OLD MELBURNIANS 9.15. 69 def by CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS 14.6. 90

Goal Kickers: A. Slevison 4, B. Carboni 2, B. Evans, R. Foote, C. Hammond, A. Strain, S. Wood, C. Sinclair, T. Sundberg, G. Archer
Best Players: D. Daly, A. Lawson, B. Carboni, S. Widjaja, T. Noblett, G. Winter

The senior team travelled to the picturesque Junction Oval, knowing it was never a home ground advantage to Old Melburnians as every team loved to play there. We were not disappointed with the ground bathed in sunshine and in perfect condition.

The build up in the rooms was akin to finals’ time. There was more than a buzz, and many supporters cramming to get into the rooms to glimpse Glen Archer and Anthony Stevens, who had given an assurance that they would be ready play. In our White with Blue hoops jumpers (our away strip for jumper clashes), Arch and Stevo probably felt quite at home and their arrival heralded unprecedented scenes with video cameras and phone cameras flashing.

Cat had spoken very well to the players after selection on Thursday night reminding them that the “Shinboners” were not going to win it for them, they had to win the game themselves and the two ex-Kangaroos were there to assist. I felt very satisfied to know that our club had been able to gain the type of prominence that only long standing A Section clubs seem to manage occasionally. More importantly, it was clearly going to be a thrill for our players, especially the younger ones, to run out with two outstanding contributors to the game from the elite level. Despite the excitement in the rooms, we had a game to win at a critical stage of the season. Last place on the ladder was not sitting comfortably with us.

It was the perfect start by our boys as we went forward in the first minute of playing time, courtesy of a great combination of Wij, Carbs and Hammo. It was Tom Sundberg who made the most of their work to kick the first goal. The Sundbergs were into the fray early and their efforts enabled us to go forward again for Mezz to show his ground level skills and get it to Slevo for our second. Carbs was right in the thick of things early and our defenders looked confident when OM’s managed to go forward. Matt Sundberg and Hammo worked together and enabled Nobby to handball to Gav Winter who found Woody who found Strainy who had cleverly gone forward. Strainy did not miss and we had out third. Melburnians’ on-ballers started to get their game going and we lost concentration a few times but fortunately OM’s could not kick straight. They eventually took advantage of too many of our players running forward of the ball and their #43 kicked truly, twice in 5 minutes. It was Carbs again, this time with a tap down in the middle to Stevo who directed the ball nicely to Darcy Daly and on to Cal Sinclair for our fourth goal. When OM’s kicked their third our advantage had been narrowed but it was Carbs who ‘wheeled’ around the pack down forward to kick our fifth and at quarter time it was 5.1 to 3.7 in our favour.

Early in the second quarter, a costly turnover enabled OM’s to kick the first goal to level the scores and there was plenty of fumbling and mis-kicking from both sides as the pressure mounted. Our defence was holding up well but our on-ball brigade was starting to get ‘carved up’ as the coaching bench looked to improve the match ups. Finally Richie Foote, from a free, converted and we were back in front. Some lack of concentration resulted in another opposition goal then our half forward line offered more presence and Ben Evans sent a long bomb forward from which Hammo gave off to Carbs for our 7^th major. It was becoming an arm wrestle as OM’s worked it forward for their fourth and then fifth goal. It was proving hard to get an extensive lead. Cal Sinclair was working hard up the ground and took another good mark, enabling a long kick deep to our goal square. The ‘Shinboner of the Century’ duly created a spill in the pack and Hammo crumbed to kick his first. When you stand near Glen Archer and realise that he is not so tall it makes you appreciate what a legend he became given he had played on all the best and beaten them over time. At half time our accuracy (8.2) to OM’s 5.10 gave us a slight advantage. We had noticed OM’s slow down considerably in the last 7 or 8 minutes of the term.

In the third term our back six continued to work hard under pressure and as the possessions went back and forward it was clearly a game of attrition. OM’s on-ballers were making their presence felt again and although they tended to want to do it all selfishly, a couple of goals put the onus back on our boys to answer the challenge. Stevo and Arch made it clear they would pay their way and Wij and Carbs were leading the way at the contests. Up back, Jordy Stewart was getting his share of the ball and Benny Hyland grows in stature each game. Penny was back to his defensive best and was guiding the young guns in defence. Stormy kept sprinting through the lines and Nobby and Mezz were holding their own with Nobby again paying his way around the ground. Some sloppy delivery was our downfall in this quarter and OM’s outscored us with the game in the balance at the final break. Goals from Ben Evans and Andy Slevison helped to keep us in it. The score was 10.5 to 8.14 and the game was there for the taking but we were two down on the bench as Hammo and Strainy were basically unable to go back on. Cramp had also forced us to make changes but the coaches were smart with their resting strategy to ensure that we could run the game out.

In the final term, Carbs again ‘upped the ante’ and when Arch was able to find Cal he ensured Woody was given the chance to goal and goal he did. We looked to have the run in our legs but with plenty of work still to do. When OM’s made their challenge early in the final term, Darc was outstanding and then was joined by the rest of the backs. Stevo’s experience was invaluable as he started to rack up possessions and Gav was brilliant out through the outer side. It had not been all that great a day for Slevo, although he had already kicked two for the day, but all of a sudden he became our focal point up front. A great mark by Slev in between two OM’s, and with his back to the ball, enabled him demonstrate his surety from an angle and he slotted his third. Gamey had also shown what makes him tick as he stepped it up and became very damaging. From the centre Gamey broke clear and shot it to the reinvigorated Slevo who marked strongly and converted. The ascendancy had been gained and OM’s were not particularly interested in chasing too hard. Nobby had completely taken over in the ruck and there were CGFC runners everywhere. Tom Sundberg had not had a great day by his recent standards but never stopped competing and the Football Gods rewarded him, and others who had worked hard. When Nobby tapped it down to Stevo from a boundary throw-in, it was great to watch Stevo break clear and find his mate Arch on the lead. Arch went back and drilled it and we had taken complete control. OM’s were able to get one back but everyone in Blue and White (or White and Blue as it was for the day) was a runner as we created turnovers whenever OM’s got the ball.

There were many to be congratulated when the siren sounded with a winning score of 14.6 to 9.15. The crowd had been huge showing the advantage to amateur football of the introduction of two of the game’s greatest mates. The six young guns were again right up there, Cal and Mezz always dangerous in the air and workers at ground level; Darc and Jordy are terrific and adaptable with Darc able to play on any line as well as the ruck. Jordy has become such an important part of our back six that he can take the most dangerous opposition go-to player! Gamey and Tom Sunny love the contest and get stronger as the game wears on. And there are more of them in the wings!

It was one of the days where you did not want to restrict the best to only six. For me, Wij and Carbs were outstanding, Stormy is now close to his very best, Andy Lawson must be realizing the value of his extra running work on off nights and pre-season ‘cos he is just great and Nobby is becoming more versatile and using his agility at ground level to advantage. Strainy until he was injured gave us poise and accuracy from defence, Penny leading the boys up back, Hylo is a terrier and has grunt – there I go, I should mention then all!

Much appreciation to Arch and Stevo. What a pleasure to have them with us and to see how well they conduct themselves and offer humility. They have absolutely nothing to prove and yet they were keen to help us out. They willingly signed autographs for all and sundry, joined us for a beer, gave of their time for videoed interviews. It was also a great pleasure for us to meet their families and welcome them to family footy in the ammos!

We extend out invitation to Arch and Stevo to join us any time and we have left it with them to determine how they may assist us in the future. They will be welcome at CGFC any time, on or off the field!

Geoff Reilley