Round 4, Saturday 6 May 2023.

Old Melburnians FC vs Old Scotch FC at Elsternwick Park

1 st quarter: OMFC 3.3.21 OSFC 4.3.27

2 nd quarter: OMFC 4.6.30 OSFC 9.4.58

3 rd quarter: OMFC 6.12.48 OSFC 10.11.71

4 th quarter: OMFC 7.14.56 OSFC 13.13.91

Goals: Tom Baker (3), Charlie Dowling (1), Ben Haysman (1), Jackson Paine (1),

Jacob Thompson (1).

Best players: Ben Harding, Tom Baker, Ned Nichols, Will Richards, Charlie

Dowling (see comments below).

Seniors.

By Lurch.

Team: Spencer Anderson (36), Tom Baker (17), Harry Cooper (45), Nic Daish

(33), Will Dethridge (26), Charlie Dowling (28), Josh Freezer (5), Ben Harding

(8), Ben Haysman (10), Lachie Haysman (9), Ben Jackson (54), Sam Kelly (38),

Ed Michelmore (20), Robbie Morrison (15), Ned Nichols (3), Jackson Paine (39,

Captain), Will Richards (40), Ed Smart (42), Jack Spargo (24), Tom Spargo (24),

Jacob Thompson (23), Brodie Tonkin (25).

The OMs returned to Elsternwick Park in search of their first win of the season,

against Old Scotch, which with one loss, was in good form and promised to be a

formidable opponent. After the sunny games of recent weeks, this was a real winter’s

day in autumn: despite some blue sky and mostly white clouds, it was between 10-13

degrees, with “feels like” temperatures of 4-7 degrees and a stiff breeze varying from

SSW to southerlies to SSE. It was mercifully dry apart from drizzle near the game’s

end.

Old Scotch was first into attack, against the wind, but missed a set shot. The footy

came into a big pack in the centre, where Charlie Dowling dished off to Tom Baker.

With no-one in front of him, he kicked to the empty goal square, through which it

bounced for the game’s first goal, inside three minutes. Scotch responded with a goal

before the OMs attacked but Ben Haysman’s set shot missed to the right. When the

OMs had the footy near the top of the arc, Dowling grabbed it, threw it on the boot,

and sent a booming kick through for an exciting goal. The OMs won at the centre

bounce, Ben Haysman emerged with the footy, snapped from the NW pocket, and

goaled. At the 12-minute mark it was 19-15 and the OMs were on a roll. However,

they then had to weather a Scotch storm, which included a great smother in front of

goal. The OMs then spent an equally fruitless period in attack, but the game was on

quite an even keel, as the OMs were noticeably very accountable for their opponents.

A turnover allowed Scotch goal at the 20-minute mark to take a 19-21 lead. A solid

contest raged both ways for the next eight minutes until Ned Nichols had a set shot

from inside the arc in the NW, but he missed to the right, and it was 21-all. Scotch

goaled at the 29-minute mark to take the lead at quarter time, with the OMs deep in

attack at the siren. Scotch had aerial supremacy, and the OMs gave away a few too

many free kicks, but the game otherwise looked promising.

Kicking against the wind, Old Scotch goaled 50 seconds into the second quarter and

dominated until goaling again at the seven-minute mark, between which the OMs

rarely crossed the centre. It was 21-40, to which Scotch added another goal two

minutes later. The signs were not looking good for the OMs, who were being totally

outplayed, mostly for not keeping up the close-checking of the first quarter that had

kept the Scotchies in control and within reach. Despite a tough contest, Scotch broke

the OMs’ shackles and goaled at the 11-minute mark. At 21-52 it was almost certainly

game over.

When the OMs finally got inside their arc, the footy was hotly contested until

Dowling chased down and tackled a fleeing Scotchie. Taking a set shot from the SW

pocket, his kick was flat off the boot and just missed. It was the 15-minute mark and

the OMs’ first scoring attempt of the quarter. Keeping the footy forward, the OMs

went hard at it, and when Ben Haysman laid a tackle, he kicked to Jacob Thompson,

whose set shot from the SW was on target. It was 28-52 at the 21-minute mark.

Baker’s set shot sailed through the goal posts - but had been touched off the boot. JT

missed a set shot, and after a long time in attack, the OMs turned it over, and Scotch

ripped through an unlikely goal for a 28-point halftime lead.

The wind was much stronger at the start of the third quarter, giving the OMs a good

opportunity to use it to get back into the game. Scotch missed an early shot, after

which the OMs attacked, and Ed Michelmore took a set shot from the NE that was

touched on the line. Scotch went coast to coast for a goal. Captain Jackson Paine took

a set shot from near the arc in the NW and steered it through for a much-needed goal.

At the seven-minute mark it was 37-66. Winning at the centre bounce, Dowling

kicked short to Baker, who allowed for the wind blowing almost from the west as he

kicked from the NE, and goaled. 43-66 at the 11-minute mark, the OMs were now

back within striking range of Old Scotch, but snaps for goal by Baker and JT both

missed as the OMs dominated play but barely changed the scoreboard. Eventually

Scotch took its turn dominating up forward, missing several sitters before nailing a

goal. Ben Jackson was being chased by a Scotchie when he soccered off the ground,

but the bloody ball stubbornly bounced left of goal.

Entering the final quarter 24 points down and kicking against the wind, the OMs were

theoretically still in with a chance, but had to pull out all the stops. They were early

into attack, but it was Scotch that goaled at the four-minute mark. After a while, Ned

received a rare free for being held, but missed his set shot from the SW, with Scotch

responding with a coast-to-coast goal at the 14-minute mark. At 49-84, it was

definitely the sealer. Although JT had a set shot from directly front, it fell short, was

punched back into play, but it was Scotch that took possession and later goaled. When

Ben Haysman marked in the SW he kicked across to Baker, who got his hands to the

footy, and skilfully marked it while going to ground. Kicking from directly in front,

he drilled his third goal, but at the 23-minute mark it was the OMs’ first and only goal

of the quarter.

Had the OMs maintained their first quarter form, the result would have been a win or

a narrow loss. Taking the pressure off the Scotchies in the second quarter was fatal to

the OMs’ chances, giving away five goals that set up Scotch’s win. Both sides were

inaccurate, but the OMs more so, and often from achievable set shots that could have

kept the OMs in touch for longer. Scotch has a more experienced team with players

that have played together longer. They were better in the air, and slicker with their

ball movement.

Only five players were ultimately named as being the OMs’ best for the day.

Ben Harding played his fourth consecutive 30 plus disposal game, with 17 clearances

and 10 tackles in an incredible contribution to his new club.

Tom Baker’s work rate was at his best, resulting in three goals on a difficult day, with

great second and third efforts all game.

Ned Nichols had 22 disposals and could have earned greater glory with a better

conversion rate in front of goal. He never stopped putting in top level efforts all game.

Will Richards covered lots of Elsternwick Park, with 20 disposals playing off the

wing telling the story of his effort.

Charlie Dowling’s first half was particularly good. He was involved in most of the

OMs’ goals and played in every contest with manic effort.

Debuting in the Seniors was Ben Jackson. He attended Melbourne Grammar School

from 2014 to 2019 and was a member of Witherby House. He played in the 2018 and

2019 2 nd XVIII and was a member of the 2017 and 2018 Athletics teams. Ben joined

the OMs in 2021 in the Under-19s and played in the Reserves from last year.

This week the OMs face another massive challenge: Collegians at Harry Trott Oval.

Coming off a 110-point win over Old Haileybury, the Lions have dropped one game

this year and are fourth on the ladder. The OMs need all the support we can give

them.

See you there.

Lurch.