We battled hard but ultimately fell short against Old Melburnians, losing by a heartbreaking 4 points in a fierce contest. James Allen was an absolute powerhouse for us, racking up an incredible 31 disposals, 8 marks, 10 tackles, and 10 clearances. Joshua Davidson provide crucial moments, booting 2 goals for the side from the wing, while Thomas Oliver laid 6 tackles in a strong defensive effort. It was a bitter pill to swallow after such a spirited effort from the boys on our home deck.
The first quarter was a tight contest, with Old Melburnians just edging ahead by 1 point, 13-14, at the first break. We responded brilliantly in the second term, exploding with 3 goals to their 1, as the team really found their rhythm and belief. Joshua Davidson was pivotal, booting 2 crucial goals for the Wellers in this period. This fantastic surge saw us take a commanding 13-point lead into half-time, 34-21.
Unfortunately, the third quarter saw Old Melburnians claw their way back into the game, turning our 13-point advantage into a 5-point deficit by three-quarter time, 36-41. In the final quarter, the team showcased incredible resilience, with James Allenbattling hard for 3 marks and 4 tackles to keep us in the fight. We dominated the inside 50s with 13 entries to their 8, pushing hard for victory and creating opportunities. The side piled on 3 goals to match our opponents' output in a desperate attempt to reclaim the lead, but it wasn't enough.
The final siren marked a narrow defeat, 58 points to 62 points, a testament to the closeness of the contest and our never say die attitude. Our relentless pressure was evident through a massive 85 tackles for the match, significantly more than Old Melburnians' 54. James Allen was our best with 31 disposals, 10 clearances, and 10 tackles, while Joshua Davidson chipped in with 2 goals. The team needs to build on this fighting spirit and address the discrepancy in uncontested marks, with Old Melburnians taking 82 to our 61, for next week's challenge against Old Carey away.
