Monash Blues vs De La Salle

Match Report

With conditions & ground near perfect for footy, it was disappointing to witness a lack lustre performance from both teams. DLS, despite being severely challenged by a good Monash ruck & mid field, began well. Good delivery from Jake saw Josh Cumberlidge score from close range. This was quickly followed by Christian Algeri, goaling at the 9 minute mark.

Although play was evenly spread, Monash’s height advantage, particularly up forward, resulted in goals at the 12 & 18 minute marks. A free to Tom Lynberg, in a marking contest, resulted in our 3rd goal, only to be negated by a 50 meter penalty goal to Monash, near the end of 1st qtr, which saw DLS 2 points up: 3.2=20: Monash 3.0=18

Strong contested marking by Tom Lynberg & Liam Eldering resulted to goals, 5 & 8 minutes in. Monash hit back almost immediately with 2 goals, as the defence continued to struggle to compete in the air where Monash was either able to mark or bring the ball to ground.

In a period where mistakes by both teams were common, Liam Eldering, who was having a good game, goaled from a ruck infringement. Soon after Adrian Indovino marked a beautifully placed kick from Campbell Bedford to score our 7th goal. Indovino followed up soon after when freed, due to a vicious high tackle, to goal & establish a 23 point lead at ½ time. 8.5=53 : 5.0=30.

DLS started the 3rd qtr without mid fielder Liam Murphy, who appeared to damage his ankle when his kick was smothered, late in Qtr 2. Monash, always strong at the contest & benefiting from centre clearances, goaled early in Qtr3. Jack Gava, particularly & Tom Lynberg were contesting strongly, but were unable to contain the ruck skills of Monash’s #1. Lynberg’s marking was becoming a factor, and he kicked his 3rd goal after a strong mark at CHF. An exceptional clean passage of play by DLS, landed the ball with Josh Cumberlidge who calmly bagged his 2nd goal from close in! Monas goaled late, to claim the 3rd qtr by 6 points, but still trailed us by 17 points: 10.8=68 : 8.3=51.

Monash goaled early, but DLS looked to take total control adding goals to: Cumberlidge (his 3rd) from a superb goal square tackle, Trent Shannon, from his standard snap from a pack, Jake from a CHF mark, Indovino, marking & goaling from distance, to establish a match winning margin of 35 points, at about the half way point. Inexplicably, Monash then took control & dominated play to score the last 3 goals of the match & reduce our winning margin to 19 points!

We gave away too many free kicks to careless high tackles & disappointingly, too many 50 meter penalties, some of which converted difficult goal shots to certainties! One 50 meter penalty was clearly over judicious umpiring, but we just have to learn to shut up!

Best: Tom Filipovic, Liam Eldering, Christian Algeri, Trent Shannon, Campbell Bedford, Tom Docherty.
Goals: Josh Cumberlidge, Adrian Indovino & Tom Lynberg 3 each, Eldering 2, Algeri, Shannon, J Williams