Walk the plank with our eyes wide open

William Balme

@Balmey21

I think I should address the elephant in the room up first. I made the ghastly error of presuming that the Old Mentonians’ Mitch Brown player named in their side was former AFL player Mitch Brown from the Geelong Cats. Firstly, I’d like to know who decided that Mitch Brown would become the most popular name for footballers born in the early to mid 90s. And secondly, I’d also like to apologise to the following people; Mariah Carey, for ever doubting the ability for ‘Emotions’ to get a shindig started, Matt Groening for not kidnapping him after the 10th season of the Simpsons, Andrew Leonard for my weekly non-related footy tangents, former Etihad Stadium Chief Ian Collins for stealing approximately 8 pies, 4 sausage rolls and a Picnic bar in the year 2008 (I was in the middle of a growth spurt and I had no money) and, both Mitch Brown and Mitch Brown.

The season is starting to shape in a rather obtuse way. In the beginning, it would have taken a very, very bold man to predict that St Mary’s would have won both of their games by over 10 goals, particularly considering their fixture with flag favourites NOBS/St Pat’s, but they have done so and their credentials surely must be considered. Louis Holmes continued his strong form with five goals but it was Gary Puruntatameri who kept the league’s collective tongues waggling with 4 goals. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jess Sinclair has told Gaz to keep a lid on his form so the rest of the competition don’t start conjuring grand plans to break the man’s game down. Young gun Harry Angley was outstanding, as the Saints burst away from NOBS/St Pats in the second half, kicking 11 goals to 2. Adam Oakley again worked hard all day but it was a miserable afternoon for the Dragons at Ferndale Park.

Old Geelong had their game with Old Mentonians wrapped up by half time as they wrestled back some early season momentum with a 68-point win. Callum Wood kicked 6 for the victors as Matthew Young loped around from half back to half forward kicking 4 goals. Mitchel Brown played well for Old Mentonians as Mitch Brown kicked 4 in the VFL for Sandringham. Well done to both Mitchs. Tristan Strange also showed plenty of resolve but it was the OGs in the engine room, Brad Gore and David Andrew (two first names, edgy stuff), who tore apart the lackluster OMs.

Yarra Valley was again the victim of a vicious street mugging, as Ormond announced itself as a relentless force. One of the most pleasing aspects of the win for the Ormond coaching team would be the telling statistic of 10 individual goal kickers in their 16-goal effort. Henry Simon again impressed in a rock solid performance, as Blair Atkins kicked 3. With the game plainly over at three quarter time, Yarra Valley managed 5 in the last quarter to bring a slither of respectability back to the score line but there were few positives. Simon Yeo was handy through the midfield and up forward, but the alarm bells are ringing as the Bushrangers head into a crucial clash with Kew this weekend.

Speaking of alarm bells, Bulleen Templestowe showed little resistance to the hard running, youthful squad at Whitefriars, going down by 43 points. Our favourite bro at VAFA HQ, Aaron Brosolo, was terrific up forward, kicking 3 and gaining a stack of footy. He was ably supported by Daniel Hogan and Alexander Marcello. The Friars have shown enough to support their claims of an internal rebuild, and will be no pushovers. Bulleen need to show some fight in the coming weeks or risk being condemned to a fruitless season. Mason Giles with 4 was a positive for the defeated Bullants.

Kew and Prahran played off in a magnificent contest on Saturday that had everything you could ask for in a VAFA fixture; A big crowd, a tight tussle, tension floating across the ground and quality footy. Kew only just came away with a tight 2-goal win, with Andrew Brazzale sealing it in the last couple of minutes. Jett Guerin had a breakout game on the wing for Kew as Michael Cochrane played his role perfectly down back to subdue an excitable Prahran forward line. For Prahran, Jordan Waters was a livewire at half forward and Matthew Shaw excelled with 3 but it was the tussle between Andrew Brazzale and Prahran captain Jack Matherson that was the most engrossing duel all day. Both men can hold their heads high.

Willie Bee’s Clive Waterhouse MOTR

We welcome back Clive just as we welcome back NOBS/St Pat’s for their third MOTR in three weeks. I contacted Clive but he was in lieu, checking Tinder and having a few Swan lagers in Subiaco. NOBS take on Ormond who sit 2nd on the ladder. At home I’ll take Ormond as their resurgence continues.

Ormond by 15 points.

Now that we are through with the formalities, it is time to acknowledge something close to our hearts. The weekend coming up is the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and it falls on a Saturday, when thousands of young men across the country will be playing our great game in the shadows of myriads of young men and women who have lost their lives, their bodies and their minds fighting in the wars of days gone by and the wars unfortunately still to come. It would be silly of me to compare our humble game of Australian Rules Football to a perilous and treacherous war, but it would be just as negligent of me to not mention that we will never forget the sacrifice – whether you are fiercely nationalistic or a staunch pacifist – made by those young men and women 100 years ago. May our world strive for peace in our time. Lest we forget.

Yarra Valley v Kew
Ormond v NOBS/St Pats
Old Mentonians v Prahran Assumption
Bulleen Temp v St Mary’s Salesian
Whitefriars v Old Geelong