Retrospective: Round 10

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Geoff Reilley

10 YEARS AGO – 2010

In Premier A Section De La Salle went into flag favouritism after they demolished Collegians. The Dees had the game under control by half time with Leigh Harrison and Michael Duggan in terrific form up forward. Jordy Pollard and Tom Moloney were also prominent. Trent Zimbachs, Charlie Holst and Nick Corp did what they could to try and turn the tables, but De La held their stranglehold to the final siren, winning 16.16 to 8.8. Collegians managed to hang on to third place but would need to lift their game. Best: Semmell, Pollard, Moloney, Oakley, Harrison (4), Moloney (DLS) and Zimbachs, Harvey, Holst, Corp, Inglis, Kondarovskis (Coll).

Old Carey established an early lead against Old Essendon in Premier B and scored freely after quarter time to finish somewhat wasteful with 20.25. Old Essendon kicked only 3 goals after quarter time to finish 6.8 and already seemed headed to Premier C along with MHSOB, both clubs having only won one game from the first 10. Best: Rowe, Stewart-Holmes, Willingham, Crozier, Evans (3), Howat (OC) and Rogers, Biggs, Skurrie, Powell, Bartram, Gestier (OE).

Only one player in all of the senior teams, Aaron Marsh (Point Cook), had passed the halfway mark in the race for a century of goals; he kicked 11 in this round to take his tally to 55.

Regarded as Monash Gryphons ‘greatest ever player’, Lee ‘Rowdy’ Wells played his 250th game. A 7 time best and fairest winner, Life Member, games record holder and former Club Captain, ‘Rowdy’ epitomised the Club’s values. Second on the Div 4 ladder, Monash were hoping to provide Rowdy with the one missing part, a premiership come September! (that honour was achieved when the Gryphons defeated Mount Lilydale in the GF and you guessed it, Rowdy was in the best six for his Club).

15 YEARS AGO – 2005

In D2 Section, Old Geelong lost their first game for the season when they did not handle the trip to Williamstown as they would have liked, the CYMS’ team winning comfortably 18.7 to 11.12, overcoming a tardy start in the first term. Best: Grieve, Holland, M Cocks, Elias, Wheeler, Pach (Williamstown) and Vasey, Vickers-Willis, Lansdell, Paul, Malpas (Old Geelong).

In D3 West Brunswick consolidated their place in the top four with a strong performance against Power House, 20.14 to 9.7. The Westies were on song from the opening bounce.  Best:  Piestch, Sudholz,  S Benjamin, Millard, Monagle (5), West (West Brunswick) and B White (3), S West, P Sosic, N Bishop, R Marshall (PH).

In D4, after Hawthorn Amateurs defeated Bulleen Cobras 19.14 to 13.15, there was only 1 game separating 2nd and 8th place. Best: L Collins, McKenna, Lauletta (5), Jackmos (3), D Pritchard, Hall (Hawthorn) and Cookson, Trinchi, Mehrez, Conn, Mullinger, Dacey (Bulleen).

Cam Thompson reached his 250th game for Old Melburnians, the fourth player to do so for the club. Cam was a dual premiership player (1994 and 2002) and had been at OM’s for 16 seasons.

Two of Uni Blues prominent players, Andrew Lowcock and George De Crespigny, played their 100th games for their club. A key member of the 2004 premiership team, Andrew had a stint with the Kangaroos in 2001 and George had a stint with Carlton’s Reserves before returning to Uni Blues and also became a rep player.

Simon Williams celebrated his 200th game for Old Brighton and became a Life Member of his club. Club Captain for a record 6 seasons, Simon epitomised all that Old Brighton looked for in a player.

25 YEARS AGO – 1995

Old Xaverians went to the top of A Section when they defeated Ormond at Ormond, setting up the game in the first quarter with 5.4 to nil. In the trying conditions, it was always going to be difficult for Ormond to get back into the game. It became a low scoring match with Xavs winning score, 7.13 to 5.4. Ormond’s defenders could not keep the classy Xavs’ forwards quiet enough and it cost Ormond their place in the top four. Best: Bowen, McDonald, Blood, Bourke (3), Dann, Leoncelli (Xavs) and Turner, James, P McDonald, Jobling, Edgell, Sebo (Orm).

In B Section, St Kilda South Caulfield just failed to run down Banyule who held on to win 14.17 to 14.12. The difference may well have been Ralph Bergman’s 6 goals for the Saints. Best: Keriana, O’Sullivan, Astapenko, Bergman (6), McGaw, Jackson (StK-SthC) and Gloury, Gilham, Egan, McDermott, Richmond, Willmott (Ban)

Colin Gathercole finally reached his 200th game at Uni High School Old Boys having stated back in 1982. Now a regular ‘senior’ and well known for his great foot disposal and blind turns, Colin had also served diligently on committee.

Brian Woodhead, tribunal coordinator at the time, had a very busy week as there were no less than 23 guilty players and only 9 had accepted the prescribed penalty. There were also two investigations conducted against clubs!

