R17 2023 | Seniors vs Old Paradians

Tom Rendell runs out onto the ground before his final home game. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.

The penultimate round of the regular season was a week of mixed emotions for the MHSOB senior group. The deflation of having lost the previous week and possibility of playing finals being over meant this was on paper a dead rubber.

However, the thrill of another U20 debutant – James ‘Dimma’ Dimogotsi – making it six in total in this week’s side, contrasting with the sadness, love and pride when veteran Tom ‘Renners’ Rendell announced this would be his last game at the Woodfull-Miller Oval and would retire at season’s end after nearly two decades of service to the club, ensured there was plenty at stake.

Old Paradians had beaten us earlier in the year after leading for most of the day, so this was a chance to even the scoreboard. With the aforementioned milestones, it should’ve meant the Unicorns should’ve come out of the gates firing. We didn’t, and so trailed by 26 points at quarter time.

The margin stayed within four to six goals for most of the afternoon in front of a strong and vocal home crowd, largely full of the retiree’s family & friends. When Tom was swung forward and snagged a third quarter goal this brought a smile to everyone’s faces.

Our better players for the afternoon were Renners, skipper Julian Eimutis - continually pushing us forward with his stoppages work, Petro Pirozek - with another great midfield game, Hugh Radcliffe-Smith – giving us a different edge in the ruck, and Adam Pacak – an U20 across half back who has the calmness and decision making ability that’s ahead of his years.

The last quarter saw debutant Dimma jump in harm’s way a few times and pick himself up straight away, then show us his flashy pace to break lines and kick inside forward 50…where everybody seemed to be getting in Renners’ way as we tried to add to his goal tally. He snagged a second at the pavilion end and was rightly chaired off to everyone’s applause. 

Not a great day result wise, but tipping one that our retiree and debutant won’t forget.

Final Scores: MHSOB: 11.14-80 defeated by Old Paradians: 18.9-117

Goal Kickers: T. Rendell 2, L. Hanly 2, J. Eimutis, B. Cook, M. Fennessy-Kent, H. Radcliffe-Smith, P. Pirozek, L. Dowling, A. Mourtikas

Best Players: T. Rendell, J. Eimutis, P. Pirozek, H. Radcliffe-Smith, A. Pacak