Two Blues Second Half Capitulation in Round 1
Seniors:
The journey to Ballarat for the season opener last Saturday (April 5) started with so much promise for Prahran Assumption.
Ballarat's weather was its sunny best, and the lush wide expanses of St Patrick's College set the scene and the Reserves buoyed expectations with a thumping 58 point win for first game coach Josh Ancrum.
When the Two Blues hit the ground running with the first three goals it was smiles all round for Two Blues supporters.
But in retrospect the first quarter dominance which yielded 3-3 kicking with the aid of a slight breeze was nowhere near enough.
Gradually the bulkier, much taller North Old Boys/St Pats began to take control as it's on ballers upped their intensity.
At half-time the Two Blues clung to a seven point lead, but the danger signs were there,
What followed was, in the words of coach Ash Mills, an unmitigated disaster.
NOBs slammed home 15 of the last 18 goals of the game.
As the Two Blues tired their skills diminished, and NOBs turned a four goals deficit early in the second quarter into a 56 point romp.
The Two Blues were missing some key players including last year's best and fairest Matt Wall and clearly will need its best 22 to threaten the better teams in Division 1.
Highlights for the Two Blues were rare but on baller James Musster was tireless in his endeavours while Assumption College recruit Ruckman Tom Keaney showed considerable promise before being overwhelmed by older, bigger, stronger rivals.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-3 6-7 7-9 8-10 (58)
NORTH OLD BOYS/ST PATS 1-2 5-6 11-12 16-18 (114)
Goals: Harris 3, Sleight 2, Musster, Robbins, Kerr.
Best: Musster, N Costin, Harris, Anglin, J Matherson, Panagiotanos.
Reserves:
Sub standard opposition aside, the Prahran Assumption Reserves deserve full credit for an emphatic 58 point win.
The further the game went the more pronounced was the Two Blues dominance in a confidence booster for the team.
Recruits from the Prahran juniors grew in confidence as the game progressed while Jon Rice was in career best form a half-forward with four goals.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 12-11 (83) d NOBS ST PATS 4-1 (25)
Club XXIII:
The Two Blues Clubbies were on the receiving end of a good old fashioned thumping in round 1, against last years premiers Old Xavierians.
With an undermanned squad, the Two Blues were jumped from the start.
Our boys showed some fight in the third quarter, but overall were outclassed and a very obvious fitness gap was apparent. Coach Lewie had all in agreement that all players needed to work on their fitness if we are to have any chance of success this season.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 2-3 (15) lost to OLD XAVERIANS 23-15 (147)