Two Blues back on winning list

TALK about a game of two halves!

Never has the old axiom been more apt than in Saturday’s VAFA Division 1 clash between Prahran Assumption and Whitefriars.
In a dominant first half the Two Blues kicked 8-9 holding Whitefriars to a mere three points.

The Two Blues were fast out of the blocks with Shaun Chapman converting from a downfield free kick within the first minute.

Marcus Grogran snapped a goal, Ethan Plaza goaled from a free kick and James Gottschalk roved the pack for a clever goal top open a 28 point lead.

Chapman, with a great snap over his right shoulder and Rory Brodie goaled in the first 10 minutes.

Then Matthew Clifford found Taylor Bamford who converted from an acute angle before Clifford, after several misses, finally goaled after playing on from a mark.

With the Two Blues dominating the the inside 50s  count, Whitefriars ended the half with a paltry 0-3

Realistically the Two Blues were unlikely to maintain the ‘clean sheet’ in defence but after snapping its goal drought with two goals in the first two minutes of the third quarter the tenor of the game changed.

The visitors suddenly began to run in numbers and the Two Blues looked listless.

Whitefriars added five goals for the quarter, split only by a long goal from Ethan Plaza.

Whitefriars added another four goals in the last term but a boundary line running masterpiece from wingman James Gottschalk and one from the goal square by Rory Brodie after a string of handballs made the game safe.

With as many as six changes from the previous week, to emerge with a 11-16 (82) to 9-6 (60) win was meritorious.

But as coach Brett Dickinson pointed out post game, a prolonged lapse such as in the third quarter will prove fatal against the better teams in the competition.

Shaun Chapman was outstanding for the Two Blues , attacking the ball with real intent from centre half-forward and in a relief ruck role, Gottschalk was dominant on his wing with the bonus of two goals while Jayden Williams, Jon Simonetta and Joel Hume led a stingy defence.

After last week's draw v Old Camberwell, Saturday's  win places the Two Blues fifth on the ladder.

Next week the Two Blues venture down the road to take on Peninsula.

SENIORS

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 4-5. 8-9 9-13. 11-16 (82)
WHITEFRIARS 0-1. 0-3. 5-3. 9-6 (60)
Goals. Chapman, Gottschalk, Brodie,  Plaza 2, Bamford, Clifford, Grogan.
Best. Chapman, Gottschalk, Williams.

RESERVES
FIRST win for the season despite a few heart flutters in the last quarter.
A 26 point lead at three quarter-time was trimmed but the Two Blues held on.
Jake Noonan, brother of senior player Matthew, impressed.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 4-4. 7-9 9-11 11-12 (78)
WHITEFRIARS 3-1 5-1 6-3 10-4 (64)
Goals. Thompson 3, Forrestall, O’Dwyer, J Noonan 2, Henshaw, Campbell.
Best. J Noonan, Abraham, Forrestall, O’Dwyer, Martin, Campbell.

THIRDS
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 0-2 2-4 4-6. 4-7 (31)
KEW 3-1 4-4 4-6. 7-9 (51)