Following the Rebels’ narrow loss last week, it was imperative to bounce back with a win to secure a finals berth. Also looking to win a place in finals action, the Chargers enjoyed a 66 point win in Round 18 and this week welcomed back a number of key players from their School commitments. Matthew Dea was welcomed to the team for his season debut for the Rebels.
In blustery conditions at Eureka Stadium, Oakleigh took an early lead, goaling from a 50 metre penalty within two minutes of play. The Rebels’ commitment was obvious but too many tackles failed to pin arms and allowed opponents to clear the ball. Liam Hoy ran on to a ball which came over the back of a contest to goal and Dylan Parish marked strongly, to goal two minutes later. Parish scored again from a free kick and the Rebels mid-field were working hard to win contested ball, and managing their rotations well. A second goal to Oakleigh was countered by Josh Free’s hard efforts, winning a free kick and 50 metre penalty to goal just before the end of the quarter.
The second quarter produced a dour struggle, with both teams unable to register a score for the first half of the quarter. A slick passage of play involving Tate, Horbury and Bamblett yielded a behind, and the Rebels’ disciplined zone defence forced an error from which Horbury scored a goal. Tackles were starting to stick but Oakleigh were winning clearances from boundary throw ins, and they replied with a goal from such a stoppage at the 15 minute mark. Dufty’s snap shot five minutes later kept the Rebels in control. A superb passage of play by the Rebels saw Kurt Aylett run and carry the ball, passing to Marcus Darmody who turned and kicked quickly to find Nathan Horbury. His precise kick found Chris Giampaolo in front of goal. Gia’s goal, the Rebels’ seventh, came right on the siren to give them a 19 point lead at the main change.
Josh Free ad Dean Gavin continued to win hard balls and Pat Barber was prominent, finding team mates with accurate handballs, but Oakleigh’s intensity lifted and they scored three goals for the term to edge closer, whilst the Rebels looked hesitant, in contrast to their attacking first half.
A five point lead to the Rebels at the final change, became a one point deficit within 30 seconds of the final quarter. Ben Peters hit the post to level the scores, and O’Brien’s attempt on goal soon after went out of bounds. Lucas Cook, who had been working hard all day, marked strongly overhead to goal after seven minutes. Both teams continued to contest strongly without managing a score, until Horbury used sound judgment and strong body work to mark and goal at the midpoint of the quarter. Nick O’Brien was finding space and debutante Matthew Dea hit the post at the 22 minute mark. Poor coverage by the Rebels allowed the kick-in to be relayed quickly into their forward fifty. Another bout of poor coverage saw the Chargers again goal from a boundary throw in, to reclaim the lead by a point at the twenty-five minute mark of the quarter. To their credit, the Rebels attacked the ball from the bounce and managed to work the ball just forward of centre, where Ben Peters was awarded a 50 metre penalty. The siren sounded as Peters lined up, and for the second time in the game, the resultant point managed to level the scores. The draw, in some ways perhaps disappointing, nevertheless secured a finals berth for the Rebels. This fact provided some comfort to the players whose determined efforts throughout the day were not reflected on the scoreboard.
With twenty-two forays more than their opponents into the forward fifty, for the same number of goals, the Rebels clearly need to convert more attempts on goal, to be successful in the finals.
Last Modified on 24/08/2009 12:22