Seniors
DLS led at each change, albeit by slender margins, except at the crucial final siren. When we got out to a 20 point lead midway through the 3rd term, a major upset seemed probable but unfortunatley it was not to be.
QTR 1
The game opened in great conditions except for the sloppy centre wicket area, the absolute bane of footy. Although it was a bit slippery underfoot, players quickly adapted and the game flowed freely. Despite having the best of the play DLS failed to capitalise and Collegians, ominously with quick ball movement into an open forward line, scored the first 2 majors one of which was to Taft who was too quick for young Michael Stizza. DLS then dominated the remainder of the quarter with goals to Jake Gotch: fine run through centre, Dan Close when Humphrey gained possession across half back, passed to Lowe who in turn found Close. Ben Oakley: Close in everything gained possession from a pack allowing Oakley to goal from scrum in goal square. Adrian Indovino: Gotch cleverly extricated himself from cluster on boundary to centre ball where Close was freed in marking contest allowed Indovino to play on in goal square.
Right on the siren Taft again marked from a fast strong lead, passed off for a vital Collegians goal and leave DLS up by 7 points.
QTR2
Match intensity increased significantly and after 6 minutes Mitch Carney in his 2nd game was freed in a marking contest and kicked accurately from distance. DLS were taking it right up to the more fancied Collegians but a rebound, from a DLS kick into the man on the mark, in the back pocket gifted them a goal again against the run of play! DLS missed another “gettable” goal and Collegians went “coast to coast” from the resultant kick in with classy football. In twenty minutes of play only 3 goals kicked to emphasise how the match had tightened. Good work from Forato got the ball to Haley who mesmerized 3 would be tacklers to pass accurately to Carney whose strong overhead mark resulted in his 2nd and DLS 6th goal. Quick ball movement by Collegians and the failure of DLS backs to “fill the whole” allowed them to goal again just on the siren, leaving DLS with a 1 point margin at half time.
QTR3
Brilliant play by Lowe & Fieldsend culminated in a strong mark by Moore 35 metres out deserved better than a behind. DLS missed another “kickable” chance. Collegians, gifted a ridiculous 25 m penalty, goaled to retake the lead. DLS dominated the next 12 minutes kicking 4 unanswered goals and a major upset loomed: Recruit Tom Curry building on his fine game against Old Scotch was rewarded for his hard at it attack on the ball when freed in front. Jake Gotch goaled after fine build up play from Charlie Haley, enjoying his on-ball role and Michael Stizza. Charlie Haley weaved his magic in the forward pocket to snap truly. Adrian Indovino kicked his 2nd and DLS 9th (3rd goal in 2 minutes) and DLS were right on top all over the ground and were doing exceptionally well in the clearances.
With DLS leading by 20 points, Collegians stepped up their intensity & urgency as the possibility of defeat became apparent. There were no easy possessions. Play swung between defences without any impact on the scoreboard. The drought was broken Taft, all class, marked a kicked accurately from distance. A dropped, uncontested, overhead mark allowed Collegians to goal from close range and the momentum had shifted dramatically with DLS leading by 1 point. Taft goaled to give Collegians the lead since very early in the match. Youngster Indovino freed after charging into a contest equalised for DLS. It had been a quarter of fine footy with 10 goals kicked. It was hard to realise that DLS had given up a match winning position. Rather I reckon it was the experience and class of Collegians which affected the change of momentum.
QTR4
Starting 1 point to the good, DLS players threw everything into the contest. Taft goaled but DLS responded when Dan Close received from Matt Moore who had gained possession in strong fashion. 20 minutes in and the scores were level. No quarter asked nor given. Umpires under pressure. Taft goals . Game has slowed and consequently the intensity was greater. Another Taft goal and the game looks beyond DLS until David Lowe, having a fine game on return from injury, scouted a boundary throw in and kick a fine running goal. Siren sounded with DLS pressing strongly but unable to penetrate and Collegians holding up play & successfully maintaining possession in the last few minutes
The difference: In the last quarter DLS 2 gls 4 behinds. Collegians 4 gls 2 behinds. Taft with 6 goals was damaging.
De La Salle 13.15.93
Collegians 15.10.100
Goal Kickers: A. Indovino 3, D. Close 2, J. Gotch 2, M. Carney 2, B. Oakley , D. Lowe , T. Curry , C. Haley
Best Players: D. Close , T. Humphrey , A. Indovino , C. Haley , D. Lowe , J. Gotch
Reserves
Another very solid effort by the 2s against more fancied opponents. Not much in it for the majority of the day the home side was able to get away from us late in the game. An inability to hit the scoreboard the difference in the end.
De La Salle 4.8.32
Collegians 8.8.56
Goal Kickers: R. Mc Donough 2, S. Harrington, S. Hogan
Best Players: C. Haley, J. Oakley, L. Bull, D. Millwood, T. McMahon, L. Jarvis.
