Not the greatest week for Bloods supporters with the club taking home just 2 of a possible 20 premiership points that were up for grabs over the weekend.
Our Men struggled against Melbourne High on Saturday afternoon while our Women were unlucky not to grab 2 wins against Fitzroy on Sunday.
Senior Men
Heading out to Woodfull-Miller Oval in South Yarra we were 3-0 and looking to take another big scalp for the season in Melbourne High School.
We got jumped early with MHSOB putting a couple on the board quickly before we could react.
A good mark and goal from Luke Harley brought us back to within 2 goals before a quick burst of 3 goals to the opposition just before the siren meant we trailed by 33 point at the first break.
Despite being the scoring end in the Reserves game we didn’t manage to trouble the scorers in the second quarter which was hugely disappointing and meant a 59 point deficit and a lot of work to do.
Whatever Senior Coach Jarrod Fisher said at half time must have worked as we came flying out after the main break kicking the first 3 goals, 2 of which were from Jacob Costello.
We outscored them for the quarter and played some really good football, it seemed we’d finally figured out the quirks of the oddly shaped oval.
Our run and carry, particularly through the middle was joy to watch and some of the link ups were super.
Unfortunately the final quarter didn’t go our way as the home side once again got on top and some late cheap goals probably blew the score out more than was warranted.
Best players were the backline trio of Matty Aver, Harry Leigh and Alex Guthrie while Costello was lively up forward kicking 3 goals.
Another chance to get back on the winners list this week as we host great rivals Manningham Cobras who will be looking to win their 2nd game on the trot.
Senior Women
With the standalone Sunday game being played in front of a big crowd it was all there for the taking for our Women as they looked to even the ledger at 2-2 for the season.
A barnstorming start to the game against Fitzroy ensued as we kicked 3 goals in 5 minutes to race to an early 20 point lead.
An extended run down the crowd side wing from left footer Hannah McLean, followed by a bounce, a baulk and then a thrilling goal on the run was the best of the lot and showed the crowd something special.
A late goal to the away side meant a 13 point 1/4 time margin.
The Fitzroy women clearly got some instructions at 1/4 time which must have consisted of “play defensive footy” as they did everything they could from that point on to play scrappy, contested, tough football and stop our running.
It definitely worked and from that point on the game became a struggle for every possession and every metre of territory, one thing the Fitzroy team did do well was exploit our high pushing backline on the turnover and they scored several goals out the back.
After trailing by 1 point at 1/2 time we came out and matched the pressure at the football in the 3rd quarter but unfortunately despite a domination of inside 50’s (13-2 for the quarter) we could only manage 2 goals 6 behinds to 1 goal straight and didn’t kill the game when we had the chance.
Sophie Matthys, Rachel Iacuone and Niamh Sanders continued to be immense in the clinches and kept pushing the ball forward any way they could.
An 11 point lead at 3/4 time for the Bloods set up a brilliant last quarter but unfortunately it wasn’t to be for the girls from Great Ryrie Street as we once again failed to score at the school end and ultimately went down by 17 points.
Best players were Amber Saunders and Chelsea Tucker across half back while Holly Spicer kicked 2 goals to continue her good form in front of the big sticks.
Reserves Men
A slow start meant a 7 goal deficit at the first break and despite a very even middle 2 quarters the same margin faced us at the last change of ends.
Another tight last quarter before a couple of cheap MHSOB goals meant a 9 goal defeat for the boys in red, black and green.
Best players were Captain Matt Westwood and Toby Love.
Reserves Women
Looking for their first win of the season the Reserves came out swinging early, hitting every contest hard and just battling to hit the scoreboard.
This changed in the 2nd quarter as we piled on 3 goals through Crisp, Box and Upton.
A 10 point lead to the away side at 3/4 time meant a big last quarter was needed and that’s just what we got as we managed to tie the scores at 29 apiece with 8 minutes to go.
From there we tried desperately to win while the opposition tried desperately not to lose.
A draw was probably an unfair outcome but our girls should be proud as last week Fitzroy won by 102 points and this week we showed them what we are capable of, we will get them next time.
Best players were Dash Reid, Gilli Mckenna and Ruby Crisp in her first game for the season.
Under 19’s
Travelling to the well fancied Parkdale we got off to the perfect start kicking the first goal.
Unfortunately that was where it finished as the Vultures took total control of proceedings, extending their lead at every change to run out winners by 119 points.
Best players were Flack, Mazurkiewicz and Downes.