Two Blues notch 11th successive win

THIS wasn’t a game for the highlight reels , especially in the first half, but Prahran posted its 11th successive win for the season in VAFA Division 1 v Therry Penola on Saturday.

The winning margin of 72 points did not do justice to Therry Penola's competitiveness.

But while they did well to nullify Prahran's scoring power in the first half, the home team over possessed the ball and found the Two Blues defence impenatrable.

Remarkably a goal on the siren to end the first quarter was to be Therry Penola's sole goal for the match!

Pat Ribbands set the scene keeping the home team's match winner Jarrod Egglestone goalless and with just a handful of possessions.

With Therry Penola desperate to avoid relegation this was never going to be an easy game for ladder leader Prahran.

Therry Penola was up the contest from the first bounce but Jackson Partridge marked and converted for the first goal.

There were constant turnovers from both teams before Mackenzie Mayne found Jon Simonetta for a second goal soon followed by a great goal on the run by Joey Bell.

While the Two Blues forward work was out of kilter to say the least , try as they might Therry Penola could not penetrate the best defence in the competition.

Apart from Ribbands blanketing role, Jayden Williams was impassable at full-back, ably supported by James Gottschalk, Joel Hume and Jake Stent-Powell.

The half-time scoreline of 4-4 to 1-4 flattered the Two Blues.

But any sense of an upset result was quickly snuffed out in a dominant third quarter.

Courtesy of a 50m penalty skipper Rory Brodie kicked the first goal of the quarter.

Then a cameo hat-trick of goals from Max Milward, who started the first half in the back pocket, made the game safe.

Milward had a stand out quarter also passing to Brodie for a long goal.

The longer the game went the more obvious was the Two Blues superior fitness and skill levels. 

Mid-fielders Mackenzie Mayne, Joey Bell and James Musster gathered possessions at will while Brodie was the dominant key position player on the ground. 

The Two Blues return home to Lucas Reserve for the final home and away game v West Brunswick on Saturday.

Prahran is then assured of a second semi-final on August 31 at Coburg City Oval v Parkside or Ormond.

PRAHRAN 3-1 4-4 9-7 12-13 (85)

THERRY PENOLA 1-3 1-4 1-6 1-7 (13)

Goals. Brodie, Milward 3, Partridge, Simonetta 2, Torney, Bell, 1

BEST. Patrick Ribbands, Max Milward, Joey Bell, Mackenzie Mayne, James Musster, Ethan Plaza

RESERVES

A romp in the park for the Two Blues with forward Eddie Espinosa putting a case forward for senior selection with nine goals.

The Reserves will have a first semi-final 'preview' v West Brunswick on Saturday.

PRAHRAN 3-1 12-3 16-7 23-10 (148)

THERRY PENOLA 0-0 1-0 1-2 2-2 (14)

Goals. Espinosa 9, Pavlou 4, Marrows 3, Jack Matherson 2, Jennings 2, Thomson, Beddison, Treloar 1.

BEST. Eddie Espinosa, Thomas Bowes, Thomas Beddison, Connor Thomson, James Matherson, Tyrone Jennings.