The match-of-the-day lived up to its billing at Gillon Oval in Pride Round on Saturday as Brunswick, nine points down at the 15-minute mark of the last quarter to second-on-the-ladder Elsternwick, unleashed a brilliant finishing burst of six unanswered goals to run out 28 points winners, going two-and-a-half wins clear on top in the process.

In soft conditions, with the usual heavy in the middle, the game started with both sides feeling each other out, before Elsternwick’s defence handed out a gift to Hayden Parker after 10 minutes with a poor attempt at a switch across the goal face, but they responded with the next two goals. Parker’s forward pressure then created a goal to Tom Hedley, followed up by a 55-metre bomb from Jaspar Paevere which had the crowd gasping and gave the NOBs the lead at the first change.

The second term started with an early major to the visitors, before Anth Alexandris slotted a nice running goal to put Brunswick back in front after five minutes, but the defences of both sides then tended to dominate for the remainder of the half, with Elsternwick kicking the only goal amongst eight behinds, the majority of them to Wickers who should have had a bigger advantage than seven points at the main break.

The start of the third quarter saw another run-of-behinds – with the NOBs the offenders this time – before the visitors slammed on two-in-a-row to establish a 16-point lead after 12 minutes, but a beautiful set-shot from in front of the Social Club by Tom Wilson kept the home side well-and-truly in the game, then both sides traded minor scores in the run-up to the final change, with the margin a handy 10 points to the Wickers in a low-scoring affair.

An early goal to Oscar Watt from a goal-mouth scramble narrowed the margin to four points, but that was quickly answered by the Wickers courtesy of a bad defensive turnover and when the NOBs missed an easy set-shot soon after, with three injured players on the bench, a second home loss in succession loomed large. But then came the thrilling finishing burst, sparked by a fortunate 50-metre penalty from a kick-in which led to a nice roving goal to Paul Scamporlino, then Parker won a free in the goal square to put Brunswick in front for the first time in over an hour of play. Tom Wilson was then the beneficiary of a shocking kick-out error to extend the margin to 10 points, which he duly followed up with his third from a snap from a boundary throw-in, then Alexandris joined in the fun with his second, with the excellent Gus Coverdale deservedly putting the cream-on-top of the win with a well-taken set-shot.

Star rover Coverdale was clearly BOG as he continued his great season with a fantastic four-quarter performance. Big-bodied midfielder Rowan Hogenbirk was also very good, as were wingers Tom Hedley and Will McKenzie. Ruckman Ben Young, who has a frustrating first season for the club with injury, showed what he is capable of, with an excellent last quarter in particular, while Tom Wilson and Parker presented as good targets on a day not well-suited to key forwards.

Next week sees a big day for the club as we hold our annual Coterie matchday lunch. Be there to enjoy a sumptuous roast dinner and watch the NOBs play Aquinas as they seek to consolidate their place atop the ladder!