Sport / Football
Unhappy return to old hunting ground for Brunswick
Brunswick NOBs 10.7 (67) lost to UHS-VU 14.7 (91) at Brens Oval
Tim Purdey
IT is 34 years since North Old Boys (now known as Brunswick) left their home ground in Brens Oval in Parkville for Gillon Oval and on Saturday their senior men’s team returned for the first time to face their old co-tenants Uni High School, who, remarkably, they had not played since 1971.
For three quarters it looked like they might crown the occasion with a famous win, but it was the team in green and tan who handled the moment better, consigning the purple and white to a third straight loss.
Played in sunny conditions with a breeze favouring the Royal Parade end, it was the excitement machine in Gus Coverdale, playing his first game for the year, who got the NOBs off to a fast start, getting on the end of some good team play, followed by a well taken set shot to Joe Gale.
UHS responded with two goals of their own into the wind, while Brunswick was controversially denied a third for the quarter when a goal to Andre Jaycock was overturned by the non-officiating field umpire who deemed the ball to have gone over the post.
In the second term, the home side showed how to use the breeze with four unanswered majors, before Jaycock officially hit the scoreboard with a much-needed goal, although UHS had the quick reply as the game started to open up. Brunswick then kicked two in-a-minute, through Mitch Hicks and Oscar Watt, but a goal on the halftime siren to UHS enabled them to take a handy 17-point into the main break.
It was imperative for the NOBs to have a big third quarter with the wind and, after a sluggish start, they began to build some real momentum, with two majors in quick succession to the dangerous Coverdale and Watt. Watt then kicked his third from a tight angle to make it a one-point game. UHS responded with their only major of the term before an excellent kick to space by Gale created a goal for Lachlan Pearson to tie the scores. A chance to take a lead into the final term then went begging and Brunswick had to settle for a one-point deficit with it all to play for.
The first goal of the last quarter would be critical, and it went to UHS courtesy of a free kick for high contact in the goal square. This sparked the home side, who noticeably raised their effort in pursuit of their first win of the season, kicking the next two goals to make it a three-goal game, while the NOBs appeared to tire. A third to Coverdale against the run-of-play raised Brunswick’s hopes, but UHS kicked the next two goals to establish a game-high 24-point margin and, for the third week running, the NOBs were overrun in the final term.
Best for Brunswick was clearly defender Tahj Haddock, who was impassable all day. Gale was excellent in winning clearances in the midfield, although his absence from the forward line also proved telling. Watt was again very good in the forward line and he and Coverdale are a handful for any defence. Gabe Banova won plenty of hard ball in the middle over four quarters, while Jackson Browne took several intercept marks and Mitch Hicks played well across half-forward.
This Saturday the NOBs are back at Gillon Oval for the grand final re-match against Elsternwick as they look to get back on the winners’ list.
Brunswick Voice is looking for a volunteer correspondent to file a weekly report about the progress of our three local clubs during the 2025 VAFA season. If that is of interest to you, contact editor@brunswickvoice.com.au with an example of your writing.
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