May 19, 2024
BIG WEEKEND
Week 7 Wrap
A Century of the Red & Black
Another crazy Saturday, with the U23 Twos to go today in their Prelim final.
If their last effort a fortnight ago was a backs-to-the-wall, go-to-the-mattresses fight for survival, yesterdays turn at Princes Park wasn't anything approaching that. Marcus Stavrou was virtually a lone hand in the loss to lowly Haileybury, whose victory kept their chances to stay up alive for another week.
Goal Kickers:C. MacIsaac 2, G. Valles, M. Batten, J. Boyd, D. Robinson, M. Stavrou, S. Ralph
Best Players:M. Stavrou, H. Bowen, C. Holmes, H. Troiani, A. Trigar, T. Dunne
Matt Handley booted seven and Wade Brusnahan dominated the midfield as the X-Men rolled over Old Haileybury at Parc des Princes. Xavs had plenty of firepower in attack, with Harrison Bell also slotting three and big Ted "Senator" Kennedy looking exceptionally dangerous. The visitors booted five goals in each of the middle terms.
The Magoos are now officially minor premiers and will meet OLd Scpotch in the second semi-final, while Kevs, Old Brighton (whom Xavs play next week) and Old Melburnians fight it out to play in the first semi-final.
Goal Kickers: M. Handley 7, H. Bell 3, E. Kennedy 2, B. Kennedy, W. Brusnahan, M. Lowe, E. Delany, E. Niall
Best Players: W. Brusnahan, M. Handley, H. Bell, E. Kennedy, S. Turner, J. Lowe
Chances of first spot disappeared and the double chance was thrown into jeopardy as the Red 'n' Blacks never recovered from a great start from the Kevs at Stradbroke yesterday. A win next week against Uni Blues will see the Rossoneri play in the second semi, but the Swamp Hens will be desperate to spoil the party.
Parkdale fell to the Xavs despite a strong first term that left them with a three goal advantage. The home team fought back hard, but their real authority was stamped in the fourth quater when they booted a quartet and held the big bird goalless. The win seals a spot in the finals and guarantees a knockout semi against either Trinity or Hampton Rovers.
Coach Andrew Batten filed this:
A warmish but overcast day greeted us for our last home game of the season. With finals on the line, there was a nervous but positive energy in the air. We had discussed Parkdale’s strengths and weaknesses during the week, making note of their ladder position not being a true reflection of their ability. We had won our only previous meeting, however there were last portions of that game where Parkdale controlled the tempo. So while we were favourites and finals beckoned, the players were warned not to take the game lightly.
First quarter started with Parkdale fast and intense out of the gate. They were clean in the contest and their precision passing forward was excellent. We have identified Goonewardene as a gun player prior to the game, however we had him playing midfield rather than forward on the whiteboard. He made us pay and kicked early goals as he started forward, with his craft and execution particularly notable. Parkdale looked well balanced, they had height, strength and pace in key areas and were using it well. They jumped out to a three goal lead and if there was a thought that this would be a walk in the park, it was gone within 5 minutes. We looked sluggish, but to our credit we gritted our way back into the contest. Wrigley, Sheehan and McCarthy began to thrust us forward from the backline with most of the ball being down there. Our midfield then came to the party.. Crisostomos, Visentini and Bourne willed themselves into the game and we started getting some forward entries. Chappy Christopher goaled to settle the nerves, but it didn’t dampen Parkdale’s appetite. They had slick ball movement, great marking and another couple of goals. If not for a late Crisostomos roving masterclass, we would have been a long way back, as he goaled from the pocket. Still with plenty of work to do, we trailed by 17 at the first change.
The coaches were not happy at the break, with a sense of complacency creeping into the team. We demanded a more contested brand of football for the second quarter, with a renewed effort in stopping your opponent first. The second quarter was a goal fest. We started the festivities with two goals in a minute, but Parkdale responded with their own two. Considering the limited space that Stradbroke Park affords, the ball movement and width both teams were getting was admirable. Goonewardene kicked another, so we sent the secret weapon Will Beattie to him to all but end that contest. Beattie’s second half of the season has been something out of this world, with his confidence growing he has tapped into his ability to play tall or small, use the ball or lockdown opponents. A great asset to the team, his chance in the premier team not far away I suspect!
