Round 5 Match Report

Wednesday 17 May 2023

Saturday saw one of the Weller’s favourite sons, Ben Hart, play his 200th game for the club.  I will share with you here a tribute put together by our assistant coach, Tim Killworth.
 
The evergreen and understated Ben Hart pulls on the Old Camberwell jumper for the 200th time this Saturday at Gordon Barnard Oval.  Drawn to play PEGS in a replay of last year’s Div 1 Grand Final, the script could not have been written any better to enable us to honour Ben on achieving this magnificent feat.
 
Benny joined the club in 2008, playing in the 19s as a Year 12 student. He returned in 2009 to Captain the Under 19s to a large premiership win against, you guessed it, Old Essendon (PEGS).  In a season where he benefited from playing at senior level in what was then Premier B, he won the Best on Ground award on Grand Final day.
 
His tally stands currently at 188 senior matches and 11 U19’s games and in a show of his ability to play consistent, quality football week in week out, he has won the Senior Best & Fairest Award in 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2022.  Recognised by the umpiring fraternity for his ability as well, he was the winner of the League Best & Fairest award in 2017.
 
Ben, being the flexible type that he is, has played in just about every position on the ground at varying stages of the year, including the Ruck where his basketball skills come to the fore, and he can jump over most opponents at stoppages and give his on-ballers first use of the footy.  This season he is playing predominantly as a key forward; his most recent achievement was to kick 4 goals in the final quarter of our game against Old Ivanhoe, where we successfully turned around a 42 point ¾ time deficit into a famous 3 point victory!
 
Ben captained the club from 2013 to 2018 and this is where his leadership skills come to the fore. Along with playing, he is transitioning into coaching, filling an on-ground Assistant Coaching role with great aplomb.
 
Following his success in the 19s way back, he desperately craves the opportunity to help the club win a Premier C flag and see us return to Premier B for the first time since 2008.
 
Throughout his time at the club, he has been supported magnificently by his parents Phil and Janet, both physiotherapists, who rarely miss matches.   We thank them for the support and encouragement they have given Ben, and no doubt the countless hours spent on the physio table getting Benny’s body back into shape ready to do battle again each week.”
 
Unfortunately, we could not do full justice to Ben in his 200th game, with the seniors falling to PEGS by 17 points.  After trailing by 37 points at three quarter time we reduced the margin to 5 points with a couple of minutes to go, but could not sustain the momentum in what was a high-quality game against strong opposition.
 
The reserves, however, continued on their winning way with a 78 point victory over PEGS, which sees us knocking on the door of the top four having played one less game than those above us.
 
Our women had a comprehensive 77 point win over Hawthorn, the highlight being a women’s record 7 goals by El Defina.  The sixth of those goals also saw El become the first women to register 100 goals for the club.
 
Having been promoted to Premier B following their strong start to the season, our Under 19’s took on the undefeated Old Carey outfit and took the game right up to them, ultimately falling short by 26 points.  If nothing else the result showed that we can be more than competitive at that level.
 
In the early game a depleted Third XVIII had a morning to forgot, suffering a 121 point loss.  The motivational powers of new coach Andrew Lacki will certainly be put to the test this week!
 
This weekend our seniors and reserves take on Mazenod out at Central Reserve in Glen Waverley, while our women visit Old Brighton for a 9.20 encounter.  The Unders host Old Haileybury at 11.40, which will be followed by the Thirds taking on Ormond at 2.00pm.
 
Let’s hope we can bring home 5 wins this weekend.

Go Wellers,
 
Gavin Powell
President
 


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Weekend Results


 
WOMEN SENIORS   12.12.84
Hawthorn   1.1.7
 
MEN SENIORS   9.5.59
PEGS   11.10.76
 
MEN RESERVES   14.11.95
PEGS   2.5.17
 
MEN THIRDS   0.5.5
Ivanhoe AFC   18.18.126
 
U19   9.7.61
Old Carey   13.9.87
 

 
-- ROUND 6 --

Saturday 20th May
 
U19
11:40am vs Old Haileybury (H)

Men Thirds
9:20am vs Ormond (A)
EE Gun Reserve MAP

Women Seniors
9:20am vs Old Brighton (A)
Brighton Beach Oval MAP
 
Men Reserves
11:40am vs Mazenod (A)
Central Reserve North MAP

Men Seniors vs Mazenod (A)
Central Reserve North MAP


 
   

Mens Seniors vs PEGS

Ben Hart would take centre stage at GBO the prolific onballers and notable goal kicker would play his 200 hundredth game against PEGSon Saturday in a blockbuster 2022 Grand Final replay. 

The Wellers would go into the game without big man Gus Milham but confident we could match an unbeaten Pegs with Ben Hart & prolific ball winner Riley Verbi coming back into the side. 

The first half would see a very physical contest with both sides not giving an inch. PEGS defence was proving a handful go into the long break slightly ahead with a 10 point buffer . 

The third would see flag favourites PEGS pull away with some dynamic direct style football setting up their talented tall forwards with numerous opportunities. Our boys could only watch as PEGS were able to kick 4 goals to our solitary point. 

