Semi Final 2024 | Thirds at Whitefriars
Fresh off their first finals win against Marcellin last week, MHSOBFC travelled to Donvale to take on Whitefriars, a team that has had their measure in recent encounters. The message to the group since Round 13 had been that each week was the equivalent of an elimination game. The Unicorns had stepped up and met every challenge that had come their way so far and this match was certainly no different.
The battle of the day was going to be in the middle with a strong starting group consisting of Jye Gillespie, Bryan Hernandez, and two of the most improved in Oliver Dark and John Crilly. Whitefriars jumped out of the blocks early with the first four scoring shots of the match before Jamie Shulman kicked the Unicorns’ first to put them back within three points.
Whitefriars managed to take hold of the match in the second quarter with five scoring shots to one, taking them out to a 37-point lead at halftime.The message at the break from coach James Yucel remained positive, with the player leaders emphasising the need to tighten up defensively so they could get back into the match.
The Unicorns showed the collective character to keep fighting and outscored Whitefriars in the third quarter. However, there was still too much work to do on the scoreboard and their opponents eventually ran out 64-point winners. The backline stood up ably, lead by Lucas Blatchford and Pat Bulford, however it was a battle against the sheer weight of the opposition’s forward 50m entries.
Despite the season ending earlier than hoped, the growth in the squad should be applauded. There were a number of new people who joined the club this season - some of whom had never played Australian Rules before - yet the quality of football improved immensely. The standard of the opposition was stronger than in prior years, and for the Thirds to have qualified for finals and won one is no mean feat. It certainly holds the Unicorns in good stead moving forward to next year.
Final score: MHSOBFC 3.4-22 defeated by Whitefriars 12.14-86
Best Players: Oliver Dark, Lucas Blatchford, Jye Gillespie, Adam Ashton, Pat Bulford, Bryan Hernandez
Goals: James Shulman 2, Billy Mullin