Sport: Senior Boys Football

Competitive at Upper Hume

 

Our Senior Boys got their chance to pull on the hallowed Football jumper on Thursday 8th May, in the Upper Hume carnival  at the Barr Reserve.

 

In beautiful conditions on the Barr 2 Oval, the boys gave crosstown rival Cathedral College a scare. In a low scoring 1sthalf with us kicking agasint the wind, we held them to 2 goals, while snagging one ourselves late in the half thanks to a brilliant snap from Jack Ford finishing off some nifty ground-level work from Wirra Gilson.

 

Going into the half-time break just 9 points down, we looked a solid chance with the wind at our backs, and the knowledge their 3 Murray Bushrangers players had not been allowed to play, including 2023 Under 15 All Australian Blake Newton.

But it wasn’t to be, as we went down 1.0.6 to 5.8.38.

 

Match 2 was slightly different, with an always- strong Catholic College Wodonga proving much too slick. The juggernaut that boasts over 1200 enrolments (twice our numbers) eclipsed us 9.6.60 to no score.

 

Co-Captain Tom Ford was our best player. The 2022 U15 V-Line Cup player, 2024 Wangaratta Rovers Thirds Premiership Full Back and current member of the U18 Ovens & Murray Interleague squad, held down Centre Half Back as well as going through the midfield and taking some ruck contests. He marked strongly in the air, won the ball pretty much every time it came near him, and was an inspirational figure, before missing the 2nd half of the Catholic College match due to a sore Achilles.

 

Our other Co-Captain Ned O’Kane, was just as important and valuable. The Wangaratta Magpie backman started midfield, but also spent time at CHB, and was strong in every contest he was in, driving us forward again and again.

 

Jack Ford, Year 11 younger brother of Tom, was very good as always. Strong in clearance-ville and dynamic on the outside too, the poised Wangaratta Rovers Thirds full back also got forward to kick a nice snap under pressure to give us a chance against Cathedral.

 

Year 11 Emilio Miliankos-King was quite brilliant. The AWJFA rep Soccer player played across half forward and had sticky hands every time it came to him, whether in the air or a bouncing ball. For someone who has hardly played Football, his was a remarkable performance, as it was last year at Intermediate level.

 

Wirra Gilson was similar. The Year 12 was dynamite when the ball was on the ground, gathering crisply and moving laterally like lightening with his first few step. He set up Jack Ford for our only goal, and had a few other dashing runs ending in forward entries.

 

Lachie Pensak was strong as well, especially in Game 2 when moved from the Wing into the Centre. With Catholic College Wodonga all over us, Pensak was a shining light, taking several strong high marks, showing clean hands and then wheels and poise when surging forward.

 

Luke Griffiths and Lachlan Suffield, our two Vice Captains, also got busy in Game 2, with Griffiths looking at home chopping off balls floating across Half Back, and Suffield executing a number of massive spoils in defence.

 

BEST PLAYERS: Tom Ford, Ned O’Kane, Jack Ford, Emilio Miliankos-King, Wirra Gilson, Lachie Pensak, Luke Griffiths, Lahlan Suffield.

 

GOAL KICKERS: Jack Ford 1.

 

HOW THEY LINED UP -

B: Jack Lockhart, Levi Zachariou, Cooper Young.

HB: Lachlan Suffield (VC), Tom Ford (C), Hayden Currie.

C: Oscar Benson,Ned O’Kane (C), Lachlan Pensak.

HF: Kallam Pensak, Jack Preston, Emilio Miliankos-King.

F: Wirra Gilson, Harvey Cook, Hamish Tanner.

RUCK: Jye Laxton, Jack Ford, Luke Griffiths (VC).

INTERCHANGE: Anthony Chisholm, Harry Goeby.

 

Thanks to all players for flying our flag again. To the Year 12s who have played for past 6 years, thanks for your service which at times has been brilliant..

 

Big thank you to Morgan Clark as Head Coach, and Kev McGennan for again taking photos.

 

Thanks to a great band of helpers - Year 9 Noah Williams, Year 8s Paige-Lee Dummett and Mia Simpson, Year 9s Kaity Ford, Inanay Gilson and Ruby O’Kane, and a significant number of Senior Girls popping in to support, including great scenes with many of the girls cheering on their older brothers or boyfriends.

 

Jud Mullins

Sport Coordinator