In the early stages of this game there was more action behind the glass in the matchday luncheon than on Gillon Oval, then the two old rivals started to trade shots, before Brunswick finally found some fluency and put their foot down in the second-half to run out six-goal victors over Old Paradians on Saturday.

In the first quarter it felt as though the game was being played in slow motion. Showery conditions made the ball slippery and both sides struggled to build any momentum. Goals to small forwards Matt Horan and Gus Coverdale put the NOBs in front, but some sloppy defence gifted a major – and the lead – to Parade on the siren.

Another couple of goals to Parade in the opening two minutes of the second term meant they had kicked four in-a-row and held a 16-point lead. Paul Scamporlino got one back for the home side, before poor discipline handed Parade a 100 metre penalty and a goal, followed by a major to Tom Wilson, making it five goals in the first seven minutes of the quarter. The scoring then dried up for 20 minutes, before Ben Wilson reduced the margin to less than a kick, but another 50 (the fifth for the term) gifted the visitors a response. Thankfully, a snap to Scamporlino in the shadows of halftime took it back to a two-point margin.

Brunswick needed a big third quarter to put a gap on a nagging opponent, and an early goal to Jonny Haddad put them in front. Parade managed to level the scores after seven minutes and the game again went into a holding pattern before Coverdale took it by the scruff-of-the-neck with two goals in-a-minute courtesy of some dynamic play. Alex Avraam backed this up with a nice mark and set shot and Scamporlino put the finishing touches on this match-winning burst with his third just before three quarter-time.

The first goal of the final term to Tom Hedley extended Brunswick’s lead to a game-high 27 points and in steady rain they were never really troubled from that point on, with Josh Hedley and Tom O’Farrell hitting the scoreboard, topped off by Haddad and Avraam making it two apiece for them on the day and 10.2 to 3.6 in a dominant second half.

Angus Ross brought his own ball and had a day out it in the midfield. Ben Wilson relished the conditions, while Gus Coverdale was highly impactful. Liam Whelan continues to play at a high level week-on-week, while Tom Wilson was creative playing high half-forward. Archie Fulton-Grigg was again very impressive in the ruck and Scamporlino played the perfect small forward’s game.

Whitefriars away, at an early time, will present a massive challenge to the NOBs as they seek to hold on to second spot. See you out there!