Retrospective: Round 8

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Geoff Reilley

10 YEARS AGO – 2010

Ormond and Fitzroy played their C Section match at Sportscover Arena in an important game for both clubs. It was a typical Elsternwick wind and with the breeze at their back, the Roys started well enough to hold a three goal lead at quarter time. Ormond kicked 6.2 to 2 behinds in the second quarter to reverse that  lead at the break. Brosnan and Liston were strong in defence for O, Meakin and Dimond were prominent for Fitzroy. After a good third term by Fitzroy only a point separated the teams going into the last. The goal scoring dried up in the tense finish but it was Ormond who held on to win 11.11 to 9.12. Best: Brosnan, Liston, Keane (3), Allan, Duthie, Cameron (Ormond) and Meakin, Baker, Dimond, Chesire, Polidoras, Biggs (Fitzroy).

Division 1 was an even competition with only percentage separating 4th and 8th. Two top four teams, Werribee and Old Mentonians met. Although Werribee looked stronger at home and led the first half by three goals, Mentonians evened the ledger in the third term and actually led by three points going into the last. In a terrific contest, the final 30 minutes or so was a thriller but the home team took the points and continued their unbeaten run. Mentonians remained in fourth place. Best: Scudamore, Angelini, McCutcheon, Murphy, Tedesco, James (W) and Cochrane, Carroll, Graham, Myers-Saunders, Palmer. Rowlands (OM).

Premier Section senior coaches were: Paul McCormack (Old Brighton), Peter Banfield (Old Scotch), John Kanis (Uni Blues), Mark Hibbins & Simon Arnott (Collegians), Simon Lethlean (Old Xaverians), Erwin Leyden (Old Melburnians), Dave Madigan (De La Salle), Brett Chandler (Old Trinity), Owen Lalor (St Bedes Mentone Tigers) and Leigh Carlson (Marcellin).

Some exceptional milestones – North Brunswick’s Joe Boudoloh was still going strong in the reserves. Joe was a former winner of the seniors Best & Fairest in 2000 but was now mentoring many of the youngsters in the ‘ressies’. At Glen Eira, Geoff “Joffa” Egan was still going strong at the ripe old age of 56! Geoff was a former VFA player, President, Sponsor, Rep player and was playing with the help of plenty of tape! Both Joe and Geoff had reached their 350th game milestone, fantastic effort!

15 YEARS AGO – 2005

The ladder leaders in C Section, University Blacks, had only dropped one game to date but came up against a determined Hampton Rovers who led at half time by 2 goals in a low scoring match. The game was an error-marred affair but keenly contested. The Blacks snuck their noses in front at three quarter time by a couple of points but  powered  away  in the last to win 13.15 to 9.16. Best: Groom, Smith, Green (4), Sheldon, Goonan, Ablethorpe (Blacks)  and Burggraaff, Zampaglione, Corcoran, Blanchard, Pinto, Power (Rovers).

Monash Blues senior vice-captain, George Smyth, joined the 100 game club. George had consistently displayed his speed, balance and courage as he developed from the U19 competition into a very good player at senior level.

In D1 Section, top four teams Ormond and Old Carey met in that sections ‘match of the round’. The first quarter was a terrific display of attacking football, Ormond kicking 7.1 to Carey’s 6.2. In the second term, Ormond, in front of their home crowd, gave another powerful display and  led  by  5  goals  at half time. In a very tight third quarter, only 1 goal was kicked. Ormond pounded the goals in the last quarter to run out easy winners 23.14 to 12.7. Best: D Robbins, Cove, Miller, B Robbins (6), Murphy, B Deledio (Ormond) and Bowley, Unkles, Niven, White (5), Evans, Halliday (Old Carey). Anthony Damen and David Irons were the two field umpires.

Yarra Valley’s Ash Drew played his 150th game. Ash had become Senior Captain for the second time in his career and was a great leader on and off the field. A dual senior best and fairest winner, Ash was also a key member of the 1997 and 2002 flag teams.

D2 Section senior coaches were Steven Bell (Aquinas), Steve Easton (Bulleen Templestowe), Graham Burgen (Fitzroy Reds), Terry Walsh (Glen Eira), Peter Russo (Old Mentonians), Stuart Cook (Emmaus St Leos) and Tim Kilworth (Yarra Valley).

25 YEARS AGO – 1995

In D Section, ladder leaders Old Camberwell had little trouble disposing of University Blacks, despite the Blacks holding a 21-point lead at quarter time. In the second quarter, the Wellers started to take over the game and ‘peppered’ the goals for a return of 6.9 during the quarter. The Blacks were finding it difficult to break through the Wellers defence whereas Camberwell’s goal kickers were numerous. The final score, 18.14 to 11.8 was indicative of the difference between the two teams. Best: Spurritt, Pavey, Talbot (4), Kyriacou, Wilson, Gladman (OC) and Hallam, Shaddock, Roberts, Darroch, Smith, Longley (UB).

