On Brunswick NOBs’ first-ever visit to Rathmines Road Reserve, which is more a quaint cricket ground than a football oval, it was the Snowy Show.

Up against the winless Hawthorn the visitors’ odds may have been Winx-like, but it was the home team who came out firing before we were able to eventually pull away and record a sixth straight win on the back of a magnificent solo-effort by small forward Jacob “Snowy” Adkins who notched up 10.5 in a masterful display.

The opening term said a lot about the day. The Hawks had the wind and the know-how to take advantage of it, even though they were out-classed in general play. Up forward, we had Snowy, who kicked our entire score for the quarter of 2.3.

When our turn came with the breeze we didn’t use it well at all, but sheer force of numbers of possessions and forward entries meant we ended up kicking seven goals in the second quarter, including three to Snowy and a couple to the consistent veteran Chris Ford. To explain: it was the sort of ground where a good kick from the centre could be a goal or a mark in the square. But we didn’t play the ground that way, rather we seemed to treat it as the MCG where we chipped sideways and backwards, apart from short bursts when we did go direct and reaped rewards that gave us a 25-point lead at halftime.

The third term was another exercise in patience, this time as we concentrated on defence against the wind, and to the credit of our defenders they played very well, assisted by the home side’s decision to throw caution to the wind and bomb it into their forward line. In time, we wore the Hawks down and were able to cash in at the other end late in the quarter, where Snowy, Fordy and Dom Sullivan were on-song.

Both sides continued the theme of the game in the final quarter. An outclassed home side kept trying, while we were just too strong but still didn’t really know how to play this quirky ground. Of most interest was the Snowy Show, as he notched up his ninth quite early in the term, then had two misses from directly in front as he got the jitters with the milestone in his grasp. But soon after he got another chance which he absolutely nailed and deservedly enjoyed the moment.

In the end it was another big win but it was more workmanlike than brilliant, apart from Snowy, of course, who was just that.

Luka Vlassopoulos was again a ripper in the back pocket – a little hard nut who also provides plenty of run. JP Perez continues to grow in stature as he is given more responsibility through the middle, while Ben Wilson was again very, very good in there. It was great to have Mick O’Donoghue back leading the defence and he received magnificent support from his little brother Patrick in just his second game for the club. Big Adam Bevanda played his best senior game for some time and alongside James Moverley forms a strong ruck unit.

The boys now get an extended break with a bye next week before the Queen’s Birthday weekend. It is well earned and we are looking forward to seeing if they can keep the winning run going when they return in mid-June.