Two Blues Fall Short for Musster's 100th
Seniors:
Not even the occasion of James Musster’s 100thgame was enough to inspire Prahran Assumption to a win over Old Geelong at Toorak Park on Saturday.
The Two Blues were primed for a supreme effort to salute oneof the club’s favourite sons but two crucial phases of play emphasised the gulfin class between the teams.
Old Geelong sprinted out of the blocks with four unansweredgoals in the first eight minutes.
After that assault, the Two Blues steadied and clawed theirway back into the game.
Deep into time-on in the first term the Two Blues has trimmedthe margin to 10 points, but two Old Geelong goals restored order and so set atrend for the game.
The Two Blues struggled to piece together back-to-back goalswhile Old Geelong was able to score with multiple unanswered goals.
With a three quarter-timedeficit of just 17 points and after kicking the last two goals of the third quarter the Two Blues threatened to run home the stronger team.
But a volley of four unanswered Old Geelong goals in thefirst six minutes iced the game.
The fact the Two Blues then kicked the last four goals ofthe game was a credit to their persistence but as coach Luke Egan told his players postgame their skill level only went up when the pressure went out of the match with Old Geelong emerging the winner 15-12 (102) to 12-9(81).
When the heat was on the Two Blues skill errors- missed targets by hand and foot- cost them dearly against a classy Old Geelong.
Musster was inspirational on ball but simply lacked support as Old Geelong’s combination and size, strength and pace overpowered the Two Blues.
Prahran Assumption sorely lacked a key forward with John Robbins the lone hand up forward.
Robbins kicked a staggering 7-5 of the the Two Blues scoreline.
In defence Sam Durnan was valiant at centre half-back restricting one of the competition’s best key forwards Callum Wood to one goal while Jordan Waters was again persistent with his efforts on ball.
Prahran Assumption’s finals hopes hang by a thread with a 2-6 scoreline after eight rounds, effectively three games out of the four.
The VAFA will have a week’s break before a round 13 clash with North Old Boys/St Pats at Toorak Park with 1992 Brownlow Medallist Scott Wynd guest speaker at the pre game luncheon.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-3 5-4 8-7 12-9 (81)
OLD GEELONG 7-1 9-2 11-6 15-12 (102)
Goals: Robbins 7, Dempsey 2, Bremner, Waters, Taylor.
Best: Robbins, Durnan, Waters, Musster, Vuli, Donahoo.
Reserves:
The reigning premier in Division 1 returned to form with a convincing 32 point win over perennial Reserves powerhouse Old Geelong.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-3 9-3 12-4 14- 8 (92)
OLD GEELONG 3-3 6-6 8-12 8-12 (60)
Goals: Chilton, Giansiracusa, Cupples 3, Rice 2, Cammisotto,
Kelly, Panagiotaros.
Best: Panagiotaros, Nair, Wiggins, Kelly, R Costin,Slattery.
Club XXIII:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 9-8 (62)
HAWTHORN 7-10 (52)