2021 Match Reports Round 2
The perfect round of matches saw us win 5 games out of 5 for the first time in club history.
We also sit 4th on the VAFA Club Championship out of 71 clubs which is an incredible effort and a testament to the hard work of all players, coaches and committee.
Senior Men
After a stinging loss at the hands of arch rivals Yarra Valley at home in Round 1 the Bloods were out for atonement and atonement is what they got.
Coming up against a strong club in Bulleen Templestowe on their deck was never going to be easy but we started superbly with an incredible solo effort from Russell Foster hitting the scoreboard within 30 seconds.
Within 5 minutes Matty Aver had kicked 3 of his own and the Bloods were on fire.
6.6.42 to 0.0.0 without a breath of wind at quarter time showed the dominance.
It was more of the same in the second as Russell Foster and James McMahon started to control a lot of the play behind the footy.
Another 5 goals to Matty Aver had his tally at 8 by half time and some of the old stagers started consulting the record books.
The 3rd quarter can only be described as the Campbell Grech show as he put on a clinic in the ruck.
At one point we had 6 centre clearances in a row which resulted in a mark inside 50 and a goal.
The final quarter petered out a little as some of the other forwards cashed in.
Best players – Aver (10), Morrison-Story (2), Grech, O’Malley (1), Foster (1), Costello (3)
Score – 29.17.191 to 5.3.33
Senior Women
After a convincing win the week before we found ourselves up against another unknown opponent in Brunswick Renegades.
Full credit to the opposition as they seem to have brought half of Brunswick with them to Ringwood to cheer them on and the crowd was large and raucous.
A tight start to the game saw a dichotomy develop between the outside run, carry and skills of the Aquinas women opposed to the tough, inside physicality of the Brunswick mob.
A clear ascendency in the dry conditions quickly developed for the quicker and cleaner style of the girls from Great Ryrie Street but cashing in on this proved difficult.
A tremendous goal for club leader Courtney Weeks got the Bloods score ticking over
Half time the I50’s were 30-6 in favour of Aquinas however the score line showed 3.5.23 to 1.1.7 and clearly the potential was there but the scoring wasn’t.
The second half was much better as we worked hard on clean hands and long decisive handballs to escape the pressure in close.
Our midfield brigade led by Meg Dargan, Kalen Winters and Zoe Smith got well on top and eventually the class prevailed.
Best players – Dargan (3), McLean (1), Derksen, Winters, Smith (1), Patterson (2)
Score – 8.7.55 to 1.2.8
Reserves Women
The first Aquinas Women’s team to break through into triple figures were the Reserves of Round 2 against Brunswick Renegades.
On fire from start to finish the game was quickly in our favour due to the midfield getting well on top and feeding the runners in space on the wings and flanks.
A strong and cohesive forward line enabled us to take full advantage of our opportunities all day and if not for some very inaccurate kicking the first half (7.15 at half time) the margin would have been even greater.
Credit must go the backline as well who despite having a quiet day action wise, were always prepared for the forward forays of the opposition and repelled all bar one with confidence.
A massive third quarter in which we scored 8.2.50 was a real highlight of the game.
The best aspect though was the way the younger brigade matched up with our more experienced players all over the ground and worked as one team all day.
Best players – Dwyer, Fabris, McKenna, T.Weeks, Sharma (3), Braunthal
Score – 16.18.114 to 1.1.7
Men’s Reserves
Tight first 5 minutes then we almost did as we liked – Paul Marsh
Held structure well, played out game plan well – Lachlan McDonald
Best players – Redfern (6), Connolly (3), Livingstone, Alsop
Score – 24.22.116 to 0.1.1
U19s
The Unders continued their strong form with a 22 goal win away at PEGS.
Paddy Dunne was instrumental with 6 goals, he was ably supported by debutante Sam Glennie, Liam Choucri and Harry Flack in the middle with Jonno Nicosia and Nick Semken influential as well.
Best players – Dunne (6), S. Glennie, Choucri, Flack, Semken, Nicosia