Reserves Round 1 2022
MHSOBFC 11.16-82 vs OLD Grammarians 3.7-25
After a strong pre-season, the boys were back. The change rooms had a sense of pure nerves and anticipation. After turbulent years due to COVID, this year feels different. And it started today.
We had a few debutants in Taylor, James, Harry and G-Train, who were eager to get started.
The first quarter started with a misty rain and a slight wind. The ball was like a bar of soap. Debutant Tofu Taylor played his first AFL game in the ruck and trusted his midfielders to lead. And they did. Stand out efforts from MFK, JRS & Riddler managed to handle the slippery pill and gave some good entries into the forward 50. One of which from JRS landed on the 45 to Tofu. Not knowing what to do next, he decides to walk back and try his hand at a drop punt. Kicks it. Sinks it. Goes absolutely wild.
With the Corns kicking 4-0 in Q1, Q2 started with urgency to build a genuine score. Yarra weren’t going down without a fight. The coaches gave Dish, the fearless center-half back the task of tagging their key forward. And didn’t he ever. I’m talking spoils, tackles, and constant pressure. This stopped all momentum. The Corns had 9 shooting opportunities with a very slippery ball got them up by 20 at the half-time break.
The coaches preached ‘Chase Joy’ at the break. An important message that will carry throughout the season, which carried into the 3rd quarter. With goal celebrations left and right, the lads helping each other up and communicating impeccably. I can only imagine the spectators were thinking, “The boys are on here”. The final moments of the 3rd quarter finished with the Grammarians dropping their heads, with the Corns taking advantage and finishing off with a goal from the pocket right the siren. The boys go wild.
Joy, at this point, is well and truly being chased.
At the break, the focus was a strong 5 minutes. Set the tone and ride out the game. With goals from Orlando and a brilliant play from Tofu & MFK, the game was ours. At this point, the mammoth efforts from the backline have been on well and truly been on show. After Dish moved to his tag and with our defenders controlling the back half, the Grammarians managed only one goal after quarter time.
Amazing start to the season. This is going to be a great year.
Final Score: MHSOB 11.16 - 82 def Yarra Old Grammarians 3.7 - 25
Goal Kickers: E. Riddle 2, O. Seelander 2, T. Raymond 2, M. Fennessy-Kent 2, J. Ahearn, A. Mourtikas, J. Cusack
Best Players: M. Fennessy-Kent, T. Raymond, E. Riddle, C. Pearson, J. Radcliffe-Smith, A. Munukutla