Jekyll and Hyde Two Blues Back in the Four

Seniors: 

The familiar term Jekyll and Hyde best sums up Prahran Assumptions round 10 win over Old Mentonians at Toorak Park on Saturday.

The term is used to describe a split personality and if ever a football team delivered a contrast in performance it was Prahran Assumption.

Stung by the memories of a potentially crucial first round loss to Old Mentonians the Two Blues were always going to come out aggressively.

But no one could have dreamt of what the opening 25 minutes was to bring- a staggering 9-3 while Old Mentonians could manage two paltry points. 

Running in waves from defence and with pin point passing to key forwards Pat Harris, John Grigg and Adam Sleight the Two Blues were in season best form.

A goal deep in time-on by the visitors ended the goal spree.

What followed in the next three quarters was a sloppy, error riddled display as Old Mentonians predictably lifted its intensity while theTwo Blues fell into old habits and lost their direct game style.

The third quarter in particular was a comedy of errors yielding 2-10 kicking with the aid of a slight northerly breeze.

At one stage in the last quarter the Prahran Assumption lead blew out to 66 points, but Old Mentonians trimmed the margin to 49 by siren time.

As coach Ash Mills said post game the last three quarters display will not cut in with the best teams in Division 1.

Yet the first quarter form was a glimpse of the potential the Two Blues possess to make a meaningful bid for a top two finish.

Other plusses were the return to form of defenders Blayne Dempsey and Ed Macdonald.

Thanks to a narrow loss by Old Geelong to undefeated Therry Penola, the Two Blues are back in the four.

Every game in the second half of the season is crucial with five teams vying for four finals berths.

The Two Blues are back at Toorak Park next Saturday aiming to reverse the away defeat to Yarra Valley in another must-win game.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 9-4 12-5 14-15 18-20 (128)

OLD MENTONIANS 1-2 4-5 6-9 11-13 (79)

Goals: Sleight, Harris 3, Grigg, Dean, Wall, J Hogarth, Musster 2, Adams, Anglin.

Best: Rogers, Simonetta, Wall, Maya, Sleight, Macdonald.

Reserves: 

The Reserves had two 'wins' for the week.

On Thursday the VAFA upheld an appeal against losing four premiership points for playing an unregistered player and on Saturday the Two Blues registered a routine win over winless Old Mentonians.

A total of 36 scoring points to six was an accurate reflection of the gulf in talent between the teams. 

The Reserves are now in fourth place on the ladder on percentage.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 6-3 11-7 15-12 18-18 (126)

OLD MENTONIANS 1-0 1-1 2-1 5-1 (31)

Goals: Marino, T Candy, Rice, Cohalan 3, Ellis, Field 2, Haynes, Giofre.

Best: O'Hare, Cohalan, Pitts, Delacruz, T Matherson, Webb.

Club XXIII: 

A convincing win over lowly Old Geelong has the Clubbies also in the four.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 5-0 9-3 12-3 14-5 (89)

OLD GEELONG 3-4 3-5 6-6 88 (56)

Goals: Walford, Berger 3, Myres, Keohler, Stewart 2, O'Connor, Warner.

Best: Corrigan, O'Connor, Walford, Michael, Keohler, Gouin.