Sport / Football
NOBs hold their heads high against ladder leaders to close out season
Brunswick NOBs 9.12 (66) lost to Ormond 12.16 (88) at E.E. Gunn Reserve
Tim Purdey
AFTER some indifferent performances in recent weeks, Brunswick finished their season on a positive note and can look forward to competing strongly in Division 1 in 2026, after giving the undefeated Ormond a real scare at EE Gunn Reserve on Saturday, eventually going down by 22 points.
With a stiff southerly breeze blowing to the pavilion end, the NOBs had the task of pushing into it in the first quarter, and they did very well at keeping the ball out of the hands of the home side for the first eight minutes, before a couple of quick goals were registered against the run of play.
Brunswick continued to defend strongly but found scoring at the southern end to be tough. Ormond, though, did find a way to cobble together another couple of goals for the term, including one gifted to them by an errant kick across goal, to make it 4.6 to 0.0 at the first change, but the visitors played better than the scoreboard suggested.
A Joe Gale major from the opening bounce of the second quarter was the spark Brunswick needed, but the Monders then kicked a brace of crucial goals into the breeze soon after.
Playing in his first senior game after a late call-up, Luka Jerkovich provided a real highlight by winning a holding-the-ball free and calmly slotting his maiden goal from 40 metres out.
A period of possession-dominance for the NOBs followed, but they struggled to get reward for effort until Marcus Foti received a handball running directly to goal and slammed it home from distance. Thereafter, a couple of close misses were unfortunate for the visitors, but they finished the half full of running and within 21 points at the main break.
In the third quarter, Brunswick again defended stoutly into the wind and neither side could manage a major until the 17-minute mark, when Ormond ended a combined run of eight behinds, but Gale had a quick answer with his second from a good mark 30 metres out, to keep the margin to a manageable 25 points. The closing stages of the term would prove to be critical, and it was the home side who slammed on two goals to lead by a game-high 38 points, before Paul Scamporlino soccered one through from the goal square in the last minute.
Ormond got a dream start to the final term, with a goal after 30 seconds into the breeze, but to Brunswick’s credit they didn’t drop their heads and continued to run hard, which resulted in a major to Gabe Banova from 45, followed by further set-shot opportunities, which narrowly missed. Oscar Watt then snapped truly at the 14-minute mark to narrow the margin to 23 points and the home side’s aim of going through the season undefeated was under threat.
Sensing the danger, the Monders steadied, kicking the next goal, followed by the sealer at the 26-minute mark aided by a 50-metre penalty. Late goals to hard-working midfielders Ben Wilson and Fletcher Banfield were well deserved and the final margin was a fair reflection on the contest.
Best for Brunswick was Fletcher Banfield, whose consistency this season has been something to behold. Will McKenzie was fantastic in the ruck, while Jackson Browne had a brilliant game in defence, stopping everything that came his way. Rowan Hogenbirk was as hard-working and skilful as ever, and Joe Gale kept on presenting as a forward target. Matt Deeth played his best senior game for the year on a day when many players contributed.
The NOBs end their return season in Division 1 in seventh place with a respectable six wins and plenty of reasons to be optimistic about next year at Gillon Oval.
If you liked this story, have you thought about supporting our work?
We are an independent, volunteer-run hyperlocal news organisation owned and run by the people in your community. With your support, we can continue to produce unique and valuable local journalism for Brunswick, Coburg and the inner north of Melbourne.
