What the hell happened there? After dominating general play for the first quarter and a half, which resulted in a 12-point lead that should have been greater, NOBSPC conceded 18 of the next 21 goals of the game to be completely embarrassed by Old Mentonians at Highett.

The greatest concern is that in every one of our five losses this season something similar has happened. It appears that we are incapable of stopping an opposition that gets in front from running all over the top of us. It is not a question of ability because we have been right in three of those games for at least a half. Unfortunately it seems that too few are concentrating and committing to the cause for the full four quarters.

The first quarter was an exercise in frustration as we were all over the Panthers for 25 minutes but couldn’t kick goals. Peter Shepherd was back to his brilliant best taking marks all over the ground, but we were wasteful and guilty of over finessing the ball.

In the second term we started to get some reward for effort and clearly had the best three players on the ground in Shepherd, Gerrard Bence and Adam Oakley. But, ominously, what looked like being a good lead at half-time evaporated in its shadows courtesy of turnovers.

We kicked the first goal of the third quarter to hit the front again. It proved to be a false dawn as the Panthers then took control of the game. Even though we kept winning the hit outs we were smashed in clearances and the back line, which had been great in the first half, buckled under a bombardment. In the end there was a 99-point turnaround from 20 minute mark of the second quarter. Quite incredible.

Four quarter performances were thin on the ground. Bence was superb for the third week running. Shepherd and Oakley showed their class. Chris Ford was strong at full back early and provided a target when moved forward. Pat Kelly and Matt Keown gave their all as always.

Next round we play Ormond at home. We still remain in the mix to play finals and look forward to an improved effort against our old rivals.