MHSOB & Whitefriars boost flag credentials – Division 2 Men’s Round 17 Review

Elsternwick 11.10 (76) def by MHSOB 15.13 (103)

MHSOB continued their red-hot form as they look to carry their end of season momentum into the finals. The Unicorns defeated Elsternwick by 27 points.

Neither side was able to pull away in the first quarter, with Elsternwick narrowly leading by seven points at the first change.

“Elsternwick had our measure marginally, and I was rapt with the desperation of our backline… They were quicker getting it forward and we probably made poor decisions as we hadn’t adjusted to the ground dimensions.”  MHSOB coach Sean Lester said.

The second quarter was similar, with neither side able to break away as both team’s kicked three goals apiece, giving the hosts a five-point lead at half-time.

“In the second quarter, I think both sides settled into their groove without wanting to cough up too much to the opposition,” Lester said.

“We weren’t kicking the footy very well, but at least we were getting hands on it. Dirty entries are better than no entries at all.”

At half-time, Lester asked his side to improve their contest and composure, which they did, helping them kick five goals to Elsternwick’s three as the Unicorns led by seven at three-quarter-time.

“At half-time, we spoke about contest and composure,” Lester said. “In the third, we got on top in both those areas, which meant better entries and scoreboard pressure.”

MHSOB continued their dominance in the final term as they kicked the first five goals of the quarter to seal their 13^th win of the season.

“In the second half, they used the ball more effectively and managed to control territory… No excuses. We were beaten by the better side on the day,” Elsternwick coach Oliver Gildea said.

David Convery was a positive for the hosts as he kept star Unicorns forward Luca Di Lallo goalless for the first time this season. 

Elsternwick must win their final game and rely on MHSOB beating Canterbury to qualify for finals.

Canterbury 9.16 (70) def by Whitefriars 14.15 (99)

A dominant final term from Whitefriars secured their 13^th win of the season as Canterbury will need to win in the final round to secure finals.

The sides traded goals for most of the first quarter as Canterbury took a seven-point advantage into quarter-time.

“The difference in the first was probably just us figuring out how to play on their ground… It’s narrow and in an absolute mess, other than that we were all over them in every aspect.” Whitefriars coach Andrew Daou said.

Whitefriars were able to edge in front in the second quarter as they kicked three goals to one; however, Canterbury were not without opportunities as they kicked seven behinds for the term.

The Friars led by three points at half-time. “We were right on top… They kicked a lot of long and wide behinds. Our mids and wings really did a mountain of work to clog up the central space for Canterbury to not have good looks,” said Daou.

Canterbury responded in the third as they kicked four goals to three, which gave the hosts a four-point lead at the final change.

 “They definitely came out and threw everything at us to try and break the game open,” Daou said.

“We weathered the storm and were able to even the quarter out knowing we are really fit and they will struggle to keep up with us in the fourth.”

Whitefriars dominated the last kicking five goals to none as they ran out 29-point winners. Daou was particularly pleased with his side’s defensive effort in the last.

“Our front half pressure was immense and brutal, something they couldn’t handle and something we have worked really hard on mastering… “This allowed us to lock the ball in our half for the entirety of the quarter.”

Power House 15.16 (106) def South Melbourne 12.6 (78)

Power House cemented their spot in finals as they defeated a valiant South Melbourne outfit.

The Bloods started the game strongly with captain Tom Foley kicking three of their six for the quarter as they led by 10 points at quarter-time.

“The first quarter was a bit of a shootout, not a lot of pressure on the ball carrier with both sides having plenty of chances,” Power House coach Nick Cox said.

Power House responded tremendously in the second term. They booted six goals to one to spark a 34-point swing, entering half-time with a 24-point lead.

“We tightened up in the midfield in the second quarter and put them under pressure, we probably didn’t get full value on the scoreboard from it unfortunately,” Cox said.  

The Bloods responded in the third through their own 28-point turnaround as they kicked five goals to none.

Power House had their chances in the third; however, they could not convert as they only registered five behinds.

“South came out really strong in the third and our pressure dropped off and they were good enough to take advantage of it,” Cox said.

Power House kicked two goals in the first minute of the last to retake the lead and they didn’t stop there.

The hosts would then go on to kick three more while holding South Melbourne goalless to secure a 28-point win and a spot in finals.

Aquinas 6.10 (46) def by Therry Penola 9.16 (70)

Therry Penola recorded their seventh win of the season as they defeated Aquinas by 24 points.

The visitors started strongly, kicking five goals to one in the opening term as they led by 27 points at the first change.

 “We started well with plenty of forward 50 entries… “Our midfield led by Cairan Wrigglesworth, who had lots of it, and Flynn Harvey’s ball use was impressive in wet conditions,” Therry Penola coach John Tate said.

Aquinas were more competitive in the second quarter, kicking three goals to two as the Therry Penola lead was cut to 21 points at half-time.

“We started to control the ball a bit better and play the way we wanted to… Conditions weren’t the greatest, but we found a way to break through playing our way,” Aquinas coach Josh Quinlan said.”

Aquinas struggled to chip into Therry Penola’s lead in the third as the visitors kicked two goals to one, with Aquinas struggling to get reward for effort.

“To be honest, I felt the game was pretty even. We would start the quarters slow then come back late in every quarter. I kept saying to our assistant we just needed a late goal to get reward for our effort,” Quinlan said.

Aquinas once again struggled to score in the last as they kicked the only goal of the final term as Therry Penola ran out 24-point winners.

“Can’t fault effort, but we are just lacking that four-quarter effort and that’s been the story of our year, unfortunately,” Quinlan said.

The loss means Aquinas will finish bottom of the ladder.

West Brunswick 10.9 (69) def North Brunswick 7.8 (50)

West Brunswick recorded their eighth win of the season as they held off North Brunswick.

West Brunswick kicked two early goals in the first, before both teams struggled to convert as they kicked a combined eight behinds for the quarter.

The Bulls managed to steer one goal through, as the hosts led by eight points at quarter-time. North Brunswick’s accuracy in front of goal improved in the second as they kicked four goals to two, giving the visitors a two-point lead at the main break.

The away side continued their momentum early in the third as they kicked the first of the term before the Magpies regained the momentum as they kicked the last two goals of the term.

The hosts led by four points at the final change. West Brunswick kicked three goals to none in the final term to capitalise on their late third-quarter momentum as the Magpies ran out 19-point winners.

Jacob Hyslop, Nicholas Traill, William Dillon, Brock Ward, Conor Fowler and Mitch Graham were among the best for West Brunswick.

Ed Lee, Cameron Lee, Jonty Trotter, Luke Russell, Zachary Oliver and Oliver Pescott were named best afield for the visitors.

Whilst still mathematically alive, North Brunswick will need a miracle to avoid relegation.