Seniors match Report: ROUND 8 -
CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS VS. PENINSULA OB
Caulfield 11.17.83 Defeated Peninsula 7.7.49
CGFC GOALKICKERS:
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CGFC BEST PLAYERS:
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Match Report:
I know it is definitely the first time we have been to Peninsula Old Boys’ ground since round 1, 1998. I remember it well for a number of reasons. Firstly it was rather desolate and we had to change in crappy rooms about 500 meters away, secondly our captain was late arriving having taken a lift with Trevor Royals who got lost on the way and thirdly we lost the game after leading for most of the day. I have a pretty good memory for ‘shockers’ like that. Interestingly the leading goalkicker for the match was Payze from Peninsula who played against us yesterday! Mind you we didn’t lose another game in 1998 until round 15, our only other loss for the season, plus we belted Peninsula in the second semi before taking the flag against Old Camberwell. Ok, no more history lessons!
I saw most of the Reserves game and was again impressed with the style of play and the fact that there is a clear intention among the group to apply maximum pressure on the senior 22 in each game. The challenge for players in the reserves is to play well every week if you want to challenge for a spot. You don’t want to put in a bad one when a spot or spots open up! Lachy Gallop and ‘Meddo’ were certainly two who maintained their work ethic and there are others who could easily take a place when the opportunity arises. Really good work from the ressies.
There were a few changes to the senior team with Charlie Logan, Tim Nixon, Lloyd Everett and Nick Tonkin all on the sidelines and possibly ready next week. It was terrific to see young Joe McLelland playing his first senior game after impressing in the U19’s and a proud Dad, Mark, a former star for the Grammarians, excitedly looking on.
Our first kick was taken by Jack Wallace, our first mark by Jordan Stewart and our first tackle laid by Nick Silvestro. But I felt the boys genersally were a little unsure given the unusual dimensions of the ground, consequently a few disposals went astray. There were a few turnovers by us but both Jack Wallace and Jordan took saving marks at half back. When Theo Thompson initiated an attack from half back, the ball finished with a mark to Dec Reilly and he kicked truly three and a half minutes into the game. After the goal we didn’t seem to be able to string anything together, We were under pressure and unusually, Louis O’Keefe was run down and dispossessed. Too often the ball went out of bounds when better options were available and when Finn McEvoy was also run down, Peninsula kicked their first goal just short of 11 minutes play. It seemed we weren’t reading the bounce of the ball all that well and that often occurs when the attack on the ball is not immediate and hesitation sets in. Another turn over gave Peninsula their second goal although we were actually kicking with the advantage of the breeze. I hasten to add it was more across than straight down the ground. For mine, our skill level was not great and the turnovers were regularly occurring. When a stray dog halted play for a minute or so we were slow to get started and frankly, Peninsula were desperate for the ground ball and were defending well when we did get the ball forward.
I hadn’t seen our players caught with the ball as often and when Will Barker also suffered this fate it was not a good sign given his reliability and usual evasiveness. Joe McLelland had a shot on the run for a behind and Peninsula’s tackling was better than ours. I did note that kicking into the sun looked to be causing problems for us for there were at least two occasions when our ball carrier failed to see clear options up forward. The lack of cohesion remained until the end of the term. At quarter time we trailed 1.1 to 2.2 and there were some home truths from Simon during the break and rightfully so. It wasn’t the start to the game we were looking for!
We started the second quarter well enough winning a free kick but Will Barker’s delivery to Tom Green finished too wide and out of bounds. We then got caught out a bit by not manning up, it had also a problem in the first quarter. We were under attack from the opposition early but both Jackson Small and Dom O’Keefe defended strongly. Peninsula had at least three players on their own in our back half and I wondered how we would penetrate this defence. Domma marked again in defence and Dec Reilly did a great job when outnumbered. We attacked via the outer wing and Tom Small kicked a behind but the cohesion was encouraging. Just when we were looking more dangerous Peninsula responded and won the contested ball to kick the first goal for the quarter. Although Will Barker got the centre clearance we submitted to the opposition press and were lucky to only see Peninsula kick a behind. Peninsula were taking advantage of our errors and a strong tackle provided their next goal. I was struggling to find a Caulfield player who was ‘error free’.
Just after we received a ‘soft’ free the momentum changed. Although Louis sent us forward and the opposition defence repelled, Jack Wallace got dangerous but only finished with a behind. The momentum was changing and following some better stuff in traffic, Tom Green got off a handball and Nick Silvestro put one through at the 12 minute mark. Theo marked again at half back to stop Peninsula’s forward thrust and Brett Sinclair snapped a behind. Brett followed up with a combination with Jack Woodman and things looked even better as Louis crumbed, handballed to Harrison Mills who banged one through.
Play went end to end for a time but the respective defences were holding sway. An excellent tackle by Ossie who earnt the free, sent it to Brett for a mark and on to Louis but only a behind resulted. We seemed to be in more control of the play than Peninsula and we were able to lock it in at half forward but it only took one errant handball and Peninsula ran it through the lines to kick a goal just before time-on. A really good response came from a free to Ossie who directed it to Louis and his mark and goal was timely. Peninsula then ‘hacked’ it out of the middle but Dom O’Keefe was terrific against two opponents. Both teams lifted the intensity but the half time siren sounded with the fields trailing by 1 point, 4.8 to 5.3. I said at the time that I felt Peninsula had maybe given their best shot. Regardless, I knew we had not and had plenty in the tank. Of this I was sure!
