R18 2024 | Reserves vs St Marys Salesian

The culmination of the 2024 regular season served up a tantalising fixture for the Division 2 Reserves die-hards, the second-placed Unicorns looking to solidify their finals credentials after a disappointing loss against ladder leaders Brunswick, and welcoming third-placed St Marys Salesian to the Woodfull-Miller Oval. 

With both sides separated by a solitary game and percentage, and a qualifying final (with the double chance that comes with it) against Brunswick on the line, both teams warmed up knowing they were needing to put it all out on the field for a result. St Marys came into the game upbeat after a 42-point win against Wattle Park, and the stakes were high as the teams met on the field for the opening bounce.

Seeking to reaffirm their quality, the Unicorns took to the game with a fiery intent, Will Suhr and William Coleman both prolific in the ruck, in concert with sustained follow up work at the drop of the ball. First rights to the ball was crucial in keeping the ball for the majority of the term in the MHSOB forward half, as Mason-Fennessy-Kent and Alistair Rogers were uncompromising at the coalface. Any defensive incursions were squashed by the back six, Luke Stone and Jarrod Growse ever reliable by foot, as the visitors were limited to a meagre return of 1.2-8 for the term. At the opposite end, the Unicorns forward line got busy, as some excellent delivery allowed Byron Gunn to mark and convert two early majors, and James Lake continued to impress, threading the needle on the boundary with ease. Sustained forward pressure gave more opportunity to the home side, as Dinuk Epa also continued his hot form, kicking one of his own. Upon the first quarter siren, the Unicorns walked off having built a 24-point lead, 5.2-32 to St Marys 1.2-8.

Angus Brookes kicks into the Unicorns forward line. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.

St Marys came out with a revised plan in the second term, adding an extra man behind the ball to seek a reprieve on the scoreboard, which worked, as the hosts took a return of 1.3-9 for the term, the major on the back of some exquisite clearance work on the wing and a pin point forward entry from Anthony Horton, obviously enjoying his moment up the ground as a half back flanker. St Mary’s forward entries were limited as the ball stayed within their defensive and middle thirds for the majority of play, Taylor Raymond imposing himself in their opportune moments to great effect, as well as the ever-reliable Gordon Beet emulating Hawks legend Josh Gibson with some timely third man up spoils and effective outlet kicks to relieve the pressure. The second term ended in somewhat of a stalemate as both teams held fast, MHSOBFC heading into the rooms with a hard-earned 6.5-41 to 2.3-15 scoreline.

The second half kept largely to the script of the second quarter, but the quality of the Unicorns’ midfield ball movement and the sustained pressure of the forward unit helped to ease the home side further towards victory. The intent of the Unicorns attacker was evident, as the forwards, most notably James Cusack, battled hard to contest forward entries, and the follow up work of Dinuk Epa provided him with his second of the game. With another two majors to James Lake (with a “measly” 46 majors for the regular season sitting him in third place moving into the finals series). With another set shot conversion from Byron Gunn, who seemingly had tied his laces up right in a surprisingly efficient day in front of the big sticks, the Unicorns hit the scoreboard accurately throughout, and eased their way to a 34-point buffer going into the final term, 9.6-60 to 5.11-26.

Well aware of the quality of their opponents, the Unicorns came out with purpose in the fourth quarter, looking to settle the encounter between the sides. James Cusack, seemingly in James Lake’s good graces, capitalised on the latter’s benevolence to kick one in the goal square, though Lake did take another for his troubles in the final term. Perhaps most enjoyable to see was Angus Brookes kicking his first of an injury plagued year, with a strong contested mark and bullet of a set shot from 40 metres out. At one point down to 16 on the field in the last, tired legs provided St Mary’s to have a more favourable time up front, however, errant goalkicking limited them to 2.3 for the final term. MHSOB returned the favour with 5.4-34 from their nine scoring opportunities, and the Unicorns left the field at the final whistle with a deserved 53-point victory.

With the victory securing second place to round out the 2024 regular season, the Unicorns look to return the favour from the week prior to Brunswick in the qualifying final, with the prospect of a week off before a grand Ffnal very much in the realms of possibility.

Final score: MHSOBFC 14.10-94 defeated St Marys Salesian 5.11-41

Best Players: Mason Fennessy-Kent, Will Suhr, Luke Stone, Byron Gunn, Anthony Horton, Jarrod Growse

Goals: Byron Gunn 4, James Lake 4, Dinuk Epa 3, Angus Brookes, James Cusack, Mason Fennessy-Kent