Two Blues day of redemption
THIS was all about redemption day for Prahran.
At home with State Bank, Southbank and Prahran past players in attendance, it was an ideal scenario for the Two Blues to exact revenge on UHS-VU which had humbled the Two Blues by 63 points earlier in the season.
And the Two Blues duly delivered by 28 points in a slog played in wet and windy conditions.
Prahran is now two games clear in VAFA Division 1 with 44 points and a healthy percentage of 174. Ormond (151 per cent) and UHS-VU (136) are equal second on 36 points.
To give some context to the significance of this win Prahran has won 20 of its past 23 games, two of those losses at the hands of UHS-VU.
Given the weather conditions this was always going to be arm wrestle and so it proved with the scores 1-2 all at quarter time.
Just as he did last week, Ethan Plaza kicked the Two Blues only goal of the quarter, a conversion from 30m after a head high tackle free kick.
Kicking to the scoring end UHS-VU dominated inside 50s but Prahran’s much vaunted defence held firm.
Jayden Williams had the ball on the proverbial string as he repelled countless attacks with dashing intercepts, ably supported by Joel Hume, Luke Gorman and Pat Ribbands.
The second term in retrospect decided the game.
Matthew Clifford broke the dead lock with a snap goal at the six minute mark.
Then skipper Rory Brodie marked and goaled.
True to his form this season Taylor Bamford rounded the quarter with two crucial goals. The first from a brilliant intercept mark and conversion from a kick out and the second from a clever snap to take his season's tally to 19, an excellent return for a permanent forward pocket.
The second half was a dour affair with just three goals each, as UHS-VU refused to roll over but never threatened to break through the water tight Two Blues defence. Indeed UHS-VU was kept goalless from the nine minute mark of the first quarter until 15 minutes into the third quarter.
A rare second half highlight came in the third term when mid-fielder Mackenzie Mayne spun out of a tackle and snapped a left foot goal.
The Two Blues pressure was relentless and its superior physical strength plus that touch of class up forward separated two of the top teams in the competition.
PRAHRAN 1-2 5-7 7-9 8-10 (58)
UHS-VU 1-2 1-5 3-6 4-6 (30)
Goals. Clifford 3, Bamford 2, Plaza, Mayne, Brodie.
RESERVES
CONVINCING win by the Reserves with playing coach Jack Matherson winding back the clock in his 278th game for the club with five goals.
The win kept Prahran a game clear in fourth place with a finals berth now on their own hands.
PRAHRAN 1-4 5-4 10-6 11-9 (75)
UHS-VU 1-3 2-4 3-7 4-9 (33)
Goals. Jack Matherson 5, O’Sullivan 2, Marrows, Woods, Thys.
Best. Spinks, Woods, Jack Matherson, O’Sullivan, Campbell, Jennings.