Back in Division One, it always promised to be a daunting first round assignment for Brunswick against a team coming down from Premier C, in the form of Old Camberwell Grammarians whom we had not met for many years, and so it proved. The weather gods were not kind either, with the game played in conditions varying from swirling winds to sheeting, sideways rain.

Kicking with the wind in the first quarter, Brunswick began well, dominating possession but unable to capitalise on the scoreboard. A lack of tall forward targets was a factor, as was a tendency to over-possess the ball in conditions that called for long and direct entries. To Camberwell’s credit, they were good at forcing play towards the defensive-side of the ground, leading to a stalemate for much of the term, as reflected on the scoreboard. Prominent for the NOBs were new recruits Max Naughton, Will Nevill and Reubin Fulton-Grigg, while the ever-reliable JP Perez was again in the thick of the action.

Camberwell took advantage of the wind in the second term, kicking the ball long to create dangerous situations, which resulted in a number of goals for their forwards running onto the ball over the back. The scoreboard might not have showed it, but Brunswick’s effort continued to be strong, with another new recruit Griffin Barrett showing out, while Daniel Spiers, in his return to the club after a couple of seasons away, was excellent intercepting across half-back. Unfortunately, the struggle to find connection between our midfield and forwards continued but that will change with more time together for a new playing group.

The third quarter was marked by some very good footy from Camberwell kicking into the wind, particularly shooting for goal. At the other end, we couldn’t buy one, until we finally got on the board late with Matthew Palmer’s frenetic efforts in the goal square rewarded with a major.

It was in the final term that Brunswick gave its supporters a sign of what might lie ahead for this team, with three good goals, the first to the hard-working Aidan Pollock, which was a ripper from the angle. Big men David Royle and James Moverley then got in on the action, with Mov’s goal one of his rugby-style specials on the run.

It was a tough initiation to the VAFA for our new coach, Tom Hunter, but with the effort shown and game plan on display it is clear there will be wins soon enough for this group, hopefully starting this Saturday back at Gillon Oval against Kew.