Adam Sleight's 200th Game Milestone - A Nightmare Result
Seniors:
Milestone games are meant to matter. But what promised to be a fitting celebration of Adam Sleight’s 200th senior game for Prahran Assumption on Saturday against Old Paradians instead turned into a nightmare.
On a sodden Garvey Oval against winless Old Paradians and with the Two Blues coming off seven successive losses the scene was surely set for a hard, contested arm wrestle in a relegation battle.
But Old Paradians made a mockery of its lowly ladder position with a thumping 66 point win 13-12 (90) to 3-6 (24).
Simply put, on the evidence of what Sleight's teammates delivered, the occasion didn't seem to mean enough for the Two Blues.
Skill errors, and there were plenty, were bad enough but the care factor- a lack of effort and intensity - was numbing to watch for Two Blues supporters.
The first and last quarters yielded a barely believable solitary point in more than 50 minutes of football. No surprise the 3-6 was the Two Blues' lowest score for the season.
Certainly it was not a performance befitting Sleight’s wonderful contribution to the Two Blues since arriving from Sunbury mid-season in 2003. A four times best and fairest, 2011 Division 3 premiership captain, twice VAFA representative and six times leading goal kicker for a career tally of 400, Sleight has been the most decorated player at the club in the past two decades.
When Alex Simpson passed to Sleight who marked 35m out in the opening minutes a fairytale start promised. But the kick was off target and coupled with a missed mark by forward Josh Hogarth and a red card offence against on baller Paul Donahoo soon after, the Two Blues’ energy levels evaporated and never recovered.
At quarter-time the return was one point while Old Paradians scored 2-2 from multiple forward 50 entries.
But what was the follow was much worse. Old Paradians slammed on five unanswered goals and the game was well and truly over by the time Jamie Robbins goaled from a free at the 22 minute mark for the Two Blues’ sole goal in the first half.
For Old Paradians the Boundy brothers Michael and David, back from injury, dominated the key forward posts while the Two Blues were clueless in attack.
Positives for the Two Blues were few but youngsters Simpson and Joe Slattery won plaudits for their attack on the ball.
President Fab Maya made a presentation to Sleight in the rooms post match on behalf of the club in recognition of the player’s career.
Prahran Assumption is now last on the ladder with an ominous assignment next Saturday at Keysborough Fields taking on second placed Old Mentonians.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 0-1 1-3 3-6 3-6 (24)
OLD PARADIANS 2-2 9-3 13-5 13-12 (90)
Goals: Robbins, Leske, Hogarth.
Best: Simpson, Stocker, Bremner, Dempsey, Kerr, Slattery.
Reserves:
The Reserves consolidated their place in the top four with a solid 26 point win over winless Old Paradians.
The Two Blues are fourth on the ladder, a game clear of fifth placed Therry Penola.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-0 5-3 9-7 10-8 (68)
OLD PARADIANS 2-1 2-2 3-4 6-6 (42)
Goals: Marmo, Walford 2, Ancrum, Montebello, Der Jeu, Urwin, J Matherson, Bamford
Best: Waters, Kenny, Urwin, Ancrum, Marmo, Challis.
Club XXIII:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-4 (16)
OLD XAVIERIANS 9-13 (67)
Goals: Berger, Murphy.
Best: Keohler, Gouin, Berger, Michael, Stone, Murphy.