19 Blues
Blues were at home to St.Bedes this week. We had an early call to VAFA headquarters to confirm St.Bedes could field a team, after they forfeited last week. All was confirmed and our boys were ready to go. The De La ground looked good, considering the recent wet weather, and all was set for a good contest.
The first quarter started well for De La with Mase Martinez hitting the score board early with a couple of goals. Nic Halliday was already dominating in the ruck and dropping back into defence to take a few saving marks. Matt Dumbleton was aggressive thru the middle and also run forward to score. Our half back line with Hamish Ramsay and James Howard were winning contests and pushing forward into attack. De La scored 5 goals for the quarter and St.Bedes failed to score a goal.
2nd quarter saw St.Bedes flooding around the ball and clogging up the game. We lost Jake Pirovano with a shoulder injury and we needed some of the younger guys to stand up. Jake McGaw and Scotty Vawser looked fast down forward and both scored goals. Sef McGraw was winning a lot of the ball from stoppages and we scored 5 goals for the quarter to St.Bedes 3.
After the half time break both teams came out hard. Jack Gava moved on the ball and immediately scored a couple of goals. Jamie O’Sullivan was giving us plenty of run on the wing and young Will Mackie was strong at the contest and created several opportunities to push us into attack. Unfortunately Liam McClusky hurt his knee and we were down to 1 on the bench. For the quarter De La scored 2 goals and St.Bedes 1.
Going into last quarter De La had a good lead, but needed to prove they could take on the game and run out winners. Dave Commins moved to back line and showed his strength to win several important contests. Aaron Hay was winning plenty of ball thru mid field and both Jamie & Will ran forward to score goals. Our defensive line continued to be strong. De La scored 5 goals to St.Bedes 2. Final scores saw De La runout winners by 80 points and have 11 individual goal scorers.
De La Salle 17.17.119
St Bedes 6.4.40
Goal Kickers: J. Howard 3, S. Vawser 2, J. McGAW 2, M. Martinez 2, J. Gava 2, J. Cooke , A. Wheatley , S. McGraw , W. Mackie , M. Dumbleton , J. O''Sullivan
Best Players: , M. Dumbleton , N. Halliday , H. Ramsay , S. McGraw , J. Gava , J. Howard
19 Golds
After all the rain from the Friday night Waverley park outside of surface water was in great conditions, and the Golds took full advantage of them. That may be because we had been beaten on the last kick of the match when we played old Haileybury earlier in the season, or it may be because we were back at home after a few weeks on the road. No matter the reason, the Golds came to play and play to win.
We made a number of changes as is the case most weeks, and rather than throw us out, the players coming in worked really hard to work into the team and how we have tended to play and they added to the overall team performance.
The team were given a few simple instructions prior to the game and to the main stuck to them pretty well, and for that the players should be recognised as they looked to both share the ball around with their teammates, but also they looked to put together strong individual efforts and win their individual battles against their opponents.
It is hard to pinpoint individual efforts that stood out, because of the total commitment that was put in by all team members. It could be summarised as being that this was case where the sum was greater than the parts, and as such the result was a win and in the end it was by a significant amount.
When you summarise the game and try and pinpoint what happened it could be that we had an open forward line, we had backs who pressed up, the mids worked hard, we ran the ball well, we were able to run players through the middle to help keep the tempo high and keep the opposition on the back foot, we never allowed the opposition time on the ball and as consequently we got a good result.
Overall our pressure on the ball carrier was good, we had numbers running in support, we kicked to the advantage of our teammates and we generally switched the ball pretty well to release impending pressures but we also saw the little recognised skills of shepherding and voice to help and assist our teammates.
Michael Lee kicked 6, Tom Still played across the mids, and in the back half, Ollie Milner gave us run off half back, Ash Munday was able to play across the back half and on-ball, Matt Mullaly and Lachie Carracher worked hard in the middle and we ran Matt Colak, Matt Howard, Hamish Wardlaw and the big 'Dozer in the ruck so there was plenty of positives. Chris Akritidis went forward took a couple of marks, received a gift from Tom Hyland to kick his first goal, Dylan Kelly kicked a goal, and Michael Lamoutzis played a terrific game across the back line.
That said the opposition was somewhat undermanned so we need to recognise that perhaps we were flattered by the scoreboard, but you can only beat what is put in front of you and we did that.
Next week is Monash at the Clayton campus on the large open expanses of Frearson oval at Monash Uni and it offers us another opportunity to keep our momentum going and build upon how we work together to keep our season on track to ensure post season action.
De La Salle 20.9.129
Old Haileybury 3.7.25
Goal Kickers: M. Lee 6, M. Mullaly 2, M. Howard 2, D. Marchese 2, D. Kelly , T. Still , J. Dennehy , W. Agar , C. Akritidis , D. Cowan , O. Milner , J. Cox
Best Players: , D. Marchese , M. Lee , L. Carracher , T. Still , M. Mullaly , M. Laoumtzis
Last Modified on 04/08/2014 16:45