8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Ed Michelmore (25), Jake Nicholas (31), Henry Nicholls (43), Will Richards (13), Adam Richardson (15), Jock Roysmith (4), Arthur Rush (21), Brodie Tonkin (20), Nick Voyage (70) and Hunter Watkin (7).
* Bumblebee clash jumpers were worn, some with a player’s usual number, but others were different.
The OMs trekked out to Glen Huntly Park to take on bottom-of-the-ladder Caulfield Grammarians (one win). There was no guarantee of success against the desperate Fields, despite the OMs’ string of three wins, with two of them being against relegation contenders.
Due to injury, travel and other factors, Harry Bede (41), Sam Kelly (38), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3), Jackson Paine (39, Captain), Ed Smart (42) and Stuart Watson (21) were replaced by Chance Doultree (who returned to the OMs from SANFL club Norwood), Oscar Dowd, Sam Gibbons, Ben Haysman, Will Richards, Brodie Tonkin and Nick Voyage.
Although played in temperatures of 15 to 16 degrees, the ‘felt like’ temperatures were between only five and seven degrees due to the powerful wind. Despite being a northerly all game, the wind – in a range of 43-52km/h, with gusts of up to 70km/h – made it a chilly day. It was mercifully dry.
The boys in Dark Blue – and white hoops – won the toss and chose to kick with the wind to the south in the first quarter. This surprised Lurch, as although the wind could not be guaranteed to be as strong or in the same direction in the last quarter, he commented that it was surely better to have it then, as it would help to overcome any possible deficit.
What happened in the first quarter was not worth reporting in any detail – from an OMs’ perspective. With the constant and powerful wind at their white hooped backs, the Fields completely dominated the quarter, and it was remarkable that the OMs once got to their end of the ground, where their sole score for the quarter was a rushed behind. Despite all reasonable attempts at defence against them, the Caulfield boys had 11 scoring shots for a 30-point quarter time lead. The only upside for the OMs was the Fields’ wasteful 4.7.
In an extraordinary effort, the Caulfield boys scored the first goal of the second quarter – against the wind – inside the first two minutes. In many wind-blighted games any score against the wind has often proved to be the difference. It was 37-1 when the OMs launched their first serious attack in the game. Ben Harding threw the footy on his boot, went long, and the footy incredibly bounced over everyone in front of goal for a memorable, welcome, and overdue first goal inside three minutes into the quarter. From the centre the OMs rushed forward, where Tom Baker got the footy and kicked an easy goal in play from the top of the goal square. Play bottled up on the western wing for a while before an OM snap hit the right goal post but this was followed by Spencer Anderson’s snap from the SW pocket goaling at the 15-minute mark. It was 37-21. Winning in the centre, the OMs gave Jock Roysmith a set shot from directly in front. It was spoiled, went to ground and Henry Nicholls crumbed and bounced the footy through for a goal within a minute of Anderson’s.
When a Field kicked north from the western wing, his kick – which would normally have gone 40-50m, was caught by the invisible wall of the northern wind, began a steep rise, and stopped dead in the air 10m from his kicking position before dropping vertically like a rock. It told the story of the futility of kicking towards the northern end. Apart from kicks to the southern end, the only other effective kicks were directly east across the ground to centre shots on goal. This is what the OMs did via several contests, where Will Richards got the loose ball in the SE, threw it on his boot, and goaled. Now 37-33, the OMs attempted a goal in play, and although the footy went inside the left goal post by about a foot and a half (that’s 45cm for the youngsters out there) it was incredibly signalled as a behind. At the 26-minute mark the Fields still led by 37-35. Nic Daish got the footy moving forward again, finishing with Baker, who drilled his set shot from the SE to give the OMs the lead for the first time in the game, 37-41 at the 30-minute mark. Although the OMs’ 6.6 for the quarter was a bit wasteful, it was a better effort than the Fields’ in the first quarter.
The Fields had the wind for the last time in the third quarter. As in the first, they totally dominated, and the OMs did not get near their goal. The boys in dark blue and white equalled the OMs’ 6.6 effort of the previous quarter and kept the OMs scoreless, with lots of wind assistance. Either way, it seemed that the Fields were goaling a bit too frequently and too easily as the quarter went on – all of which the OMs would have to claw back and exceed for victory in the fourth.
