VAFA ROUND 21_Col.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association

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DIVISION 3 PARADISE LOST AND FOUND Jonathan Hibbert You meet some interesting folk on the Pakenham line. They breed them considerate in that neck of the woods. The garden variety stab-firstask-for-money-later addict that I’m used to on the Craigeburn line would’ve been out of his depth chatting to ‘Robert,’ my companion from Richmond to Huntingdale stations at the weekend: “Scuse me sir, got a coupla bucks please?” “Nah, sorry mate.” “Oh, that’s ok sir.” After retreating and enquiring as to the financial state of the rest of the carriage, Robert sidled up to me and attempted to strike up a conversation about my iPod: “Go on mate, give us a look, eh.” “Nah mate, don’t think so.” “Go on, eh.” “Nah mate.” After some further to-ing and fro-ing re my portable music machine, as his hands shook with methadone withdrawal, a most unexpected profession spurted from Robert’s spittle covered lips. As his bloodshot eyes bored into my skull he gave a knowing chuckle: “You read Paradise Lost mate? Satan’s my favourite character.” Slightly shocked, I looked at Robert’s yellow grin and told him that I hadn’t read Milton’s epic poem on love, betrayal, good and evil. Yes, it was that sort of train ride. The walk from Huntingdale station to W.A.Scammell Reserve is short, ten maybe fifteen minutes. The exhaust rises off North Road, but all of a sudden, turning off the main road, among the gums and council pines sits Scammell, home of the Krushers. It’s green, moist, got a fence, and the smell of dimmies and pies wafts gently from the clubrooms all the way to the opposite side. To Power House, who had hardly trained on their own ground due to council restrictions, this was a Garden of Eden. Other matches had been moved there from Central Reserve, so by game-time Saturday, two curtainraisers had already been played, and the middle was a glue pit. Immediately after the first ball-up, the ball was greasy and clagged, and the play reflected this: tight, physical, muddy and ugly. Frequent fumbles and mishandlings dominated as play see-sawed, neither side taking advantage, until the Pikemen slotted two majors, and the Falcons were left goalless for the term. The second stanza saw the ‘House break ahead by a few more straight kicks. Saraw simply teleported to every clearance, rushing forward, as Matt Taylor dropped a few marks, missed a few shots, and finally kicked straight. As ‘House forward thrusts broke upon the Falcon backline, Albert Park dominated possession in the quarter’s midsection. Constantly probing down the eastern wing saw Murnane take a grab, deep in the pocket. Lining up beneath the shadows of the gums, he drove home a fantastic goal, and the blue and red stripes were invigorated, if still behind by four goals going into half time. Pike strode menacingly from the rooms, sun glinting off the imposing scalp, moments before his charges turned up the volume in the rooms, and came out frightening, covered in mud, like vengeful renegades from Apocalypse Now. In contrast, Albert Park ran from the race looking unfortunately cowed, a portent of things to come. A quick goal to Matt Treeby was shortly followed by a Leske long bomb, Power House’s older and bigger bodies prevailing around the frequent and tight hard ball gets. Though Nathan Wheeler and Will McIndoe provided moments of inspiration, Albert Park were hamstrung as their backline allowed ‘House players to run wild. The quarter’s highlight was David Burnside’s magnificent run down the western wing, delivering to Taylor, where another conversion stimulated horns to blast from the southern end and Power House consolidated an almost unbeatable position. A vast huddle surrounded Pike’s final address, contrasting with a markedly disparate few peppered around Coach Dallas’ three quarter time address, while McIndoe urged the Falcons to respond: “No point holding back now boys, take the game on, take it on.” The final term was a mere formality, Power House holding off any futile Albert Park charges with aplomb. Mr. Pavlou, the ‘House’s president remarked with pride upon the proliferation of 12 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2010
supporters for his mob, pointing out the numerous onlookers: “Old boy, old boy, life member, life member, life member.” Well he should be proud as well, for Power House ascend to a preliminary, clutching at premiership glory. The second semi yielded the most intense game I’ve seen this season, as the two premier sides faced off in a battle for definite promotion, and a grand final berth. A long line of St Johns’ jackets graced the clubhouse wing, and witnessed their boys get out to a short lead, clean play stifled by the filthy, smelly quagmire that comprised the centre square. Brendan Wood’s ruckwork paid dividends for the Students, as he consistently thumped the pill goalwards, where Terry Ludeman lined up on the boundary, 45 out. A magnificent kick provoked screams of joy from female spectators, as La Trobe yapped at the JOC’s