A sensational day for the Rovers seniors, a tough battle for three quarters and then the boys took over in the last quarter and banged on 4.3 to 0.7 to record a comfortable 30-point victory.
It was not always easy, but the game opened with a goal on the board within a couple of minutes as Clinton Young carried on his good form to toe poke one through for the square. Dillon Melnjak followed quickly with a beautiful kick from outside 50 and our third came from a great pass by Hugo Lay to a leading Clinton Young who earned the free. Interestingly by quarter time Parkdale had levelled the score mainly due to some great kicking for goal.
Parkdale were getting away from us with their quick switches and series of short passes down the fat side. The coach was concerned at the first break and was disappointed that we were letting the opposition determine how the game was being played. Hampton responded early in the second and within 6 minutes we had kicked 4 goals – 2 to Hugo Lay within a minute and 2 to Clinton Young, one from a bullet pass from Speedy McPherson who was having a day out using his pace and accurate left foot to advantage.
The Rovers were 3 goals up and the big crowd at the ground supporting the boys were buoyant. Unfortunately, Parkdale responded and for the final 25 minutes of the quarter dominated. We were chasing rather than hunting and the opposition were showing us a clean set of heels and then topping that off with some strong marking and accurate kicking. Two points up at the main break.
Tom Ellinghaus in his second game since the U19 finals last year was quickly remembering old habits and was strong in the ruck. Our backs while under pressure were holding firm despite the continual pressure of Parkdale. VDS, Oscar and Joel were a solid core backed up by a great game from Jack Garrow. His pressure on his opponent and his strong marking was a feature.
The third quarter didn’t start as planned. Parkdale banged on a couple of quick goals to take a 12 point lead before Josh Docking, who like Carnovale was being heavily tagged showed that amazing speed with the ball and in a flash posted a major. We were keeping the ball in our forward line but just not scoring until the skipper took the game by the scruff of the neck and from a ball up kicked a major. Parkdale responded as they had all day – a long bomb from the boundary line at the southern end for a goal. That injustice seemed to spur the Rovers on and goals to Max Coughlin on the run, Crawf, Josh Docking and a final goal by Cogs gave us a 10 point lead at the final break.
Hampton’s mids were back in the game with Max Coughlin playing well, Dillon Melnjak and Perko in and under and always delivering and Ryan Leslie using his strength to advantage we had fought back.
The last quarter was a delight. Yes, Parkdale peppered the goals in the first 10 minutes for only minor scores, but their system had unravelled. With goals to Cogs and an off the ground goal to Lachy Cairns the margin was growing. Clinton Young came back into the game and his strong marking inside 50 could have resulted in a huge win – he must have changed his goal kicking boots after quarter time. One clever piece of play by Youngy has stuck in my mind. Returning to the ground after a rotation he saw the Parkdale boys switching and consequently stayed on the fat wing. As the Parkdale player marked and turned to come out of their defence he wasn’t expecting to see a HR player out there and was forced to centre the ball. Straight to Cogs who marked and passed to Josh Docking who kicked his third for the afternoon.
A solid 30-point win for the Rovers against a fellow top-four side, overtaking them on the ladder, into third spot ahead of this week’s round 10 home match against Mazenod at Trevor Barker Oval.
Parkdale Vultures 3.3-21 7.4-46 10.9-69 10.16-76
Hampton Rovers 3.4-22 7.6-48 12.7-79 16.10-106
Best Players: Max Coughlin, Thomas Ellinghaus, Clinton Young, Joshua McPherson, Dillon Melnjak, Joshua Docking
Goal Kickers: Clinton Young 4, Max Coughlin 3, Josh Docking 3, Hugo Lay 1, Will Crawford 1, Christian Carnovale 1, Lachy Cairns 1, Ant Folino 1, Dillon Melnjak
SENIOR WOMEN
Hampton Rovers 3.4-22
Power House/AJAX 2.10-22
Best: Bryanna Arnold, Natasha Morris, Lizzie Dingeldei, Mandy Naylor, Pearl Daniel-Reid, Annabel Hindson
RESERVES
Parkdale Vultures 10.11-71
Hampton Rovers 7.1-43
Best: Scott Ebbott, Hugo Twigg, Johnny Wilson, Cameron Carmeni, Lucas Sharp, Oscar Donald
Goals: Jacob Gray 2, Nick Murnane 2, Johnny Wilson 1, Tom Goldsmith 1, Andrew Wooston 1
UNDER 19s
Old Haileybury 12.12-84
Hampton Rovers 7.5-47
Best Kai Carrigan, Lucas Rankine, Zachary Ziesing, Blake Jensen-Muir, Jake Grima
Goals Charles Kilburn 3, Kai Carrigan 1, Mason Carrigan 1, Lachy Celantano 1, Stef Somogyi
THIRDS/DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Ajax 13.16-94
Hampton Rovers 2.2-14
Best Liam Jarvis, Chris Ellison, Zachariah Raghdo, Billy Klein
Goals MJ Green 1, Sam Horigan 1
NEXT SATURDAY
Next Saturday, the Rovers host Mazenod at Trevor Barker Oval. The Home Game Luncheon will be on to celebrate our success in 2014 where we won the Seniors Premiership and the Under 19 Premiership and also the 5 year Reunion of the Under 19 Premiership of 2019. All players from that era, the Noughties, or any era for that matter are encouraged to attend and be part of what will be a great day at Sandringham. Book online here.
