SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA - PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Round 2 Vs St Joseph's College, Echuca

The setting couldn’t have been better for Round 2 of the Premier League, as the boys rolled out to Coolock all pumped up and full of confidence to take on St Joseph’s College Echuca. Playing on Finn Oval, where the surface was looking an absolute delight, the boys were keen to ‘ground themselves’ on the deluxe green velvet carpet pre-game. The weather was perfect, and with a healthy-sized crowd of CMCB Coolock staff and students watching on, both teams were keen to put on a display of first-class football.

The CMCB boys jumped out of the gates as the better team in the first quarter. The ball was regularly in their forward 50, where the recluse Archie Stevens, who was in for his first game in CMCB colours in a while, pounced on a loose ball to kick the first major of the game and give the boys the ascendancy. Ted Harrop then kicked another major just minutes later to have the boys celebrating some terrific transitional play. The boys remained on top for most of the quarter, but a late goal to St Joseph’s, followed by another one right on the quarter-time siren, saw the teams locked on 14 points each at the first break.

The second quarter was sadly a rather demoralising one for the CMCB boys. A drop off in defensive pressure, less run and what can only be described as some lazy efforts, allowed St Joe’s to kick away in the quarter to lead by 28 points at half time. The ball was moving rapidly in the wrong direction all quarter as St Joseph’s put the foot down, taking advantage of the lacklustre CMCB effort. The boys simply forgot to switch on the ‘go’ button and as a result they couldn’t match the sustained pressure of the St Joe’s boys, leading to easy goals for the Echuca crew. Josh Kelly, Aydan Hand and Sam O’Bree fought hard but couldn’t restrict the scoreboard damage.

Following a blood-curdling rev-up from the leadership group at half-time in the sheds, the boys responded in the second half. Goals to Jaxon Kelly, Carter Reid and Archie Stevens in the first half of the 3rd quarter put the pressure right back on Echuca. The signs were good for a famous comeback, but the St Joe's team responded and made the contest a real arm wrestle as they continued with their physicality. There were no easy kicks! Archie Stevens, Max Connick, Carter Reid and Josh Kelly tried hard as they gradually reduced the margin to 19 points at 3 quarter time.

Similar to the 3rd quarter, early goals to Ralphs and Harrop had the boys up and about. They had cut the margin to 7 points and had a real sniff of victory. But as had been the case with the previous quarter, the Echuca boys held firm and showed immense defensive courage to lock the game down and make it very hard for CMCB to move the ball quickly. Doherty, Hand and Paddy McNamara tried valiantly, but the siren sounded with St Joe’s securing the win by 7 points. It was a disappointing loss, however the lessons to come from a match like that will be invaluable. The team is not out of contention yet, however a win in the next round against Rowville is imperative.

Final Score: SJCE 7-13-55 def CMCB 7-6-48 

Best: Ayden Hand (Best on Ground & AFL Medallist), Joshua Kelly, Archie Stevens, Seamus Doherty, Carter Reid, Paddy McNamara, Nick Harvey, Ben Miller

Goals: Archie Stevens 2, Ted Harrop 2, Jaxon Kelly 1, Carter Reid 1, Zavier Ralphs 1

TEAM: Mr Kieren Prowse (Assistant Coach), Quinlan Cody, Charlie Dickins, Mack Skinner, Oliver Stewart, Jimmy Mathews, Rylan Newman, Jake Schubert, Aydan Hand, Ben Miller, Nicholas Harvey, Ted Harrop, Max Connick, Seamus Doherty, Zavier Ralphs, Griffin O’Shea, Tyce Griffin, Levi Stephens, Miller Nihill, Mr Leigh Millard (Coach), Lenny McNamara, Cruz O’Sullivan, Will Bartlett, Archie Stevens, Carter Reid, Callum Whyte, Sam O’Bree, Patrick McNamara, Jacobi Kramer, Jaxon Kelly, Hudson Banfield, Nicholas Long, Jake Rosa, Joshua Kelly, Max Thompson, Riley Travaglia