R11 2024 | Reserves vs Aquinas
The Reserves celebrate another hard-fought win over Aquinas. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.
Off the back of a convincing win last round against St Marys Salesian, MHSOBFC made their way back home for their final game before the mid season bye against Aquinas. The two teams had had vastly contrasting seasons, with the Unicorns sitting second on the table, and their opponents second last. The two teams had met once prior this season, with the green, maroon & black winning at Aquinas College by 30 points.
In decidedly winter-like conditions, the teams stepped out in the rain onto the Woodfull-Miller Oval to begin proceedings. Eager to begin, Dinuk Epa popped up for a neat mark and conversion from close in to get the Unicorns on the board. Despite the conditions, the home team moved the ball effectively across the field, Luke Stone in particular getting busy early to great benefit, including a strong intercept grab and a classy on-the-run major from the forward 50 arc. The repeated pressure efforts of the entire team, and the cool heads of their back end, Aditya Munukutla in particular with multiple contested grabs, limited their opposition to just one goal for the term. Complemented by multiple goals from the small forwards and midfielders (including a snag on return for Allen Joseph), the home side brought with them a 29-point buffer at the quarter time break 5.5-35 to 1.0-6.
Aquinas came out of the break the stronger team, with textbook forward forays and countless pressure efforts to try to stem the flow of the game. It was notable that it did not translate to the scoreboard, but it did succeed in stifling the flow of scoring for the home side. The Unicorns pushed hard for their reward, Billy Mullin catapulting himself into contests and the rebounding attempts thwarted by stoic defending (co-captain Orlando Seelander most notably), as play lodged itself firmly in the Unicorns’ half. Continuing his spell up forward, captainTayler Raymond asserted himself late, with a spell including an imperious fend off, a strong overhead grab in front of the big sticks, and a major to rouse the slightly dampened Unicorns faithful. Trudging off to the warmth of the changerooms, the home side held a 35-point margin, 6.6-36 to 1.1-7.
The Reserves’ interim “gaffer” (Head Coach), Shannon Keough, implored his charges to impose themselves on the game in the third term, and arrest any momentum Aquinas had gained from the stalemate of the prior period of play. Whilst the position of play was fixed in their forward half and the Unicorns were able to have numerous chances to pile on the points, they had a mixed bag in front of goals, partly due to the less-than-ideal conditions making it tougher going than in actuality. Max Nash showed some great moments, including a deftly executed spin through oncoming traffic, and Billy Mullin kept the energy up at full forward. but it was Dinuk Epa who shone the brightest, with a silky snap and a sliding mark deep in the forward line to add to his ever growing season tally. Jordan Compte embodied the effort required, winning a 3-on-1 contest to quash a promising forward foray for Aquinas, and only one quality contested mark and set shot from 50 metres out troubled the scorers for the away side.
The final term began with a 52-point lead to the home side, and it was the catalyst for putting the foot down. Aaron Turner kicked his second major with a strong mark deep in the 50, and Billy Mullin finally saw reward for his efforts, kicking two goals. The final term was a credit to the endeavour of the whole side, with four quarters of effort and follow up pressure providing the framework. The Unicorns stampeded home in the wet, with four premiership points and an 87-point victory, 14.17-101 to 2.2-14.
Sitting a game ahead of third placed St Marys (but two behind undefeated Brunswick atop the ladder), the Unicorns will stay at home after the mid-winter bye to welcome sixth placed Hawthorn.
A final note, this game was sadly marked as the last for now for ruckman Fraser McGlashan. Despite only picking up a Sherrin football this year, Fraser has been a wonderful servant of the side, as a player on the field and as a member of the community off it, and the club wishes him all the best – he’s always welcome back anytime at the High.
Final Score: MHSOBFC 14.17-101 defeated Aquinas 2.2-14
Goal Kickers: Dinuk Epa 3, Mason Fennessy-Kent 2, James Lake 2, Billy Mullin 2, Aaron Turner 2, Allen Joseph, Taylor Raymond, Luke Stone
Best Players: Fraser McGlashan, Mason Fennessy-Kent, James Lake, Dinuk Epa, Aditya Munukutla, Luke Stone