Senior Boys named Premier League State Runners Up after hard-fought Football Final

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA: PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALL GRAND FINAL

Catherine McAuley College Bendigo vs Emmanuel College Warrnambool

On a freezing winter day in Ballarat, the Catherine McAuley College Bendigo (CMCB) Premier League Football Team rocked up to MARS Stadium with a quiet confidence that this could be their day.  A quick ground inspection and then some indoor footy cricket games had the boys ready for the pre-match address.  Inspirational words echoed around the inner sanctum of the players briefing room with past student Fergus Greene once again making a guest appearance to try and ignite the fire.

The pre-match chats had the boys up and about and when the siren finally sounded for the start of the match, it was time to go.  From the first bounce it was evident that Emmanuel’s intent was to play tough, hard-hitting football and that caught a few of our boys off guard. Despite this, noone was taking a backward step.  Emmanuel hit the scoreboard early, kicking two goals in quick succession, before the CMCB boys could really get their hands on the ball.  After some determined team play, the boys were finally rewarded for their effort when Shannon Tardrew kicked our first goal of the match.  Emmanuel once again hit the scoreboard, but the sheer determination and incredible work ethic by all saw Oliver Edmiston take a great mark and subsequently kick a goal from his set shot.  Edmiston hit the scoreboard again shortly after, on the back of some terrific team play.  In the process of being tackled he got a snap on goal and it sailed through for a team-lifting major.  Emmanuel then kicked another goal late in the term, but the CMCB boys were hanging tough and riding every bump and dump with incredible maturity.

The second term was an absolute dog fight.  Both teams were finding it hard to assert any sort of dominance, kicking just one goal each. But the balance of the game had shifted slightly, as CMCB started to win more of the contested ball and have more shots on goal.  This seemed to trigger Emmanuel, as their intensity towards the players became bullish, resulting in Jack McMahon being slammed in a contest and Logan Kilcullen sustaining a head knock, ruling him out for the rest of the game. By the time the half time siren sounded the teams were separated by just a solitary goal and it was still anyone’s game to win.

The start of the third quarter once again saw Emmanuel kick a goal early, but the CMCB pressure all over the ground was significant and the boys were starting to match Emmanuel’s intensity, but were also agitated by the off-the-ball physicality being thrown at them.  Zane Connick was able to get on the end of some great transitional play to line up on goal and convert under pressure.  Patrick Blake and Oliver Morris were working overtime around the stoppages, taking plenty of hits, but also creating opportunities for our forwards, Oscar Cail and Xavier Grant. Add in the terrific rebounding from defence by the likes of Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Hugh Behrens, Gus Hay, Ben Miller, Harvey White and Henry Edwards and the boys were starting to wear Emmanuel down. By three-quarter time it was still just a 1-goal difference, with everything to play for in the final quarter.

The last term was incredible, as both teams were leaving it all out on the park. Play see-sawed from end to end as no team could create any run and carry, or fluency in their transitional play.  The CMCB boys kicked a point early in the quarter to reduce the margin to just five points, however Emmanuel then responded with a point of their own.  For the next couple of minutes, CMCB were gradually able to work the ball forward. With the ball deep in the forward 50 and through sheer determination Wil Pinniger kicked the ball out of the tight congestion in the pocket sending it to the top of the goal square where ‘captain courageous’ Jack McMahon took an incredible contested mark.  He then went back and calmly kicked a goal to bring the scores level with seven minutes to play.  CMCB then transitioned the ball from the defensive end to attack where Daniel Noden was able to pick up the loose ball to get a shot on goal; a point resulted, however, the boys were in front with just five minutes to play.  They were then able to scrap it out and hold Emmanuel at bay for the next four minutes and forty seconds until Emmanuel finally managed to scurry through a point to tie the game with just twenty seconds left on the clock.  A draw was the result at the end of full time and the boys were shattered. Now extra time awaited both teams which consisted of two 5-minute halves.  From the restart, Emmanuel were once again able to attain some ascendency.  They won the ball in the centre and kicked a goal early, breaking the heart of CMCB. When Emmanuel kicked another major, they then used their advantage to run down the clock at every opportunity, to secure a 12-point win.

The boys were devastated, however their endeavour, their determination, their maturity to withstand Emmanuel’s tactics and be just twenty seconds away from winning the Premier League State Final was an incredible effort and achievement.  State Runners up is still extremely impressive and an achievement to be very proud of.  Congratulations boys, hold your heads up high, you were ALL incredible!

Final Score: CMCB 6-10-46 to Emmanuel College 8-10-58

Best: Oliver Morris (Best on Ground), Jack McMahon, Patrick Blake, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Hugh Behrens, Shannon Tardrew, Gus Hay, Oliver Edmiston.

Thanks once again to Mr Lee Coghlan for leading these boys through all the rounds and into a State Final; thanks also to Mr Xavier Walsh for his support and management of the team on game days.

Thank you to all of the parents and families who came to support the boys, not only at the State Final, but throughout their entire campaign.

And finally thanks to those students and staff who came to support the boys both at the Grand Final and when the team played their home games.

Premier League Football Team: Thomas Davie, Tobie Travaglia, Archer Day-Wicks, Jack McMahon, Declan Stevenson, Ben Miller, Jaidi Jackson Leahy, Daniel Noden, Zane Connick, Wil Pinniger, Bailey Warfe, Gus Hay, Xavier Grant, Charlie Duke, Isaac Meersbergen, Shannon Tardrew, Patrick Blake, Llogan Mayman, Drew Costigan, Charlie King, Mr Lee Coghlan (Coach), Jasper Irwin, Tait Rojewski, Oscar Cail, Henry Edwards, Kobi MacDonald, Deakin Andrews, Logan Kilcullen, Joseph Artavilla, Hugh Behrens, Oliver Edmiston, Harvey White, Oliver Morris, Lenny McNamara, Darby Whatley, Daniel Artavilla.

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