R2 2023 | U20s at Old McKinnon/Glen Eira

Under 20s playing against Old McKinnon/Glen Eira

Round 2 brought forth one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the year for the U/20s versus arch rival Old McKinnon/Glen Eira. The game lived up to expectations, with both teams playing fiercely and the crowd was vocal in their support of the home side, adding to the intensity of the game. The first quarter saw both teams score only two goals each, with neither team able to establish a clear advantage due to hard tackles and a lack of momentum. The Gryphons led by eight points.

At the start of the second quarter, the home side was in control and managed to score two goals within the first two minutes. However, the Unicorns quickly responded by playing a beautiful brand of football that exemplified all the hard work they put in during preseason. With hard two-way running, high-pressure acts, and effective entries inside the forward 50, the Unicorns went on a run of five goals, gaining control of the game and the quarter. Debutants William Young (‘Youngy’) and Isaac Woodhouse (‘Woody Jnr’) both scored their first goals for the Unicorns, leaving us 22 points up at half time.

Unfortunately, the third quarter was challenging with just four players left on the bench, allowing the Gryphons to regain momentum and score two goals to our one in the quarter, cutting the lead back to just seven points.

The fourth quarter began with the home side closing the gap to just ten points with 20 minutes remaining in the game. However, the Unicorns responded with another surge that led them to hold the Gryphons goalless for the remainder of the game. Forward Saravanan Sritharan emerged as a star player, kicking two goals and showcasing impressive skills with multiple hangers. The game concluded with a fairy tale ending as debutant forward Ewen Kossyvas kicked the ball to vice-captain Ron Shamrak (a former student at McKinnon) who slotted a goal on the siren. The victory marked the end of a losing streak dating back to July 2021 and kickstarted a promising 2023 campaign.

Final Score: MHSOB: 10.20-80 defeated Old McKinnon/Glen Eira: 8.4-52

Goal Kickers: S. Tralaggan 2, S. Sritharan 2 , F. Kilgour 2,  C. Witt, R. Shamrak, G. Wines-Winch, I. Woodhouse, W. Young

Best Players: G. Wines-Winch, C. Witt, M. Giaracca, S. Sritharan, T. Eberbach, A. Pacak