Paddy Harris the Match Winner

Seniors:

Match winners in football are usually goal kickers and never was the point better illustrated than in Saturday’s Prahran Assumption VAFA Division 1 win over Brunswick North Old Boys St Pat’s.

Goals were like gold nuggets at chilly and windswept St Pat’s College Ballarat in an error riddled game.

As the Two Blues went to the three quarter-time break eight point in arrears and with just five goals on the board the visitors needed some inspiration.

Enter key forward Paddy Harris with three goals in the first six minutes to take the lead, then after five successive points from the homeside Harris kicked his fourth for the quarter threading through a set shot from 35m out an the angle.

Jon Rice iced the game with the Two Blues’ fifth for the quarter and an arm wrestle for three quarters into a relatively comfortable 16 point win 10-6 (66) to 6-13 (49).

Harris was far from the best player in the first three quarters conceding several free kicks and struggling with the haphazard delivery into the forward line but he was clearly the difference between the two teams.

Until his cameo Jamie Robbins with three goals was the stand out forward in the match.

As coach Ash Mills said post match this was a victory for resilience.

The injury ravaged Two Blues lost two more players in Blayne Dempsey and Alex Simpson for the second half to further test their depth and resolve.

The third quarter was a wipe out for the visitors as the home team piled on 4.6 to 1.1 kicking with the aid of a strengthening breeze.

But in the last term thanks to the continued dominance of Tom Keaney in the ruck, the Two Blues took hold of clearances winning the quarter 11-3 as the winless home team wilted.

This was a day made for backmen and not surprisingly small defenders Joe Slattery,  John Simonetta and 'Junior' Vuli were outstanding all day for the Two Blues while first gamer centre half-back John Stocker showed courage and poise at crucial times.

Somehow the Two Blues are third on the ladder with a win and a draw after two rounds, but that is flattering for they have had a soft draw to start the season.

At home v the winless Whitefriars at Toorak Park next Saturday the Two Blues will get the chance to stretch their unbeaten record.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION           2-3  4-4  5-5  10-6 (66)

BRUNSWICK NOBS ST PAT'S   1-1  2-2   6-8  6-13 (49)

Goals: Harris 5, Robbins 3, Rice, Waters.

Best: Simonetta, Harris, Stocker, Slattery, Vuli, Robbins.

Reserves: 

Some familiar old faces led by veterans and life members Will Walford and Hus Pitts assisted the Two Blues to an easy win over an undermanned Brunswick NOBS St Pat's.

The downside to the win was the broken ankle for Luke May who was admitted to Ballarat Base Hospital.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION         3-4  8-7  10-10  13-12 (90)

BRUNSWICK NOBS ST PAT'S  2-0  2-1   3-1    5-3 (33)

Club XXIII:

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-2    5-4  7-6  9-11 (65)

OLD XAVIERIANS          4-2       7-6      13-6  18- 7 (115)