Another variable weekend with both senior men’s teams going down to the ladder leader Old Trinity, a great win by the Women, a fighting loss by an injury depleted senior team, and the Thirds, rising to the occasion at the Boss when they came from behind in the last quarter to snatch a win with a goal after the siren!
We now have the mid-season byes (2 weeks off – except for the Thirds who have 1 week off) with the next game being on Saturday July 26 at home against Old Carey – the victors in last year’s Premier C Grand Final. While the Senior Men, Women and Under 19s have the byes, the Thirds/Dev Team fight it out against Collegians at the Harry Trott Oval on Friday July 18 at 7:15pm.
The other event happening over the byes is on Saturday July 19 when the big Rovers $2K Day takes place at the Boss. Tickets are on sale now – get them here. Make sure you get down there on one of the big events on the Club’s social calendar.
Senior Men’s Report
OT 4.3 10.5 13.8 20.15 135
HR 1.3 4.5 6.7 7.8 50
Best Christian Carnovale, Chris Perkins, Jake Dermott, Ben Seddon, Lachy Costello, Tom Ellinghaus
Goals Jake Seddon 2, James Prosser 1, Christian Carnovale 1, Corey Jones 1, Liam O’Driscoll 1, Oscar Donald 1
You may recall I said that there were around 23 senior players unavailable last week. I was wrong, we were up to 27, I’m not sure who I missed but by Monday we were over 30.
As I approached the bench on Saturday it dawned on me that the three missing from last week were all backs and critically (in the old fashioned terms) our full back and centre half back and half back) Who did the coach select to replace them? Cool as a cucumber he advised that our ruckman, big Zac Zeisling has gone back, Jake Dermott is going to full back, the Seddons and Dan Hall would rotate through the midfield and we’d see how we’d go. He was positive, exuded confidence but I thought underlying his outward persona he must have been worried. Old Trinity did have some tall, strong marking forwards who could kick goals.
In the first quarter we were strong at the ball and kept pressure on the opposition. Christian Carnovale was everywhere, Peter Somogyi made a few good moves forward but the pace of the game was causing him issues. The coach was concerned about our pace forward of the ball and the number of times the OT boys used the corridor virtually unchallenged when they and often us, caused the turnover. Jake Dermot was doing a great job down back, both Seddons, Jake and Ben, and Dan Hall were getting the ball and while we were three goals down at quarter time we looked good. Big Tom Ellinghaus was doing well in the ruck, our mids were getting a lot of the ball but we just couldn’t deliver cleanly to our forwards.
New players in Will Rogacki and Cohen Friend, in their second games were getting used to the pace and making some positive moves. At the break the coach was worried by speed and was seeking out options to counter the OT boys. He moved Cohen Friend and Ben Seddon into the midfield with Chris Perkins rotating with CC and with instructions to not let the opposition break from the centre bounces.
We were in the game and making the play but just couldn’t capitalize on our possession of the ball. Late in the quarter when Dan Hall hit Perko lace out and he passed to Ben Seddon who kicked truly we looked sharp. Similarly, a few minutes later Corey Jones, on the end of 3 handballs, that all hit their targets marked and kicked accurately. But then things started to go wrong. Ben Crothers left the field with a hammy and a short time later Will Rogacki who was gaining confidence as the game progressed came off with a twisted ankle. Both out of the game and down to two on the bench…again. Where are the Hugos when you need them?
At the main break the coach was forced to make more moves. He took Will Crawford out of defence to have a couple of big bodies up forward as we had the advantage of the wind. Cohen Friend went forward again. Our endeavour was fantastic and we clearly had the OT boys on the back foot. Jake Dermot was doing a great job at full back and in an exceptional piece of play with his third effort managed to beat the OT forwards and force the ball through for a behind. Tom Goldsmith, another second gamer, was battling hard but it was the skipper who broke free at half forward and kicked accurately on the run.
Another injury with Corey Jones coming off with a suspected hammy and shortly after Peter Somogyi succumbed to cramps. If not for the 2 quick goals OT kicked just before ¾ time we would have been only 24 points down. At this stage life was difficult for the coach and the team with no bench, some tired inexperienced players not used to the speed and relentlessness of senior footy, the last quarter was looking grim. It did start brightly when Liam O’Driscoll earned a hard fought free and kicked accurately the margin was 5 goals. At that stage OT took over, with the benefit of the breeze and ran riot. Whether it was our errors or their running game and strong marking forwards there was little the coach could do to stem the flow of opposition goals.
Interestingly, the coach kept up his positivity to the final siren, his chat to the coaching staff and players on the bench and an attitude that made it clear that our problems come from the number of players that we have unavailable through injury or travel. Let’s hope with 3 weeks until our next game that we can get a few back on the park for the final run of 6 games until season end. As I looked at the interchange bench with a couple of minutes to go OT had 4 interchanges taking place – no injuries on this day unlike us.
Men’s Reserves
OT 28.27
HR 1.3
It was coach Paul Goldsmith’s first game back after a month off and it was a pretty brutal return to footy. There is no truth in the rumour that due to the number of injuries one of the problems was that he didn’t really know three quarters of the players in the team. Good to see both of the Darcys in the team playing well. No doubt Darcy Merlo would probably have been happier enjoying a win with the Development Squad rather than the shellacking in the Ressies!
