Under 18 Match Reviews

Read below the recent match reviews from our under 18 games. Some exhilarating games has allowed the under18s push for a finals spot!



Round 10
UHSVU – Flemington v St Bernards, Brens Oval

FAREWELL PAPA

Written by Oz
It was the farewell game for Andrew “Papa” Papagiannis. Papa started his season as a defender, but increasingly has been used as a mid-fielder/ small forward, and has claims to the goal of the season. His contributions throughout the season have been terrific. It will be difficult to find someone to fill his role and his tenacity will be sorely missed.

With a hard fought win against Therry Penola last week the Vultures were facing a greater challenge against St Bernards, who have managed to out point the U18s in all previous encounters over the past 2 seasons. Mid-season ‘draft pick’, Ollie Colan made his debut, and Mick Fogarty made a return to Brens, but Brenton Cross & Lachlan Habel were big unavailables.

A cold Saturday morning greeted the teams and Brens Oval was a bit ‘sticky’ in the middle. The first quarter was a real arm-wrestle with St. Bernards taking the ascendency in the centre, but the Vultures backline stood tall with Brooks, Sausage and Brent Kelly all taking strong marks in defence. A restructured forward line saw midfielder Nick Waugh get the Vulture’s first. Key defender Shaq was a big loss through injury early in the game and made the cause for the Vultures all the more difficult. St. Bernards up by 16 points at the 1st break.

During the second quarter turnovers and an inferior work rate to the opposition were costly for the Vultures. At half time scores were UHS 2.2.14 to ST. BERNARDS 4.8.32.
Coach Mark Grant gave the players a ‘rocket’ at half time, demanding better use of possessions and more accountability. The message hit home with captain Will Cheesmen taking charge in defence, kicking the ball long to the forward line, which had the likes of Buster and Mick Fogarty taking big grabs. UHS-VU/Flem clawed their way back in to the contest, adding two goals and restricting St. Bernards to a solitary. At three quarter time scores were UHSVU 4.5.29 to Bernards 5.8.38.

Nine points down on a day when goals were hard to come by was the equation for UHS-VU/Flem. The Vultures dominated possession early and scored 3 quick goals to take the lead. The Vultures lead was reduced to 4 points with less than 5 minutes remaining. UHS-VU/Flem fought desperately and scrambled the ball forward resulting in a Nick Waugh mark in the square and a goal after the siren.

Final Scores 8.6.54 to 6.8.44.

This win sees the U18s in second spot only 1 game behind ladder leaders St Johns.



Round 9
UHS-VU/Flemington v Therry Penola, John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve

Written by Oz
Due to a league reshuffle UHS-VU/Flem are now in division 2, along with old rivals Therry Penola. UHS-VU/Flem have the wood on Therry, twice beating them with narrow wins this season and never beaten by Therry in the previous season, thus Therry were out for revenge.

The first quarter saw Therry open fire with 3 straight, while the vultures failed to take opportunities early. It seemed that the big outs of Jack Saill, Nick Dev, Neo, Papa and Ed Pearson might hurt UHS-VU/Flem’s chances of victory. Therry’s most dangerous forward was Hayden Rowe, bagging 3. The vultures managed to pin one back late in the quarter, through Sam McSweeney. Quarter time UHS-VU/Flem 1.4.10 Therry 3.5.23.
Brilliant work by the mid-field group, lead by Lachie Allen, saw UHS-VU/Flem fight back in the 2nd quarter.

Shaq was instrumental on the half back flank stopping several of the Therry attacks. Brent Kelly was brilliant in his new role as a defender and designated kicker on the kick outs. Small forward Sean Farah showed good form winning his own footy and drilling a perfect pass to CHF, Buster Williams.

At half time scores were UHS-VU/FLEM 5.9.39 to Therry 6.6.42.

UHS-VU/Flem started the 3rd quarter well with significant contributions from Anthony “Sausage“ Ausage and Lachlan Habel. UHS-VU/Flem forward, Kyle Grimshaw, got himself on the scorecard and also set up two others. At three quarter time scores were UHS-VU/Flem 7.14.56, Therry 8.10.64.
The last quarter was a question of who wanted it more. It was a real arm wrestle with every ball being hotly contested around the ground. All players were working overtime.

