Best Players: T. Noblett, S. Wood, G. Winter, A. Lawson, R. Foote, T. Sundberg

We welcomed St Bernards to their first ever encounter with CGFC at Glenhuntly. In fact, CGFC and St Bernards had not met since the eighties when both were in A Section. We knew it would be a test as St Bernards are planning for an instant return to A Section and their form to date would suggest they will be contenders at the end of this season.

With Andrew Slevison out with a back related problem, our goal kicking options would be lessened considerably but the welcome return of Duncan (The Glove) Kellaway would surely make the opposition forwards less effective. We do not underestimate the value of the inclusion of ‘The Glove’ and there is no doubt our lads feel more comfortable with Dunc around. Most importantly, we greatly appreciate his commitment to still want to support us on field despite his heavy commitments down at Geelong Football Club.

Some of us had declared it would be a different and more concentrated approach by our boys today, even against talented opposition and in the first quarter it was obviously going to be “game on”! The pressure was certainly apparent from the opening bounce. Maybe the solidarity of our group was really coming together. I am sure the contingent of U19’s are now in total accord with the importance of playing our best line-up each week and their passion toward playing in the seniors in the best interest of the club has been fantastic. In the first term it was the young guns, especially Cal Sinclair and Sean Meredith, who were prominent and a real handful for the opposition. The pressure saw plenty of fumbling at ground level by both teams and our back half were standing up extremely well and were very tough at the ball. Gav Winter was leading the way down back by driving the ball long out of defence. Skipper Widjaja was, as usual, in and under and only a couple of misses by the young guns early stopped us from opening up with a handy lead. Ben Evans activated the forward line and got it to Mezz who, at the very least, would not be out marked and set up the opportunity for a crumbing goal. Darcy Daly, proving he is equally at home in the air or on the ground, crumbed superbly for our first goal. When St Bernards answered with a couple of their own, everyone watched intensely to see if we would crack under the pressure from a leading team. It  remained a real contest and a great stream of movement from Andy Strain, to Wij, to Cody Royle to Cal Sinclair (The Chief) and on to D Daly resulted in our second goal and we were right in it at quarter time, trailing by a goal, 2.2 to 3.2. This was never going to be a day where we would lay down!

In the second term, after an early let-off, we matched St Bernards in intensity and maybe it was our pressure that saw them kick five consecutive behinds. Mezz was proving his versatility with a well timed mark deep in defence and Tom Sundberg, Andy Lawson were prominent. Tim Noblett, again too agile for the opposition in the ruck, was also grabbing opportunities around the ground, allowing us to maintain pressure by keeping Mezz and The Chief as marking options up forward. When the move of Richard Foote to the forward line added more pressure to the Bernards’ defence, it paid off handsomely with Footie was on the end of a Chris Game and Gav Winter combination. Footie kicked truly! Particularly impressive was the way our defenders backed themselves and used the corridor, no doubt following sound instructions from the coaching panel. Evo to Maysie to The Chief deserved better than a behind. Not long after, Andy Lawson read the play superbly and sent it across the line (in modern terms, “to the fat side”) and found Footie with those sure hands of his and always prepared to back into a pack to mark. Footie’s second goal for the term was a godsend and Darc was consummately dealing with his opportunities and steadied us more than once. At half time, we were still within range, 4.6 to 5.8 but had to ensure that the third term would be our best to date.

Although St Bernards had plenty of it early in the third term, we steadied by strong body work in the clinches and could have done better than 2 behinds in the first 10 minutes. Again, pressure was resulting in some wayward shooting for goal but taking advantage of a turnover to Chris Hammond, Sam Wood ran past to receive from Hammo and sent it in to Tommy Sundberg who danced his way to a critical major. The next 10 minutes was nothing more than an intense arm wrestle with neither side giving quarter. The umps were feeling the strain as well as their whistles were under utilised and ruck infringements seemed not to matter! St Bernards were equally determined and had certainly realised this was a real danger game and answered our challenge with two goals. Some great defence saw Woody get it to Wij to Strainy then The Chief, free to Wij and a mark to Strainy who loves to get forward and proved it by a goal. Woody again was in the thick of things, Evo took the opportunity from Woody’s work and found Footie who marked and goaled to bring us within 4 points. Three quarter time found St Bernards holding on, 7.14 to our 7.10.

When the final term started we grabbed the ascendancy with a great mark and goal to Mezz. Great work from Wij, Woody and Carbs found The Chief in the square for his first and we had taken the lead by more than a goal. Hammo and Tom Sunny were providing drive but St Bernards used their experience to keep them in it and answered with 2 more goals. When Nobby in the middle, palmed it to Wij, the result was Tom’s second and still game on. Just when we thought we were going to pull off a great victory, St Bernards responded with two more and although Carbs found Matty Sundberg who sent it to Mezz for his second, St Bernards responded like good teams do and our valiant attempt was not quite enough, final score 12.15 to 11.14 against us.

Although wins are critical given our lowly position on the ladder, we knew we were no longer fodder for the top teams and in fact now a far more accountable and cohesive group. Our supporters also now must know more of what we have been preaching; this is a young and relatively inexperienced group, but with some real talent. Talent is not enough though and the momentum must be maintained!

Bring on the Old Melburnians at the Junction Oval!!

Geoff Reilley