Round 9 Match Review, 2024

 

Senior Men's Match Report

Old Haileyburians     7.4     11.8     16.11     21.11 (137)

Old Camberwell        1.0       5.2          5.3         9.7   (61)

Goals: A.Stefanakis 8, J.Magner 5, C.Harrop 3, D.Seccull 2, J.Bell, B.Seccull, L.Vaughan

Best: A.Stefanakis, B.Seccull, H.Nosiara, B.Steele, N.Higgins, M.Rose

 

After a week off we were back into it for Round 9 as we hosted second place Old Camberwell.  With both teams sitting at 6-2 we were taking on another challenger who were looking to knock us off top spot.  With some VFL boys available we fielded our strongest team for the season. Our effort needed to match our talent and pleasingly that's what we got right from the start. ln the first quarter we were kicking to the scoring end and took our opportunities to set the game up and lead by 40 points at the first change.

The second term would be crucial as we were going into the breeze and we needed to keep pushing hard to pressure our opponents.  At the main break after both teams kicked four for the term we were leading by 42 points.  The chat in the rooms was that we didn't want to go away from how we play which is winning the contest and working hard to pressure OC when they have the ball.  Camberwell mixed a few things up to make it harder for us but we still increased our margin to 74 points.

The last quarter became a bit of a scrap as we ended up with a few injuries and had nobody left on the bench.  ln the end we were victorious by 76 points winning every quarter on the day.  A very pleasing result against a side that was in good form so far this season.

lndividually there were some stand outs in Andreas Stefanakis (8 goals), James Magner in his first game of the year with five goals and Charlie Harrop back from injury with three were a constant threat up forward.  ln the middle Belly & Trevo did a great job against a quality ruck. At ground level Brede, Gassy, Nos and Dre were fantastic at giving our forwards great looks. On the wings Rosey and Higgo worked their backsides off.  Down back, Will Paul in his first game for the year and Brodie Steele led the way.

We now move onto welcoming Beaumaris at home next week. Our group have not forgotten the loss we had earlier in the year to
them and will be looking to even up the ledger.

How the VAFA saw the match:

Daniel Ward’s Bloods, after beginning the season with losses to Old Trinity and Beaumaris, have peeled off seven wins in a row, this week belting Old Camberwell thanks to a forward line clinic from Andreas Stefanakis – but there’s a bit of contention around exactly how many goals the spearhead kicked.  “In the last quarter, he kicked one on his left, but Lach Vaughan got a boot on it on the line,” explained coach Ward, with vision unclear to whether Vaughan flicked Stefanakis’ high-arcing snap as it fell through the big sticks.  “If you ask ‘Dre,’ he kicked nine!”

Stefanakis – we’ll go with eight goals for the sake of argument – certifiably kicked six of his goals in the second half of an Old Haileybury romp, the Bloods enjoying a 21.11 (137) to 9.7 (61) win at home.  “(A) pleasing performance with our best side on paper all year,” said Ward, with James Magner (five goals), Brede Seccull (34 disposals, 10 inside 50s) and Josh Gasparini (34 disposals, seven clearances) contributing to the 76-point victory.

For full pictorial coverage of the Seniors' match against Old Camberwell go to the Gallery

 

Hearts Match Report

Old Haileyburians     0.0     0.0     0.1     0.3   (3)

Old Brighton              1.2     4.5     5.9     8.9 (57)

Best: I.Scaunich, E.McCrae, F.Vanin, E.Gown, A.Hetherington, P.Gardiyawasam

Debut: Lucy Thea

 

ln a spirited contest for the Frawley-Grant Cup, the Hearts faced off against the undefeated Old Brighton. This match held special
significance, honoring the legacy of Spud Frawley, the founder of the Hearts alongside his daughters Chelsea and Danielle, and the Grant brothers, who established the Tonners Women's team. Coach Lappage urged the Hearts to channel the indomitable spirit that Spud Frawley epitomized.

From the opening bounce, the Hearts matched Old Brighton in ball possession, displaying an intensity and tenacity that defined the game. The ferocity with which the Hearts attacked the footy and applied tackle pressure was nothing short of remarkable, significantly surpassing the efforts of their opponents.