Therry-Penola danger man, Hayden Rowe with 5 goals already to his name, was causing problems for UHS-VU/Flem up forward. But a Kyle Grimshaw goal late in the game put UHS-VU/Flem in front. Therry Penola hit back quickly with a goal from a free-kick allowing Hayden Rowe to score his 7th and put Therry back in front. With only minutes remaining UHS-VU/Flem looked down and out.

Therry got the centre clearance, but Brent Kelly read it best, marking and delivering the ball to UHS-VU/Flem advantage. The contested ball spilled out-of-bounds. With under-a-minute remaining Coach Grant called all players forward for an all-or-nothing effort.

The ball spilled out of the contest to Andrew Brooks who seized the moment and went bang from 50. It was a wobbly kick, but it made it to the unmarked goal square and bounced, not once, but twice through for a GOAL!. UHS-VU/Flem were in front, the siren sounded and final scores were

UHS-VU/FLEM 11.15-81 to Therry 11.11- 77



ROUND 8
UHS-VU / FLEMINGTON v WERRIBEE at Brens Oval

Round 8 was set in motion with the titanic clash between the strong travelling Werribee side and the slightly underperforming and undermanned UHS-VU, who were coming off a loss to a St Bernards side they expected to beat.

The team set up for the Combine was cause for early concern with key midfielder Josh Macauley amongst a host of late withdrawals from the selected side, while key utility Lachlan St Claire was carrying a slight finger strain into the important clash. Despite the depleted line up the side was upbeat in the rooms with the prospect of Andrew Papagiannis’ move to the midfield, Andrew Brook’s return and Zac back after a knock to the knee. Also of note was the return of defender Brusk Suna for his first game of the season.

The Combine started the game kicking towards the Zoo end. The intensity was high early and for the most part of the first stanza the game appeared in the balance. Suna was solid off a half back flank as was Kelly after his move from the forward line, while Saill outmuscled his opponent in numerous marking contests, and drilled a nice running goal, providing the highlight of the first quarter. A string of late goals gave the Tigers a solid lead going into the first change.

The second quarter was a stronger performance for the Vultures as they put through 2 goals thanks to Jonathon Brown-esque key forward, Nick Devereux. Werribee midfielders provided their forwards with numerous opportunities, but the Tiger forwards were not quite as accurate in front of goal
as they were in the first quarter. Coach Tim Habel’s “Sandwich Kick Out” plan was brought into effect with Sausage and Cheese the long targets which Jack ‘Tomato Sauce’ Saill at their feet. A late flurry from El Hawli in front of the goals gave the Tigers a healthy half time lead.

At half time Coach Grant went back to the drawing board and a change of direction was ordered. Papagiannis was moved to defence as was Hugo Everist, who had racked a whopping 82 Dream Team points in the first half. The message was loud and clear from Coach Grant, his players needed to be harder at the ball in the second half, while senior coach, Rick Watts, had the players fired up heading into the last half. This scribe missed the start of the third period, being too busy serving hotdogs in the canteen, however, on return it was clear that the sugar boost from Jeff’s half time gummy snakes had worn off and the Tigers continued to show their strength through the middle of the ground and up forward. There were a few highlights for the quarter, most noticeably a lovely passage of play resulting in a strong goal square mark from tall man Lachie Allen, but unfortunately he missed the set-shot from a very gettable distance.

The Tigers headed into the final break with a healthy lead. Their form continued into the final quarter, although an improved effort from the UHS-VU side saw the scoreboard end a little more respectably as they doubled their goal tally for the game. Despite, at times, looking a little more concerned for the afternoon surf report, Nick Rowland lifted his effort and pulled off some nice side steps before utilising his ability to hit a target off either foot. The other great positive for the Combine was the functionality
of revered forward coach Ozgur “AB” Aslan’s attacking set up. His open forward set-up produced some great results in the last quarter with Devereux taking his game tally to 3 goals in a performance, which no doubt, captured the eye of Calder Cannons scouts. A few late goals saw the Tigers run out 165 point winners.

Goal Kickers: N. Devereux 3, J. Sailll (margariti) , W. Williams, Papagiannis.

Best Players: J. Saill (margariti), B. Kelly, N. Rowland, N. Devereux, H.Everist,
B.Suna.