heels. Spurred on, Matt Clark, managed to find space through the middle somehow, delivering to Cachia, who summarily converted. As Giddy Up Ganino lept around La Trobe’s forward line, Danger Patten managed to snag two, one a gift in the goal square, courtesy of a free kick. A noteworthy effort on the south-eastern flank distinguished Ganino as he harassed St John’s providing second, third and fourth efforts not typical of a forward. Meanwhile, an early McMeel goal put the wind up St John’s who might just have felt a little nervous, as the Brewers crept to 22 point lead. Though two clearances in two minutes to Rohan Scott allowed St John’s to quickly nail a few, and after some impressive handballing in close, a Gary Roberts snap cut the gap to just three points at the final break. Ludemans words were subsumed by eager Students: “Desire, ferocity, intensity. This is our chance!” East wing flair from Xavier Shiels, and inspired play from the flowing red locks of Dillon Farrell, combined with Joe Mclean’s all round brilliance engendered a Dunstall-like one-hander from Tom ‘Cliff’ Harding deep in La Trobe’s forward line. Down but not out, St John’s still managed to get plenty of the ball, consistently having a loose man behind and to the sides of packs. However, they were caught out tactically, playing to the flanks in forward pushes, cast adrift by the central mudpit. A fantastic running goal to Phillip Ward sparked hope, but the intensity of La Trobe’s prolonged attacks took their toll, the JOCs succumbing by only 14 points, a margin that even then does not befit the intensity and closeness of the contest. This Week: St John’s will be like a bear backed into a corner; dangerous and scary, while Power House look to gain a premiership berth for the first time in a while. If it’s wet and muddy, and not conducive to running play, the Pikemen should get up in a close contest. If St John’s can run and carry, they will stand and deliver, so I’ll say a win to the JOC’s, the ‘House an outside chance. DIVISION 3 LAST <strong>ROUND</strong> DIVISION 3 RESERVE SEMI FINAL 1 POWER HOUSE 2.2, 5.5, 9.7, 10.9 (69) ALBERT PARK 0.4, 1.4, 3.6, 5.9 (39) GOALS, POWER HOUSE: M. Taylor 4, T. Saraw 1, B. Leske 1, D. Robertson 1, G. Norris 1, S. Beardall 1, M. Treeby 1 ALBERT PARK: N. Wheeler 1, W. McIndoe 1, T. King 1, B. Murnane 1, S. Maunder 1 BEST, POWER HOUSE: T. Saraw, D. Bowden, M. Treeby, D. Burnside, D. Baker, C. Phillips ALBERT PARK: W. McIndoe, A. Snowden, N. Wheeler SEMI FINAL 2 LA TROBE UNI 1.1, 5.5, 8.5, 11.6 (72) ST JOHNS 3.1, 4.1, 8.2, 9.4 (58) GOALS, LA TROBE UNI: S. Patten 3, G. Ganino 2, T. Harding 2, X. Shiels 1, T. Ludeman 1, J. McMeel 1, D. Farrell 1 ST JOHNS: G. Roberts 2, C. Cachia 2, A. Abela 1, R. Dyker 1, N. Chalk 1, R. Scott 1, P. Ward 1 BEST, LA TROBE UNI: J. McLean, B. Wood, P. Russell, T. Harding, D. Farrell, L. McCormack ST JOHNS: L. O’Connor, C. Christiansen, M. Phaedonos, L. Mara, A. Dexter, G. Roberts SEMI FINAL 1 POWER HOUSE 2.3, 3.3, 4.4, 6.6 (42) LA TROBE UNI 1.1, 2.3, 2.4, 5.8 (38) GOALS, POWER HOUSE: P. Washington 2, C. Doolan 1, D. Parsons 1, S. Devine 1, W. Old 1 LA TROBE UNI: R. Slater 2, K. Taylor 1, D. Edwards 1, A. Kelly 1 BEST, POWER HOUSE: G. Tubridy, M. Lynch, A. Kuhanez, D. Bridges, A. Rankin, D. Maloney LA TROBE UNI: D. Edwards, L. Coffey, A. Hughes, J. Lee, J. Stow, J. Elliot SEMI FINAL 2 UHS-VU 4.4, 5.5, 12.7, 12.8 (80) YARRA VALLEY 1.3, 4.6, 5.7, 9.11 (65) GOALS, UHS-VU: L. Temming 2, T. Kershaw 2, T. Woodlock 2, L. Linehan 2, R. Dickson 2, S. Payne 1, M. Sweeney 1 YARRA VALLEY: B. Seeger 4, M. Laing 2, S. Laird 1, L. Gillies 1, G. Smith 1 BEST, UHS-VU: L. Temming, C. Certo, D. Pinney, L. Linehan, D. Barlow, J. Moden YARRA VALLEY: B. Seeger, L. Grimwade, G. Smith, D. Gray, S. Laird, L. McCleary THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2010 13
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Page 6 and 7: PREMIER DRIVEN DE LA DESTROY BATTER
Page 8 and 9: PREMIER B NO-GO HOES! STUDENTS DELI
Page 10 and 11: PREMIER C THEN THERE WERE THREE, UM
Page 12 and 13: DIVISION 1 BEES BOOK A BERTH IN THE
Page 14 and 15: DIVISION 2 DA BEARS AND DAVE BOUNDY
Page 18 and 19: DIVISION 4 BACK TO THE FUTURE Jim S
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Page 22 and 23: RESERVES Tom Brain ED NOTE: Opening
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Page 26 and 27: RETROSPECTIVE Geoff Reilley 12 Mont
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Page 46 and 47: FOR THE LOVE OF Six VAFA players ha
Page 52 and 53: Zac Hubber Darren Dawson Richard Wi
Page 54 and 55: LAST ROUND U19 RESULTS U19 NORTH (1
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Page 62 and 63: UMPIRES NIGHT OF NIGHTS Steve McCar
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VAFA LADDERS 2010 U19 NORTH 1 P W L
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WINNING EDGE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP The
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VAFA ROUND 21_Col.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association

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