U14 Blue Vs Tarwin

A beautiful autumn day greeted players and supporters as they arrived at the Phillip Island ground, but with it being the middle of winter the crowd raised a collective toast for the positive side effects of Global Warming.

Some bright spark organised a donut-laden food truck for the day, and sugar crusted pastries and coffee were enjoyed by all.

The Blues had high hopes going into the game.

This battle-hardened squad was expected to fare well against a Sharks outfit still on the rise, a mixture of all-star players from all over the region.

As most of the Blues have played together since AusKick it was expected to be a lopsided contest, but great test of their structure and set plays ahead of the local derby with the Reds the following week.

Welcomed back into the team was captain Leo ‘Bionic’ Savona after his recent operation, though the Blues were again to be without Anosh Azizi who was spending the week assisting with scientific experiments on the International Space Station.

The Blues started forcefully, their first goal to Jai Coulton coming seconds after the opening bounce. When Sonny Merryfull goaled less than a minute later it looked like the Sharks were going to have a difficult day at the office.

Leo Savona made good use of his new bionic leg with a thumping kick that was marked by Daniel Caffieri on the line, who lined up for his first of the day.

Two goals in ninety seconds by Joel ‘Bob’ Robinson, plus another for Merryfull and a first for Will Peppard meant that the local side headed into the quarter time huddle 48 points ahead.

Against the wind in the second term the pace of scoring slowed somewhat; but goals to Peppard and Muller, plus two on the trot by Tama Nihver-Tenali, put the game beyond doubt.

The boys showed great defensive pressure, and at the half-time siren the lead had stretched to 76 points.

During the break Coach Gab Cernahan pleaded for the boys to create space in the forward fifty and stick to the game plan.

His team’s task was made more difficult by Yianni Caffieri and Ziggy Bowman Kissane, inside outing their guernseys to line up with the Sharks who needed extra manpower for the second half. 

Caffieri in particular was causing headaches, with great defensive pressure and attacking efforts slowing the Blues’ scoring and almost bringing the visitors into the game.

Benji Chihotski, an ex-soccer champion who was picked up by the Blues last week in the mid-season draft, was hard at the ball from the beginning of the game.

His first attempt at scoring, a scissor kick over his head, went through for a point, and a header through the big sticks was disallowed.

His efforts were finally rewarded with a well-earned goal at the nine-minute mark.

Hughes, Forrest and Goldsbury got a lot of the ball, with Hibbert and Muller showing their usual poise under pressure.

A flurry of minor scores were all the team were able to manage until a searing kick from Tama ending the rot with a goal just before the end of the quarter.

With the Sharks yet to get on the board the Blues’ lead had blown out to 94 points.

The final term saw Jack Kennedy and Daniel Caffieri change their colours to assist the Sharks, and again it made a huge difference to the visiting team’s game.

Heath Collihole took two strong pack marks, and Bailey Anderson was a ball magnet grabbing several on the run.

Peppard got another goal to take his tally to three, but then the unthinkable happened.

The unwritten law of jumper ‘inverting’ is to help your adopted team for the quarter, but not too much; Daniel “Turncoat” Caffieri performed the unforgiveable transgression of goaling against his own team.

To give him his due, it was a fantastic solo run up the wing from centre half back, almost the full length of the ground – but it left the crowd stunned, and Coach Cernahan seething.

But even Turncoat’s individual brilliance wasn’t enough to bring his new team to the fight – his ex-brother Yianni, now back in Blues’ colours, handed off to Ziggy Bowman Kissane who goaled.

With another five behinds during the quarter for the home team, the final margin was a stonking 105 points.

Unfortunately, soon after the match word was received that the competition was to be put on hold until further notice.

Final Score: PIFNC Blue 15.21 (111) def Tarwin Valley Sharks 1.0 (6).

What’s Hot
- Tama Nihiver-Tenali, Jai Coulton, Oliver Hibbert, Yianni Caffieri, Sonny Merryfull, Will Peppard.
- Daniel “Team Player” Caffieri’s goal in the first quarter.

What’s Not

- Daniel “Turncoat” Caffieri’s goal in the fourth quarter.
- Simon Russell’s hand in getting the season suspended – there is no proof, but we’re sure he was involved somehow.

Goal Kickers
- Tama Nihver-Tenali (3), Will Peppard (3), Sonny Merryfull (2), Joel Robinson (2), Benji Chihotski (1), Daniel “Team Player” Caffieri (1), Jai Coulton (1), Noah Muller (1), Ziggy Bowman Kissane (1).

U14 Red Vs Inverloch

This week the U14 Red Island team took on Inverloch which saw a stronger line up with injured players back in adding more depth.

The first quarter saw the Island jump out of the blocks with James Lewis putting on a master class performance.

The Island pressure around the ball shut down Inverloch’s big-name players and didn’t really give them much opportunity to have an impact on the game.

Zak Walker gave the Island on ball brigade the first use of the football and Darcy Thompson was in and under everything and battled all day.

The Island continued to attack against the wind and Inverloch struggled to get into the contest with the relentless pressure and work rate around the ground.

Up forward, Cha Cha roved well off the pack and ended up with a mighty effort of four goals.

Riley Brinkman was solid all day and was in everything and Charlie O’Garey was creative off the wing.

The overall performance was fantastic and such a great team effort by all players.

You can clearly see how well connected the group is and how they were growing and developing as a team.

It’s such a shame that the season has once again been put on hold.

Best Players: Charlie O’Garey, Zac Walker, Darcy Thompson, Riley Brinkman, Cha Cha Fischer and James Lewis.

Goal Kickers: Cha Cha Fischer, Finn O’Brien, James Lewis, Charlie O’Garey, Zak Walker and Jasper Cashman.

Read more footy reports in this weeks edition ......