Premier League football team dazzles

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA – PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Round 1: CMC vs Box Hill Secondary College

The 2023 Premier League Football Competition kicked off with an away game against Box Hill Secondary College, at Elgar Park, in Mont Albert North. The team arrived looking a million dollars as they stepped off the bus in their blazers, causing the opposition to look with envy at their unity. Then they took to the field in their new white away strip.

The match began with a bang, the contested ball pressure was enormous as both teams tried to assert themselves. It was a case of both teams giving their all, and it was soon obvious that this game was going to be one where the team that made the most of their opportunities would come away as the winner.

The first quarter clearly set the tone for the game, as both sides struggled to gain the upper hand. Despite some promising transitions of play from both teams, it was CMC who managed to take a 1-point lead into the break on the back of a great goal to debutant Logan Kilcullen. That goal resulted after some impressive work from the defenders and midfielders as the backline held tight against some seriously good play from Box Hill.

With the first quarter setting the tone for the match, it was soon obvious that neither team was going to back down. Both teams were playing with intensity and passion and were fighting hard to gain any advantage they could. After a brilliant tackle by Tobie Travaglia and a subsequent goal that lifted the boys, CMC soon seized control of the game with a flurry of points early in the quarter. Another goal to Kilcullen with 4 minutes to go saw the boys go into the half-time break with momentum and a 12-point lead (3-6-24 to 1-6-12).

The start of the third quarter was not a reflection of how the boys had finished the second quarter, as they seemed quite timid in and around the contest. On the other hand, Box Hill really brought the pressure and were determined to take back the game. They kicked 2 goals 3 for the quarter, and their midfield run was potentially game-changing. The goals scored against them finally motivated the CMC boys to lift their pressure and intensity. An inspirational goal to Archer Day-Wicks from the boundary, and then one to young-gun Jaidi Jackson-Leahy saw the boys steady as the team went into the last quarter with a slender 10-point lead.

With the game up for grabs, the boys came out from the three-quarter time huddle full of run and determination. Archer Day-Wicks was on the end of some brilliant transitional play from defence as he kicked his second goal for the day. Henry Edwards took some brilliant intercept marks as all the defenders covered and shut down all the Box Hills forward bursts. A brilliant captain’s goal from Jack McMahon took the boys out to a 22-point lead. Another goal from Archer was again on the back of some great play, with pressure acts from Jasper Cheesman and a run-down tackle from Gus Hay being the highlights.

While Box Hill did get one goal back, it was a final quarter that the CMC boys were proud of as they took the game on when it mattered most and that enabled them to get a great win.

It may have been a nail-biting game, but a well-deserved result for this group. The defenders and midfield were particularly impressive, as they constantly pressured their opponents into making mistakes, which then created opportunities for their forwards. It was quite a thrilling game and the coach was delighted with the boy’s grit and determination all game as they emerged victorious.

Final Score: CMC 8-8-56 to Box Hill 4-10-34

Congratulations to Tobie Travaglia who was deemed to be best on ground for CMC.

TEAM: Mr Lee Coghlan (Coach), Jack McMahon, Archer Day-Wicks, Isaac Meersbergen, Toby Harrison, Noah Warfe, Darcy Lawler, Tobie Travaglia, Will Pinniger, Edward McCarthy, Jasper Cheesman, Evan Cole, Jack Smith, Deakin Andrews, Will Stewart, Logan Kilcullen, Xavier Grant, Gus Hay, Darcy Edmiston, Isaac Tzouroutis, Oliver Edmiston, Henry Edwards, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Ollie Morris