Despite a 36-point deficit at the final change, Lurch and other OM supporters seemed unconcerned about the OMs’ ability to make it up, being the VAFA’s last quarter with-the-wind specialists. While Caulfield supporters looked for signs that the wind was dropping off before the OMs had it in the fourth, there was only the briefest of lulls while the wind caught its breath for the next half hour of incessant blowing.
Versatile defender Harry Cooper was thrown into the ruck for a change of scenery, and the OMs started with seven forwards. After being touched, the footy ended up in the goal square, where Roysmith grabbed it and finished the job inside two minutes of the first bounce. From the centre bounce, Ed Michelmore threw the footy on the boot, went long with the wind, and scored a spectacularly long goal to make it 79-55. Will Richards soon scored his second goal with a set shot from the SE, and when Roysmith marked directly in front and slotted his first goal it was 79-67 at the seven-minute mark. With all the time that remained, and the wind showing no signs of abating, it seemed impossible that the OMs could lose the game. The OMs kicked straight out of the centre bounce, to Baker, whose long, outstretched arms gave him the mark, but his set shot missed to the right. Harding unleashed a massive kick from near the top of the arc. The footy headed towards Roysmith, who was being blatantly held, but despite not receiving the free kick he deserved, it made no difference as the footy bounced on through for an incredible Harding goal to make it 79-74 at the 11-minute mark.
The Fields fought hard to get right to their goal line but were prevented from scoring. A long battle was fought on the western wing and in the SW pocket before Nicholls got the footy and drilled his set shot just west of directly in front. It was the 19-minute mark and the OMs took a 79-81 lead. The OMs slowly worked their way along the western wing, with a long kick going directly to a Caulfield defender, but he couldn’t take the mark. Roysmith pounced, the big OM crumbing like a rover, gave a “don’t argue” to his opponent, got around him, and from the SW scored a goal worthy of his effort. When the OMs next kicked into the goal square, two pairs of players contested it. The ball bounced high, just before the goal line, and Ben Haysman charged through to ensure it went through for a goal at the 30-minute mark to make it 79-94. Two minutes later, Roysmith dished off to Ben Haysman, and he ran in from the SW and slotted his second goal. It was the last score of the game.
The OMs won an extraordinary game. It was impossible to watch in the first and third quarters when the OMs could do nothing but attempt to defend and limit the damage, and even when playing with the wind, it was not much of a spectacle despite the deluge of OM goals. The wind completely dictated how the game was played. Only the Fields managed to run and carry for one goal against the wind, but otherwise the powerful wind dictated that only those kicking to the south had a chance of goaling. Lurch could not recall seeing any other game with such a constant and strong wind with an unchanging direction. The Fields fought hard to deny the OMs the win, but the OMs’ greater skill gave them victory – despite the wind taking a lot of skill out of the game.
A casualty of the game was Chance Doultree. In his first game for the OMs this year, he was injured in the second quarter, but played until the end. He later discovered he had a broken wrist.
Ben Harding was undoubtedly the OMs’ best player. His incredible game saw him rack up 50 disposals, with 29 contested possessions, 20 clearances, seven tackles and two goals.
Lachie Haysman put in a great effort in his first time as acting Captain. His 24 disposals, 10 clearances and eight tackles were characterised by his courage and combativeness.
Jock Roysmith’s pressure and attack on the ball created scoring opportunities for himself and others. All three of his goals came in the critical final quarter comeback.
Will Richards returned to the OMs after a stint in the VFL. He ran hard the whole game on a wing, having a positive impact with 15 disposals and two goals.
Harry Cooper gradually worked himself into the game, showcasing the aggression and hardness that has held him in good stead throughout his debut season.
Ed Michelmore played yet another very good game. His class by hand and foot combined with hard and fast running made him a valuable contributor.
This week the OMs (7th) return home to Elsternwick Park to take on Collegians (2nd). When they last meet, five rounds ago, the Lions dealt the OMs a 162-49 thrashing that ruined the OMs’ percentage. Since then, the OMs have not lost, and Collegians have lost once – to Uni Blues. This will be an enormous challenge. The OMs have improved a lot since that last game. This game will show how much they have improved.
See you there.
Lurch.