It was a topsy turvy round for Aquinas with both away sides winning and both home sides taking a loss.
Senior Women
A great contest at Kevin Bartlett Reserve as Richmond Central came to play and Aquinas were up for the challenge.
Doing well to repel a constant attack in the first 10 minutes of the game Aquinas were able to wrestle back the ascendancy through Dargan and Sanders in the middle.
The back six, led by Patterson and Schmidli was able to stand firm for much of the day and ultimately didn’t let through a goal for the game, a credit to them as there was plenty of pressure.
Up forward it was Spicer who led the way, crashing packs and bringing the ball to ground repeatedly, one of her best games.
Richmond really brought the heat to the contest and credit to them they did well to keep the scoreboard tight all day.
A brilliant goal from Dargan was the difference in the end and Aquinas were happy to walk away with the 4 points and injury free.
Reserves Women
Another week with many fill ins and first gamers and the Aquinas women were excited for a chance to pick up their first win of the season.
First game in charge for coach Jess Cridland and she had the playing group fired up from the outset.
Mauchline and De Klijn were fantastic across half back and patrolled the centre of the ground with ease.
Davies, Mooney and Broderick were also important across the middle of the ground.
Aquinas were on top for much of the day but once again it was the Richmond pressure which caused a tight tussle for the entire game which meant that the dominance on the ground couldn’t be converted on the scorebard.
A great win in the end for the Reserves as they kick started their season.
Senior Men
In a highly anticipated match between Aquinas and MHSOB, the stage was set for a gripping encounter on the bottom oval at Aquinas. The weather was perfect for football, with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing across the ground.
From the opening bounce, it was clear that both teams were determined to play an attacking brand of football. However, it was MHSOB who struck first, kicking the opening goal of the match. They then continued to convert as they held a 4 goal lead at the first change.
The Unicorns continued their dominance in the first half with Aquinas held goalless and down by 40 points at the half.
After half time the game was a lot tighter with Aquinas starting to hit their straps and hitting the scoreboard.
Aquinas’ best players on the day, Harry Flack and Josh Clinton, were providing plenty of run and carry on the wing and were instrumental in setting up scoring opportunities for their teammates.
In the end, it was MHSOB who emerged victorious by a margin of 31 points. The final score was Aquinas 7.12.54 to MHSOB 13.7.85. While it was a disappointing result for Aquinas, they can take heart from the performances of Harry Flack, Josh Clinton and Harry Dwyer, who were all outstanding on the day.
Reserves Men
In a tough match between Aquinas and MHSOB, it was MHSOB who came out on top with a convincing 24-point victory. The conditions were perfect on the bottom oval at Aquinas, and both teams looked eager to make the most of the favorable weather.
Despite the loss, there were some standout performers for Aquinas. Leon Holewa was impressive at half-back, showing great skill and awareness as he repelled MHSOB’s attacking forays. Nick Semken was also a force to be reckoned with in the middle, using his pace to win important clearances and set up scoring opportunities for his team.
Sam Glennie was another standout for Aquinas, scoring two crucial goals that kept his team in the hunt. However, it was ultimately MHSOB who were able to capitalize on their opportunities, and they pulled away in the final quarter to secure a comfortable victory.
Despite the loss, Aquinas can take heart from some positive aspects of their performance. They showed great determination and never gave up, and there were some impressive individual performances that bode well for the future.
Overall, it was a high-quality match that was a credit to both teams. MHSOB’s victory was well-deserved, but Aquinas can hold their heads high after a valiant effort. They will no doubt be looking to bounce back in their next match and continue to build on the positive signs shown in this game.