With the end of the season very near, the equation to be resolved is two wins from the last two games. If Peninsula (top) beats St. Kevins (5th), our team has a chance to finish 6th and in the finals which would be a great turnaround from last year’s experience.

Although freezing wet weather was experienced all week and the ground soft, the positives to greet players and spectators were bright sunshine and an absence of any wind. This was a must win game. Last time the teams met at Therry the conditions were wet, raining and sloppy with the Brunswick only just overcoming Therry 5-12-42 to Brunswick 8-9-57, with Therry kicking 4 goals in the last quarter.

Today the instructions were to play attacking football and not go too wide into the pockets but kick direct through the centre, flanks if need be at the widest, especially from full back kick-ins.

Therry were short of players with only 16 available and big Toby Neal volunteered to make up the numbers for the opposition. Brunswick evened up the numbers to ensure a fair contest.

First quarter

Brunswick won the toss and kicked to the Pearson Street end, with Will McKenzie having his work cut out against the tall Therry ruckman, but it was Agnus Ross who broke free from a stoppage at the 5 minute mark to find Gus Coverdale lurking in the forward pocket. The goal sneak didn’t disappoint with his first major. Back to the centre and the second goal resulted from a wide kick into the forward line gathered by Archie Fulton Gregg who passed sideways back to Mathias Foley, with a kick off the ground to Anthony Alexandris and the second major was scored.

Therry weren’t to be denied and strong play out of the centre + a 50 m penalty resulted in the opposition’s first goal. The centre clearances were a tough affair with the sticky turf wicket from the “summer grass growing completion” making it problematic for a clean centre break. With Ross, Tahj Haddock, Will Mc Kenzie and Shannon Gill finding it difficult to show the opposition a clean pair of heels! Goals came about from a raffle (no, not a meat tray) with Archie, who handballed backwards to Jack Ludeman, back to McKenzie and then finally a mark to Archie – goal. The fourth major was won by another with Coverdale into the action after a quick clearance from the centre, through “selling the candy” to the opposition with twist and turns which resulted in a major!

Back to the centre and Therry won the clearance but were repelled by Jack Ludeman with a spearing pass off the flank which found Gill, who finished with a smart left foot pass which placed the footy onto the chest of Fulton Gregg = major. The 6th goal was from Ross with a handball receive slotted through another major for the purple & white. A great opening quarter!

Good signs was hand ball statistics (20) and tackles (15).

Brunswick 6.2-38 – Therry Penola 1.0-6.

Therry had to go defensive in the second quarter and stacked the backline, with a crowded 50m arc resulted in an arm wrestle for the quarter. It took until the 5 minute mark for Fulton Gregg to mark strongly in front of the pack and slot through his third! The play see-sawed for the remaining 20 minutes with Therry backline repelling Brunswicks repeated forwarded entries. With Therry’s lack of numbers in the forward line they found it difficult to get the footy past the half forward line.

Ludeman playing across the HBF switched the play to Paddy Boreham Delaney and with his usual accurate disposal found Anthony Roussos, but alas a point!

Further behinds were scored with Fulton Gregg, Stefan Stengherlin and McKenzie all in the action, albeit their accuracy failing at the critical times! Roussos however roved from an errant kick in and made up for his inaccuracy and slotted though goal 7!

Goal of the day however came via the regular full back Jasper Paevere. A positional switch into the forward line at quarter time saw “inspector gadget” gather the ball like a rover on the boundary, deep in the forward pocket and with an off-break found centre of the goals. Those bowlers never forget!

Half time Brunswick 9-7-61 – Therry Penola 1-0-6

Half time instructions were more handballing to advantage particularly backwards out of packs/stoppages to give players time and space for disposals. Without a strong opposition the players were made aware that concentration levels can drop off, which can result in being second to the ball, with a reduction in scoring opportunities. The team couldn’t afford a mediocre result given finals.

Third quarter

Some positional changes at half time with McKenzie (ruck) spelled and replaced by Alexander Avraam, Coverdale into the centre with Ludeman & Gill. Jack Sabatino from full back into the forward line. Therry won the centre clearance but were repelled by Paevere who found Ludeman and with a dodge and weave bounced the ball to edge closer to the goals and slotted a 40m pass through the goals from CHF. Therry won the centre clearance but were finding it tough going trying to get it past the HB line of Eric New green, Declan Sparrow with Carl Marchione (wing) combining with numerous switches and attacking football, confusing the Therry forwards.

Back to the centre and with Avraam winning the ruck and “floating forward” marked strongly and resulted in one of three (3) goals for the quarter. The big ruckman was on fire, ably assisted by small forward Foley who found Avraam again with consecutive handpasses and another two goals! With McKenzie now back into the ruck, (wanting to also get a piece the action), a handball onto Gill who then found Anthony Alexandris, resulted in the fifth goal being scored for the quarter. Scoring however was not that efficient with 7 behinds also scored for the quarter! What was pleasing was the handball statistics were very positive at 21 for the quarter with most emanating from the back of packs & stoppages!

Brunswick 14.14-98 – Therry 1.1-7

Instructions for the fourth quarter was for the team to find the “Brunswick Chess Club” recruit James Kharma in the forward line, for his first major for season 2019. Therry however won the first centre bounce but alas scored a behind. With Paevere with a long bomb out of full back found McKenzie who passed to Boreham Delaney with the Alexander Georgopoulos marking strongly at CHF and scored a major! Back to the centre and a clearance by Ludeman to Alexander Roussos with a handball to Karma and the big forward found the goals for this first kick & major for the day! Kharma however wasn’t satisfied with this effort and presented again with Alexandris finding the leading forward with a spearing pass. Kharma marked truly and with the poise of a veteran kicked this second goal in a matter of minutes.

Final Brunswick 19.21-135 – Therry Penola 1.2-8