R16 2024 | Reserves at Bulleen Templestowe

Joseph Pious gets his kick clear before being tackled. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.

MHSOBFC journeyed out to a sunny Ted Ajani Reserve in fine form, off the back of a convincing 47-point win over Elsternwick, as the push for a top two finish intensified with only three games to go before finals. Their opponent, Bulleen-Templestowe, whilst not in the finals picture, were trounced by the Unicorns earlier in the year, and despite not registering a single point in the last encounter, were eager to change the outcome this time around, on their home deck.

The first term was a strong indication of the Unicorns’ ambitions for the year, pushing hard from the first bounce to distance themselves on the scoreboard, and on the ladder. James Lake, seemingly with the ball on a string, continued his dominance against his arch-nemeses, kicking two majors, en-route to a lazy seven for the match, and returning Unicorn Matthew Acciarito was a force, and was a great part of the visitor’s ability to affect the quality of return from Bulleen. The Unicorns ran into the first break holding a 31-point buffer, 5.3-33 to 0.2-2.

The second term was consistent with the game’s play, as the Unicorns extended their advantage. Will Suhr picked up his first, and Parker Vize finished a sublime passage with conviction (though, sadly, he and William Colman’s days were ended prematurely as both suffered injuries). In spite of the diminished rotations, the Unicorns pushed to the half time siren, a commanding 10.5-65 to 0.4-4 scoreline.

Perhaps only as a nod to the high expectations of MHSOBFC, Bulleen-Templestowe kicked true for a solitary major in the third term, but the displays from them, in particular Chris Wright, were an encouraging sight for staunch opposition to come in the following weeks. The scorer was consistently troubled by the Unicorns, Petro Pirozek and, again, James Lake chief architects, but wayward kicking somewhat curtailed what the margin could have been at three quarter time, a 78-point margin (13.12-90 to 1.6-12).

The legs began to protest just a little louder in the final term for the Unicorns, but nothing should be taken away from Bulleen-Templestowe, who played some good football to win the quarter. Even still, there were moments of quality, as Alistair Rogers and Bryce Kennett stood tall, as the final siren brought to an end to proceedings, with MHSOBFC labouring to a 15.13-103 to 5.9-39 victory.

MHSOBFC can look forward to two cracking fixtures to close out the regular season, top two all but secured, against ladder leaders Brunswick away at Gillon Oval, and a final round match up against third placed St Mary’s Salesian.

Final score: MHSOBFC 15.13-103 defeated Bulleen Templestowe 5.9-39

Best Players: James Lake, Matthew Acciarito, Alistair Rogers, Chris Wright, Bryce Kennett, Petro Pirozek

Goals: James Lake 7, Will Suhr 3, Byron Gunn 2, Matthew Acciarito, Alistair Rogers, Parker Vize