The 2008 season opened in perfect conditions at the grounds at Carey Grammar were excellent for our first encounter against Old Carey who were back in B Section for the first time since 1972.

The reserves caled upon a few of the boys who would have expected to be in the Clubbies and Vice Captain of the Reserves, Ed Kalaja, had the first kick of the new season for CGFC. Although Tim Noblett, Sam Wood and Andrew Strain got hold of the footy early, Carey looked to be a fairly well drilled reserves team and at quarter time led 4.2 to 1.2. Sean Garrood across half back and Josh McCahon up forward and on ball were also prominent, especially Josh who kicked our only goal in the term.

In the second quarter, Ed Kalaja marked strongly and Michael Murphy had a ‘purple patch’ with 4 kicks in less than a minute. Andrew Simmons (U19 player), Sam Wood and Brett ‘Boomer’ Scott were in the thick of things and Cheyne Gates marked strongly in defence. Ed Kalaja and Andrew Simmons both scored majors but we were well down at half time, 3.4 to 8.2.

In the third term our rushed attempts to send the ball forward resulted in a number of turnovers and the Carey boys woke up to the fact that Tim Noblett was going to win most of the tap outs and they roved to him. Sam Curry, who last played at CGFC in the early nineties as an U19 players, and had since played senior footy with Old Carey, was prominent in his first game with us in over a decade. Nobby and Strainy found plenty of the ball for a time and Sam Curry converted from good play by Gatesy. The scoreline at the final break saw us down 10.4 to 5.5 and hopefully it would not be a ‘blow out’ against us in the final term.

To the contrary, it was all CGFC but we could not deliver adequately to the forwards. Sam Wood was very strong down back and his work was finally rewarded when ‘Simmo’ found Grant Poulter in his return to the club and ‘Poults’ did not let the team down. This goal was the forerunner of some great play by the Fields and Josh McCahon, Andy Simmons and Strainy all converted to leave us only points down and minutes to play. After a couple of opportunities within reach of goal went begging in the final minutes, Carey held on to win 10.4 to 9.7 despite the fact they did not score in the last quarter.

Goals – McCahon 2, Kalaja 2, Simmons 2, Poulter, Strain, Curry 1 each.

Better players – Gates, Murphy, Wood, Noblett, Curry, Kalaja, Scott, McCahon.