Seniors
We have to wonder what the hell have we done to deserve this wretched run of injuries. Another host of withdrawals, training track injuries and illness which included two of our four senior VAFA squad invitees (Tom Humphrey & Justin Baxter) ruled out late in the week while Rd 8 debutant Steve Wall succumbed to an ankle injury. The mood of the coach not helped with Sam Williams getting midday call up from Collingwood, which necessitated Ed Clinch being dragged out of the 2s with the match in progress.
While the injury list is not quite at the epidemic proportions of 2011 it is getting close. As we tick over to the halfway mark we have now used 40 players with another debutant, Garret McDonough getting the call up making 11 for the season. Of course the troubles at the top end ripple right through the club, impacting on depth from top to bottom. The good news is that the majority are short term with several players expected to return in the coming weeks. It also provides opportunity and exposes another crop of players to senior football.
So we travelled to Harry Trott to take on Collegians who after battling a few demons of their own got back on track with a good away win at the Uni against top side Blacks. With the ladder so tight this was an absolute must win for both sides. They are a great club and one that we have the greatest respect for.
The reigning premiers would be desperate for a win, with the reality that despite it only being Rd 9 their season was in many ways in the balance. To add to the drama, Collegians had brought back Shura Taft their mercurial forward and had Scott the hard nut on-baller back from overseas and bristling to get his hands dirty.
Despite the recent rain and some over-zealous officials who had moved some games off Albert Park grounds Harry Trott was in quite good condition, heavy in parts, but what ground wouldn't, so both sides just played footy and well done to them.
De La were still looking to get some injured players back, but were further thrown by the match day withdrawal of Sam Williams to Collingwood and Tom Humphrey through injury, however that offered a terrific opportunity to Garrett McDonough to make his debut and Ed Clinch to re-establish his senior credentials. We were more than a little under-done, but to quote some other coach in the AFL - one guy goes out and you just replace them with another soldier. All the theories and hyperbole about structures, spreads, zones, etc., were thrown out the door and it was a day for head over the ball and win your individual contest, so for the old timers it was good old fashioned footy and the braver, more determined team would win.
It was also a milestone day and the team were desperate to do well for a couple of long serving and popular players - Luke 'inspector Gadget' Jarvis playing his 200th and Michael Duggan his 250th and fittingly both players were front and square in looking to work with the younger players.
The game itself was a contrast in styles with Collegians seemingly content to concede ground and wait for De La to make a mistake, cough the footy up and catch them on the quick rebound through precise kicking to freer players, whereas De La was looking to press up all over the ground trying to squeeze space and harass Collegians into turning the ball over in goal scoring areas.
The game started with a bang as De La with Lowe, Gotch and Hine being able to clear the centre as a result of the efforts of undersized but ferocious Ben Humphrey and Jackson McKay to allow Duggan, Haslem, Lowe and 250 gamer Duggan again and Nick Roberts to provide us with a cushion at the break, a cushion that albeit was a little unexpected given our inexperienced but enthusiastic team.
The 2nd saw Collegians star Taft continue on his way as he slotted his 3rd (all we can think is - how good would this guy be if he was able to get out of the social pages and train and play regularly) and the game was very much in the balance.
After a relatively free flowing opening quarter the game had tightened up and after Vickers goaled the ball ping-ponged up and down the ground, but scoring was at a premium. When the man with the double barrelled name Chaplin-Burch goaled close the break the gap was down to 4 points in favour of the under-manned De La.
The 3rd saw more of the same with the smaller players led by the skipper and the original 'cheeky chappy' Charlie Haley proving a real handful and a regular pest to the Collegians defenders by harassing, chasing and proving too hard to tackle causing turnovers, warning 25metre penalties and kicking a valuable goal to help De La maintain a handy lead in what was proving a hard slog where scores were at a premium.
The last saw the game change and almost replicate the 1st where De La swept the ball forward as a result of the efforts of Ben Humphrey bullocking the ball forward and providing Lowe, Hansen, Gotch, Harry Haley and Semmel ample opportunities to push the ball forward where Pickett was able to get free, mark and kick a goal, followed by Vickers, Roberts and Haslem to help seal a terrific win against the reigning premiers.
The song was given a terrific rendition with 200 gamer Jarvis, 250 gamer Duggan and 1st gamer McDonough given the usual treatment and enjoyed by a well-satisfied travelling support.
The defence was terrific and the efforts of McDonough against the in-form Croft along with Sticks Convery in a new look defence were notable against a renowned group of forwards. The team was well served through the leadership group of the skipper Lowe and his fellow leaders Gotch, Vickers and Semmel who led the way and were supported by younger players like the Haley boys and the boys in the ruck McKay and Humphrey.
