R7 2023 | Reserves vs Brunswick

Traditional rivals and fellow top-four contenders Brunswick came to the spiritual home of the VAFA, the Woodfull-Miller Oval, to do battle with the Reserves in a match where both teams were looking to continue recent strong form.

Coming out of the gate, scoring opportunities were hard to come by in the morning sun, as both teams fought hard to defend their goals. Key defender Shannon Keough, in his 150th game for the Unicorns, set the tone for the rest of the team, imperious in the air. A total of seven scoring opportunities ended in a 2.3-15 return for the Unicorns, and just two points for the visitors.

The second quarter was a free-flowing affair, as the tempo increased with excellent interior movement from midfielders Rob Rae and Anthony Horton. Brunswick kept in touch, kicking the largest quarter total of any team for the match (4.1-25), as the game fluctuated with both sides holding the ascendancy for periods. At the half, the lead was shortened to nine points.

The Unicorns have typically come out of main break with a strong desire to win the third quarter, and it was no exception here. Some excellent all-around performances from Alex Mourtikas up front and Charles Pearson down back highlighting a tightly contested period, but one which gave the hosts a 17-point (7.8-50 to 5.3-33) buffer going into the final stretch of play.

The strength of Brunswick’s second quarter faded out, kicking only 2.1-15 for the entire second half. Despite some slightly inaccurate goal kicking, the Unicorns kicked ahead in the last, and won the game by a handy 31 points.

Defender Shannon Keough celebrates his 150th game milestone. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.

Final Score: MHSOB: 10.11-71 defeated Brunswick: 6.4-40

Goal Kickers: A. Mourtikas 2, J. Cusack 2, D. Owens, T. Raymond, N. Harrison, T. Golz, A. Horton, N. Campbell

Best Players: S. Keough, A. Horton, G. Beet, R. Rae, C. Pearson, J. Growse