Blayne Dempsey Caps 100th Senior Match with Top Win
Seniors:
Sometimes football games provide fairytale finishes when everything goes to script.
Saturday's clash with Old Geelong proved a red letter for Prahran Assumption with the almost perfect result.
Not only did the Two Blues zoom back to second place on the VAFA Division 1 ladder after a resounding 52 point win over Old Geelong at Toorak Park, but defender Blayne Dempsey capped his 100th senior match in the best possible fashion.
Sent forward late in the game, Dempsey kicked a goal after the siren to cap a great day for the Two Blues.
Stung by successive lack lustre efforts and defeats, the Two Blues laid 23 tackles in the first quarter to signal their intensity and led all day.
The win also means Prahran Assumption kept possession of the Jon Anderson Cup, named in honor of the Herald Sun sports journalist, 89 game
Old Geelong player and long time Prahran supporter and 1991-93 match committee member with coach Brian Taylor.
Anderson was also guest speaker at the club's pre game past players luncheon.
The last time the two neighbouring clubs met in the same Division was in 2006 when the Two Blues also won.
The scoreline of Prahran Assumption 16-12 (108) to Old Geelong 8-8 (56) suggests it was a romp but there were some anxious moments for the
Two Blues despite their first half dominance.
In fact at time-on in the second quarter the scoreline read Prahran Assumption 6-9 to Old Geelong 0-2.
But two Prahran Assumption turnovers led to Old Geelong scoring successive goals.
When the visitors added two more quick goals at the start of the third quarter it was game on.
Old Geelong’s skill level rose as they kicked four goals in 12 minutes to narrow the gap to 18 points and suddenly the Two Blues the water tight defence began to leak and the team looked tired and ragged.
Had the Two Blues wasted their dominance and would the silky skills of Old Geelong prevail, were the questions supporters were asking?
But the home team steadied with goals to Jack Matherson and Scott Parsons and still led by 29 points at three-quarter time.
Coach Ash Mills asked for five goals and 20 tackles in the last quarter. The response was five goals and 16 tackles as Old Geelong finally buckled against the relentless pressure of the Two Blues.
Goals from Parsons, who started in defence before being switched forward in a telling move, and Pat Harris iced the game.
The fitting finale came when Luke Giansiracusa passed to Dempsey who goaled on the siren.
Dempsey was on song with his marking and disposal in defence in the first three-quarters before the late switch forward.
Other stand outs for the Two Blues were on ballers Matt Wall, John Robbins and Nathan Davey, courageous wingman Beau Adams while ruckman Aran O’Hare, crumbing forward Tim Maya and wingman Ryan Pascoe played their best games for the season.
As coach Ash Mills said after the match we have seen the best and worst of the team over the past three weeks.
Their best is good enough to launch a serious challenge to unbeaten Hampton Rovers but the worst will see it struggle to stay in the four as the competition between second and ninth is extremely tight.
The Two Blues now play seventh placed Ormond (who is only one game behind Prahran Assumption) at Gunn Reserve on Saturday.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-5 6-9 11-10 16-12 (108)
OLD GEELONG 0-1 2-2 7-5 8-8 (56)
Goals: Giansiracusa , Wall, Parsons 3, Maya, J Matherson 2, Harris, Dempsey, Davey.
Best: Wall, Davey, Dempsey, O’Hare, Adams, Pascoe.
Reserves:
After a disappointing loss the previous week, the Reserves were gallant in defeat against the ladder leader Old Geelong.
The Two Blues led their highly rated rival at three quarter-time and only succumbed in the last 15 minutes.
Co-coach Josh Ancrum was outstanding and Rick Ellis continued his good goal kicking form.
After seven rounds the Reserves are now fifth, a game outside the four and play third placed Ormond this Saturday.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-1 6-3 8-4 8-6 (54)
OLD GEELONG 2-5 5-6 7-9 11-12 (78)
Goals: Ellis 5, Radywonik 2, Kirkman .
Best: Ancrum, Mulraney, Ellis, Kirkman, Boylan, Delacruz.
Club XVIII:
The Prahran Assumption Club XVIII made it four wins in a row after a hard fought 24 point win over finals contender De La Salle.
A seven goal BOG performance by Craig Berger set up the win.
After jumping out of the blocks with the first three majors, it looked like Prahran Assumption would have everything their own way. But De La responded and the sides were evenly matched until the 3rd Q break when only 6 points separated the 2 sides
In the final term, PAFC kicked 5 goals to 2 goals to run our convincing winners.
Nick Koehler was dominant on his wing. Mark Ploenges had the ball on a string.
Nick Mitchell bounced back from a few weeks out with a hammy to be in and under everything. Dan McGrath is getting better every week after having his wings clipped earlier in the season by injury. And Brett Michael is relishing the 1st ruck mantle another strong big man display.
Prahran Assumption 14.60-90 def De La 10.6-66
Goals: C. Berger 7, S. Cooper 3, N. Mitchell 2, M. Ploenges, J. Storer
Best: C. Berger, N. Koehler, N. Mitchell , M. Ploenges, D, McGrath, B.Michael
Blayne Dempsey Tribute:
It is often said you should judge the merits of a top footballer by how they perform in grand finals.
Blayne Dempsey passed that test with honours in the VAFA Division 2 grand final v Bulleen Templestowe last year.
If you were fortunate enough to watch that Grand Final no doubt a blond haired Prahran Assumption defender would have caught your eye taking mark after mark.
In fact Dempsey was far and away best afield, despite not being awarded the best afield medal.
Even VAFA officials off the record conceded Dempsey's outstanding marking display was worthy of best afield honours but the winning team received the award.
Blayne plays his 100th senior match v Old Geelong this Saturday, a tribute to his dedication to the club and his teammates.
After starting his career as a forward and spending time in the Reserves, Dempsey has found his niche across half back.
In the past two seasons Dempsey has been a cornerstone of a tight knit defence with his flair, marking ability and pin point disposal turning defence into attack time and again.