The third quarter started with some strong stuff around the ball and the rain was more consistent, consequently the ball was more at ground level. Just when Jordy marked and sent it forward, Peninsula cleared, ran it forward and goaled two minutes into the quarter; not the start we wanted. Shortly after, Andre was assisted from the ground with what appeared to be a hand or arm injury, the subsequent decision to send him to hospital was not a good sign for Andre or us. We attacked strongly after saving on the last line of defence and Harrison and Jack Wallace managed to set up a chance but only a behind. On the kick-in, Nick Silvestro took a great mark, we failed to make the most of the chance but after a ball-up and a free against us, Jack Wallace sent us forward and ‘Silver’ made no mistake with an important conversion. The conditions were certainly greasier than in the first half and it was tough going for both teams. ‘Greeny’ from a free in the middle found ‘Millsy’ who scored a behind from an angled, set-shot and our forwards locked it in placing pressure on Peninsula. Will Barker got a ‘fortunate’ free but only scored a behind from about 35m out. When Peninsula tried a risky shot across the goals Jack Woodman marked and kicked another important major. Ryan Harris was working overtime on the ball and Jess Toniolo earnt a free. After Peninsula won back possession and tried to run it out of defence, Jesse Toniolo from a free goaled halfway through the quarter and our momentum was gaining .
Dec Reilly had assumed the main ruck duties with Andre gone for the day and Dec was making an impact. He also had a long shot on goal for a behind. We were definitely running better, even in the heavy going. There were plenty of ball ups, some good tackling by CGFC and ‘Woody’ laid a really good one but only scored a behind from the free kick. We continued to lock it up in our forward half until an unnecessary free allowed Peninsula to go forward for the first time in quite a while. Hugo Gates was in the thick of things down back as was Dom O’Keefe and his supporting backs. Yardage was now more important as the game became a bit of a slog. Dec combined well with Sam Banfield to clear and when it came back again, Hugo did a super ‘double-take’ to send it back to the middle of the ground. Our defenders were terrific around this time and in the dying moments of the quarter, Ryan Harris from a free plus 25 meters made no mistake to provide a handy lead. The quarter ended with another well timed Jordan Stewart mark after 33 minutes play. 8.14 to 6.3 may have been a bit wasteful but it also indicated which team had the most of the play.
Dec got a free at the opening of the last term and his delivery forward allowed us to lock it in for some time. A great pick-up by Ossie deserved better than out on the full but it also showed we were generally first to the ball. Theo Thompson was as steady as ever in defence, Dec was continuing to dominate in the air and Greeny was more active. It was all going ok until a harmful 25 meter against gave Peninsula their first goal for some time and with plenty of time left for them to make up the deficit. Barks got it out of the middle and when Ossie got a free and sent the heavy ball forward, Louis’ soccer skills were to the fore with our first for the quarter at the 5 minute mark.
We had most of the play and Peninsula were under constant pressure but some of our kicks went astray and Tom Small missed from the angle. Joe McLelland used the boundary smartly and Declan was not only winning the ruck but gained valuable yardage every time with clean hit outs. Peninsula looked at their best when they worked the ball around the outer boundary line and finally scored a behind but on clearance, Jordy took another well-timed mark and delivered on to Harrison Mills. The next passage of play allowed Louis to use his balance and handball to Ossie who kicked our 10th goal.
The remainder of the quarter was mainly between the respective half back lines and I must say Peninsula never chucked it in. We did have more shots for goal going astray and we need to get better at conversion. I well recall one of Simon’s remarks earlier in the season ‘It will eventually hurt us’ and I couldn’t agree more. There were good passages of play and good combinations (Toniolo/McEvoy), (Barker/Harris), Woodman/Sinclair), (J Small/Woodman) were evident as it became a bit of a rugby style event at ground level. What also impressed was Theo’s coolness under pressure, ‘Gater’ beating two opponents in one passage of play and Will Osborn earning frees and a great tackle to stop a long Peninsula entry. The back six were looking like a well-oiled machine at this stage and in a long quarter (34.30) ‘Woody’ enabled ‘Millsy’ to kick another goal before the siren and then we were in attack again when the siren actually sounded. This was a very good win after a slow start with plenty of ammunition for Simon and his team over the coming week.
I thought Ryan Harris and Dec Reilly were prominent with their intent to lead with experience when the going got touph and that is not to take anything away from other more than solid performers. I understand Simon also paid credit to the ‘VFL boys’ for the way they contributed and that is worthy praise and very well deserved.
We know the pressure remains as a trip to Old Ivanhoe beckons next weekend. This has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for us. It’s the completion of the first half of the season next week and an opportunity to go into round 10, backed by a position of strength and yet no relaxation allowed. Plenty of thought toward the ruck set up will be warranted with Andre out of action for a time but now we have more options. Looking forward to next week’s challenge.
Plenty of space out at Ivanhoe and important to withstand the early pressure that will undoubtedly be applied! Discipline will be essential. Can’t afford more slow starts! Can’t wait!
Goals – Silvestro 2, Mills 2, L’O’Keefe 2, Reilly, Woodman, Toniolo, Harris, Osborn
Better players (in no particular order) – Reilly, Gates, D O’Keefe, Stewart, Harris, Thompson, Barker, Woodman and a few unlucky to miss out.
Go Fields!