Season low for Two Blues
PRAHRAN slumped to a season low with a second half capitulation against second bottom team Marcellin at Toorak Park on Saturday.
On the evidence of what transpired it is little wonder the Two Blues are winless and last on the ladder after seven rounds of VAFA Premier C Grade.
Forget the 49 point losing margin, the most damning stat was 30 scoring shots to 11 for a final scoreline of 14-16 (100) to 8-3 (51) providing Marcellin with just its second win of the season.
And this after the Two Blues led at quarter-time 4-0 to 3-3 kicking into a northerly breeze.
Skipper Rory Brodie in his comeback game and visibly hampered by the ankle injury that sidelined him round 1 twice marked and goaled and loomed as the fire starter for a first win for the season.
While Marcellin dominated the second quarter Prahran stayed in touch despite conceding two 50m penalty goals. A goal in time-on by Mackenzie Mayne trimmed the margin to just five points.
All this made the capitulation to follow so mystifying.
The third quarter was especially forgettable with just one point to Marcellin’s 3-7. At one stage Marcellin slammed on seven unanswered goals.
As Marcellin’s confidence grew so the Two Blues' evaporated.
Fumbles, turnovers and free kicks conceded became contagious.
So often a promising chain of handballs went awry because of a basic skill error and the opposition pounced.
Some serious soul searching is required to turn the season around.
PRAHRAN 4-0 6-0 6-1 8-3 (51)
MARCELLIN 3-3 6-5 9-12 14-16 (100).
Goals. Brodie 3, Partridge, Mayne, Stefanutti, Bamford, Marks.
Best. Jonathon Simonetta, Jayden Williams, Rory Brodie, Mackenzie Mayne, Riley Hogan, Patrick Marks
RESERVES
A gritty third win for the season by the Reserves now sixth on the ladder.
In a see-sawing battle the Two Blues forged to the front in the last quarter with a running goal to Peter Pavlou.
With just four minutes remaining Otto Langtry-Kierce iced the game with a miraculous goal on the run from deep in the forward pocket.
PRAHRAN 9-8 (62) d Marcellin 7-10 (52)
Goals. Juricic, Langtry-Kierce, Hughes 2. Pavlou, Scott, Axford-Wood.
Best. Peter Ahern, Otto Langtry-Kierce, Tully Loomes, Kyle Scott, Michael Woods, Matt Hughes
WOMENS
After playing Albert Park at our home ground 2 weeks ago the VAFA decided to match us up again after a well timed bye.
Having lost our first encounter to them 44 to 9 our team was out for some sort of redemption. Our determination was further heightened with disappointing news that one of our star young players (Phillipa Stevenson) was sadly returning to Germany for study and this would be her last game. The team will very much miss Phillipa's energy and commitment.
The improvement in our team is immense with our running in numbers, handballing, tackling and hitting targets - we were the attacking side scoring the first goal. In what was an intense see-sawing game, Albert Park's experience eventually winning them the game in the second half kicking two goals.
So much improvement from all players, especially those new to the game ensures winning success is not far away.
PRAHRAN 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 (7)
ALBERT PARK 0-1 2-3 2-5 3-11 (29)
Best. Liana Edwards, Philippa Stevenson, Taylor Blaydon, Katy Perree, Alina Meich.
