MEN’S SENIORS
For only the second time this year, the boys were back home on the Daley up against the ladder leaders, Old Brighton.
The senior side added further youth by welcoming in two debutants, Louis Randles & Dareo Rodgers. In an exciting time for the club, we’ve now had 12 debutants for the season. As expected, the first quarter was intense with plenty of contested ball & stoppages. Christos Manoussakis & Dylan Xenos brought plenty of energy from the beginning & gave our forwards first use. Scores were equal at quarter time.
The boys continued with their manic pressure in the second quarter which saw the T’s go in at half time with an 8-point lead. In his best game for the club, Xavier Fry controlled the backline with many intercepts marks & run from half back. Charlie Beasley & Callum Pohl also set us up well from the backline & linked well with Sam Mason & Oliver Scott. Goals to the Mason brothers, Thompson & Dobby gave the boys a huge sense of belief at the main break.
The third quarter saw a strong Old Brighton outfit come out firing. Their midfield brigade got on top & put 3 goals on the scoreboard, (to lead by 8 points at the final change). The T’s kept coming in the last quarter with Dobby, Junior & Hamilton working hard in the middle (resulting in goals to McGlashan & Pohl) but unfortunately, we fell short. In a gallant & spirited effort, the T’s lost by 11 points.
Despite not getting the 4 points, it was absolutely a step in the right direction. The boys cracked in all day & can certainly be proud of their efforts. That elusive first victory isn’t far away, but it doesn’t get any easier with Uni Blues (away) this Saturday.
Ben Howell
WOMEN’S SENIORS
On a Saturday morning which felt more like the middle of July than the middle of May the OT women were ready for some tough footy against an in-form Caulfield outfit on their home deck.
Winning the toss and kicking with the wind at our backs, the first quarter was a tight contest which saw the ball bouncing around between the arcs with neither team able to gain a lot of control, unfortunately for us it was Caulfield who made the first breakthrough and took the momentum into the second quarter along with the strong wind. Our back six were again as resilient as ever as the ball continued to spend a lot of time in the Caulfield half for most of the second quarter.
Going into the long break we knew we were well and truly in the contest and took a real focus on accountability and pressure around the ball into the second half. This proved very effective with the mids and forwards working together impressively to keep the ball locked in our forward half giving us plenty of opportunities for the majority of the quarter, the only thing missing was reward for effort on the scoreboard.
The endeavour and determination of the group was again on show keeping Caulfield to a goalless 4th quarter, but the final siren came before we could even the scoreboard up, going down by 24 points. An impressive effort from Sami to lock down one of the league’s best players while winning the ball herself, Bella thriving in her new ruck role along with Mel and Ness fighting contest after contest all over the ground and Maddy and Bucks steady as ever and giving us a lot of run out of the backline.
We know our best footy is ahead of us and can’t wait for our next opportunity against St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon on the almighty Daley.
Sal and Clauds
MEN’S RESERVES
With Michael Cooper back to lead the troops, the rain fading and Mitch Scott arriving before the bounce there was some great optimism around the group that this could be the day to kick start our season.
The first quarter was a tight affair with Brighton taking a slight lead into the first break.
The second quarter started with a spark with Charlie Simonson kicking the Mauve Fox goal of the day followed by a great F50 tackle from Rhys Krishnasamy. Luke Chiaramonte also started to have a real impact down back. However, Brighton managed to wrestle back control late in the 2nd quarter.
Brighton took control of the game in the second half kicking 7 goals to 3. The young guns Will Davey, Will Macafee and Felix Curtis fought hard all day showing great run and defensive pressure.
Like previous weeks the effort remained all day, if we continue to work on a few things at training the wheel will start to turn and that elusive win wont be far away.
As always, big thank you to Terry and Andy for all the work put in and to all the volunteers and injured players for making the effort to get down and help out where possible.
We look forward to the challenge at University Oval next Saturday and the inclusion of co -skipper Chris Footy Riggs who unlike earlier in the year has elected to follow the clubs medical advice over recent weeks.
Jacob Sando
WOMEN’S RESERVES
Waking up to not ideal conditions on Saturday with cold, windy, wet weather and no bench. Yet, in true Ressie style, we came out fighting and gave it our best. The ball came hard and fast out of the centre with the mid-fields pushing hard to get the ball into the forward line and helping our backline get it out of defence.