Caulfield Grammarians’ Andrew Will was the competitions’ leading goal-kicker for the round among all senior teams with 12 for the day against Parkside to take him to 33 for the season to date, but still well behind Mark Crawford (Hampton Rovers) with 51.

In each of the three E Sections there was an undefeated team after 8 rounds. St Leos defeated Aquinas 23.11 to 17.12 to hold their number one position in E East. Their best for the day were Armstrong, Ronchi, Meehan, McKenzie, Miller, Burgess. (The leading goal-kicker in E East, Brendan Vaughan, did not make St Leos top six despite  his 10 goals!). North Brunswick won easily again in E Central, 22.15 to Uni Reds 11.16 and were two games clear and Beaumaris overran Elsternwick 23.21 to 14.13 in E South.

35 YEARS AGO – 1985

In a magnificent game at Preston before a crowd of 5000 plus, the VFA finished too strongly for the VAFA and won by 9 points. The VFA got away to a great start to lead 7.5 to the VAFA’s 4.1 at quarter time. NOB’s’ Paul Considine was moved onto the VFA’s dangerous O’Riley and shut him out of the game to help bring the ‘ammos’ back into the game. Although the VFA went to a 31-point lead early in the second quarter, Rick Van Den Driest (Bulleen Templestowe) also did the VAFA proud when moved to the half back flank to help turn the tide. Simon Eishold (Ormond) became very prominent as the VAFA kicked 5 quick goals to level the scores at half time. In the third quarter, the amateurs went to a 13-point lead at one stage and in the final quarter, another Eishold goal increased the lead to 19 points. The VFA’s coach, Gary Brice, made some key changes and slowly the VFA started to assert themselves again. Although the amateurs still had chances to win the game, a late VFA goal settled the issue – final scores VFA 14.13 to the VAFA 13.10. Trophies were awarded to the VAFA’s Simon Eishold and Mark McDonald, both star Ormond players. Other VAFA players to stand out were Rohan Brown (Old Melburnians), Andrew Smythe (Bulleen Templestowe), Pat Salinger (Uni Blues) and Guy Ritchie (Ormond). The VAFA’s U19 team was also defeated by the VFA but were far from disgraced by the 29-point loss.

Nick Brennan played his 200th game for St Kevin’s Old Boys having started his career in 1974. Nick had also been on committee since 1975 proving himself to be the ideal club-person.

Mike Sisson played his 150th game for Caulfield Grammarians having won the best and fairest for the U19 team in his first season, 1976. Since that time Mike had been a regular member of the senior team and had played in a number of positions. The highlight of Mike’s career would have been his ‘best on ground’ performance in the 1983 premiership.

45 YEARS AGO – 1975

B Sections captains included Greg Tootell (Caulfield Grammarians), Ian Rice (Collegians), Bill McWhinnie (Ivanhoe), B Mitchell (Kew), M Power (Marcellin), Richard Elliott (Old Carey), Peter Mason (Old Haileybury) and Barry Church (Uni Blues).

Old Ivanhoe (C Section) held on to second position with a 15-point win over MHSOB. Old Ivanhoe’s best were Galbraith (6), G Stevens, Lee and for MHSOB, Ross Wood, Featherby, Adams.

Heatherton 25.20 defeated Glenroy 6.5 making Heatherton the highest scoring team for the ground. Meeking kicked 12 goals and Peter Carey and Fletcher were among the best.

60 YEARS AGO – 1960

Jim Hawkins, De La Salle’s first captain, who had led the club to its first two flags, had made a comeback and looked set for a successful season. John Byrne (Ormond) and John Corby (National Bank) were applauded for their respective 100 games.

Ajax Coach, Peter Charleston had been transferred in his employment and his replacement, former Fitzroy and Victorian rover, George Coates, was welcomed with a 9-goal victory.

Alphington junior, Bill Goldsworthy, kicked 6 goals for the fourth time in this season. Uni Blacks surprised the Old Xaverians and caused the ‘red and blacks’ second defeat for the season. Best – Turner, Whitfort, Steer (Uni Blacks) and G Keogh, McIssacs, Drum (Old Xavs).

70 YEARS AGO – 1950

Doug Arnold (Hampton Rovers) was appointed captain of the Australian Amateurs to play in the National Carnival in Brisbane. Other Victorians  in the team were Sam Birtles (Hampton Rovers), John Brady (Uni Blacks), Jack Castle  (Kew),  Peter  Cox  (Old Melburnians), Geoff Hibbins (Collegians), Alan Mellors (Brunswick), Alan Reid (Geelong), Jack Stock (Ormond) and Don Morone (Old Scotch).

Picture: Jason Sammon