R5 2025 | Reserves at St. John’s OC
Round five of the Division 2 Reserves Season brought together two sides in different postcodes on the ladder, with MHSOB’s 3-1 start firmly placing them into the early conversations for September action. Their counterparts this Saturday would be the winless St. John’s, who had stumbled out of the blocks thus far, a tough draw, some tough luck, and a lack of players accounting for their story so far. Despite that, a full side marched out against the Unicorns as play began at Thomas Carroll Reserve, the home side determined to change their fortunes.
Such resolve was quickly put to the test as the Unicorns came out with their feet squarely on the accelerator. The fitness of the younger side was evident as they raced down the field, their pressure on the opponent’s ventures out of their defensive end almost completely suffocating their impact on the scoreboard, with the home side registering a return of 0.3 for 25 minutes of toil.
Quarterbacked by game day captain Orlando Seelander, the back six were feeling comfortable, with Gordon Beet and Tom Sears helping initiate the rebound time and again. In the middle, the entire unit showed their class, as returnee (and new father, to the delight of the Club) Josh Grierson fought to dictate the play in the air, backed up throughout gamely by Adam Stikolzik. With eight majors for the term, the only complaint from Coach Cambo may only have been that it wasn’t more, as the visitors took the first term with a resounding fifty-one point lead, 8.6 54 to 0.3 3.
St John’s heard the bells ringing and woke up in the second term, with accurate kicking benefiting their stronger, larger side. Managing to stem the bleeding, the home side were able to slow down the speed of the match for periods of the term to their benefit. Despite a better showing from their adversaries, the Unicorns were still able to play their way, and whilst winning the quarter on the scoreboard by a solitary two points (20 points to 22), they were hit and miss in front of the big sticks, with a return of 3.4.
Debutants Atlas Yates and Lewis Roughton, two of the youngest on the field, cut determined figures through tough conditions, with the latter exacting a goal to the chorus of cheer from his teammates. Their efforts were matched by a fellow teammate still wet behind the ears, as Matthew Giarracca continued to push his case for senior football. Whilst sadly leaving the game on ice, his upside is apparent to all around, as he helped the side leave for the main break fifty-three points to the good, 11.10 76 to 3.5 23.
Minro Eshwara dishes off the football. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson.
With the gutsy second term dispelling any notions of a total blow-out in the minds of his charges, Coach Cambo reiterated the need to keep pushing and to close the game out in the second half on their terms.
Seemingly always the case when the Unicorns are on song, the defensive unit and pressure efforts of their team further afield constricted St John’s ability to cut into the deficit. Through the middle of the field, Luke Stone showed his usual polish (undeniably, this writer is at the risk of sounding like a broken record), and up at the pointy end of play, Nafi Anaan was everywhere, two pinged calves seeming not able to hinder his dash and delivery. The collective effort of the side was fruitful, as the goalkicking honours were spread between 9 individuals, though James Lake and Mason Fennessy-Kent did take four each for their efforts.
The final term was more a formality, the Unicorns taking into it a nearly 10-goal margin, but the sides fought until the very end, to the credit of both sets of players. A special high point goes out to Adam Stikolzik, faced with playing two completely separate roles (full forward and ruck), yet coming out of it with two majors and his fair share of the hit-outs for his efforts.
The final siren sounded with the Unicorns flexing their collective muscle, as they eased to a 71-point victory, 19.15 129 to 8.10 58. The Unicorns return home in round six to face a similarly luckless Aquinas Reserves.
Final Scores: MHSOBFC 19.15-129 defeated St John’s OC 8.10-58
Goals: Mason Fennessy-Kent 4, James Lake 4, Nafi Anaan 3, Dinuk Epa 2, Adam Stikolzik 2, Minro Eshwara, Max Mclean, Lewis Roughton, Luke Stone.
Best: Nafi Anaan, Luke Stone, Gordon Beet, Avinash Nair, Matthew Giarracca, Orlando Seelander.