Seniors
Another spirited performance from the boys but without appropriate reward for effort, except that we managed to stay up in Premier division by 6.72 % points. After another poor 1st quarter with DLS, missing 17 players from the corresponding game in season 2013, “won” the remaining 3 quarters to finish an agonising 6 points down when the 2014 season ended.
This was the 3rd six point loss in the last five rounds, all against teams in finals contention. While this is a bitter pill to swallow it demonstrates how far this group have come. We are only a few players away from matching it with the very best sides.
QTR 1. Kicking to the Chadstone end, favoured by a 3 goal breeze, Old Trinity (OT) opened their account from a free, the 4th in the 1st 5 minutes of play.DLS winning the clearance, forced the ball forward for Ed Clinch to be freed and Adrian Indovino scooped up the ball to goal from close range. A valuablegoal against the breeze. OT responded when loose defence allowed them too much space.It was a fast flowing game marred by too many umpire interactions. 16 frees in one quarter says it all!. Harry Haley, in for injured superstar brother Charlie, attacked the ball vigorously and it spilled clear to the ever alert Aaron Kneebone who goaled again from close in. With scores about level midway through the term, DLS were well satisfied with their effort. However OT displaying speed, skill and accurate disposal kicked 4 unanswered goals, some from unbelievably poor play (i.e. kicking into the man on the mark in your defensive back pocket and kicking centring “floaters” when against the wind) left DLS 30 points down!!
QTR 2. OT opened well when DLS lost possession on its half forward line allowing OT to run almost “coast to coast” to score a demoralising goal after only 2minutes. DLS doing well at the centre clearances delivered long for Kneebone to gather for his 2nd. DLS were on top but could not convert that into scoreboard impact! OT showing flashes of skilled play again goaled to lead by 40 points and DLS hopes slumped as news from Toorak Park was far from comforting! DLS responded immediately with Sam Williams on the receiving end of strong play by Oscar Persson, Liam Wood & Ed Clinch. Another goal to Kneebonehis 3rd for match and 2nd for qtr came from clever play again by Clinch. A combination of a series of poor handballs in defence and OT’s clean disposal resulted in the deficit getting out to an alarming 33 points again and effectively nullify DLS’s 2nd term efforts. Right of the siren recruit Tom Curry goaledwith a clever kick from the forward flank on the Malvern Rd side. This was the result of strong forward pressure which kept the ball in the offensive zone.
QTR 3. Down 27 points and motivated by the alarming situation at Toorak Park, DLS came out with renewed vigour evident from the 1st bounce. Goals toIndovino & Clinch reduced the margin to 15 after only 2 minutes of play kicking into a now moderated breeze. OT, with nothing to play for afterCollegians dismantling of Old Scotch last night, to their credit continued to show the football which carried them to the top during the season resulting in another blow to DLS hopes.
When brilliant play by Kneebone went unrewarded when he missed a set shot from very close range, DLS were again failing to capitalise from their dominance in general play! Clinch, gaining possession brilliantly, kicked across goal from close range. Perrson who was dominating the ruck, somehow got the ball to the elusive Indovino who shuffled it across to back man turned forward Tom Humphrey who snapped truly. OT goaled and DLS supporters hopes faded yet again as their team just could not make the most of opportunities with several attempts failing to even register a behind.Strong attacking play by Tom Curry to Tom McMahon to Indovino to Dan Close for a much needed goal was classical footy. The margin was reduced to a very attainable 14 points with the still wind advantaged Chadstone end to come.
QTR 4. Skipper Matt Fieldsend and David Lowe were working feverishly extracting balls from the contest and bringing others into the game. The intensity waspalpable much to OT’s credit. Xav’s had gained the ascendancy at Toorak Park but DLS players desperately wanted to end their 2014 season with a meritorious victory over a fancied opponent. DLS’s Tom Curry, ATTACKING THE BALL, NOT ATTEMPTING TO BUMP was red carded resulting in DLS being one player down for the rest of the game. A total 5 behinds from 6 shots on goal was the result of both team’s efforts 22 minutes into the final quarter of 2014. A strong McMahon mark, pass to Indovino to Humphrey and the back man had his 2nd reducing the margin to 7 points. Another few minutes of top pressure footy ensued before Kneebone somehow gained possession against 2 opponents and ungainly bounce and had 2-3 bounces round the Malvern Rd side flank, kicked for goal with what looked like the perfect shot but which faded to hit the goal post. Margin 6 points.
It was a valiant effort from an undermanned team determined to “give it all” Well done boys and special thanks to Paul Satterly, Michael Brown, Ash Lever & Tom Madigan, Lachie Walker & Simon Brown.
