It was a mixed bag in Round 1 with 2 of our 5 sides tasting success on the opening day of the season.
Senior Men
We’ll start with the winners and it was the perfect start to the season for our Senior Men as they overcame West Brunswick in a hard fought game on the top oval at Aquinas.
The wet weather and smaller than usual oval markings contributed to a tight and scrappy affair.
A slow start from Aquinas saw the Bloods trailing by 26 points early in the second quarter before some Billy O’Loughlin magic not once but twice from the grandstand pocket saw us back in the match and with a slim 1 point lead at the main break.
For much of the second half it felt like we were on top but just couldn’t break the game open, every forward thrust from WB was met with intercept marks from our key backs of Barnes, Leigh, Aver and Guthrie.
A late free kick and gutsy goal to pocket rocket Michael Di Donato sealed the win for Aquinas and we look forward to next week hosting the much improved Bulleen Templestowe.
Under 19’s
The other successful team of the weekend were the Unders who made the longest road trip in the VAFA out to St Bernard’s in beautiful Essendon.
A few must have dozed off in the car ride as we were slow to start and trailed by 29 points at the main break.
An inspired second half led to, in the words of coach Craig Glennie ‘one of the best wins I’ve been a part of at this club”.
4 goals to Choucri and the sealer from Junior De Navi meant the Young Bloods were up and about once they made it back to Aquinas.
Senior Women
Our history making women played their first match in Premier B against Old Brighton.
Coming up against a physically imposing opposition and in wet conditions that did not suit we were quickly behind on the scoreboard.
Some encouraging words from coaches Kogelman and La Marca at half time lifted the spirits and our second half was much improved.
4 goals in the second half brought some respectability to the scoreboard and it must be said the way the game was fought out against quality opposition was super impressive.
Dargan was huge in the middle, Saunders and Hickleton down back and Yas Cook & Sienna Jones in her debut were handy up forward.
Reserves Women
A heartbreaking loss in the Ressies as we went down by just 2 points after a last minute goal line scramble led to a goal to OB’s.
We probably should have been further ahead at half time after not quite taking advantage of our superiority all over the ground in the first half.
We’ll learn plenty from that game and should be super proud of the effort, it just goes to show that the easy wins of last season are probably a thing of the past but if we keep improving there are plenty of wins ahead for this group this year.
Reserves Men
A disappointing start for the Reserves after all the promise of the big wins of our practice matches.
We simply didn’t show up to play and against a very good opposition this was going to cost us.
Plenty to work on and another chance at a win this weekend against Bulleen Templestowe.