Next week a different challenge - Old Xav's on the rebound. It offers all the ingredients of a great game, but it will require another super effort by all players to keep the Xavs at bay. A terrific win that sees us at 6 – 3 the halfway mark.
De La Salle 16.10.94
Collegians 11.9.63
Goal Kickers: J. Vickers 3, M. Hine 2, N. Roberts 2, S. Haslem 2, M. Duggan 2, C. Haley , H. Haley , S. Pickett , D. Lowe , J. Hansen
Best Players: D. Lowe, M. Hine, B. Humphrey, J. Vickers, L. Semmel, G. McDonough
Reserves
No question that injuries in the seniors have impacted on the 2s but we still put out a good side today against Collegians. In a match that was close all day the home side were far superior in the run home and cruised away to comfortable win. Rishton McArdle and Dave Hutchinson having excellent games.
De La Salle 8.10.58
Collegians 13.7.85
Goal Kickers: S. Griffin 2, A. Roberts 2, J. Jarvis , D. Close , R. McArdle , J. Terrell
Best Players: R. McArdle, D. Hutchinson, B. Nethersole, S. Griffin, H. Nicholson, O. Salvatore
Thirds
The thirds put up a colossal effort today and in the end were rolled by some bad luck in the dying minutes. We were playing against a Uni Blues side that was undefeated on top of the ladder on their home ground with just 19 players to start the game. The odds were against us, being down by 33 points at 3q time De La could have been forgiven for letting the game roll out into a huge loss. The thirds showed a huge amount of character to kick the first 6 goals of the last quarter and hit the front. It took a banana kick from the boundary line for the University team to wrestle the lead back from our gallant young men. Unfortunately the siren sounded 3 seconds too early as Gary Kneebone had the ball in his hands and kicked the goal just a fraction too late. Some super efforts today included Will Maas persistence, Bones performance with 4 goals up forward, Brendan Close’ last quarter and Tom Naughtin being dominant in the ruck.
De La Salle 12.8.80
Uni Blues 12.11.83
Goal Kickers: A. Kneebone 4, N. Hogan 2, V. Buckley , D. Griffin , N. Fyfield , A. Kovarik , L. Williams , B. Close
Best Players: W. Maas, A. Kneebone, T. Naughtin, B. Close, E. Murphy, L. Godhino
Club XVIII
Do or die for the warriors today with a fighting win seeing us back in finals contention.
De La Salle 7.6.48
Old Geelong 5.10.40
Goal Kickers: S. Byers , R. Hancock , J. Haley , W. Dwyer , K. Ellis , T. Kovarik , J. Adams
Best Players: H. Browning, W. Dwyer, B. Oakley, D. Hyde, J. Haley, S. Byers
19 Blues
In a position to win but once again could not close the deal against the undefeated top side. Desperately need to find a way to win some form if we are to figure in September. Massive game next week, which quite simply we have to win.
De La Salle 8.12.60
Old Xavs 11.14.80
Goal Kickers: J. O''Sullivan 2, A. Wheatley 2, S. Gotch , L. Wood , H. Ramsay, W. Kanz
Best Players: J. Gava, W. Kanz, M. Harvey, S. McGraw, L. Wood, J. O''Sullivan
19 Golds
After a disappointing start to the game the Golds were playing catch up footy for rest of the day, losing by 6 goals.It was important game for Golds , who were tied for second and looking to consolidate and St.Bedes pushing for a top 4 position. Generally, Waverley Park conditions were not bad considering the amount of rain received over the previous few days. The centre square was very bogey and made centre clearances very difficult. Unfortunately we started badly in the first quarter and St.Bedes jumped to a 4 goal lead. After a strong quarter time address the Boys showed real intensity around the ball and pushed back with a good second quarter of 5 Goals to St.Bedes 4. Darcy Craig led the way in the ruck division ably assisted by Dylan Cowan & Hamish Curtis. Daniel Anastasiou & Jack Hanley looked dangerous up forward. After half time the Boys failed to maintain intensity and St.Bedes bounced back with a 5 to 2 goal quarter. Ash Munday worked hard in defence with Matt Mullay and Brett Cranage. The Boys needed a strong last quarter and managed 3 goals to 2 , however the damage had been done early with a lack lustre start. Best on the day were : Darcy Craig in the ruck with Dylan Cowan and Hamish Curtis. Jack Hanley with 3 Goals and Daniel Anastasiou with 2 goals were dangerous and Ash Munday was solid in a defensive role.
De La Salle 10.7.67
St Bedes 16.9.105
Goal Kickers: J. Hanley 3, D. Anastasio 2, T. Fisher , D. Craig , H. Curtis , M. Hogan , J. Dennehy
Best Players: D. Craig, D. Cowan, J. Hanley, A. Munday, H. Curtis, D. Anastasio
Last Modified on 13/10/2013 11:34