Two Blues storm home too late
BIZARRE is not a term usually associated with a game of football but Saturday's Prahran v Oakleigh VAFA Division 1 thriller at Toorak Park would be an apt description.
In a see-saw contest, Oakleigh prevailed by two points 13-5 (83) to 13-3 (81).
But that doesn’t tell the true story.
Prahran kicked the first three goals of the match inside the opening 10 minutes, two to skipper Rory Brodie from strong marks.
And the Two Blues stormed home to kick the last five goals of the match.
But between those eight unanswered Prahran goals, Oakleigh was by far the dominant team and, to be fair, deserved victory. After the opening salvo from the Two Blues, Oakleigh kicked 13 of the next 18 goals.
The visitors were clearly the quicker team with fast breaks out of defence often leaving the Two Blues flat footed.
The winning break in a tight contest came in a 15 minute burst in the third quarter when Oakleigh slammed on four unanswered goals.
When Jackson Partridge, moved forward in the second half, found Ethan Plaza who converted just before the three quarter-time siren the margin was trimmed back to 25 points.
The last quarter was a slow burn for Prahran.
Partridge goaled from 50m inside the first six minutes to give a flicker of hope.
But when Oakleigh replied within a minute and soon after man-of-the-match key forward Rogan Kitts, a product of Oakleigh Under 19s, kicked his sixth goal for the match it was ‘game over’ time.
Whether Oakleigh sub consciously thought the same who will know but after Tyson Giles found Tom Selleck for a goal suddenly the momentum changed.
The Two Blues were strong in contested ball all day but also ramped up the pressure rating.
Riley Hogan, playing his 100th senior game, (pictured chaired off) goaled from a free kick to give his teammates a boost.
Then Josh Taylor, courtesy of a 50m penalty added another goal and at the 18 minute mark the margin had been reduced to 14 points.
Recruit Ben Burrows marked on the 50m line, calmly went back and slotted another goal and the margin was eight points at the 20 minute mark. The Two Blues constantly attacked, James Gottschalk missed from a set shot but when Ethan Plaza kicked a miraculous snap goal from 40m out at the 28 minute mark the margin was just one point.
Oakleigh kicked a point at the 31 minute mark, and seconds later the siren sounded.
This was a costly lesson for the Two Blues who dropped from second to fourth on the ladder.
They were given a clinic on how to run in waves from defence and when Oakleigh put the clamps on Brodie after quarter-time the forward line was bereft of options until Partridge moved forward.
Yet the last quarter flurry showed despite their deficiencies the Two Blues are not far off the better teams in Division 1 with losing margins of six points and two points respectively to top team Preston and third placed Oakleigh.
PRAHRAN 3-0 5-2 7-2 13-3 (81)
Oakleigh 3-2 5-3 11-3 13-5 (83)
Goals. Plaza 3, Brodie 2, Partridge 2, Hogan, Marks, Stent-Powell, Burrows, Taylor.
Best. Riley Hogan, Joshua Taylor, Tylar Atkinson, Patrick Marks, Tom Selleck, Patrick Ribbands
RESERVES
ANOTHER exciting contest with multiple lead changes.
With coach Jackson Partridge nervously watching from the boundary line as he was required for senior playing duties the match remained in the balance with two minutes remaining.
Enter Otto Langtry-Kierce who backed his running power to take two bounces and drill home a goal to ice the match.
James Elwin’s four goals proved crucial while first season player Jude Penny was prominent in defence.
Prahran is now third on the ladder.
PRAHRAN 9-10 (64)
OAKLEIGH 8-6 (54)
Goals. Elwin 4, Hume 2, Bamford, Langtry-Kierce, Hopkins.
Best. Angus Perez, Jude Penny, Michael Woods, Zachary Wood, Otto Langtry-Kierce, James Elwin
WOMENS
PROMOTED from Division 5 to Division 3 this was always going to be a challenge for the previously undefeated Two Blue Lions.
But they emerged with honour proving more than competitive with a strong Hawthorn team. Indeed but for an inaccurate 2-7 second quarter the scores would have been ever closer.
PRAHRAN-COLLEGIANS 0-1 2-8 4-9 5-9 (39)
HAWTHORN 4-3 5-4 7-7 8-10 (58)
Goals. Schmidt 2, Pierlot, Meich, Collins