Depth Issues

Andrew Leonard

You have to laugh when people throw up depth as an issue for why a club is struggling. “They have a real lack of depth and that’s the reason they lose!” It’s an obvious point, but I think it’s a little bit of a misnomer to say that a club struggles for lack of depth. You take the best five or six out of most William Buck Premier sides and I reckon there is a fair chance they will struggle to cover those players. Injuries, weddings, travel, work and of course now the VFL are all contributors to the absence of our best players week to week. Uni Blues have suffered this more than most in the past few weeks. It’s a long season and each club will play a minimum of 36 players in their senior 22. So player #36 and for many clubs player #48 will be running around trying to get a kick. Player 48… Whilst this does not necessarily equate to the fourth best player in your third team it is a stark reminder of how tough a year in the VAFA can be.

Uni Blues have been in every game they have lost. Two five point losses at home plus a couple of three goal losses if anything show how much depth they have, but the constant changes at the selection table each week is taking it’s toll. Old Trinity only took control of this game – on the scoreboard at least – in the final quarter. The T’s once again proved there is nothing wrong with timing their run to the end of the 120 minutes of football. A five goal to two final quarter that highlighted the disparity in between the sides more so around the ground than on the board. Trinity’s cleaner use by hand and ability to kick to position gave their forwards better opportunities. In case you still doubt them, Old Trinity are the real deal this year.

Old Xaverians played sublime football for the opening 20 minutes of their match against Old Scotch. The Cardinals were at Toorak Park for the first time in a few seasons and the hiatus from the venue didn’t do them any good. As Xavs moved the ball efficiently and quickly to their key forwards, Old Scotch over possessed were slow in their build up and eventually turned the ball over in midfield. Credit must go to the Xavs mids and defenders who heaped pressure on every Scotch touch. The Cardinals were 40 points down before they kicked a goal in the second term and despite going close to squaring the ledger for the remainder of the match they were never really in this. John Shaw had a field day in the ruck, but in reality he didn’t have an opponent for much of the afternoon. It was a good day to be called Louis as both Tiernan and Denton played well. The unveiling of U19 Premier Section Best and Fairest winner Jeremey Hannan was the highlight of the day. Hannan kicked four fist half goals and showed up his more experienced opponent on a number of occasions. Matt Handley was superb with five goals, often competing against two defenders. Tom McKinley was the best Cardinal, and whilst Bull and Jamieson got plenty of the ball, they were always under pressure.

If you could rewind just five minutes of a football game then Glenn Cox would love nothing more than to rewind the first five minutes of the second quarter against St Bernards. Equally Anthony Rock probably wishes he could bottle that five minutes to use again in the future. Ben Smith Wick got the first clearance of the second term, then not another Old Carey possession was had by the time St Bernard’s kicked their fifth unanswered goal at the five minute mark. It was a disastrous period for the Panthers. St Bernard’s kicked eight goals to two for the term and managed just three more for the match, but they held on to win a vital game on the road against good opposition. Old Carey will rue that five minute patch but their endeavour to stay in the contest was good, albeit they couldn’t never replicate the spate of goals the Snowdogs had. Alex Boyse bobbed up with four goals and Adam Bentick reveled on the lush Dunshea surface. Cam Howat played his best game of the year for Old Carey.

Beaumauris had a tough week. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Tim Russell who lost his year long battle with cancer early in the week before round 7. This was followed by the VAFA Permit Committee not agreeing to permit former Saint Stephen Milne to play with the Sharks in their match against Collegians. Despite this a huge crowd was at Banksia Reserve to see their boys roar home against the Lions only to fall an agonising four points short. The Sharks started slowly and were down by four goals at the first change. Whilst they would regularly get close (within one point late in the third) throughout the day they were never able to take the lead. Catch up football proving too difficult. Charlie Holst was outstanding in game number 199 for the visitors, Shura Taft returned to the side with three and Tom Penberthy was good both rucking and a kick behind the play. Raph Clarke had one of his best games in Shark colours and the return of Matt Petering to Beaumaris made a big impact too.

De La Salle led and at the fifteen minute mark of the second quarter against Uni Blacks but then went into their collective shells for another forgettable second half performance. De La kicked just 2.2 for the rest of the game with Blacks kicking 7.8 in the same period. Blacks defensive structures thwarted every De La passage of play and then they were able to launch their own attacks with more precision than the home side. After a shabby start, Blacks have built nicely in the last three weeks, Alistair Robbins has hit form and the Skipper Bede Mahon again got on top in the midfield. It was great to see Woodrow Medalist Jake Williams back in the Blue and Gold but his infrequent appearances alone will not turn De La’s fortunes.

Old Trinity v Old Xaverians

Uni Blacks v Old Carey

Beaumaris v Uni Blues

St Bernard’s v Old Scotch

Collegians v De La Salle