Seniors 21.23.149 defeated North Brunswick 6.4.40
A hamstring injury to Haydn Judge in the warm up meant a late call up for James “Christmas” Reid and he was grabbed out of the 2’s song to take up his place in the senior line up.
A tight start in the first with both sides struggling with clean ball movement and both defences holding up particularly well. Lachy Barnes was his usual sensational best down back and was ably assisted by Russell Foster who was back in the side after a dominant display in the early game a week prior and 17-year-old debutant Garrison Asciak who was providing enormous zip off the back flank.
The boys in red, black and green exploded in the 2nd quarter, kicking to the carpark end they were led by young gun Josh Robertson and old stager Michael Cardamone who both kicked 2 for the quarter. A 35 point lead at ½ time was comfortable however we all remembered the Round 3 clash where a similar ½ time lead was quickly extinguished by the Bulls. As such a big 3rd term was needed to stamp our authority on the game.
Whatever was said in the rooms seemed to work as we came out and slotted 6.7 for the quarter to put the game to bed. Senior Coach Ash Naulty implored his players at the final break to put together a 4 quarter performance and win by over 100 points. A super impressive last quarter saw us do just that piling on 8.5 for the term.
Highlights of the second half were the performances of Garrison Asciak who helped himself to 3 goals across half back, the midfield and a short stint in the ruck. His performance was the best debut from an U19 since Jacob “Chompers” Costello against Richmond Centrals last season. His partner in crime Josh Glennie was also instrumental through the midfield in just his 2nd senior game. James Wright, Billy O’Loughlin and Phil Jurkovsky were back to their best through the midfield and the flanks. Nick Hannah who was also on debut, performed strongly up forward and is and exciting prospect for the rest of this season and years to come, a strong body who works really hard.
A pleasing turnaround from last weekend when we had only 2 goal kickers in our loss to Westbourne, this week we had 12 individuals hit the scoreboard.
A complete team performance and we will need to bring more of the same this weekend as we travel to Richmond Centrals. We are building nicely but need to keep working hard on some aspects to make sure we give ourselves a good chance in the finals.
Goals; Cardamone 5, Robertson 3, Asciak 3, Hannah 2, Wright, O’Loughlin, Glennie, Foster, Naulty, Jurkovsky, Reid, Foley
Best; Wright, Robertson, Asciak, O’Loughlin, Foster, Jurkovsky
Reserves 29.13.187 defeated North Brunswick 2.2.14
The top placed Aquinas played the bottom placed North Brunswick and the result went completely according to plan.
A 9 goal opening quarter including a mammoth 6 to Aaron Kinghorn set the scene for the day and when he kicked a further 2 in the 2nd quarter there were certainly murmurs around the bottom oval that he may have had his record of 14 in his sights, alas it wasn’t to be.
A complete team effort for the day as we shared the ball around like good sides do, very hard running for the switch was the hallmark of the performance.
A massive game this weekend against a likely finals opponent in Richmond. We will all have to be switched on and playing good team football to have a chance of victory against the only side that has bested us in season 2019.
Goals; Kinghorn 10, Reid 6, Mantel 5, Eggleston 2, Scanlon 2, Malvaso 2, Baxter, Jones
Best; Scanlon, Kinghorn, Allwood, Wright, Lord, Reid
U19’s 9.11.65 defeated Parkside 8.5.53
After a comfortable 12 goal win under lights at Parkside earlier in the season you could be forgiven for thinking the Aquinas boys would win comfortably at the friendly surrounds of the bottom oval. Somebody forgot to tell Parkside however and they certainly came to play.
A handy enough start for The Bloods saw us with a 2 goal lead at the first break and playing well, a classic crumbers goal to Dylan Perna was the highlight of the quarter. An early clash of heads for 2 opposition players meant they were left with zero bench for the rest of the game.
A very wayward 2nd term from both sides saw Aquinas manage just 6 behinds and a further 1 goal 4 behinds in the premiership quarter meant the Parkside boys were just a point behind at ¾ time and full of belief.
The game was certainly there to be won in the final term and a huge effort from Harry Dwyer (35 disposals), Luke Lattimer (22 disposals) and Liam Brown (24 disposals) in the final minutes meant the home side got the chocolates by just 12 points.
A really hard fought win and it now leaves our destiny in our own hands, playing the top side away this weekend, a win would simply be huge for the spirit of this group.
Goals; Phillipson 2, Scagnetti 2, Perna, Downes, Costello, Reichart, Lattimer
Best; Dwyer, Kerr, Grech, Livingstone, Brown, Lattimer