Whoo Hoo! Season 2008 has started and we have turned a question mark into a tick. Playing last years runners up was always going to be a big ask, especially when the opening round in the past few years has not been a happy one for Mont. Before the game the coaches would have been remembering the last time we ventured out to the bull pit, the 20 goal loss still hurts now. But today all that was forgotten as a new look Mont faced the demons of the past and vanquished them in style.
On a sunny and windy day the game started with both sides making unforced turn overs which kept the ball between half back lines. Mont had the benefit of a good breeze in the first quarter and managed to settle with Daniel Sage passing to Daniel King who then kicked truly from outside 50m to put on the first goal of the day with four minutes on the clock. From the subsequent centre bounce, and after the dust cleared, Mont got the centre break through Sage who found Derryn Stanley on the long lead 50m from goal. Stanley turned quickly and kicked to Matt Cusack who had dropped behind his opponent to find himself alone 30m out on a 45 degree angle. He kicked the Sherrin through the middle and Mont was away with two goals in a minute. Bundoora was having trouble taking the ball past half forward with confidence, but Mont too was not capitalising on the breeze and it seemed the Bundoora defence was going to deny Mont establishing any advantage. Then with the ball about to be marked by Stanley, a free kick was given against Mont for an unnecessary high shepherd which resulted in the ball being relayed back to the centre and Bundoora cashed in kicking a good goal against the wind and against the run of play. Bundoora started to control the ball as their on ballers were finding freedom from the earlier good tagging, but still they could not find a way to goal as Ambrose Swindon seemed to be everywhere as he repelled the Bundoora attacks. Mont finally regained composure and after Brent Gutterson missed a long shot on goal, the Bundoora kick in was turned over and Stanley snapped truly to give Mont its third goal. Mont was working hard to break clear of the Bundoora players and costly turn overs were frustrating everyone. With some brilliant running play Mont broke the Bundoora lines and scrambled the ball across the face of goal to Gareth Fricker who turned on a ten cent piece and shot through the middle to give Mont a three goal lead late into the quarter. Quarter Time scores
Mont 4 3 27 Bundoora 1 2 8
The second quarter started with plenty of stoppages as both teams tried to break free into clear space. It was Bundoora who broke first with a run that ran straight at the Mont defence that missed the tackle and sent the Bundoora player through for the first goal of the quarter. Mont hit back immediately from the centre bounce with Tim Watson finishing off good work to regain the three goal advantage. Both sides then had plenty of opportunity to score, Mont kept kicking points, while Bundoora kept finding Ambrose Swindon as he dominated the back line. Finally Bundoora was able to goal with a little umpire assistance in the interpretation of holding the man. With the assistance of the wind, Bundoora was able to sustain the pressure on the Mont backs but it was to have little impact except use the time clock as they missed shots regularly. Mont kept working the ball up field and their patience paid off when Wayne Pavitt marked strongly then cleared a crowded goal square with the shot on goal to put Mont further in front. The momentum had shifted to Mont now attacking at will despite the wind. Bundoora couldn't get the ball out of the defensive 50m as the pressure put on by the Mont forwards was telling on Bundoora. Unfortunately Mont now got the yips in front of goal and couldn't finish off the good work of a true team effort. Bundoora did goal again with another liberal interpretation of the holding the man rule as the umpires were starting to be a factor in the game. By the time the half time siren blew Monts' quarter time lead had been reduced to sixteen points.
Mont 6 7 43 Bundoora 4 3 27
The third quarter started well for Mont as Derryn Stanley marked strongly and goaled in the first minute. Then another questionable decision from the umpires resulted in a Bundoora goal against the run of play, much to the bewilderment of the Mont supporters in the good crowd. Despite this Mont kept pushing forward as the wind began to die down and Stanley goaled again from another strong mark as he was becoming a thorn in the side of Bundoora. Both sides then played the pavilion side of the ground as Bundoora were happy to play the lines preventing Mont getting a run on. Mont was winning the stoppages but just didn't have the finishing skills to capitalise. It took some brilliance from Daniel Santoro as he blind turned out of the pack in the back line to open up the Bundoora smothering tactics and send the ball long to Brent Gutterson who accelerated with a couple of bounces and blew the Bundoora defence away as he scored a classic goal.
The lead was extended to 35 points when Stanley goaled for the third time for the quarter and things were looking comfortable for the Mont side. Bundoora then seemed to change tactics, if it was a call from the coaches, or the senior players decision, it was a good decision as Bundoora started to play a keepings off game. The runners up of the past two seasons showed why they are a powerhouse team of the competition as they slowed the tempo of the game and frustrated the Mont players as they took uncontested marks all over the ground. Bundoora was able to work the ball to the forward line where a scramble resulted in a good fighting goal. Bundoora had managed to halt the Mont running play and made the Mont players accountable, which seemed to be too hard for the Mont players to counter and Bundoora started to take control of the quarter. Bundoora was able to set up âplaysâ and work the ball forwards against the wind which resulted in some 50/50 contests which seemed to end in the favour of Bundoora. The Mont players became undisciplined, whether it was because they were frustrated that they couldnât get possession of the ball or that Bundoora seemed to benefit from every 50/50 decision, but the mouths opened and suddenly the umpires were handing out 50m penalties quicker than they could blow the whistle. This resulted in two more Bundoora goals from the goal square as well as two good individual efforts as the gap closed to four points near the quarters end. Brent Gutterson then restored some parity to the game as he slotted through a goal from a set shot. The siren blew and Mont had a ten point advantage but was to be kicking against the wind in the last quarter.
Mont 11 8 74 Bundoora 10 4 64
At three quarter time Jack Cole made sure he let the players know that they had not followed instructions. He urged them to become accountable and not let this game go. The opening minutes of the quarter were as tough as could be imagined as bodies clashed in a show of strength by both sides. Bundoora could sniff the win, and Mont desired the win. The class of King came to the fore as he tapped a boundary throw in perfectly to Mark McGough who found Sage with a long releasing hand ball. Sage kicked long and found Gutterson between two Bundoora defenders 20m in front of goal. Gutterson goaled and the game was Montâs to keep. Bundoora could no longer afford to chip the ball around and slow the tempo. If they were going to win, they needed to take Mont on. This worked into Montâs favour as the game opened up and Mont looked the better team. Bundoora was able to scramble a goal, but it was less than convincing and time was running out, but still it was only a ten point game, so they no doubt felt they could still win. The very next Bundoora attack saw a courageous mark Ambrose Swindon as he staked his claim to best on ground and saw Mont draw the line in the sand and take control of the game. The momentum shifted as the 50/50 contests now started to see Mont get the benefit of the whistle as the Bundoora players could sense time was running out. From a Daniel Keenan pass Matt Cusack marked in the goal square and put Mont three goals up and you could feel time was up for Bundoora. Matt Cusack again goaled from a 50/50 that hadnât gone our way earlier in the game and the lead was out to 24 points. Mont was now in for the kill, and in a complete form reversal from the men in yellow, Matt Cusack again got the benefit of the doubt from where he passed off to Santoro who put through his first goal for Monty. Bundoora were defeated and against the wind Mont just continued to add the goals. One more goal to Daniel Keenan aided by a 50m penalty and then the last goal of the day after the final siren to Pavitt sealed a fantastic first up win for Mont in 2008.
Mont 16 12 108 Bundoora 11 5 71
Last Modified on 13/05/2008 23:18