As it turned out we did make some forced changes but we are now in the fortunate position of having to consider which in-form players from the reserves need rewarding. On this occasion Alex Ford, Andrew Ross and Jordan Stewart deserved the elevation and the opportunity to stake their claim for the coming weeks. All have played senior football earlier in the season. The challenge is this round was to match the intensity that one would expect of an opposition who were not secure in the top four and were playing in front of their home crowd. One thing we did know was that Mazenod considered that CGFC has inherent weaknesses and planned to exploit them. We keep getting this feedback from our contacts each week. Mazenod reserves (top team) gave a polished and powerful display against our boys in the early game to set up Mazenod’s big day. It gave us an inkling of their style of play at home.

Despite a few wet patches on the expansive Central Reserve, the ground was in excellent condition with the wind favouring the southern end. Winning the toss we looked forward to making a statement early with the use of the wind. We had plenty of the footy in the opening minutes, especially Andrew Ross, Zac Parson, Ben Carboni and Strainy but overall we tended to bomb it forward and play into the hands of the Mazenod defence which had been supplemented with extra personnel. As usual Slevo led strongly but was outnumbered and we didn’t play smart enough. At the 5 minute mark Slevo worked hard enough to deserve a fee in front (and he doesn’t get many) and duly converted. Wij was up and about, leading from the front and created the forward entry that Slevo capitalised upon.

It was not impossible to get the ball forward into the wind but Docks was leading the defence on their main target, a player hard to get around and not due to his strength! Things just didn’t look quite right for us and some of the forwards needed to smarten up and demonstrate some nous. After little conversion, and at the 14 minute mark, a Mazenod player crashed to the ground and didn’t move resulting in a hold up of play for four and a half minutes while arranging his removal by stretcher. Re-commencement of play saw too much finessing with resultant turnovers and Mazenod certainly sniffed out some opportunities and kicked the next 2 goals and their avenue to goal was too open. It was left to Wij with a centre clearance a few minutes later to offer Slevo the chance to again goal for us; and he did! The physical side of the game went up a notch before Strainy and The Zarr combined for Andy Lawson to mark strongly and convert and the system looked better, but, we needed more goals with the wind. All the best plans went overboard when Mazenod kicked a goal just before the quarter time siren and inexplicably we trailed 3.1 to 3.3.

A stronger effort commenced the second term and the conditions were more slippery. We did well to hold the opposition in the early stages of the quarter and the defenders led by Zac, Delly and Docks worked damn hard. Eventually Mazenod broke through with a clever goal, well out in the so-called dead pocket, but their better numbers at the contest were telling. When we went forward with some more good work from defence, Mazenod used the old reliable, kick it as far possible off the ground, to telling effect and helped to set up their next two goals. Breeny was doing a fine job on their most dangerous forward who was fresh off 7 goals in the previous game. It was Carbs with a great kick across the line to Fordy that gave us a very important goal at the 32 minute mark and Fordy was cool with his set shot. Scores at half time 6.7 to 4.1 against and we were not producing what we had planned. Steve reminded the boys of their ownership responsibilities at half time and, as poorly as we had performed, he re-stated their commitments during the week.

Things did not augur well when Breeny’s danger man kicked one within 90 seconds of the opening third quarter. It’s really frustrating when you know someone is doing a good job and the opponent doesn’t work hard but gets lucky! Still, that’s footy and part of our commitment is to focus on the opportunities and not dwell on what could be misconstrued as a problem. Another positive aspect of our coach’s directives is the challenges given to individual players and the high rate of acceptances!

Sam Wood was getting himself involved in the ‘hurly burly’ and his long, centering bomb was encapsulated by Andrew Slevison’s awareness and ability and that answering goal was important after nearly seven minutes of tough unrelenting pressure footy. Over the next 15 minutes we may not have received the best of the decisions while Mazenod played with plenty of confidence and kicked three goals to hold a 5 goal lead. Some pretty tough stuff ensued over the next 3 or 4 minutes and there was real effort by our boys at a time when it could have blown right out had they not responded with more effort. Gav Colosimo and Andy Lawson, with handball exchanges after Delly drove forward from CHB, and Slevo provided a demonstration of balance, strength and deftness with a great soccer style goal. Up a notch again went the tempo and deputy runner, Benny Evans, was working overtime with the changes, therefore maintaining drive and relief for the on-ballers at the same time. Ben Carboni, double teamed for much of the game, showed just why his extra commitment to fitness and conditioning is important and roved superbly to a stoppage for a great goal at the 27 and a half minute mark. A danger man to us is this quarter kicked his second for Mazenod immediately after Ben’s effort but again the challenge was answered by Carbs who centred superbly to Slevo for a goal and the thirty two and a half minute mark – three quarter time trailing 8.3 to 11.8 and Mazenod with the wind assisted end.

Few other than the senior coach and players knew what was said during the break but at the end of the day they were the ones that mattered. I’m sure there would have been mentioned something about the taunts of the Mazenod supporters during the previous three quarters!

When Andy Lawson goaled at the 4 minute mark it was first blood to CGFC. Chris May, a great contributor for most of the game produced a classical piece of roving at the 8 minutes mark for an angle goal and we had momentum. Mazenod surged forward a few times immediately after Maysie’s effort but Pricey, Docks and Delly pushed, blocked and punched and saved and the on-ballers assisted to shut down. At the 17 minutes mark Phil Zarra and Carbs really turned the heat on Mazenod by enabling Strainy to left foot one through the big sticks and the deficit was down to a couple of points. Even some missed shots by our boys were not as frustrating as normal because every Fields player was involved and running. Where were the opposition hard men we asked? Certainly not at the bottom of the pack we decided as Wij led the charge, Nelly marked around the ground as requested, Nobby tackled and The Zarr swept and drove the ball forward. The Zarr received a Lawson short pass at the 20 minute mark, put us in front and minutes later Carbs, with his head over the ball and courage personified banged one through. Strainy was on the receiving end of the perfect combination (Wij to Carbs to Slevo) and kicked his second for the term at the 27 minute mark and Blue and White jumpers were everywhere and lining up to do their bit. Strainy and Maysie topped off the work by others by giving it over to Slevo for his 6^th in a superb display and could you believe, the Mazenod forwards were pushing up to mid-field to try and stem the flow rather than obtain scoring opportunities. Maysie was running wild when he found Slevo at the 31 and a half minute mark and the leading sharp shooter kicked his 7^th as the Mazenod spruikers retreated to their bunkers. In an unbelievable last quarter onslaught, we kicked 8.4 to zero, extraordinary to the extreme. In what has to date been a very fine season, this was our finest half hour! 16.6 to 11.8, a monumental performance that oozed “ruthlessness”. Was this not the last word to appear on the team board back at our rooms following Thursday night’s team meeting?

Congratulations to Steve and the boys and thanks to the loyal following that stayed to the end when the fireside at home may have seemed a better option at half time or three quarter time. Also a credit to the boys’ conditioning by Russ and company.

True team effort but special mentions to Carbs, Wij, Slevo, Laws, Zac, Delly, Breeny, Docks, Maysie and the stats will show other significant contributors. Good return to the team by Rossy, Jordy and Fordy.

Goals – Slevison 7, Lawson 2, Strain 2, Carboni 2, C May, Zarra, Ford

Another tough night at the selection table coming up Thursday! Nice problem to have!