Match Report
Senior Match Report - Round 16 - 09/08/2008By Ziggy Arness
First of all a quick thanks to all the players and supporters who turned up to do their bit for young Matty Smith the Sunday before last. It is pleasing to be part of a milieu such as this where the club ethos of mutual support is so obvious both on and off the field.
RESERVES: The score line of 170-27 probably says it all. Speaking to a couple of the players, I get the feeling that their confidence and motivation is running at a high and the expectations of revenge against the Tunners this week are not unfounded considering the way they are playing. Barring a recrudescent injury epidemic, an almost fully fit senior list and it’s concomitant flow-on effect means they should have the cattle to execute the task.
Hewzy continued his inexorable march towards a well-deserved century with a classic 12. Shuka, Jordan, Adesy, and Col Craney were amongst many to stand out. Johnny Park and Joel joined in with a couple of goals each. Great to see Browny back, and Spudda’s consistency has led some to speculate that he has all but confirmed his invitation to the League’s Best and Fairest night.
SENIORS: The unusual (and first time for me) sight of Dingley running around in its alternative away strip was a bit off-putting at first, and seemed to contribute to the consensus among the crowd that the first half produced nothing to write home about. Words such as vapid and soporific were thrown about, although that was a waste of time because nobody understood them.
The lacuna that was expected to be created by Quinny’s prolonged absence has not eventuated. It is now the sight of Mullo leading, marking and converting that causes a frisson of anticipation among Dingoe supporters and don’t his fellow underage players show a proclivity towards looking for him! One sagacious observer (that’s you Dutchy) was heard to asseverate “Where would we be without these U17s?”
The lassitude that epitomised the first couple of stanzas was replaced by a quite watchable second half. Despite hard work, Caulfield were unable to stanch Dingley’s scoreboard progress. At one stage a concatenation of kicks and handballs-Atkin to Ayyuce to Brooks- meant we were attacking alphabetically.
We welcomed back Brooksy, Pitty and Darren Andrews, who all made solid contributions, although Dazza was on the receiving end of an opprobrious castigation from the coach. What may have appeared a venial sin to the casual observer obviously wasn’t part of Quinny’s well-drilled game plan.
Tony Lavars (who is still waiting for the day the SFL radio boys pronounce his name correctly) was in scintillating possession-gathering touch. Tolga played a valuable linkman role and Frosty was in fine marking form taking grabs around the ground and up forward. Of course Morgs continued to reinforce the irrefragable fact that he is the best big man in the competition.
As already alluded to, the second-half was spiked with entertainment on both sides of the fence, punctuated by an umpiring decision that reached the apex of absurdity. An innocuous utterance from Steve Vinen after an infringement resulted in the immediate awarding of a 50-metre penalty. I strongly suggest the Club request clarification from the League on this one, and should they see fit to exculpate the official concerned, then an immediate message must be sent to Messrs Oxford, Webster and Roget, allowing them to redefine the words “Oh” and “What” with more odious meanings before the next editions of their fine Lexicons hit the printers. And Steve will have to play the next game with masking tape applied to a certain aperture of his anatomy.
For those of us who like to reminisce, it is a sad truth that “you can go back to the place, but not the time.” I long for the halcyon days of last year when we had an intense rivalry going with Springy Districts, one that almost had a touch of seventies’ science-fiction about it. Especially, at second semi-final time, when, after two nail-bitting home-and-awayers, we had a “Close Encounter of the Third Kind”.
Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope that Heatherton, after last week’s demolition of Hampton, can re-ignite that sort of battle this week. I doubt whether Danny will let Willo sneak away for 12 or that Kreppy will be given enough latitude to kick 10, but a competitive game could be in the offing.
Also in the offing is music on the hill, courtesy Leigh, Gordon and Tony, not to mention their youthful percussionist. Reminds me of the line; “Singapore! You should have heard the drummer!” The prospect of continued inclement climatic conditions is likely to lead to some inappropriate fires being lit on the hill, where the boys are always under the weather, regardless of the colour of the sky.
On behalf of those who read the “other”, officially club-sanctioned report, I’ve put in a request for the band to perform their own rendition of “Cliché go the Shears.”
Oh what?!!!
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