Seniors
Vermont 10-13-73 defeated Knox 6-7-43
Ins: Jason Youssef, Nathan Henley Outs: Matt Greig (inj), Pat Lawlor (Box Hill)
Goalkickers: Carmody 3, Henley 2, D. Mendes 2, Mullett 1, Kelly 1.
Best Players: Mullett, Bonuda, Ross, Barry-Murphy, Millhouse, Youssef.
Coach’s Comment: Our 2nd quarter pressure was great far better than the first. Our back 6 were sensational but we need to think more about the way we move the football. He was very impressed with the performance of Jason Youssef.
Summary: Today was a must win game for the players after our last minute loss the week before so a good showing was required today.
In the 1st quarter the game was a very much an open affair.
Knox dominating possession for most of the quarter but were unable to apply scoreboard pressure. Dean Millhouse and Mitch Bonuda were playing well in the backline and directing traffic. Our on-ball brigade led by Robbie Ross, Ryan Mullett and Daniel Mendes whilst not dominating were certainly holding their own. Tommy Carmody continued his vein of good form recently with 2 goals in the quarter. Ryan Wilson on the wing was getting some valuable touches and causing the opposition some concern. Basically we made the most of our limited opportunities and were rewarded with an 11 point lead at the first break.
The least said about the 2nd quarter the better. It was lamentable with Knox reverting back to a game plan of putting numbers behind the ball playing keepings off and the game disintegrated into a battle of the backlines. In essence neither side could kick a goal and never looked like it with the supporters of both sides getting frustrated at how the game had deteriorated. In one passage of play Vermont had 15 possessions for a net gain of 2 metres which epitomised how the game was played for the rest of the day. Knox won the quarter kicking a paltry 4 points to 3 with Vermont still holding a 10 point lead at the main break.
The 3rd quarter was more about who was going to take the initiative to break the game open. Vermont to their credit tried to make things happen. Ross and Mullett were still playing extremely well and the experience of Kelly, Henley at various stages and passages of play was invaluable. Ryan Wilson was continuing his good form and Xavier Barry-Murphy started to be far more creative from the last line of defence. At ¾ time after keeping Knox scoreless we held a well-earned 33 point lead which in the context of the game was a match winning lead.
The 4th quarter saw Vermont kicking the first goal courtesy of Tommy Carmody who finished with 3 goals the game was effectively over. Whilst Knox went back to a more conventional man on man contest they were always chasing the game and our backline which played well all day held sway. A couple late goals to Knox reduced the margin to 30 points which ended being the final margin.
Although the game never reached any great heights as a spectacle the boys deserved their win today and beat Knox at their own game.
Well done to Jason Youssef who played really well today on his debut.
Well done guys you responded today and have put yourself right back in the mix in a very even EFL season. We now have two away games in the next 2 rounds so enjoy your break and come back refreshed for the challenges ahead.
Reserves
Vermont: 21-8-134 defeated Knox 8-4-52
Goalkickers: Griffiths 6, Sonsie 5, Johns 3, Davidson 2, N. Johnson 2, A. Smith 1, Chiodo 1, Pretto 1.
Best Players: Griffiths, Carrodus, N. Johnson, Cameron, McAuley, Sonsie.
Coach’s Comment: A win of real character after finishing the game with 17 players. Our backline was fantastic. The coach once again quoted from the bible of the Eagletonians which we will now rename the Chronicles of Rudd with this pearl of wisdom “Sport is the toy shop of human life”. I guess there’s something in that for all of us.
Summary: In what was billed as a clash of the heavyweights between the top two sides which turned into an emphatic win to the Reserves today. From the first bounce Vermont meant business and in the opening 5 minutes kicked the opening 3 goals with Mark Griffiths on fire. From that moment on a shell shocked Knox were never in the hunt as our players continued to do what they do best run, carry, spread, pressure and tackle.
At ¼ time we held a 23 point win already looking like winners.
In the 2nd quarter it was much the same as the 1st with Vermont kicking the first 5 goals to hold a commanding 62 point lead. Nick Carrodus was in complete control in the ruck, the centre line consisting of Andy Ellis and the Johnson boys Nick and Luke were running hard both ways to support the backs and forwards. The backline led by Scott Cameron and Kieran McAuley which have been the cornerstone of our success all year so far continued to play attacking and committed football. And with Mark Griffiths and Michael Sonsie kicking goals and the cameo performance of Lachlan Johns since his return from injury our side we were basically unstoppable. Knox to their credit never stopped trying and in the last 5 min of the quarter kicked the closing 3 goals to go into the main break 38 points in arrears.
In the 3rd quarter Knox who had gone in to the half time break with the momentum threw everything at us in the opening half of the quarter or so however we weathered the storm and took control kicking another 6 goals to 2 to hold a 59 point lead at the last break. The quarter was marred by some unsavoury incidents which raised the ire of supporters and the writer of this article with the umpires taking the corresponding action necessary to diffuse the situation.
As with the U19’s the game was effectively over in the 4th quarter but our players continued to play good football with 5 more goals to 2 to finish off with a commanding 82 point victory. In my opinion the performances of Mark Griffiths and Nick Carrodus was outstanding ably supported by everyone else in the side.
A fantastic start to the year boys enjoy your break and come back refreshed ready to bring it on.
U19
Vermont 21-11-137 defeated Knox 5-7-37
Goalkickers: Strachan 8, Smith 3, Gannon 3, White 1, Hemmings 1, Sheridan-Ferrie 1, Burns 1, B. Fisher 1, Phillips 1, Barnard 1.
Best Players: White, Strachan, McCafferty, Hackett, Hemmings, Pretto.
Coach’s Comment: Our last 3 quarters were really good and we showed a general improvement. The coach was happy with the performance of the team leaders with mentions to Matt Barnard for his last quarter and the tagging role of Tom Pretto.
Summary: A very spirited Knox came out to play and in the first quarter, they were taking it right up to our team especially with their tackling and pressure causing turnovers which created their scoring opportunities which gave them a slender lead at ¼ time.
The first ½ of the 2nd quarter was a little bit of an arm wrestle with no side able to take the ascendancy however our boys were starting to find their mojo and started to run and spread which Knox were finding hard to counter. At the ½ time break our boys had turned it around to lead by 5 points with the game up for grabs.
In the 3rd quarter it was all Vermont with 9 unanswered goals to take complete control of the runner. The running brigade led by Connor McCafferty and Paul White ably assisted by Jordan Hemmings started running the lines up and down the ground with the twin towers in Strachan and Gannon finishing off the good work. Smith’s mobility around the forward line was creating real headaches and unfortunately Knox had no answers. The backline led by Andy Hackett and Tommy Pretto were challenged early on and really started to ramp up and repelled many forward thrusts in the 2nd half. I thought Lucas McCullough battled manfully in the ruck and was giving our on-ballers every opportunity for first use of the ball. At the last break we took an unassailable 59 point lead.
With the sting out of the game the 4th quarter our boys continued off from where left off in the 3rd quarter and booted another 7 goals to 1 to run out 100 point winners.
A much better performance this week so enjoy the break guys and come back raring to go in the business end of the season.
Last Modified on 13/06/2012 20:05
