Round 16 Match Report

What a fantastic day for the club Saturday was.  Over 110 people at the Wellsmen’s lunch, life membership awarded to one of our favourite sons, a great win for our seniors, and the room erupting when the Matildas finally won that pulsating penalty shootout.
 
First the lunch – what a rip-snorter.  It was awesome to see so many former players and supporters of all ages gather to celebrate premiership wins in 1993, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  A huge thank you to Dancey, Tez, Gibbsy, Eags, Matti and Di Kyriacou for their time in setting up for and cleaning up after the event.  As always, Adam Kyriacou did a superb job as MC, with Craig Sampson and Peter and Karen Taverner working tirelessly behind the bar and in the kitchen.  And let’s not forget Ben Horskins manning the cash bar.
 
As with most good lunches, it lingered on into the evening.  With both TVs in the social room tuned into the Women’s World Cup, 40-50 well lubricated former and current players cheered every successful Matildas penalty and Mackenzie Arnold save, with not one leaving until the last kick was taken.
 
Earlier in the day the club recognised Alex Dance’s outstanding contribution to the football club with life membership.  Dancey joined the club in 1983, and played 107 games across the Under 19’s, the Firsts, and the Reserves.  Since hanging up the boots in 1991 he has been the driving force behind the Wellsmen, the supporter group that is so important to our club.  His passion and enthusiasm for OCGAFC is unrivalled, and Dancey has become an institution in his own right.

 
On the field, the Seniors took on third placed Old Ivanhoe.  Constant drizzle made for tricky conditions, but it did not impact the standard of football.  In a high-class game Old Camberwell triumphed by 22 points, in the process guaranteeing a second semi-final.  Exciting times ahead!
 
Our Reserves went down by 52 points against the top side, and will now need to win their remaining two games to have any chance of reaching finals.  A great challenge for the boys.
 
Our Women finished their season with a 13-point loss to Old Melburnians.  It was a performance that typified our season – very competitive against a good side (Old Melburnians finished second), but not quite good enough to get over the line.
 
The Under 19’s smacked Parkside by 90 points in a Friday special.  Sitting second on the ladder, the Unders will be at full strength this week with the seniors having a bye.  A win would almost certainly guarantee a final’s appearance.
 
Also in their final game for the season, the Thirds went down to Marcellin by 43 points.  Although missing finals, once again the boys have had a lot of fun along the way and have been of great support to the other men’s teams.
 
This weekend the senior men’s teams have a bye, so the Under 19’s will be our only representatives, playing Monash Blues away at 9.20am.  Good luck to the boys.

Go Wellers,
 
Gavin Powell
President