Best: James Bull, Darcy Lyon, Damon O’Shea, Darcy Merlo, Mohamed Labib, Daniel McCoy
Goals: Dan McCoy
Senior Women
An interesting and challenging week for the women after two losses in a row. Injuries and vacation have left us with large player unavailability. With forfeit looking likely, Monday started with a team discussion on how to go about getting a team together and our mental approach for a 9.00am start away at Therry. By Thursday at training players were in an extremely positive state of mind and had an outstanding training session.
Come Saturday morning, we had injured players and other players with illness making the trek to have a crack at the physical and intimidating Therry team who sat one percent behind us on the ladder in fifth. These sick and injured players and the late inclusion of three under 18s Matilda Brown, Zara Rayner and Daisy Ward got us up to a full team at bounce down.
The heavy rain left the large ground under water and set up for a contested footy scrap. Were we up for the fight?
After Therry kicked the first goal straight from the opening bounce we matched Therry’s aggression levels with no rover prepared to flinch in the contest. An absolute slugfest till 3/4 quarter time with us less than a goal behind.
Then in one of the all time great Rovers women’s performances our incredible team ran over the top of Therry in the slop, booting four last quarter goals to zero. What a performance from every rover – from our team leaders and our brilliant team, to our coaches, volunteers, supporters and parents who made the early hike.
Our juniors were incredible. Matilda Brown is a brutal tackling enforcer. Zara Rayner ran all day in the middle and helped turn the game with her run and carry. Daisy Ward stood up in the ruck with big sister Poppy against the Therry ruck enforcers. We thank them and their parents for helping us over the line.
Other outstanding performances from Liv Muller who went head to head and got the better of Therry’s superstar mid Eliza German. Casey Politharis, Breeza and Tiara Annear were unreal changing on the ball. Poppy and Daisy in the ruck were so tough with their bodies on the line. The wingers Jess Daoud , Matilda Brown and Bree Daniel ran up and down the ground continually, their contribution was massive.
The backline was outstanding and fought all game led by Greta Robertson and injured Harmoni Collins. Amazing. The forwards ran and ran all over the field like midfielders and were always a competitive target. Grace Bonanno was a great presence and full forward Maddy Pearson with illness and her injured knee was a phenomenon.
Amber Price who had been solid in the backline was swung forward in the search for more goals and after some motivation from Alana had a great game , taking marks, kicked a goal and was vital in our scoring chances. Our emerging players were up for the fight, put their bodies over the footy and fought for every contest. Well done to Tait Mason, Lily Bayes , Sadie Ockerby and Bree Daniel. That was a real football game.
Lastly to our champion Mandy Naylor on her birthday and in her 99th senior rovers game. Asked to play on Therry’s champion power forward / mid and as always remains undefeated. We can’t wait till the return from the break for your big milestone game.
This great win keeps our chances of becoming the first Rovers women’s team to play division one finals alive. It’ll come down to the very last game with third to seventh still in the hunt for finals. The team are loving the challenge.
What an exciting day.
PS. This was the team’s first game without inspirational captain and club champion Bella Cameron who is moving to Spain to live. Bella will be sorely missed by the team whose leadership, kindness and wonderful footballing prowess is irreplaceable.
All the best to you Bella, Queen of Spain.
Best: Casey Politarkis, Tiara Amber, Poppy Ward, Madelaine Pearson, Olivia Muller, Greta Robertson
Goals: Grace Bonnano 2, Madelaine Pearson 2, Amber Price 1
Under 19s
The mighty U19 needed to bounce back from a disappointing week on the track and off the track with uncertainty of personal and the coach. Players chasing the sun and the snow left some holes and we filled them thanks to Nick Jackson and 2 Under 16 lads who both had an impact.
Muss and Stooly were great, Fletch Ockerby played game 2 for the season and loved it and the lads got around all three. Kai played his first game for 2025 and although rusty, he gave us some bite we were missing the previous week. Charlie, was BOG, Stefan real good, Ockers was his zipping self and the back 6 held firm.
With 6 minutes to go we hit the front against the third team on the ladder in Uni Blacks, it was looking positive after Muss kicked his first goal and the lads got to him., we were up by 8 pts.
It wasn’t to be but the new look U19 showed plenty and played for the jumper.
HR 1.1 3.8 5.10 7.12 54
UBlues 5.4 5.4 5.12 8.14 62
Best Charlie Steen, Kai Carrigan, Stefan Somogyi, Massimo Champness, Harry Ockerby
Goals: Charlie Steen 2, Mass Champness 1, Ehtan Stul 1, Kai Carrigan 1, Harvey McConkey 1, Gideon Ziesing 1
Thirds/Development Squad
Once again we were down to not many on Thursday night. We got a team together for a 2pm start at The Boss on a sunny, but windy, afternoon.
We had two goals kicked on us pretty quickly against the wind. We never were out of the game and kept close to them.
They had the wind in the last quarter and we were two goals down going into the last. So well up against it.
The boys never stopped trying and their will to win got them across the line after the final siren via a one hand grab and conversion by James Young. See the amazing finish below.
HR 2.2 3.2 5.6 8.6 54
White 2.1 6.3 7.3 8.5 53
Best James Young, Noah Velten, Jack Campion, Max Green, Jacob McLean, Willem Hunter
Goals James Young 4,Nick Anderson 1, Jack Campion 1
