Two Blues Win 2013 Season Opener
Seniors:
Coasting at half-time, panic stations time early in the last quarter - that was the emotional rollercoaster for Prahran Assumption fans before posting a gritty 15 point win in the VAFA season opener on Saturday.
Playing away against Melbourne High School Old Boys, Prahran Assumption seemed in control at half-time of its Division 1 clash.
Slicker, classier, stronger in the clinches, The Two Blues led by 31 points and it should have been more.
Pete Cristoforo, the 2011 premiership full-forward back after a season at Wangaratta Rovers, quickly made an impact with three goals, which he later boosted to a game high five.
But with the game seemingly out of its reach, MHSOB staged a concerted third quarter move kicking five goals to two. MHSOB abandoned its defensive mindset of the first half and began moving the ball quickly and the Two Blues lost their composure making mistakes galore.
A three quarter-time lead of 13 points narrowed to seven after a MSHOB centre square clearance and 25m penalty goal in the first 30 seconds.
Suddenly, the Two Blues were under siege conceding four consecutive goals and with the home ground crowd roaring the momentum had swung full circle.
But dependable defenders Blayne Dempsey, skipper Jack Matherson, Ed Macdonald and “Junior’’ Vuli held firm.
After a 10 minute arm wrestle Luke Giansirucsa snapped a badly needed goal to give the Two Blues breathing space.
Two set shots misses by MHSOB hurt when Pat Harris nailed a long goal from a Matt Wall pass.
Then the best forward on the ground Cristoforo accepted a Giansiruca pass to ice the game.
As coach Ash Mills said post game it was a match of two halves.
The disciplined, aggressive, structured Two Blues of the first half disintegrated into a rabble in the third quarter conceding a rash of free kicks and 25m penalties.
“We played in patches. There were some sensational individual performances, and the backline was fantastic in the last quarter. We have a big test next Saturday against Hampton Rovers who will be a genuine premiership contender.’’
The stand out individual performances came from on ballers Matt Wall and James Musster, tireless ruckman Nathan Davey and Dempsey who was allowed to play the spare man role in defence and took mark after mark in a repeat of his outstanding grand final game last year.
The Toorak Park clash v Hampton Rovers, anxious to atone for relegation from C Grade, will give the Two Blues a better guide of where they stand in the Division 1 pecking order.
Due credit to the players for stalling MHSOB’s last half charge, but a repeat of the shambolic third quarter will not cut it against a team like Hampton Rovers.
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-3 7-9 9-12 12-12 (84)
MHSOB 1-2 3-2 8-5 10-9 (69)
Goals: Cristoforo 5, Simpson, Giansiracusa, Wall 2, Harris.
Best: Wall, Musster, Cristoforo, Davey, Dempsey, Anglin.
Reserves:
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 1-3 3-4 4-7 5-9 (39)
MHSOB 2-0 5-2 9-3 12- 6 (78)
Goals: Ancrum 2, Hocking, Candy, Mulraney.
Best: Mulraney, Hocking, Webb, Donahoo, Booth, O’Hare,
Club XVIII:
Round 1 was a solid 12 point win by the PAFC Clubbies over Monash.
It was an undermanned Two Blues that took to the park with only one on the bench.
The first half saw an accurate PAFC Clubbies dominate on the scoreboard.
Craig Berger broke the game open kicking 4 goals in the first quarter and the Two Blues kicked 6 straight. Despite the around the ground play being pretty much even, Monash were wasteful in front of goal kicking 6 behinds and finding themselves 5 goals down at quarter time.
The second quarter was a more even affair but by the long break the Clubbies held a comfortable lead 9.4-58 to 2.9-21.
The third quarter saw Monash work their way back into the game as the Clubbies lost momentum with some injuries to the big ruckman Lucas Welsh (shoulder) and Gunga (ankle).
Monash came home with a wet sail in the last but the PAFC boys managed to hang on for a gutsy win. The Ashers were left to rue their inaccuracy in front of goal.
A first up win for the Clubbies and new coach Brett Lewis.
For Prahran Assumption, Steve Zayler was BOG and was impressive in the back half with some strong marking and run and carry. Nick Mitchell and Michael Slaven were in everything in and around the packs. Crispen Myres was a rock at full back and Nick Koehler dominated on his wing.
Congratulations to Sam Cooper on being named Clubbie Captain for 2013 with Michael Slaven and Nick Koehler as vice captains. Andrew Slawinski continues in his role as DVC.
Well done to debutants Darby, Gunga and Karl for their 1st run in the Blue and Blue.
Next week PAFC Clubbies play away to St Bernards.
PAFC 12.6 – 72 def Monash Blues 9.12-66
Goals: C. Berger 4, D. Edwards 4, S.Cooper 2, T. Ford, N. Mitchell
Best: S. Zayler, N. Mitchell, M. Slaven, C. Myres, N. Koehler