Official Match Report
Round 1 15 April 2012
Ormond vs. East Malvern White
Venue Stanley Grose Reserve, East Malvern
Not your typical footy weather – 27°C hot afternoon with a dusty centre square
Quarter 1
Ormond was kicking with the wind in the 1st quarter but unfortunately East Malvern had a lot of the possession in their forward line. The Ormond backline held up very well, repelling many advances to goal. The rather tall No. 5 for East Malvern (with the striking blonde hair) was deadly straight in front of goal slotting both their goals. Alexander took a good mark on the goal line just as the siren went, which was looking like a menacing charge to goal again.
Our closest attempt at scoring a goal came from an unknown soldier, aka Casper the Friendly Ghost – no parent, player or coach could name the mystery kicker.
Q1 time score: Ormond 0-0 (1) vs. East Malvern 2-1 (13)
Quarter 2
Against the breeze this quarter, was always going to be a challenge given the last quarter, but the team’s endeavour was 1st rate. Ormond has possession of the ball most of the quarter and had numerous advances on goal, but without success. The improvement was marked with some great passages of play, teamwork, defensive pressure and individual marks and kicks. Leon had a quarter in the ruck and managed to get just about every hitout – William K received a couple of nice taps from Leon.
Cheese’s green boot flew off his foot at one stage, leaving him to retrieve it whilst still on the ground and quickly put it back on.
Q2 time score: Ormond 0-1 (1) vs. East Malvern 4-2 (26)
Damian spoke about how good the team’s endeavour was in the 1st half and that we were unlucky with a couple of turnovers resulting in Malvern moving the ball quickly to the open forward line for 2 goals. He suggested a little more vocal action from the team’s mouth’s to each other, after all they are still only getting to know each other!!
Quarter 3
The half time coach’s pep talk and positional rotations worked at the 1st bounce with Nathan roving his own ruck work, bursting out of the centre, kicking to Jamie, who in turn played on, bounced, ran his full measure, long kick and goal. The goal gave the Blues a bit of a shot in the arm with some great passages of play and teamwork. Nathan was dominating the centre hitouts in this quarter. Cheese managed to run down an opponent, steal the ball off him and pass to Sam on the boundary line – a great passage of play. Jamie showed great ingenuity kicking a drop punt sideways whilst on the ground!!
Malvern East always looked dangerous in the forward line with some able big bodies, slotting another 2 goals. Sam had another long shot for goal right on the siren but just missed. Although the scoreboard didn’t necessarily reflect it, Ormond was keeping pace with them.
Q3 time score: Ormond 1-3 (09) vs. Waverley 6-2 (38).
Quarter 4
The Blues just seemed to get better and better as the game went on. They matched it with East Malvern in all areas in the last quarter. As Coach Damian pointed out at 3Qrt time, they will be getting tired too so just keep trying. It worked well, Sam received the ball at centre half forward from a defensive kick from E Malvern – he took a few steadying steps, long kick with it bouncing through for the Blues 2nd goal.
Late in the quarter, the ball was kicked forward landing between Jamie & Emma – Jamie pounced but was tackled to the ground – free kick and a straight kick saw our 2nd goal for the quarter.
Final score: Ormond 3-3 (21) lost to East Malvern 8-5 (53).
Coach Damian was very happy with the team’s endeavour, and that they were listening & learning along the way (and of course having fun). The score in the 2nd half reflected their improvement, only being outscored 4 goals to 3.
