Two Blues end 2022 season with a win

FORGETTABLE as the game was Prahran Assumption could at least say mission accomplished after finishing the 2022 VAFA Division 1 season with Saturday’s win over relegation bound Whitefriars.
This was a hard watch, to say the least, with a catalogue of bloopers from both teams in an error strewn match.
That said, apologies to Luke Kerr who bought the small gathering to their feet in the last quarter with a classic ‘screamer ‘ mark deep in defence in front of the change rooms.
But that was an outlier in what proved a dour struggle for all.
There must have been a season high for smothers, a combination of the desperation of Whitefriars and a lack of awareness from players on both sides.
As coach Brett Dickinson said post match this was an ugly win, but at least it was a win to leave the Two Blues fifth on the ladder, the best team outside the four finalists and a springboard for 2023.
The occasion of co Captain Beau Adams’ 150th match was enough to lift the Two Blues intensity.
In retrospect the first quarter won the game for the Two Blues.
After conceding the first goal , Tim Maya and Zac Podmore goaled from set shots then Matthew Clifford added two more, one from a left foot snap and the second on the siren from the boundary line.
Whitefriars dominated the opening stages of the second quarter but could only manage four points which proved the story of their day.
In fact their second half yielded 0-3 despite countless inside 50 forays including six set shots in the last term that all went astray.
The result was put to rest early in the third quarter when Shaun Chapman and Ethan Plaza goaled in the first seven minutes.
Good players were thin on the ground but Podmore, better known an an inside midfielder, was dominant up forward with contested marks and locking the ball in.
Xavier College student Nick Kelly emerged with honours playing centre half-back in just his second senior match while first gamer and schoolmate Harry McAuliffe showed encouraging signs with his pace in a forward pocket.
The season officially comes to a close with presentation night at the Osborne on Friday September 2.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 4-1 5-4 7-8 8-9 (57)
WHITEFRIARS 1-2 3-8 3-11 3-11 (29)
Goals.Podmore, Clifford 2, Chapman, McAuliffe, Plaza, Maya.
Best. Podmore, Kerr, Williams, Adams, Everest, Plaza.

RESERVES

A rare double with the Reserves posting their seventh win for the season, an excellent return for first season coach Jack Matherson considering the massive turnover of players.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 1-2 5-5 8-6 9-7 (61)
WHITEFRIARS 4-2 4-3 4-6 5-10 (40)
Goals. Beddison 3, Rhodes 2, Heatley, Bamford, Jack Matherson, Bowes.
Best. Rhodes, R Juricic, Spears, Beddison, M Juricic, Graham.