Kenzie in ruck was getting most of the taps, giving us a great advantage for Bella, Kellie, Harriet, Anastasia and Ayesha to get the ball. Mid-third quarter, we had a much-needed goal kicked by Lucia. Our back line attacked hard at the ball and did their best to thwart goal attempts.
Hopefully next week, we can secure the win against St Mary’s with all the hard-work we are putting in.
Tash Borash
MEN’S THIRDS
Milestone Men.
It was a day for the ages. We celebrated two beloved greats raising the bat by notching up their 100th game for the green and gold. It started off with a brilliant celebration in video form with some lovely messages from close friends and family up in the Cohen centre pregame. The emotion in the room stirred as we sat back an enjoyed some old stories and well wishes. Congratulations to our twin towers, Riley McDonald and Teddy Mitchell on this fantastic achievement. Your contribution to the club is immense and we look forward to it continuing.
In a must win game, the lads started off very strong with some excellent passages of play and link up through the middle. Hank Moore's inclusion was instrumental. He wasted no time reminding us all why he is a reining Best & Fairest winner, highlighted by his ruthlessness and two way running. In a new role in the midfield, VC Tim Hall added another string to his bow with his flash and dare. It was also great to have co-skipper Ed Beas back after a week out, slicing and dicing his way through the guts with his lethal right shoe.
The wingers in Sharman and Ammers were excellent and structured us up nicely by providing an outlet and cover all day. Stevie Lawrence simply has no regard for his health, once again backing back into the freight train known as Penne Fergonara (Fergus Stewart). Some say Stevie lives for backing back into packs.
The forward line looked as potent as it ever has, with the return of Gebert and Oz who showed their class and strength in the contest all day. Beautifully complimented by Teddy's leadership along with Joyce’s and Cowley's flair. Return of the King was certainly an apt theme for the day, with Riley hitting the scoreboard, a big highlight of mine. We can't wait to see him back out there soon!
Cooky's aerial game and composure under pressure down back was first class along with N Emery and N Padou’s rebound gave our forwards options.
The East West Link tunnel works decided to change tacts and drill straight into debutant Benny Lazorko's heel for the afternoon, with one of the best blisters we’ve seen for some time. We were lucky enough to see some great early signs of a solid footballer and once his footy shoes wear in he will be a great asset to the team. Brendo received a nasty knock to his knee, and we hope we recovers well. He assures us that his physio prescribed him 12 Carlton draughts to be consumed within 12 hours of the injury. We’ll have to take his word on this one.
To Beaumaris' credit, they really stepped up their game in the second and third quarter (our 1.9 third quarter didn’t help) however the Thirds stuck to their guns and took the challenge head on. A response was required going into the final quarter and the boys dug deep and united together to kick away and iced the game.
Thanks to all of those who came down to support and volunteer their time for the required roles and for celebrating the dual 100 gamers. Thanks also to all of those sending in your lovely messages for the videos on short notice.
We now turn our attention to next Saturday morning’s grudge match, where we take on Xavs at Stradbroke Park at 9:20am.
Tom Beasley
MEN’S U23s
Nothing screams footy like the following: rain, mud, and playing on the Hughes. After a picturesque sunny day on the Daley the week before, the U23s took the long walk down to the Hughes to take on Uni Blues.
Adjusting to the highly contested style of play of the smaller Hughes was already a challenge for the boys, and this was made even more difficult by the especially wet conditions. Missing several key players to injury also didn’t help, and neither did a heavy wind, and Uni Blues managed to take a commanding 24-2 lead at the end of the first.
Facing a substantial deficit, things were beginning to get out of hand. Previously white boots turned had turned black, bodies were painted with mud. The boys needed a leader. They needed someone to step up and give them the motivation they needed to get back in the game. Enter Pete Gavralas. Often in footy you are asked to put your body on the line, and Gavralas went above and beyond. Diving headfirst to smother a likely goal with his face, Gav’s heroics gave the boys the motivation they needed.
Gav’s sacrifice and embracing the contested footy allowed Jordan, Chatfield, Wood, and Murray to help lift the boys to only be down 37-30 at halftime. Armed with the wisdom and direction of Ammers at the main break, and with the sun begging to break through, the tide had well and truly turned. BOG Curran turned on the jets in the midfield and forward line to kick two huge goals in the third, tying the score at 48-48 to begin the final quarter.
After a 144-28 loss the previous week, and even with a highly reduced number on the bench, at this point there was simply no chance of a loss for the energised U23s. Howard kicked two in the fourth to put the final nail in the coffin, and the game ended in a fantastic 65-57 win.
