Two Blues show pride

IF it’s possible for a club to have a red letter day yet be defeated Prahran had such an occasion at Toorak Park on Saturday.

Winless Prahran v VAFA Premier C grade ladder leader Parkdale Vultures promised a mis-match of the highest order, but what transpired bordered on the unbelievable.

Five minutes into the last quarter a Tully Loomes snap goal from long range levelled the scores at 10-6 apiece!

Was a monumental upset be about to unfold?

Alas, the dream was quickly snuffed out as the Vultures steadied to score the last five goals of the game to win 15-9 (99) to 10-7 (67) and show why they are likely Premier B grade bound.

While the win eluded them, the Two Blues regained some pride.

Motivation comes in all forms and no doubt the fact this was going to be James Mussters’s 279th and last game for the Two Blues was a major factor in clearly Prahran's best performance in VAFA Premier C Grade.

Add the fact his best mate Tim Maya was also retiring on 279 club games, there was a Ladies Luncheon and re-union of the 2014 Reserves premiership and there was an anticipation this was a day deserving of a special effort.

Musster set the tone when he was rewarded for a superb tackle in the first five minutes and duly slotted a goal from 40m out to the delight of his teammates and supporters.

James Gottschalk wandered forward from defence and took a spectacular mark and goaled and Taylor Bamford converted from a free kick to keep the Two Blues in the contest.

The Vultures gradually took over in the second term and held an 18 point lead and a familiar tale seemed set to unfold with Two Blues fading away.

But the Two Blues came out renergised, Taylor Giles goaled from a free kick, then Matthew Clifford conjured a 'scissor kick' goal from the square.

Suddenly the Vultures looked rattled. Clifford goaled again courtesy of a 50m penalty, and in time-on Jesse Waters and Bamford goaled to sneak within six points at three quarter-time. 

It was no co-incidence that a Division 1 competition best and fairest winner Rory Brodie and last years grand final best afield Shaun Chapman played their best games for the season.

Every team relies on its best players to perform and injury has severely restricted both players much to their frustration and teammates.

Brodie's marking game was elite and Chapman was back to his bustling best.

Coach Craige Milward asked for one intangible pre-game- effort.

The Two Blues did that and more, their pressure and some of the tackles were ferocious, forcing the Vultures into mistakes.

Several players turned in season best efforts, Joel Hume,  Waters,  Bamford and Ollie Burke among them.

Post match Musster and Maya were chaired off by teammates and addressed teammates, family and supporters in the rooms in an emotion charged finale to a game fitting of two club greats.

PRAHRAN 3-2 4-4 9-6 10-7 (67)

PARKDALE 3-3 7-4 10-6 15-9 (99)

Goals. Clifford , Bamford 2, Musster, Giles, Waters, Loomes, Gottschalk, Brodie.

Best. Rory Brodie, Shaun chapman, Joel Hume, Jonathon Simonetta, James Musster, Jayden Williams

RESERVES

A creditable performance against ladder leader Parkdale considering the margin in round 6 was 109 points.

The Two Blues were much more competitive this time with the margin 49 points,

The Two Blues remain a mathematical chance of finishing fourth if they win all three remaining games and AJAX lose them all, not inconceivable considering two of those games are against finals placed Parkdale and Beaumaris.

PRAHRAN 2-1 3-2 3-4 5-7 (37)

PARKDALE 4-3 7-4 10-5 13-8 (86)

Goals. Elwin, Stefanutti 2, Amalfi.

Best. Max Howden, Benjamin Oakley, Nicholas Phimister, Ethan Plaza, Michael Woods, Angus Perez

 WOMENS

The Two Blues felt the full force of the ladder leader St Mary's which boasts an astonishing percentage of 506!

PRAHRAN 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 (6)

ST MARY'S 4-6 8-11 13-13 18-15 (123)