AFL Competition

The Silva Report

Court in the SNC firing line

It was a long wait for Court Grammar to make their way from Mundijong , the team was restless, the crowd was swelling, the tension growing, this was going to be a great last game of season 2021. You could just feel it. 

 

The boys came out strong controlling the play and keeping the ball in our scoring zone for most of the half. Blade Sartorelli controlled the centre bounces and with the backing of Oscar Butler and Joshua Bransby the ball moved forward fast. Court Grammar struggled to clear the ball with any possession they had because Francesco Tilli and the Bingham Brothers ran down every player to putting the pressure on and returning the ball into the safe hands of Ethan Glassborow and Oscar Butler’s dominating marks in the air. Adding to this Suglo Morna’s gutsy efforts in the packs, they kept feeding the ball into our goal end time after time. The opposition defence was strong. 

 

Keeping marks taken by Jaxon Mikaere, Dalton King and Samuel Berhane at a big distance from goal that made scoring difficult. Several points were scored before Ephrem Tesfaye took a mark, calmed things down and sent a controlled kick to Blade Santorelli who scored our first goal from a long kick. 

 

The forwards began working the ball looking for the cracks, with Jesse Overmars throwing himself into the packs to keep control. Kaylum Rogers rotated into the centre and kept feeding the ball back every time there was a break away. Then Samuel Berhane got hold of the ball and snap added another goal for SNC. If their defence was good, our defence team was stronger and made Court Grammar work hard to give any answer. Jordan-Blaze Lightbourn kept their full forward under control and tackled hard, Francesco Tilli and the Bingham Brothers controlled the play and the opposition could manage only 3 scoring shots for the half. With minutes left the SNC machine got clearance from the centre, move the ball around against the determined defence; and with seconds left opened up the opportunity for Blade Sartorelli to snatch the ball and kick a goal as the siren sounded. First half score SNC 3.4 (22) to CG 2.1 (13), the boys had gained a 9-point lead but knew that this was not going to be easy to defend.

 

It was time to strategise and the half time talks brought focus. Mid-field; concentrate on checking the runs, keep them locked down, don’t let them move forward. Backs; talk it up, and don’t be afraid to push up, give us the numbers we need. Coach Corey Houwen drawing the team together said ‘You play for other clubs, but there is nothing like wearing the symbol (pointing to the SNC guernsey), playing here with those you are beside every day. Enjoy this game’ and he turned the team over to Captain Oscar Butler. With hands all in and a mighty roar The Boys were ready for the last half.

And what a half, there was no let-up from either side. This was a game of pack pressure as everything was contested. Back and forth the ball went with as the game covered a lot of ground. Ephrem Tesfaye kept the pressure on for the whole game and Ethan Glassborow came out of the pack time and again and just out ran the opposition, leaving them looking defeated in his wake. A brilliant run of play began with our backs as they pushed forward, Joshua Ferguson clearing from the pack to Blaine Bingham, who hand passed back to the constantly moving Joshua Ferguson, a long kick to Blade Sartorelli, short pass to Francesco Tilli who delivered accurately to Alex De Silva up forward who’s kick was good, a goal! Our backs covered everything coming their way. The strong ‘slamming’ tackle from Malkovich Tionisio sent Court Grammar the message ‘there is no giving up happening here’. Dalton King joined the backs and his steel cranium took the knocks as he and cleared to Dillion Bingham. His long kick found Blade Sartorelli and he took a great run down the forward flank thanks to great shepherds from Jaxon Mikaere and Jesse Overmars, 2 bounces and a goal. Suglo Morna turned into the tackle king, and his gutsy play was demonstrated by a great slide through the pack and a recovery to kick the ball forward.  Our power forwards of Big Tek (Armeyas Dejene-Teklu) and Sammy took the marks but were pushed out by Court’s continued strong defences making the goals hard to get. Ephrem Tesfaye took a superb mark, fully floating on air, and moved the ball forward again. Another mark to Sammy with a big long kick up in the air, everyone was holding their breath, the pack on the goal line went up in the air, a touch; Joshua Soy (goal umpire) extended two hands, they were over the line it was a goal! A few more minutes of tight tough play and that was it, the last game was over. So, did we win? Absolutely! Final score SNC 6.5 (41) to Court Grammar 3.3 (21)

 

Comments:

‘There was some incredible talents out there but I think the Coach’s half-time address was the difference’ Simon Harvey

 

And from The Boys: ‘Thanks to Corey Houwen - great coach’

 

Picture: Michelle De Silva:
Picture: Michelle De Silva:

Main image who's who: (L to R): Peter Hawke (Deputy Principal), Sharon Rainford (Deputy Principal), players Samuel Berhane, Malkovich Tionisio, Armeyas Dejene-Teklu, Jesse Overmars, Joshua Bransby, Taj Hewitt (assistant coach), Ephrem Tesfaye, Oscar Butler, Jordan-Blaze Lightbourn, Suglo Morna, Blaine Bingham, Kaylum Rogers, Dalton King, Blade Sartorelli, Corey Houwen (coach), Matt Oliveri (prac student), May Dao (staff), Ann-Marie Frazier (staff), Alysia Gustafsson (staff)

Front Row (L to R): Joshua Ferguson, Jaxon Mikaere, Simon Harvey (Principal), Alex De Silva, Francesco Tilli, Ethan Glassborow, Dillion Bingham, Noah Hewitt (boundary umpire).

 

Mrs M Silva (Team Manager)