The last quarter down by 36 point a huge effort was required . The boys responded and started to run the ball in waves withJimmy Allen, Ben Hart  & Harry Veitch leading the way in the middle and cutting through a tied opposition. Sam Murphywas having a break out game on the wing & Tom Oliver & Kellan Percy were proving impossible to pass down back. Much improved youngster Harry Laukens would get us within 5 points late in the last but unfortunately PEGS would respond with the last 2 goals in red time to finish ahead at the siren. A great effort to fight our way back into the contest. 

Very proud of a few of our youngsters Harry Mccoll & Sam Veitch who battled hard all day and continue to improve each week. 

Thanks to all support on the day. 

Goal Kickers: H. Laukens 2, H. McColl, D. McColl, R. Verbi, B. Hart, L. Thomas, J. Allen, C. Rutledge
Best Players: S. Murphy, T. Oliver, M. Powell, H. Veitch, J. Allen, K. Percy

Anson Brownless
Senior Coach

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Mens Reserves vs PEGS

Goal Kickers: C. Hillier 5, P. Boakes 2, N. Latsas 2, L. Campbell 2, S. Garrard, L. Noack, N. Russell
Best Players: B. Craigie, K. Buntine, J. Seaton-nichol, C. Hillier, T. Nicholson, H. Crothers

Steve Warrr
Reserves Coach

 

U19 vs Old Carey

Goal Kickers: H. Haintz 2, B. Joy 2, T. Beechey, S. Wenn, M. Dalla Riva, L. Ross, P. Blew
Best Players: P. Blew, C. Finlayson, T. Beechey, B. Carlisle, J. Schreuder, A. Shinnick
 


Thirds vs Old Ivanhoe

While the coach was absent on a weekend getaway, the boys of the Camberwell thirds had similar thoughts of being somewhere else as the Ivanhoe central football club applied brutal scoreboard pressure that would make even the most vile of war criminals seem like saints. 126-5 left the Camberwell boys goalless all game but left deeper pains than just a simple loss. 

These trying times aren’t one to provide the mind with negative belief but instead should be used as a prominent case study in how to effectively play against an opposition high in skill and lucky with the adjudicating decision. Key issues faced by the boys was a lack of holding position, a yearning to kick with pin point accuracy and the use finesse to fleece the opposition of opportunity. Ivanhoe however appeared more well structured and filled with the confidence of a child who believes his father’s a superhero. 

An early play to place seven in defence had the two teams arm wrestling to find out what’s in the box (suss the seven reference). This round however it appeared that Ivanhoe had the first look inside and just like when Pandora’s box was opened, hope was all that remained in the coaches heart. Infamous Zach Herbstreit was back rucking well, and the now famed wingers Alexeyeff, Kimmit and Cooper ran like horses for a trainer who has a history of enjoying time in the birdcage with Melbourne’s must see. Harry Berry and Matthew Tesoriero while beautiful backmen, were subjected to an onslaught that would have most men asking for their mum. James Smith was asking for the doctor before half time with a suspected fractured hand. 

The mid game break saw a switch in strategy with a focus of man on man and trying to take territory. Remove the ball from their forward and stop them believing that they’re all that and a bag of chips. Third quarter proved to be less fruitful than the first as cracks became canyons and Ivanhoe had eloquent answers to all questions raised by the specimens that were seated in this sporting seminar. While there was an emphasis on time in the pre game presentation, time was going to be our saviour as the clock sounded on what should be a serious lesson learnt. Thankfully this all occurred early enough in the season that our consortium can come together and create a comparable season to the western bulldogs in 2016. 


Best Players: M. Tesoriero, Z. Herbstreit, T. Heavey, D. Berry, J. Alexeyeff, A. Giomi

Andrew Lacki
Thirds Coach
 

Women Seniors vs Hawthorn

A sunny, still footy day saw a great performance from the wellers women starting with an early goal to El Defina, who then promptly kicked 5 straight points.  The wellers had the ball in their forward line all the first quarter thanks to strong half back intercepts from Lou Zhang, Clare Wilson and Alannah Frampton.
Liv Honore was strong in the ruck all day giving fantastic drive and also kicking her first goal for the team we’re sure there will be many more to come

The mids and forwards continued to press forward all game led by Alex Herrington and Bridget Facey who played one of her best games (Brige is sure to be among the goal kickers in coming games)
The whole back line showed strength keeping the opposition Hawks scoreless to the last break and only one goal for the game.
 
A special mention to El Defina who continued kicking goals all day and even she lost count.  She ended the day with a women’s club record of seven goals. El has now kicked a whopping 101 career goals for the Wellers - a truly plugger like effort.
 
It was a great effort by the whole team and the 77 point win was enjoyed with the girls ringing out the echo’s loud and proud.

Goal Kickers: E. Defina 7, S. Fortunato 2, E. de Rauch, O. Honore, M. Wilson
Best Players: E. Defina, A. Herrington, O. Honore, B. Facey, C. Wilson, A. Frampton

Maggie Wilson
Player

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Round 5 Match Report

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