Rovers break hoodoo as Nodders flip the script from opening round

Hugh MacLean

Mazenod and Marcellin opened their accounts for 2022, and Parkdale Vultures began their tenure in Premier C with a tenacious, but ultimately unsuccessful display against one of the division’s heavy hitters.  It was truly a fascinating round two.

If Mazenod were a little disappointing against Ormond in round one, they were seriously impressive on their home deck in round two.  Old Geelong travelled to Central Reserve keen on redemption after being put to the sword by Monash the week before, and immediately took the game to their hosts, with only a greater efficiency in front of goal giving the Nodders a quarter time lead.  This all changed in the second quarter as Mazenod took control, kicking five goals to only one reply in establishing a handy 23-point half time advantage.  Thus Mazenod knew that they only had to go goal for goal to complete their victory, and this they were able to do in the second half.  Old Geelong was only able to reduce the deficit by six points as the locals eased to a 17-point victory.  Jack Caspersz kicked four goals and Tom Riley three for Mazenod, for whom Sam Michael and Peter Rozinidis were winners on the day.  Jack Sheridan continued his good early season form for Old Geelong, as did Lochie Radcliffe.

The young Hampton Rovers unit broke a club hoodoo with a convincing victory over Old Ivanhoe; a win that could have been greater still had not their accuracy in front of goal deserted them through the middle of this match.  Long-time club watchers were unable to recall the last time that Rovers came away from Chelsworth Park with the points, but if this piece of history overawed them, they certainly didn’t let it show, taking a one-point advantage from the first term.  The game could have been over and done with at the main break had not Hampton kicked only four goals from their fifteen second quarter shots.  As it was, a 29-point break was too much for Old Ivanhoe to reel in as the Rovers runners did not let up for the whole afternoon.  Rovers’ return of 8.11 for the second half saved Old Ivanhoe from a complete rout; mind you, the Grammarians were inaccurate themselves for the second week running.  Hampton Rovers ended up delighted to remain undefeated with a 58-point triumph.  Josh McPherson kicked three for the winners, for whom Christian Carnovale and Max Coughlin were best.  Luke Scuderi with three goals tried hard for Old Ivanhoe, as did Nick Reeves-Smyth and Hamish Matheson.

Ormond assumed control early against Parkdale Vultures and never let it go in this clash at EE Gunn Reserve, where 18 of the 23 goals for the day came at the scoring end.  Ormond had the advantage in the first term and used it wisely, kicking well to position and finishing in deadly fashion in front of goal.  Seven goals to one in the first term could have been fatal for the Vultures boys, but they worked hard to reduce the deficit, halving it by half time.  Parkdale needed to reduce the damage against the wind in the third quarter, and they did this relatively effectively to turn for home five goals down.  This Ormond unit however are battle-hardened and don’t give up these leads easily, and on this occasion were able to hold Parkdale at arm’s length to score a 17-point win.  Tom Buckley backed up his solid round one form with three goals for Ormond, as did Zach Benson.  Jack Alnwick and Luke Bailey were amongst the Vultures best.

Monash Blues scored a relatively routine ten-goal win over UHS-VU, who stuck within striking distance of their highly fancied opponents until half time before being overrun in the third and fourth quarters.  Whilst Monash won all four quarters of the match, they only took a three-goal advantage to the main break.  However they flexed their muscle after a few stirring words from the coaching staff, kicking four goals to one in the third quarter and a further six in the last.  Nick Darling kicked four for the victors, whilst Harrison and Thomas Rocke worked hard for UHS-VU in a losing cause.

Old Mentonians shocked Marcellin with five goals to none with the breeze in the opening stanza, and were able to limit the damage when Marcellin had the advantage to go to half time eleven points to the good.  It was the third quarter though where Marcellin were able to win this one.  Marcellin limited Old Mentonians to 1.6 whilst kicking 2.1 themselves to go to three-quarter time only ten points down.  Points on the board, of course, always bring their own pressure, but Marcellin were able to deliver the coup-de-grace with four goals to one in the last term to run over the top of the game Panthers by nine points.  Daniel Cullinan was a consistent winner for Marcellin, whilst Stuart Harris was Old Mentonians best for the second week running.