Two Blues ex Juniors shine
OCCASIONALLY in football wins there are hidden gems .
Such a case was on show at Dallas Brooks Park on Saturday when Prahran produced one of its better wins for the season with 68 point victory in enemy territory against Old Peninsula.
The hidden gem is that no less than five players in the team- Pat Ribbands (94 games), Ollie Burke (93) ,George Torney (61), Taylor Bamford (53) and Ethan Plaza (12) - played for Prahran Juniors.
For a variety of reasons district clubs such as Prahran struggle to convert their Juniors into Senior players.
The Two Blues clearly have a good list, but it is an ageing list, so to have five former Juniors in their ranks gives rise to hope for the future and that the trend may be on an upward curve.
The Two Blues now have a six wins, two losses record and sit in third place in VAFA Division 1 headed into the Kings Birthday bye week.
Reward is on Monday night the players get their first look at training under lights at Toorak Park in preparation for the return to our home ground next season and the rest of the week off.
Among the Juniors cohort on Saturday was youngster Ollie Burke who was best afield and turned in a career best game capped by three goals. Add two from Bamford, one from first gamer Torney and one to Plaza and that's seven from former Prahran Juniors players.
Torney quickly adapted to the higher level, in the words of a teammate he showed poise, a rare quality when a player can appear unhurried when all around him are in a rush.
Prahran had this game under control by half-time.
The first quarter scoreline of 4-4 to 0-3 kicking with the aid of a breeze was a touch flattering as Old Peninsula missed two easy set shots in the opening minutes and the last goal of the quarter to Bamford came via a 50m penalty.
But in the second term after Old Peninsula goaled in the first five minutes the Two Blues hit back with goals to Matthew Clifford, Burke twice and Bamford to open a 43 point lead.
Yet again the Two Blues defence was at its frugal best conceding just four goals.
In part this was testament to what coach Craige Milward described as a collective elite hunt on the ball which denied the Pirates their slick passing game.
As Milward told his players ‘we are building’ with finals well and truly on the radar.
PRAHRAN 4-4 8-5 10-11 15-12 (102)
OLD PENINSULA 0-3 1-4 3-6 4-10 (34)
Goals. Burke, Simonetta 3, Clifford 2, Hume, Plaza, Bell, Stent-Powell, Chapman, Bamford, Torney.
Best. Oliver Burke, Joel Hume, Joey Bell, Rory Brodie, Mackenzie Mayne, Jonathon Simonetta.
RESERVES
THE Reserves made hard work of holding off winless Old Peninsula to earn a berth in the top four for the first time this season.
The Two Blues must have thought the game was over with a three quarter-time lead of 27 points but the Pirates kicked three last quarter goals in a tense finale.
PRAHRAN 0-2 3-2 7-7 8-9 (57)
OLD PENINSULA 2-1 3-3 304 6-7 (43)
Goals. Jack Matherson 3, Perez 2, Woods, Marrows, Lienert.
Best. Tully Loomes, Matt Hughes, Taz Spinks, Michael Woods, Dominic Hughes-Churchett, Joel Matherson