Despite their relentless positivity and fighting spirit throughout the match, the Hearts struggled to translate their efforts onto the scoreboard. A standout performance from an Old Brighton player, who single-handedly kicked four goals, ultimately tipped the scales against the Hearts.

The Hearts' onball division was a beacon of strength and leadership, with Ella Gown, Bella Scaunich, Eloise McCrae, and Bridget Hanrahan delivering outstanding performances. Felicity Vanin and Pulli Gardiyawasam were pillars of defence, while Alizza Hetherington's contributions on the wing, along with lmmy Lappage and Serene Vudiabola's hard-fought efforts up forward, were commendable.

Spectators were left in disbelief at the final score, which did not reflect the intensity and effort put forth by the Hearts. Despite their superior tackling and relentless attack, the Hearts were unable to deliver on the scoreboard, ultimately succumbing to Old Brighton by a margin of eight goals to nil.  While the score showed a stark disparity, the Hearts' display of grit and determination was a testament to the spirit of Spud Frawley, proving that they can compete fiercely against the best in the league.

How the VAFA saw the match:

Old Haileyburians also had a tough day out on Saturday against cup favourites Old Brighton, held to three points for the entire game whilst Old Brighton registered 57-points to soar to a 54-point victory.  Impressively, Old Brighton strung together a 29-point first half, followed by a 28-point second half to consolidate the lead all whilst holding Haileyburians goalless. Captain India Tait was the best on ground once again as she makes a strong case for the Team of the Year, whilst Sienna Courtney was impressive with four goals. Caterina O’Brien, Jasmine Tait, Katie Grant, Charley Hodgson, and Sophie Grant all played strong games.

Although it was a tough day for Haileyburians, co-captain Isabella Scaunich led from the front showing off strong leadership skills and registering her eighth best on ground for the season across just nine games. Scaunich is another who is making a strong case for inclusion in the Team of the Year.  Next up, Old Haileyburians face an evenly matched side in Parkdale. Despite a large gap in their percentage, if Old Haileyburians win they will draw equal with Parkdale and two games off Collegians pending the results of other games.

 

Men's Reserves Match Report 

Old Haileyburians     4.2     5.4     6.4       7.5 (47)

Old Camberwell        4.0     6.1     9.1     12.2 (74)

Goals: B.Oakes 2, J.Adams, C.Bond, J.Hardeman, A.Williamson, L.Wood

Best: S.Stefanakis, P.Gleadhill, L.Wood, R.Seccull, M.Sievers, J.Vaughan

 

Under 19's Match Report

Old Haileyburians     3.3     5.4       7.7     10.11 (71)

St Bernard’s OC        5.1     8.4     10.5       11.8 (74)

Goals: J.Kennedy 2, L.Riedel 2, T.Antonis, J.Connell, S.Lynch, J.Tuffley, A.Whitaker, B.Yates

Best: T.Antonis, S.Lynch, A.Russell, B.Yates, X.Scott, G.Brayshaw

 

ln a cracking game of football, the U19's took on top of the table St Bernard's on Saturday and although we went down by three points there was a hell of a lot to like about the way we played. Our midfield dominated the clearances and we had more of the ball than them and more scoring shots. We just didn't take our chances when we had them.  Our sloppy start to the game allowed St Bernard's five goals in the first quarter, three of which came from our mistakes, and had it not been for that we would have been in front at quarter time. Once again in the second quarter we struggled to get reward for effort and found ourselves down by 18 points at the main break.

Best on ground, Bailey Yates continued to give our mid-field first use of the ball after half time and although we only marginally won the quarter you could feel the wheel turning as we headed into the last.  Scanlon Lynch and Tom Antonis were huge in the last as the ball spent most of the quarter in our half, full credit to St Bernard's who defended well, and we ultimately fell short.

This was a massive turnaround having been smashed by ten goals against St Bernard's in the first round.  Pre-game our focus was on sending a message to the competition that we could match it with the best and l think we were able to do that and although it's a tough loss we can take some clear learnings from it, and we will be better next time.  The big games keep coming with a second v third clash against Hampton Rovers this Saturday