The build up to this match started at the MCG on Friday where a large crowd of supporters of Haileybury Football enjoyed a great day honouring Haileybury Football and the rivalry that has built up with St Kevins. We also gained an insight into the Richmond Football Club which has quite a few links to Haileybury - President, Current and past players. Thank you to Gary March, Bruce Eva and the hard working team at the OHA for an entertaining day. Thank you to both St Kevins and Haileybury captains and coaches.
Saturday - The Oracle didn’t need a reminder that the last time the Bloods played the SKOB we didn’t score a goal from quarter time onwards. With that in mind and fresh from our mighty win over Caulfield, the Throng ventured out to the Main Oval at Keysborough for a vital Round 10 clash. BOO(Brother of Oracle) and The Oracle had spent many years at Keysborough excelling in basically nothing so it was great to be back!
The curtain raisers saw a ‘barely able to raise a team’ Ressies struggle big time against a very solid SKOB unit on the Fisher Oval , while the School First 18 could not make up a scoreless first quarter and also went down to St Kevins.
The Bloods main game saw plenty of sunshine and while the ground was damp the boys made all of the playing early in the first quarter. Umpire ground confusion saw the game start late at 2:12 and Bloods were all over the opposition. A surge forward saw The Duck (Rorey James) cop a push in the back and with his first touch he scored our first. In the next minute a pass from Weeksey found Hammer whose pin-point pass found Ridgy. He promptly banged on our second. While the play was see-sawing early the SKOB was unable to penetrate our defence. Resumption of play saw Nashy find Micky Meehan who gave Trav his second.
Some scintillating football was being played!. Gledders was playing well and Joey, Secc and Weeksey were all on top. Some costly errors saw the SKOB finally get on the board. Alfie, who suffered an ankle injury during the warm up took a brave mark up forward and only just missed his conversion. Jimmy Paul was freed and his long bomb to a pack saw Meehan emerge with the ball and pop through his first and our 4th. The SKOB converted some late errors from the Bloods and the bell saw a 4.5 to 4.1 score line at quarter time. We had been far the better team but scores don’t lie.
The Bloods bounded out the blocks in the second stanza and Raff found Meehan with a beauty and he truly converted from 50m out. In what was to be a terrific quarter of footy Trav kicked a miracle point which was followed by a terrific pass from Nashy, who again found Meehan. He kicked truly again and the Bloods suddenly found themselves way ahead.
Secc then found Poppa alone and he slotted another! Hammer was on fire and was receiving good support from Secc, Joey and Colesy. Lukey Pinot was causing the oppo some concern and when Colesy found him alone his long bomb resulted in another 6 pointer for the Bloods. Great pressure saw Donger get the ball to Raff and Meehan marked and kicked his 4th. The Bloods all of sudden became weary and SKOBs pounced with 3 unanswered goals. Half time saw us 9.10 to 7.3 and while we were 19 points up The Oracle was convinced Trav’s miracle shot from the boundary line had bounced through the goal before bouncing back to hit the post. Would this be a crucial decision in the context of the game?
The third quarters haven’t been happy hunting grounds for the Bloods and again this occurred. Some tight, messy footy was being played and the defence was holding firm. Joey was growing in confidence at CHB and Stowie was suffocating the key danger man from SKOBs. They scored first and then against the run of play Colesy spun from the pack to slot our 10th. Some turnovers cost us dearly and the oppo banged on a pair of goals.
Hammer was still in command and Secc’s battle with Plugger from SKOB was a highlight. Nashy and Colesy were imposing themselves on the game and a chain of passes from The Duck to Meehan to Colesy to Poppa led to our second for the stanza. Again SKOB scored some late goals to see the scores all tied up at 11.12 to 12.6 at the final break.
The ground was getting chopped up and it appeared the SKOB might overrun the Bloods with their spare man in defence.
The last quarter will live on in the annuals of Bloods footy forever! It was tough, hard contested ball and our boys refused to concede. Alkers was playing well and his burst found Jonno Roberts whose pass was swallowed by Poppa. He kicked his third for the game and we were back in front. The backline was under siege and time and time again Joey, Stowie and Alkers were forced to rely on spoils to clear the ball. The crowd was going crazy and raft of legitimate frees saw SKOB finally break to dam wall and score. A few points either way saw them 4 points up for many minutes.
It looked as if the visitor’s surge would spoil the day. Enter T. Coles. Against the run of play the Bloods surged the ball up the scoreboard wing and Colesy found himself with the ball. BOO and The Oracle reckoned be baulked and sidestepped 11 men (in reality it was most likely 3) and calmly slotted the ball right over the top of the goal umpire’s head. He has burst through their defence and slotted the most important goal of his career. The Throng went nuts! Mary had her finger on the buzzer and the last 50 seconds of the game was the longest in history. Bloods players flooded the backline and scenes of jubilation rang supreme as Mary pushed the siren.
It will be recorded as one of the great wins of recent time. Joey, Colesy, Hammer, Secc, Nashy and Meehan were best on the Oracle’s book, but everyone contributed.
There is probably not a person connected to the Bloods who hasn’t, somewhere in their past, been in the backyard or the local park and acted out the scenario Colesy found himself in today. Less than a minute on the clock he baulked and weaved around several opponents and his way into Bloods’ folk law. Good old fashion fitness and 101% commitment to your team can always help dreams come true. And today it did! The Oracle has never heard the song sung louder and the rooms fuller post game. It was a wonderful time to be Haileyburian.
On his way to the bar post match, Club icon Roger Paul asked , “Do you think we have time for one?” The answer is we always have time for one and we are still in the hunt for finals action. The resurgent Magenta and Black call on all supporters to get to Parkdale next week and see if dreams do continue!
TEAM
|
1QG
|
1QB
|
Q1PTS
|
2QG
|
2QB
|
Q2PTS
|
3QG
|
3QB
|
Q3PTS
|
4QG
|
4QB
|
PTS
|
Old Haileybury
|
4
|
5
|
29
|
9
|
10
|
64
|
11
|
12
|
78
|
13
|
12
|
90
|
St Kevins
|
4
|
1
|
25
|
7
|
3
|
45
|
12
|
6
|
78
|
13
|
10
|
88
|
Old Haileybury
Goal Kickers: M. Meehan 4, J. Nicolopoulos 3, T. Ridgway 2, T. Coles 2, L. Pinot , R. James
Best Players: T. Coles, J. Fisscher, M. Seccull, L. Nash, H. McLauchlan, M. Stowe
The Reserves were extremely undermanned due to injury and unavailability and this was reflected in the scoreboard. Unfortunately these weekends invariably come when we are playing one of the stronger Reserves outfits. Hamish McWilliam and Mitch Rafferty battled away all day against the odds, while D Mac was his normal courageous self.
Old Haileybury
Goal Kickers: D. Mackenzie , A. Schofield , J. Toy
Best Players: H. McWilliam, M. Rafferty, D. Mackenzie, L. Pitcher, N. Leonidas, J. Toy
It was a similar story for the Thirds and U/19s who experienced tough days at the office. The U/19s have been on the road now for four weeks so they will relish a return toPrincesPark. The Thirds will aim to make it two wins against Parkdale as they defeated them earlier in the year.
Last Modified on 24/06/2013 17:35