Finals Round 1 Match Review, 2022
Senior Men's Match Report
Brought to you by William Buck
Old Haileybury 2.10-22
University Blacks 2.5-17
Final match report for the year and perhaps the best circumstances we could ask for in which to write it. What an incredible effort from the boys for the entire 4 quarters against a very physical Uni Blacks side who were always going to be very very difficult to beat in those conditions and that proved to be the case.
The game started them having what has traditionally been the scoring end at Elsternwick park (all meant nothing in the appalling conditions!) we kicked the first goal of the game via Munners but the conditions did not allow us to kick anymore. We did the bulk of the attacking but with the conditions as they were the scoreboard did not reflect our dominance.
The second quarter started with Blacks bouncing back to kick a goal early in the quarter when ball was at least able to be kicked with conditions proving to be almost impossible for the players. Blacks seemed to have the game on their terms being able to kick down the line and take contested marks but as conditions worsened yet again they struggled to score and we defended really well and went in to half time 4 pts in front.
The third quarter started on what can only be described as a “slurry” of a ground. We kicked our second goal from a free kick to Brede Seccull after some great pressure from all of our forwards which resulted in Brede intercepting the ball and copping a high tackle. As Brede always does, he stepped up and kicked the goal – a badly needed one, Blacks were able to get one back later in the quarter to make it pretty tight at 3 quarter time.
The last quarter was an incredible effort from all the boys and it was remarkably where our fitness and desire won out, we kicked 4 behinds to nothing, which for all intents and purpose were like goals and both teams shivered their way through the final quarter if footy for the year, it was a tough quarter with repeat stoppages and hard tackling from both sides. Our skill started to show as we were able to get the ball to the outside of the packs and actually move it pretty quickly and we were unlucky at times not to kick goals rather than points. It was herculean effort from all the boys and we are immensely proud of them all. The final margin, 5 pts!
It would also be remiss not acknowledge the incredible effort of the Uni Blacks boys on the day to be in both grand finals.
Special thanks to Mick and committee for all of their work this year and to Stewey Loewe and Darren Seccull for all of their work this year, and not the least our volunteers. Our supporters and members this year have been great. A special thanks to the families of our players, coaches, officials and committee members who allow us to borrow them for the year.
It also needs to be acknowledged that were a number of very unlucky boys this year who showed a great deal of character in being part of the training squad and warm ups this finals series, I wont name names but they know who they are, they made an incredible contribution in 2022, premierships are the sun total of the actions and contibutions of many!
So next year we look to 2023 and Premier A, the pinnacle of the VAFA and look towards it with a quiet confidence. But for now………..its back to pub!