R14 2023 | Reserves at South Melbourne Districts

Sam Hodder celebrates one of his three goals for the game. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.

The Reserves made their way to Lindsay Hassett Oval to take on second placed South Melbourne Districts, a game with big finals implications for both sides. 

The first quarter brought an intense battle, with the midfield units battling against each other for first use and scoring opportunities tight at both ends. Of note, Alistair Rogers continued his impressive season, dominating with his physicality and repeat efforts. A meagre four set shots for each side, South Melbourne kicked truer to lead by five points at the first break, 3.1-19 to 2.2-14.

The scoring continued to be a difficult undertaking in the second quarter, as both sides contended with fierce winds and fiercer opposition pressure. Evan Riddle was tireless on the wing, with and without the ball, and Sam Hodder was impressive up front, kicking a sublime banana goal in traffic. The Unicorns managed to quash South Melbourne’s quarter with the wind, and brought a slender lead into half time, 4.3-27 to 3.5-23.

In a hotly contested game, the onus was on the Unicorns to utilise their favourable end in the third quarter. Some excellent work from Xabier Twyman, ever present and full of quality, was instrumental, as was the continued efforts of Matt Acciarito up forward. With their most productive term of the game, MHSOB extended their lead to 16 at the final break, but the game was no foregone conclusion, as South Melbourne had the wind for the final quarter, and would come out ready to give it their all.

A tug of war became a battle of attrition, as MHSOB sent men back, determined to outlast South Melbourne. Almost ceding the lead with minutes to go, some excellent movement up the wing from Nicholas Campbell ended up in the hands of Ben Britbart, with the crafty forward kicking true with minutes to go to give the Unicorns a two goal buffer. The opposition never stopped, to their credit, and made the score a one score game with a minute to go, but to the delight of the travelling fans, the Unicorns held on to record a memorable victory by six points, fuelling their belief for finals.

Final Score: MHSOB: 9.9-63 d South Melbourne Districts 8.9-57

Goal Kickers: S. Hodder 3, M. Acciarito 2, J. Cusack 2, B. Britbart, M. Fennessy-Kent

Best Players: A. Rogers, E. Riddle, S. Hodder, M. Acciarito, X. Twyman, J. Bourke