Sport / Football
Brunswick fails to make up for slow start in crucial clash with Oakleigh
Brunswick NOBs 13.15 (93) lost to Oakleigh 21.9 (135) at Scammell Reserve
Tim Purdey
IN A game that was crucial to Brunswick’s finals hopes, a slow start proved costly against a taller and more accurate Oakleigh outfit as they were soundly beaten by 42 points at Scammell Reserve on Saturday.
Played in ideal conditions, the first quarter was quite even in general play, but it was the Krushers who took their chances when they came, kicking the first four goals of the game, while the NOBs fluffed their lines in front of the big sticks, with a series of set shot misses.
At the 22-minute mark Tom Wilson finally put one in the ‘G’ column after a good mark in the square from a Rowan Hogenbirk bomb from the middle of the ground, but on the quarter-time siren Brunswick’s nemesis from round 2 – the Krushers’ gun full forward Luke Ashen – kicked his third to make it 5.1 to 1.4, which would prove to be a telling scoreline on the day.
Oakleigh were again fast out-of-the-blocks in the second term and after only four minutes led by 33 points, which left the NOBs to play catch-up for the remainder of the game. Three goals in quick succession – through a free to Paul Scamporlino, a clever kick on the goal line to Oscar Watt then his second from an angle – provided a ray of hope, but two quick answers restored a healthy lead to the Krushers.
In a high-scoring quarter, Scamporlino slotted his second and Tas Kearney roved the pack and slammed through his first major in the seniors right on halftime, however, in between Ashen kicked a brace, to make it six for him, and the margin was 25 points.
The first goal of the third quarter was kicked after only 30 seconds by – you guessed it – the Krushers, although Scamporlino was fighting hard to keep the NOBs in the contest and snagged his third following a nice mark, but Ashen then kicked his seventh, as he was single-handedly keeping Brunswick at bay.
In his first senior game for the season, Jesse Doherty provided a highlight by snapping the goal-of-the-day on the run, however, the Krushers continued have the answers with another couple, before Zephyr Hooke kicked truly from a tight angle, then Tom Wilson slotted his second. In a long quarter, the ball then lived in Brunswick’s forward half for the next 10 minutes, but they couldn’t capitalise, adding five straight behinds, which meant they still trailed by 23 points at the final change.
It barely needs to be said that Oakleigh scored the vital opening goal of the last term, franked for good measure by the next three inside five minutes to extend the margin to 47 points and blow the game apart. Scamporlino again stood tall against the onslaught with his fourth, a long set shot following some good transition from defence, before Watt kicked his third on the run. Ashen then kicked his eighth before Scamporlino grabbed himself a bag with his fifth from a classy snap around the corner.
Brunswick’s Big V squad member, Fletcher Banfield, was superb in the midfield with a mountain of possessions, while Scamporlino continued his excellent recent form. Hogenbirk was very good over four quarters, as were fellow mids Daniel Mott and Andre Jaycock. Lewis McKenzie battled manfully in defence and as second-ruck to Will Kempt, who continues to improve.
Back at Gillon Oval this Saturday in the different timeslot of midday as part of a big triple-header, Brunswick face UHS-VU as they look to atone for their close loss earlier in the season and register their sixth win.
Renegades see off late charge from Guns to secure memorable win
Brunswick Renegades 4.7 (31) defeated De La Salle 2.2 (14) at Basil Reserve
Trelawney Skye Edgar
BRUNSWICK left a shellshocked De La Salle in their wake after a triumphant 17-point victory on their round 11 excursion to Malvern on Saturday.
It was a solid group effort from the jump for the Renegades, with countless moments of individual brilliance indicating just how much the team have come to read one another’s play and back themselves to take chances this season.
The opening quarter saw a consistent arm wrestle of a defensive matchup, resulting in two behinds for Brunswick while their impenetrable backline did not allow a score to the Guns. Efforts in the air were a measure of the Renos’ determination this week, with impressive marks and second efforts as always proving a point of difference.
It was in the second term after an early De La Salle goal that Brunswick were allowed the time and space to really heat things up, with several stellar passages of play making the effort to put boot to ball and utilising hands when needed. A mega defensive chase-down featured cameos from Jane Williamson, Elizabeth Walshe and Gina DiBenedetto in a lovely tag-team effort, with defence then sending the ball straight back for a valiant but ultimately touched score effort by Euphemia Gannon. Persistence in this forward entry gave way to a gorgeous opportunistic goal from Kathy Madden to push the Renegades back into the lead.
Quarter three was a story of tireless legs, with Emma Mactaggart somehow everywhere all at once and Kate Sullivan providing great guidance on the field with body, voice and ability to find the right position. While De La Salle had managed to sneak back in front for a short time, a textbook assist from Mae Lesley-Otti allowed Amy Dillon a stunner of a goal to nudge Brunswick ahead, where they would remain for the rest of the outing.
The play-of-the-day must surely go to Angela Snowdon, showing incredible composure and footy smarts to spin around on her way to the interchange bench and boot the pill back into the Renegades forward 50. A hard-fought goal from Meadhbh Larkin closed out the quarter, a great pay-off for the streaming forward momentum displayed along the wing all day from the midfielder.
Backline dominance from Brunswick continued through the final term, with a brilliant mark and several heroic chase-downs from Elsie Daddow as well as a picture-perfect chain of possession out of the defensive goal square from Jane Williamson to Elizabeth Walshe to Emily Collins. The Renegades continued to find the ball in the air, with a beautiful grab from Emily Goode resulting in some scrappy forward 50 action and a snappy goal from Mae Lesley-Otti.
In what was a monster final effort, Brunswick’s last line of defence held down a late Guns’ surge, not allowing any fourth quarter goals for the host side.
After sealing the win away from home the Renegades will be ready to take on second-placed Parkside in Pride Round this Saturday as the club celebrates co-captain Clare Woodhouse’s magnificent milestone of 300 games at 2.40pm 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.