Credit to the opposition who by virtue of the result on Friday night had nothing but pride to play for. They are good young team who play an exciting brand of running football. However we again lament a horribly lopsided free kick count. While I am unable to confirm these figures it was reported that the free kick count went against us 45 -15 and 16 - 2 in the first quarter. Under any circumstances in such a close game that is an enormous disparity.
De La Salle 11.10.76
Old Trinity 12.10.82
Goal Kickers: A. Kneebone 3, T. Humphrey 2, A. Indovino 2, D. Close , S. Williams , E. Clinch , T. Curry
Best Players: , S. Williams , M. Fieldsend , T. Humphrey , O. Persson , A. Indovino , H. Haley
Reserves
Fantastic to bring the curtain down on a difficult year with a victory. Oakley Fisher & Lowe the standouts with Fisher kicking 4 goals. Building depth is the club is priority in the off-season with the aim of returning our reserves to the competitive unit they have been in recent years.
De La Salle 11.12.78
Old Trinity 8.8.56
Goal Kickers: J. Fisher 4, S. Lowe 2, J. Oakley , M. De Luca , S. Hogan , S. Harrington , D. Commins
Best Players: , J. Oakley , J. Fisher , S. Lowe , J. Mattiske , T. Parker , N. Hyland
19 Golds
The Golds had qualified for the 1st semi final and we were drawn to play Hampton Rovers who's form over the last half of the season had been impeccable, and had given us a bit of a touch up last time we met at the Rovers ground. Based on that we would need to play at our best if we were to keep our season alive.
I think it important to note the Golds are a 2nd team competing against other clubs only team and for these boys to play finals is a great achievement. In addition, the Golds are in the main a very young group and of the team that ran out in the 1st semi there are 4 boys who are not eligible to play under 19 footy next year and there are some boys who have 3 more years to go in under 19's. As said above, while hopes were high and the Golds deservedly qualified for finals our opponents were always going to be a tough assignment.
The game was played on a day when the sun was shining, there was virtually no breeze and the ground was in terrific condition, and we had selected a pretty good side. Like all these things there were a few boys who were very unfortunate to not be selected, but there are always a few players who are disappointed, no matter the time of year.
The game could be summarised as De La having plenty of energy, plenty of desire and a willingness to work hard, which was characterised by De La working hard for scores and Rovers being able to score that little easier and having a little more composure than the home side.
It was stressed to the players that the team who settles first will get on top early and it can have a positive effect, they were also told to be aware that the pressure would be on and the ball would be hot. To their credit the boys did settle well and we were able to nullify the polished mids of the opposition and force the ball forward.
We had a good start, the ball was in our forward 50 yet we were just unable to get the goals our good early start deserved. We kept persisting and peppering away, we kept at the ball carrier, we looked to spread and we looked to share it around, and generally we were ok. However, there was always a nagging thought that Hampton were probably a little better and were a little more polished and they were finding it easier to get scores than we were.
Our team was unbalanced when ruck Hamish Wardlaw went down with an ankle injury and was unable to take any further part in the game. This meant we had to reshuffle the magnets, try and fill gaps and we were unable to make the changes we planned pre-game.
That said the game was still in the balance at half time, despite us being 13 points or so in arrear's and we had demonstrated that we could match it with much older, bigger opponents.
The game probably was won in the 3rd as Hampton demonstrated their strengths with powerful running, good use of the footy and drew away to establish a 6 goal break at the last change. That is not to say we didn't have chances, but rather we probably were let down by our decision making by both the ball carrier and the receiver. And our mistakes were punished in full by a very polished team.
In the last the players responded to the situation and won the last to be able to demonstrate that we were worthy of a spot in the finals.
We can look forward with confidence as a result of the season we have had - we played 46 players, we won 12 games for the year, we beat each team at least once, we had some tremendous wins including a 5 point win over Oakleigh in the rain and slush, won against Peninsula in a game where the coach had already conceded the game, and we hopefully have provided a place where young guys want to be.
In closing whilst disappointing to lose and bow out, the players should be proud of their efforts and we now look forward to season 2015.
De La Salle 9.13.67
Hampton R 15.8.98
Goal Kickers: T. Nicholls 2, A. Munday , O. Milner , T. Hyland , A. De Luca , J. Hanley , J. Cox , M. Lee
Best Players: , D. Krelle , T. Still , J. Cox , D. Marchese , D. Kelly , J. McLoughlin
Last Modified on 01/09/2014 20:36