Grand Final – De La Salle vs Old Haileybury

Match Report

Qtr 1: In a tense opening, with DLS kicking to the end favoured by an insignificant wind advantage, OH appeared to have more run & time for their disposals. Behinds were registered by both teams before a mark on the HFF by #53, whose accurate kick, recorded the GF’s 1st goal, at the 8-minute mark.
Although DLS had much of the play, it seemed OH were on top. A set shot from Ryan O’Meara went wide for an OOF. 20 minutes of play elapsed before a strong contested mark by OH at CHF, put the margin out to 16 points.
It had been OH’s quarter! They could have sown up the GF, but for their rushed attempts on goal, kicking 4 behinds before recording their 2nd goal, as described above!
DLS 0.2=2 Old Haileybury 2.6=18

Qtr 2: A quick centre clearance, a scramble at top of goal square resulted in an OH goal 21 seconds in! 6 minutes later another OH goal came from a contested overhead mark and the margin had blown out alarmingly, to 29 points. DLS players could not break free of the close checking & smothers on even quick handballs. OH, had certainly learnt much about our play from our previous 3 encounters!
Positive play by Christian Algeri to Tom Filipovic, landed the ball with O’Meara whose accurate long kick recorded DLS’s 1st GF goal at the 7-minute mark. This was to be a minor intrusion into OH’s dominance of possession.
Everything was now going right for OH! Playing with confident abandon, their foot skills prominent, they added 4 further goals in quarter 2, to consolidate a GF winning margin of 7.6.
2 instances of what confidence, and lack of It, can demonstrate:
An absolute wild snap from deep on the HFF gives OH a goal!
Fraser Cameron, freed, but then called to play on is tackled from behind, is freed against, resulting in another OH goal.
DLS 1.3=9 Old Haileybury 8.9=57

Qtr 3: DLS’s dismal GF continued unabated with OH goaling at the 3, 14,20,30-minute marks respectively. Only interrupted by a goal from O’Meara, who was freed & aided by a subsequent 50-meter penalty, scored DLS’s 2nd goal, 6 minutes into quarter 3!
The OH forwards, on benefiting from perfect kicks to potent positions, were impossible to defend against. The efforts of the backs, although eventually impotent, were tireless & worthy of high praise!
DLS 2.4=16 Old Haileybury 12.12=84

Qtr4: The final quarter was DLS’s best, as has been the case all season, doubling its score to ¾ time! A fine tribute & response to Nick’s ¾ time address. DLS strove diligently and narrowed the margin to 62 before OH went on another goal kicking spree, in the last 10 minutes!
Goals to Cameron, Algeri, who was now started running free & one late to Adrian Indovino, demonstrated DLS players strong commitment to the coaching panel & the Club & supporters generally!
Summary: Not what DLS would have expected! The team could not cope with a fresh, hard tackling, skilful team. Having won 14 of its 21 games played & 9 of its last 12, DLS has achieved much in 2024, not to mention the prized elevation to Premier “ A’ for season 2025.
Those present in the rooms after the game were privileged to hear the absolutely outstanding & caring words of our fine coach Nick Hyland!

Best: Jake Williams, Charlie Aitken, Lachie Gawel, Hugh Nicholson, Trent Shannon, Fraser Cameron.
Sorry guys but in my opinion, Sean Fisher has to be in there somewhere!
Goals: Ryan O’Meara 2, Cameron, Christian Algeri, Adrian Indovino.