35 YEARS AGO – 1985

Collegians won their first game for some time when they beat Uni Blues 18.11 to 9.6 at the Harry Trott. Collegians began to control the game in the second quarter, adding 8 goals of which Tony Baum kicked 4. Tim Bennett played in the ruck, rested in defence and was a very valuable player for the Purple and gold. The Blues had Tyquin as an effective forward, he kicked 6, Ashton and Salinger were good defenders for the Blues.

Caulfield Grammarians (top) continued their good form in B Section with a big win over St Kilda CBC (third), 21.19 to 7.13. Caulfield led from start to finish and they had plenty of options in the avenue to goal with Warwick Watson, Ray Berzins and Phil Callil and with the regular‘feed’from Chris Stone and John Kanis. Charlie Capiron and Mark Gillan were two who strived to keep the Saints in the game. Best: Gregor, Nalder, Watson (4), Kanis, Fish, Stone (Caulfield) and Capiron, Gillan, Berenger, Boyd, Latham, B Jones (St Kilda).

45 YEARS AGO – 1975

There was not one undefeated team left in the competition after Monash Whites lost to Bulleen United by 25 points. Spooner, Hilton, and Mayne were nominated as the best for Bulleen.

Bottom team in A Section, Geelong, yet to win a game, almost caused the upset of the round when they ran the leaders, St Bernards, to a goal. This was easily Geelong’s best performance for the season. It had been close all day and the lead changed constantly. Best: Burgin, Drennan, Slater (5), Snowden, Wade, King (St Bern) and Davis (3), Ross, Tucker (6), Paulke, Wilson, Allden (Geel).

The featured amateur player of the round was Old Trinity’s Bill Peers. His photograph showed Bill in Victorian kit, his slight athletic frame had carried him for 55 amateur games to date. But he had certainly made an impact in his relatively brief career, straight into Old trinity’s senior team from school and winner of the best first year player. Bill went on to win the best and fairest in the following season and represented Victoria.

The VAFA umpires held a‘Sports Day’with stars being Geoff Kelly (Squash), Simon Marks (Tennis Singles) and Phil Rowell and Cary Nichol (tennis doubles).

Kevin Kinlock, captain of Brunswick’s 1970 D Section premiership recorded his 300th game.

55 YEARS AGO – 1965

Kooyong had almost secured their ‘double chance’ in E Section when they defeated AJAX, albeit narrowly, 11.7 to 10.8. Best: O’Halloran, McColl, Coleman, Bartlett, E Lacey, G Pratt (Kooyong) and Nehl, Faganblatt, Merkel, Freeman, Synman, Goldfarb (AJAX).

The Club Histories section covered the life span of Power House Amateur Football Club from its beginnings in 1947 until the present. The actual Power House community organisation had commenced in 1929 when Lord Somers laid the foundation stones. By 1965 the football club was one of six sporting bodies under the Power House banner. Many successful community leaders had since emerged from this fine body.  The football club was under the coaching leadership of legends John McClure (Sens), Les Gordon (Res) and Ian Dakin (U19’s).

60 YEARS AGO – 1960

B Section leaders, De La Salle, lost their second successive game when they went down to Hampton Rovers who scored after the final siren to snatch victory. The Rovers had been down by 6 goals at half time. Best: C Adamson, F Adamson, McDonald (HR) and Watts, Compton, Hannaberry (DLS).

65 YEARS AGO – 1955

B Section leaders, Coburg, remained undefeated but did not have it all their own way against Collegians (equal 4th). Collegians had not scored  a  goal  at half time and with a score line of 6.9 to 0.7 against them, they rallied in the third term  with  three  goals to outscore Coburg then came home with a ‘rattling’ run in the last quarter for 5 goals. Despite all this Collegians just failed to snatch the game. The Collegians’ scribe includes these rather disparaging remarks ‘unfortunately we lost by two ‘fives’ – firstly by 5 minutes and secondly by a ‘bunch of fives’ on our winning half forward flank! Must have got a ‘bit willing’ as Coburg determined to preserve the unbeaten run!

100 games to Bernie Teague, De La Salle’s back pocket player and St Kilda CBOC farewelled three stalwarts, John Langley, Dennis O’Brien and Brian Sharkey, all leaving on a trip to Europe.

70 YEARS AGO – 1950

Going for their 12th successive victory in A Section, Ormond stumbled at the hands of Old Scotch who out marked, outpaced, and therefore outplayed the ladders leaders 9.13 to 8.12. Best: Geer, Bate, Morone (OS) and K Robinson, Rundle, Hardy (Orm).

In B Section, Collegians inflicted the first defeat on Commonwealth Bank 10.18 to 8.13. Best: Brian Judd, Warren Judd, Greg Buckeridge and David Kerr (Coll) and Ted Thomas, Alan Shiel, Ian Bailey and Alan Kirby (CB).