Two Blues celebrate Luke Kerr's 100th senior game

THE game was well and truly over as a contest with Prahran leading by 91 points at three quarter-time v Old Peninsula in VAFA Division 1 on Saturday.

But as events unfolded the last quarter was to provide the undoubted highlight of the day.

Showing a touch of theatre assistant coach Ash Lever suggested 100 gamer Luke Kerr, a dedicated defender for his entire career, should be sent to full-forward to which coach Craige Milward readily agreed.

With the Kerr family present en masse and a rollicking Ladies Day Luncheon upstairs the scene was set for a fairytale ending.

At times it was comical to watch as his teammates tried in vain time and again to present 'Kerry' with a goal.

As the clock kept ticking finally the moment came, and after accepting a pass he marked about 40m out, instantly wheeled around on his right and slammed home a goal on the run.
That was the cue for his teammates to mob him on celebrating his 100th senior game with the flair to match the occasion.

'Kerry' admitted later on tired legs he was never going to make the 40m distance from a set shot so it had to be on the run.
Football is a team game but sometimes it is worth acknowledging an individual and Kerr's influence extends well beyond playing 100 senior games.

Past coach Ash Mills addressed players pre match and a host of past players were at the game, an indication of how integral Kerry has been to the fabric of the club in is 11 years with the Two Blues.

All this on a day that saw Prahran demolish Old Peninsula by 101 points.

To be frank this game was over as a contest when the Two Blues slammed on five unanswered goals in the first 16 minutes.

Matthew Clifford started the goal fest in the first four minutes, twice Joey Bell goaled on the run and Ethan Plaza maintained his extraordinary accuracy from set shots to slot two goals.

As impressive as the opening was, the third quarter provided more of the same with the Two Blues slamming on 8-1 to zero.

The previous week Old Peninsula's late run at a finals berth ended with a one point loss and it showed in the lack of want to tackle and run as the Two Blues turned the contest into a rout.

Prahran's reputation as the best defence in the competition was enhanced restricting the Pirates to a miserly 2-9.

Bell and James Musster controlled the mid-field, Riley Hogan, Jesse Waters and Tom Seaman supplied the outside run and Clint Angove was more than serviceable as the sole ruckman in the absence of Rory Brodie and Shaun Chapman.

With two games remaining Prahran is destined to be minor premier with a second semi-final berth beckoning.

PRAHRAN 6-3 8-6 16-7 19-8 (122)

OLD PENINSULA 0-2 1-6 1-6 2-9 (21)

Goals. Plaza 4, Clifford 3, Bell, Simonetta, Bamford 2, Musster, Seaman, Partridge, Angove, Kerr 1.

 Best. Joey Bell, Riley Hogan, Clinton Angove, Thomas Seaman, Patrick Ribbands, Jesse Waters.

RESERVES

A 96 point win over Old Peninsula and defeat for fifth placed Kew all but guarantees the Reserves a first semi-final berth.

Prahran is now two games clear of Kew with two games remaining.

The Two Blues were in control from the outset with Adam Heatley, a late starter to the season, and Niall O'Sullivan with five goals stand outs.

PRAHRAN 7-3 10-5 16-10 20-12 (132)

OLD PENINSULA 1-1 2-4 305 5-8 (38)

Goals. O'Sullivan 5, Perez 3, Panagiotaros , Espinosa, Jennings 2, Jack Matherson, Campbell, Graham, Pavlou, Rhodes, Marrows 1.

 Adam Heatley, Tyrone Jennings, Niall O'Sullivan, Daniel Campbell, John Panagiotaros, Angus Perez