R12 2024 | Seniors vs Hawthorn
It was a grand occasion down on the fabled grass of the Woodfull-Miller Oval; a pivotal clash with Hawthorn, alongside no less than three premiership reunions as the main show of a MHSOBFC triple-header. A large crowd turned out to support the side, who were treated to a classic high-scoring affair paired with some of the best catering the VAFA has ever seen, courtesy of a luncheon catered by club sponsor Union House.
With the sun shining, the arm wrestle began with ruckman Brayden Swenson kicking things off in the middle. The young star competed hard through the muddy centre, allowing the midfield to find their footing and deliver the ball with precision to the forwards. Despite the early onslaught, the Hawks' defence stood tall, and their rebound run enabled the visitors to put a couple of early scores on the board. The Unicorns adjusted, hitting back through Matt ‘Pez’ Periera and Liam Littore, both showing signs of big days to come. At the first break, the MHSOBFC had wrestled back momentum, leading by seven points.
Unfortunately, MHSOBFC saw that lead quickly snapped up as Hawthorn found ascendancy through the middle and capitalised on 10 minutes of dominance. Despite this setback, the experienced defenders in the mix helped the Unicorns arrest the Hawks' momentum. The dynamic duo of Nick Mckinnon and Hugh Radcliffe-Smith hurt Hawthorn with slick ball movement and line-breaking runs, culminating in a couple of terrific goals. A highlight of the game was WA import Riley Maringoni's snap in front of his visiting family, marking a win for the good guys. These goals kept the Unicorns within touch, entering the halftime break down by 14 points.
Mathew Pereira takes another mark on the way to 10 goals for the game. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.
Unlike the supporters on the upper deck of the Unicorn Club, who were tucking into pulled pork burgers throughout the day, key forward Pez was hungry as the second half got underway. He took control in the third quarter, dominating on the lead as the team targeted him time and again. He kicked the Unicorns back into the game with four goals in the third quarter alone, finishing just short of a bag with ten goals for the day. It must have been a great feeling to have a great target inside 50, evidenced as one MHS defender enjoyed calling for a bit of ‘me time’ having laced him with another forward 50 entry. The unsurprising culprit, Sam Hayes, could be forgiven for getting carried away in celebration, as Pez kicked true and ensured the Unicorns were back in front, leading by three points at the final break.
Goals were traded by both sides early in the final quarter, with Will Hellier showcasing his aerial dominance and Robert “The Bushranger” Rae through his elite running capacity, as the contest intensity built to an all time high. The Hawks found a purple patch and suddenly took the lead by two goals. Despite the roaring crowd and the defiant efforts of the boys, the Unicorns were unable to peg back this margin, with the final score of 100-114 reflecting the fast-paced nature of the game throughout.
Despite the loss, MHSOBFC sits just one match outside of the finals. With the team's connection building every week, there are still big expectations for the remainder of the season.
Final Scores: MHSOBFC 15.10-100 defeated by Hawthorn 17.12-114
Goal Kickers: Mathew Pereira 10, Liam Littore 3, Riley Maringoni, Nick McKinnon
Best Players: Mathew Pereira, Nick McKinnon, Will Hellier, Sean Lester, Brayden Swenson, Hugh Radcliffe-Smith