Another week of EDFL action in the books and while Lakeside was quiet with all games being played away, that does not mean the magpie army weren’t able to witness some fine football.
With the Thirds game on Friday night being cancelled and the Under 18.5 Youth Girls on a bye week, the first game of the weekend saw the Reserves travel to Shark Park to take on Hillside. With a strong breeze blowing to the club rooms end of the ground, the home team made good use of the breeze, kicking 4.2 to our single goal to lead by 20 points at the first break. We fought back in the second, kicking 3 straight but allowed the home side to add 2.3 of their own so whilst we’d managed to trim the margin to 17 points at half time, we still had plenty of work to do. Unfortunately for our boys, the Sharks got well on top in the second half, kicking 3.4 with the breeze while keeping us scoreless to hold a commanding 39 point lead as we went into the final break. After the 3/4 time break, the home side ran amok, kicking 5.10 to 1.1 to run out convincing winners by 72 points. JC was the major goalkicker with 3 while Eyad and Hayden kicked one each. In the best were Timmy, Musa, JC, Nath playing in game 150, Red Dog and Marz.

The senior side were up next and looking to bounce back from their heart breaking late fade out against Tulla the week before. Though they have struggled in the eyes of some this season, our boys have battled through the injuries and players being unavailable and given it everything week after week. The home side again had the use of the breeze in the first term but were unable to use it fully, kicking 3.5 to our 1.2 and they held a 15 point buffer as we hit the first break. With the wind behind us, our boys put the foot down in the second quarter but were slightly wasteful, booting 5.7 to 1 goal which saw us leap out to a 16 point lead at half time. Once again, the change of ends bought a change of lead in the third term as the hosts kicked 7.2 to 1.2 and as we entered the final term we were down by 20 points – 11.7-73 to 7.11 – 53. The same amount of shots on goal but a 20 point deficit for our boys. In the final term, our boys went on a march, adding on 5.2 while holding the Sharks scoreless to run out winners by 12 points – 11.7-73 to 12.13-85. Brock returned to the team and starred up forward booting 3 while Raf kicked 2 on his return to Shark Park. Single goals were added by BMac, Pitty, Bakes, Faz, Matty, Jay and Barney. In the best on the day were Barn, Pitty, Cookie, Raf, Matty and Brock. It was a great return to the winners circle and our first away win since being promoted back into Division 1. Keep up the great work boys!

On Sunday our Under 14s were in action away to Maribyrnong Park and looking to build on their previous win over the team sitting top of the ladder (curiously the second week in a row we’d played a team named the “Lions”) but Marby were not going to be a push over. Our boys owned the first five minutes of the game but didn’t get reward for effort as we kicked only 3 behinds while the Lions got on top late and added 1.2 to have a 10 point lead at the first break. It didn’t take long to break our duck in the second term as we reverted to the backline set up that proved so successful last week and reverted to our regular onball configuration and everything clicked. We kicked 4.3 for the term to 1 goal, with Arabi proving a handful up forward and Mitch taking over at half back. After half time we added another 2.2 to the Lions 1 goal so the scores at the final break saw us leading 4.1-25 to 6.8-44. Having blown a lead previously against Marby at their home ground, this side were not going to let that happen again, kicking 1.2 to 1.1 to enjoy a 20 point win – 5.2-32 to 7.10-52. Arabi kicked 3 and Potter 2 while Johnny also got one. Special mention to Riv who kicked his first ever goal for the club, the tiny goal sneak taking on a much taller opponent in the square and soccering through a great goal! In the best were Boodi, Badr, Omar, Ahmed, Noah and Riv.

The final game of the weekend saw Robs 16s battle it out with Rupertswood. The sharks got out to an early lead but the encouraging sign was that our boys hit the scoreboard early with the scores showing 3.4-22 to 2 goals straight. Rob told the boys he was happy with the effort and to keep going with what they were doing. The next quarter saw a similar scoreline, with the sharks adding 3.5 to our 2.1, so beside the fact we were 20 points down, there were some real positives to be found. In the third term we were not able to add a goal but we were able to put significant pressure on cause the home side to kick poorly on goal as they added 2.7 to our one behind. With the scoreboard reading 8.16-64 to 4.2-26 a win looked out of the question but Rob asked the boys to keep going and keep that pressure on. Rupo again outscored us in the last, kicking 3.6 to no score, but again the pressure around the ball forced them to miss. The final score showed Rupo winning 11.22-88 to 4.2-26, with Rob’s quote after the game being that “this was the best 4 quarter effort bar the score. The boys were in the contest all game that’s why Rupo kicked 22 behinds. The boys played their best game for the year even though we lost.” He said he was so proud of the boys and the way they stuck at it all game. Great stuff lads!

Next weeks games see the Third’s starting off the weekend in Friday night as we travel to Shark Park to take on the boys from Hillside. Can the Thirds boys match the effort of the senior boys in beating the Sharks? On Saturday morning at 9:30am, our Under 18.5 Youth Girls team is in action at the Nest in a home game against East Sunbury. Later on Saturday our seniors and Reserves travel to Eric Boardman to take on Sunbury Kangaroos at The Pouch. Our Reserves boys will be trying their best to get the win to boost their hopes of keeping in touch with the finals race while the senior side will be looking to build on last weeks first away win of the season by adding another and keeping the pressure on Hillside for 6th place. On Sunday the Under 14’s and 16’s are in action in home games at The Nest, with the 5th placed 14s taking on 7th placed West Coburg. A win here could put us within striking distance of the top 2 but will also help solidify our spot in the finals race. The Under 16s take on neighbours Greenvale in the battle of Somerton Road. After last weeks great effort, Rob will be looking for his boys to try to jump above the Jet’s on the ladder with a good win.

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