With a couple of other positional shuffles, we started to dictate play further up the ground. Gilmour on the wing now was supporting the defenders with gut running and intercepts, as well as providing the thrust forward. Bird was getting plenty of it across half forward, with Chappy and Paul looking the most dangerous forwards. With some scintillating end to end football, we found Paul in the goal square twice in the space of a few minutes, as we marched back into the contest. Fares and LaFrantz also goaled from some elite crumbing to settle the nerves and ensure we had a platform to win from. However Parkdale had set themselves for a big game, and they weren’t going to roll over. With two strong intercept marks across the half back, it was clear we needed to be precise with our movement. The Xavs finished with 6 for the quarter and trailed by only 4 points at the main break, right back in the contest.
The third quarter started fast from the Xavs, with Gilmour scoring a well worked team goal following some tough inside work from Visentini and then E.Nelson. A popular goal scorer! Parkdale weren’t deterred and were looking to get a sense of control back into the game. They played a measured short game, retaining possession across half back and working hard to find the right option. Unfortunately for them, our backs had really grown into the game. Wrigley was a scary presence down back, as Spears, Peppard and Regan began to suffocate their opponents' space. McCarthy and Sheehan provided the slick ball movement with Beattie on babysitting duties. Parkdale managed a pretty high-quality goal, but the evolving character of our team meant that we answered straight away with Visentini finding Fares who released Pick. Gorman and Troy were starting to win all the taps, there was a clear momentum shift as the boys saw cracks in the Parkdale resistance. This was fast becoming our most important performance, and it was being done so by all 24 players. Everyone was having their moments. Bourne was now providing elite forward entries and we had made the most of the matchups, with Sandman and Pick now clunking them. Though neither converted, our confidence was up. It was only a slight lapse in concentration that allowed Parkdale another goal to take the lead back. The quarter wound down with Xavs in control of the ball, with Gorman marking everything that came out, but Parkdale marking everything that came in. Parkdale took a 9 point lead going into the main break.
There was no doubt we were back in the contest, but still trailing it was important to go and try and win the game. We had to back in the same mentality that had got us in this position. The final quarter started with the league’s most dominant one-two, with Troy tapping down to Fares for our first forward entry. The ball went out for a throw-in, before Fares took things into his own hand, roving cleanly before slotting on his left for a huge team confidence lifter. He almost repeated this 3 minutes later, before dishing off to E.Nelson who snapped truly for another breathtaking goal. Momentum was with us! Gilmour was again everywhere, receiving from Fares or Sheehan, he had made that wing his own. The backs continued to spread the ball, not content with kicking to contests, we showed great confidence to continue taking the game on. Our forward line was rampant… the pressure from Harvey, Nelson and LaFrantz was intense. Visentini was completing a mammoth day in midfield. The finishing touch came from a trademark intercept mark from Josh Nelson, who found Connor Harvey rampaging through the middle, who then found the assured hands of Chappy. After mozzing him earlier in the game when I said there was no way he would miss, I stayed quite and he saluted. Eddie Paul got one more late on to confirm the win and also a last quarter shut out, with no Parkdale goals. Our place in this year’s finals confirmed!
The one souring element to the game was the injury toll. Jasper Peppard suffered a concussion from a desperate defensive effort, though has since been cleared of any damage to head and should be back after this week. Fred Viseninti suffered an injury in the same incident, though it was less confronting than Jasper’s, we’ll take an extra cautionary approach with Vis. And about 5 minutes after this contest, Chris Crisostomos suffered a fractured ankle. He’ll miss the rest of the season which is a big blow for him, having become one of the league’s most damaging players.
However the good news is that we have built a strong and reliable squad over the season and I have supreme confidence in the players that will come in to replace these boys. The character and attitude of this group is growing stronger, and we will take any setbacks in our stride and turn them into positives.
Apologies for the late report this week, work is getting in the way of the really important things in life.... like footy. Though I was determined not to miss two weeks in a row!
We have one more home and away game this weekend against Old Trinity, however I’m expecting another month of footy still. We have the momentum, it just comes down to executing now.
Thanks and see you at the footy
Goal Kickers: C. Christopher 3, E. Paul 3, L. Fares 2, E. Nelson, P. Gilmour, C. Crisostomos, E. Pick, W. Troy, N. LaFrantz
Best Players: C. Harvey, F. Visentini, O. Sheehan, P. Gilmour, C. Crisostomos, L. Fares
Xavs came late to snatch a tie, good enough, as it transpired, for the Red 'n' Blacks to stay in fourth spot. They lead Therry by a half game, withe 'Nolans playing against minor premier PEGS next week.
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