September is upon us and with it the familiar sight of red and black at Elsternwick Park. After 18 rounds of the regular season, the Ménages travelled to Headquarters with only the one blemish on our season to date. We’d earned the right to don the black shorts having completed the home and away fixtures atop the Premier Thirds ladder with an 8-point buffer on second-placed Collegians. The Violet Crumbles had proved the nearest challenger to the Ménages’ premiership defence all season having dropped only three games heading into Saturday’s 2^nd Semi Final.

 Xavs had been responsible for two of Collegians’ losses in the regular season but we were well aware that inflicting the double on this purple outfit would count for nothing if we didn’t produce a result come finals time. With Werribee’s failure to complete a trip to the big smoke in the Ménages’ final round, both sides were coming off a week’s rest heading into the early 9:20am start on Saturday and conditions were perfect for the red’n’blacks to execute their brand of fast, attacking football at Elsternwick Park.

 Quarter One and the Ménages had the luxury of kicking with the wind and the opportunity to assert an early scoreboard advantage. Prior to the game, the message to the playing group had been to maintain a fierce intensity and attack on the ball in the early stages of the match to make it clear we were well-prepared for finals intensity. Smith and Bull were accumulating clearances to provide our forwards with plenty of opportunities and this allowed Hennessy and Altis to capitalise on the early entry with a major each, as much of the football was being played in and around the Ménage arc.

 Our ability to quickly adjust to the blustery conditions that are a mainstay at Elsternwick Park allowed us to set up our structures and ensure limited entry into the Collegians half. The attack on the ball and accountability for our opposite numbers was best personified by Fahey late in the quarter as he was able to register our third major for the quarter from a strong tackle and holding-the-ball decision in our 50. Our back 6, led by Trovato, held strong in the first quarter allowing Wesley to register just the solitary behind to see the Ménages head in with a 22-point lead at the first break.

 The playing group were advised that the second quarter would require a lift in concentration and awareness of our direct opponent to ensure that we withheld a wind-assisted Collegian assault. Grigg, Sleeman and Doyle stepped up to ensure our defence withstood long periods of Wesley possession inside their forward 50. It was a credit to their accountability and support to cover at contests that Collegians were restricted to only the two majors for the quarter. What was most satisfying was the Ménages’ ability to register 4 goals of their own heading into a strong Wick wind. The first of Hennessy’s two for the quarter was the result of Hanger’s dominance across his wing and half-forward. Hanger’s 4-bounce run and goal assist defined the fast-running style of play that has defined this outfit’s season to date and he was again rewarded for his efforts with a goal of his own later in the quarter.

 It was the Ménages’ ability to adjust to kicking into the wind that allowed a number of individuals to reap the rewards from quick clearances from the Collegian arc. Altis was one whose individual performances in the second stanza provided a benchmark for his claret and stout teammates to aspire to. His two pressure acts late in the second quarter from second efforts and strong tackling contributed to further ascendency on the scoreboard.  Doyle was able to reward Altis’ work-rate by converting one of his free-kicks earned to allow the Ménages a 5-goal lead heading into half time.  Mastering the wind at Elsternwick is an art in itself so to head into the rooms having outscored Collegians 4 goals to 2 in that second quarter signalled to the playing group that we were well on our way to earning a week off.

The message in the rooms at half time was to maintain the pressure and intensity that had allowed us the luxury of a 30-point lead against the next-best in this Premier Thirds competition. We knew that if we could convert early opportunities in the third that the game would be out of reach from the boys from Harry Trott even before they had the opportunity of a final-quarter breeze. Molan’s clearance work and Lachal’s dominance on his wing were significant factors in a strong early showing. Hennessy was able to register a fourth early and by quarter’s end, Adams, Molan and Lachal all had their names on the goal scorers list. What was perhaps most indicative of our pressure and dominance was Collegians’ inability to register a solitary score for the quarter.

 With a 56-point lead at lemon time, the Ménages had almost booked their place in the 2011 Premier Thirds Grand Final. The remaining quarter failed to provide too many highlights and, in patches, was certainly not an advertisement for the quality that the Premier Thirds competition is capable of producing. Nevertheless, the drop in match intensity was a credit to the Ménages’ complete performance in the preceding three quarters to allow us such a generous advantage against the second best side in this competition.  By the final siren, the lead had been reduced to 39 points which, on paper, seemed a respectable margin.

 Nevertheless, those that attended Elsternwick Park on Saturday will attest that the gap between the two clubs was far greater than a figure of 6-7 goals. To contain Collegians, who had a season percentage akin to that of Xavs (239.08%), to four goals and the league’s leading goalkicker, Ashman (66 goals), to no majors in a final reiterates the complete performance that was executed by the entire 22 on Saturday.

 After 18 rounds of the home and away season and a victory in the 2^nd Semi Final, the Ménages have finally earned the right to return to Headquarters to defend their 2010 Premier Thirds premiership.  Though 22 players walked out onto the Elsternwick turf on Saturday, they carried the commitment, work-rate and sacrifice of all players that have donned the Ménage jumper in 2011. They reminded us that it is not simply a right to wear this jumper but an honour and a privilege. Each player should be proud of their efforts and commitment for their teammates and it is important to acknowledge that the quality of the team’s performance on Saturday was a consequence of the dedication and fierce competition in the playing group for the opportunity to play in such a successful side come finals time.

 We now await with much anticipation the result of next week to see if we get the opportunity to inflict further pain on the Purple Haze or whether a new challenger will attempt to break this season’s trend. Rest up well, Ménages. You’ve earned the right to take stock and reset for two weeks time. Let’s hit the track hard and ensure that our preparation over the next two weeks is centred upon being at peak performance come Grand Final day. Whilst we have been the frontrunners since Round 1, it will count for nothing unless we seek to execute the same intensity and commitment for the red and black that we did on Saturday in two weeks’ time.