Round 5 Newsletter

Reminders!! coming up on May 29...
Match Day Lunch
From 12pm during the Rd 7 v Ajax there will be a Match Day Lunch. Guest speaker is Ross Smith OAM- Physiotherapist to the Olympic team. Lunch provided by one of our sponsors, The Amora Hotel. Not to be missed. Click here for details. RSVP Tues May 25 to Jonderry@optusnet.com.au

Trivia Night
From 7.30pm for the trivia buffs there will be a testing of the mental muscle at Conochie Hall in Canterbury. Lots of prizes to be won. RSVP or questions to Blakehillier@hotmail.com or 0419 955 546. $15pp  Limit of 160, 5 tables of 10 already booked! Be quick!! click here for flyer.

Seniors
The club visited Como Oval in South Yarra for the first time since 2001 to play Old Geelong in a must win game for both sides, to keep themselves in touch with the competition's front runners. The game started strongly for the Wellers who jumped out of the blocks to score 6 early goals, to lead by 18 points at the first break. A feature of the quarter were the team's efficient centre clearances which resulted in shots on goal. In the second quarter, it was the OGs turn to "ramp up the pressure", their mid fielders dominated the stoppages, and the clearances, to fight back hard. Inaccuracy was the telling point here, as they scored 3 goals 6 behinds to reel in the deficit to 7 points at the half. The third quarter was an extremely entertaining affair, with both sides scoring 3 goals apiece, and the respective back lines were rebounding hard. A feature of the Wellers game was their ability to block and screen for each other, combining well all over the ground. The level of talk increased amongst the playing group and the scene was set for an exiting final quarter. The captain, big "Wazz" Warren Carlyle was a stand out in this quarter with a couple of strong grabs in the forward "45" The margin at three quarter time was 6 points and the game was certainly up for grabs. Both coaches knew that the team that made fewer mistakes was going to give itself the best chance at scoring goals. In the end it was the Wellers who showed the greater level of determination to overcome the pressure of their opponents to run out winners by 18 points. Better players were Phil Bennett, Warren Carlyle, Caine Hillier, Simon Bonyhady, Andrew Clarke & Rohan Kapoor

Reserves
In the week of Umpire Appreciation the Reserves match started 20 minutes late because the umpires did not arrive on the oval until 11.58am. Not the umpires fault because they were actually returning to the field after they had completed the paperwork for the previous game they had both officiated in. It would have been great to be able to blame the late start to the game on our poor result against Old Geelong. Unfortunately however, once again it was left to our hard working defense and the small followers to try and prevent an avalanche of scoring against a much taller opposition. Numerous attacking opportunities by Old Camberwell were stopped in their tracks by the strong marking of Old Geelong and this was our stumbling block for most of the game. One highlight of the game was the debut of Mark Atkinson who delivered some real intense, hard tackling on the opposition which we hope to replicate this week at training. The better players for OCGFC being Mulligan, Searles, Collins and Goldblatt. This week we travel to Elsternwick to play Ormond in a must win for the Reserves and we look forward to a disciplined, team orientated effort.

Under 19
Back at home on our beloved GBO we faced Marcellin who we knew would throw everything at us. It was important to make up for the previous week’s poor start, and even more important to come away with the 4 points given the tight competition. A 6 goal to 2 first quarter set us up in a good position. This was done off the back of some hard work in the midfield and some good strong marking from our tall forwards, although some of the finishing could have been better in front of goal. The second quarter started in much the same fashion as the first, with us well on top of the contest. As we have done in a few games so far, we took our foot off the pedal, letting the opposition feel they have a chance to get back in the game. On a positive note we had extended our lead to 45 points after a 4 goal to 1 quarter.
The third quarter was one we would like to forget. We come out after halftime flat and disinterested playing selfish uncommitted football, a style not normally associated with this group of players. We allowed the opposition to run all over us kicking 6 goals to our lucky 4 goals. The final quarter was of a simular ilk to that of the third. We allowed the opposition to kick a couple of quick goals. It was only once we felt threatened that the players lifted their defensive pressure and committed to run. This ensured victory, kicking 2 goals 6 behinds to our oppositions 3 goals 3 behinds. We ran out winners by 30 points. It was a much needed win, keeping us in the finals hunt and our undefeated run at home alive for another week. If this record is to continue this week against Old Xaverians a much more consistently committed effort will be required.

Under 18
Our Rd 5 clash against Oakleigh was billed to be match of the round with 2nd playing 3rd. After playing the bottom 3 sides in the past 3 rounds, this game would show us where we stood against a top 2 opposition. For the first time this year, we had 20 players available. However, following incidents occurring in the previous round, Oakleigh had 3 of their players reported (2 for 2 matches and 1 for 6 matches) and 4 other players 'yellow carded' during that game. Oakleigh consiquently imposed 1 match club suspensions against the 4 players who had received send-offs. With 7 players unavailable, Oakleigh was reduced to a list of 16 players. So our task was to focus on our own team development objectives and to test our ability to focus on capitalising on the opportunity fate had handed us. We could have quite easily succumbed to a drop in mental pressure and chosen to take it easy against a depleted opposition - but that would have shown scant respect to our opponent's situation and put in question our reputation. 18 players in a good team SHOULD demolish a team with 16 players. Anything less would show the rest of the U18 competition that we lacked the ability to take maximum advantage of a situation. Once again, this ever-improving U18 playing group rose to the occasion and chose to accept the UNACCEPTABLE. Despite their reduced numbers, Oakleigh had 8 Oakleigh Chargers due to a bye playing for them (half their team) and their performance was very commendable. They had some good players who refused to give in and tried hard all day. They will have learned a valuable lesson for their playing group and I'm sure they'll be a worthy opponent when they have their full list. We now await the outcome of VAFA deliberations regarding the restructure of the U18 competition. Our young U18 playing group is developing and improving each week as they learn to play with one another. I'm sure the character and willingness to work hard all game will hold them in good stead when the challenges to overcome much tougher circumstances is inevitably confronted in games to come.

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