Two Blues Domination of West Brunswick Comes to an End

Seniors:

Revenge is a powerful motivation in football as Prahran Assumption players and supporters can testify after being on the losing end of an arm wrestle against rival West Brunswick at Toorak Park on Saturday.

Last season the Two Blues met the Magpies four times for four wins, the last for the biggest prize of all, the VAFA DIvision 2 premiership.

But from the moment Bill Irving converted a long goal from a free kick in the opening minutes it was apparent West Brunswick wasn't going to settle for second this time. The windy conditions suited their lock down game style- there were just five goals for the match by half-time- and Baz Simpson played the 'plus one' or loose man in defence to perfection. The tackling pressure from West Brunswick broke down the Two Blues high possession running game and caused a rash of turnovers.

Despite all this the Two Blues held a 10 point lead at half-time after late goals to Jayden Williams and Dan Freeman, and West Brunswick had just two scoring shots for two goals. But three third quarter goals to none reversed fortunes and this time the visitors held a 10 point lead. In the context of the game it was a fair margin despite the fact the Two Blues were coming home with the breeze. When the Magpies goaled from a free in the first two minutes signs were ominous for the Two Blues. Joe Whiting goaled only for a quick reply and Beau Adams then goaled only for another quick reply with a clever dribbling goal. Sometimes you get the feeling it's not your day and so it proved for the Two Blues as they peppered the forward 50 in what proved to be a 35 minutes last quarter. But twice shots were touched on the goal line and Will Brereton, who tried his heart out and was the only effective forward all day, missed altogether from a tight angle after a mark on the goal line.

So for the visitors they gained some slice of revenge with a six point win 8-4 (52) to 6-10 (46) win and the Two Blues slipped to fifth place on the ladder. In a game where defence was king Two Blues full-back John Stocker was the stand out best player for the home team. Saturday proved a dark day for the Two Blues with all four teams suffering defeats.

Next Saturday the Two Blues traverse to Oak Park to take on Therry Penola.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 1-4. 3-4. 3-5 6-10 (46)

WEST BRUNSWICK 1-0 2-0 5-3  8-4 (52)

Goals: Falcone, Adams, Conlan, W Brereton, Williams, Whiting.

Best: Stocker, Taylor, Quinn, Rogers, D Freeman, Musster.

Reserves:

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 0-0 5-0 5-0 5-0 (30) lost to WEST BRUNSWICK 5-5 6-5 9-8 13-12 (90).

Goals: Hickey 2, Joel Matherson, Dempsey, Martin.

Best: Walford, Luff, Panagiataros, Northway, Martin, Soultanakis.

Club XXIII:

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-0 3-0 4-3 6-5 (41) lost to HAWTHORN 3-2 6-3 9-6 11-9 (75)

Women's:

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 0-1 1-1 2-2 2-3 (15) lost to POWER HOUSE 1-1 4-3 5-7 6-7 (43).

Goals: Browning, Suriano.

Best: Smith, Raeburn, Guest, Buttolph, Lindkvist, Mathias.