On the hottest day in living memory for a home-and-away game at Gillon Oval, there was plenty of heat in a high-quality Round 2 encounter between Brunswick and Oakleigh on Saturday, but it was the Krushers who were able to absorb the pressure and execute their skills better for longer, eventually running out 39-point victors.

In the first quarter, the visitors got off to a quick start with three early goals before two majors in a minute to Brunswick’s Lachie Pearson and Tom Wilson made it a one-goal game, but then the Krushers replied with a couple of their own, including a third to their gun full forward, Ashen. Tom Wilson hit back with his second, but a very late goal to Oakleigh gave them a 20-point lead, which would prove to be a valuable buffer for the remainder of the day.

The NOBs began the second term brightly with a nice bit of team play ending in an early Oscar Watt major, but Ashen continued to be a thorn in their side as he replied with his fourth, before star recruit Fletcher Banfield slotted one to again make it a 14-point game. The Krushers then steadied as the game became more of an arm wrestle, capitalising on defensive turnovers to extend their lead to 28 points at the main break.

At the start of the third quarter, Watt caught fire and had his second and third goals on the board inside two minutes as Brunswick pressed hard, but Ashen’s fifth soon after gave Oakleigh a crucial 22-point lead, which they followed up with the next two goals. The NOBs fought back hard as the term wore on, with majors to Paul Scamporlino and Will McKenzie, to get back within four goals, and could have been closer had a couple of late set shots been on target.

The first goal of the final term would be critical and, in keeping with the pattern of the game, it was Oakleigh who scored it to make the gap 29 points, before resting ruckman Ben Young calmly slotted a set shot and then looked to have a second major in a minute, but his snap was adjudged to have glanced the padding on the post. From then on, goal-scoring dried up as fatigue set in, and the final margin was probably not truly reflective of the closeness between the teams on the day.

Best for Brunswick was an old name, but a new recruit, in Daniel Mott, who copped extra attention all day and still showed his class. Lewis McKenzie played in a number of positions and did well in all of them, while Tahj Haddock led a defence that was under pressure all day with skill and courage. Banfield continues to impress with his hard running and ability to win the ball, while in the forward line Watt was always dangerous and Tom Wilson was back near his best.

The challenges keep on coming for Brunswick in Division 1, with Old Peninsula after Easter. Enjoy your break and see you back at Gillon Oval on 26th April!

NOBs best on ground Daniel Mott in action, photo by Brunswick Voice.