Seniors Round 2 2021
Round 2: MHSOBFC vs Old Paradians
Senior football returned to the Woodfull-Miller Oval after an 18 month absence in Round 2 and the Unicorns were keen to rebound after a close loss in Round 1. The Unicorns faced up against Old Paradians who had made the trip to the home of Amateur Football. It was a fast and frenetic start with both teams wrestling to take the early momentum in what was a great early season test. Larry ‘handsome’ Hanley got the Unicorns on the board early in what looked to be an ominous sign of the dangerous forward line for the Unicorns. After the first, Paradians responded quickly. The Unicorns managed to control the first quarter through some quality ruck work from Hellier and Suhr, strong clearance work lead by Danks, and goals from the Tran brothers and the big boys Hanley and Wijayakumara.
¼ Time: MHSOBFC 5-4-34, Old Paradians 3-3-21.
The second quarter opened with an exchange of goals each way, Hanley, Old Paradians, Hellier (after an enormous high mark), Paradians. It looked to be a tight tussle until the game broke open half way through the second quarter. The best way to describe the onslaught that proceeded is as follows: Wijayakumara, Tran, Tran (pretty sure he kicked it from the train line), Wijayakumara, H. Radcliffe-Smith, Hanley. The Unicorns hit half time having kicked 7 straight and 9 to 2 goals in the second quarter, opening up a commanding lead.
½ Time: MHSOBFC 13-6-84, Old Paradians 5-6-36.
The third quarter started the way the second finished as the Unicorns were first to hit the scoreboard again. The Unicorns midfield were proving dominant and the experience of Lester was coming to the fore with him playing a commanding role in establishing the defensive zones post-clearance. Danks continued to rack up the clearances, and the Unicorns won the third quarter, albeit by a smaller margin than the second.
¾ Time: MHSOBFC 17-7-109, Old Paradians 8-7-55
The last quarter was as much about preservation and finishing things off than anything else. A professional Unicorns outfit continued to play to their structures, but the sting had clearly gone out of the game. In his second game of Aussie Rules, Hanley racked up 5 goals (unfortunately 6 is a bag for first year players), and Wijayakumara kicked truly to notch 6 sausages (unfortunately for someone with Ashan’s experience, 7 is what constitutes a bag). Jimmy Tran was instrumental in the forward half all day and also managed to jag 5 goals. Something he assured this reporter that he has done “sooo many times before” but this reporter is familiar with the tall tales of James Tran.
Full Time: MHSOBFC 20-12-132, Old Paradians 10-9-69
Goal Kickers: A. Wijayakumara 6, L. Hanly 5, J. Tran 5, A. Tran, H. Radcliffe-Smith, W. Hellier, L. Dowling
Best Players: S. Danks, J. Tran, A. Wijayakumara, L. Hanly, W. Hellier, B. Cook