Thanks as always to Ammers and Joel for their wise words of wisdom, as well as to those who ran waters and goal umpired. Shoutout to those injured who came along in the wet to support the boys.
Tim Irving
MEN’S U19s
After an enjoyable victory in round five, the OT’s put their white shorts back on for a trip south-east to take on St Bedes/Mentone. Despite rain and hail in the previous hours, the skies cleared as the game got underway, making it a great day for football.
Kicking into a strong breeze to start the game, the OT’s were under pressure from the outset. Hard at the contest with good skills on the outside, St Bedes put our defenders under unrelenting pressure. Thanks to some strong defending from Plowman, Cooper, Piva and the like, Old Trinity were able to keep the scoreboard modest despite being challenged around the ground.
Down the other end, good skills and gut running from Brown and Westerman allowed us to propel the ball forward. Both using their running capacity to become linking players between our forwards and backs. Wrestling back some momentum with a late goal, the T’s came into quarter time excited for an opportunity to respond.
However, the remaining three quarters saw a comprehensive showing from St Bedes/Mentone, dominating in all phases of play and kicking away to a strong lead. Strong efforts from Alder in the ruck, Teal and Scobie through the midfield and Piva down back were valiant in defeat but St Bedes were too good on the day, winning by 78 points.
Old Trinity will lick their wounds and head to the training track in order to prepare for another important game against Uni Blues this coming week
Daniel McNab
MEN’S U19s RESERVES
4 beats 3 every day.
News that two teams, PEGS and Mazenod had been relegated from Division 3 to Division 4 meant that the T’s needed to make the long trek out to Keilor Park to play PEGS rather than a trip to Old Paradians. This was after the VAFA had an error on their website which showed Old Trinity playing away at both Peninsula and PEGS. It was the latter and when all the lads turned up and the opposition were expecting us meant a slight worry about being in the wrong place was relieved.
That aside, inclement weather was the story of the day, rainy then sunny, rainy then sunny. The only consistent weather conditions were cold and very windy. A few late withdrawals due to illness meant we had 21 fit players out on the park.
You never know what to expect when you play a relegated side however the theme of the day was defend first and get a sense of the opposition in both terms of size and capability.
Kicking with the wind we started strongly against a much physically bigger side and as expected the ball was mainly down our end of the ground. The mids led by a returning Sauce Bottle were winning the ball and Toby Yeats (Chuck Yeater) was proving a handful for the opposition. Goals to Chuck and Machine Gun Stewart. Errant kicking again meant at quarter time, T’s up by 2 goals 2.4.16 whilst keeping the opposition scoreless 0.0.0. Fantastic efforts by the back 6 yet again.
Second quarter was as expected, PEGS pumping the ball long with the wind and getting three majors on the board, however the T’s were able to get a goal again through Chuck Yeater against the wind making the half time score 3.6.24 to 3.1.19.
Third quarter was much like the first. Jon Poynton came into the centre to give us some second half drive with Charlie Hoppe and Jim Gorton playing strong games on the wing halfback areas. Another two goals to the T’s through Lach McLean and Max Buckley though Max could have had 3. Three quarter time score Trinity 5.8.38 to PEGS 3.1.19, again a scoreless quarter to PEGS and the back six did their job.
Imploring the boys to really lock on in the last quarter and putting a spare in defence we gave everything. We came out strong, the mids winning the clearances through Lach “Not” Wong and a lot of forward entries with no majors. Then up bobbed Chunky McLean grabbing a ripper mark on the 50 and pumping the ball in long against the wind. Chuck Yeater playing the smart footy we spoke about at the halftime break and took a strong mark at the front of the pack and converted truly, only the second goal against the wind all day and putting the T’s four straight kicks in front on the scoreboard.
Things went downhill from there, PEGS getting on top in the middle of the ground and having forward entry after forward entry and converting two goals. 5 minutes to go and it was a see-saw battle. T’s winning the footy and running it up into the forward 50 through the Stanimal Stanley Chen and a mark to The Sage Sejune Park not paid by the umpire and the ball going down the far end and another mark not paid to the Colonel, our formally appointed captain, Ryan Sanders. PEGS converted and it was back to the middle for a restart. Everyone dug deep and locked the footy up and we held on by the 6 point margin.
A really strong character win by the lads, digging deep in the last quarter and giving everything for the T’s brand and each other. My most satisfying win as a coach of this great bunch of lads for the year so far.
Coach Poss