R5 2025 | Seniors at St John’s OC

Robert Rae runs out for game #150. Image courtesy of Jim Wilson. 

A perfect day for football at Thomas Carroll Reserve in Dandenong led to a high-scoring, attack-heavy game of football that showed off some fantastic stretches of MHSOBFC footy as well as moments where concentration lacked.

A back-and-forth first quarter set the tone for the rest of the day, with both teams being incredibly accurate in front of goal, with 12 goals being scored for only 4 behinds. Will Hellier managed 2 majors in the first term, which was the margin in favour of the Unicorns at the first break.

The second quarter continued the way that the first ended, with both teams being relentless on the attack, with 10 goals being scored in the quarter. Rob Rae was finding space on the wings in his 150th game in the Green, Maroon, and Black, providing his usual class and demonstrating good decision-making with his F50 entries. The second quarter produced a few highlights for MHSOBFC with Sean Lester winding back the clock with a classy pirouette move to produce a pivotal D50 exit, while Mathew Pereira was showing off his bag of tricks and newly discovered turning circle, producing one of the goals of the year on the half-time siren.

Melbourne High found a spark through Allister Clarke’s ball movement through the middle of the ground in the third quarter, breaking the back and forth of the game with 3 unanswered goals mid-way through the third quarter. St. Johns, we’re determined not to let this one get away from them, managing to turn the tide at the end of the quarter and kick 3 unanswered goals of their own to keep the game at a stalemate. Nick McKinnon was showing off his usual midfield dominance in a free-flowing clearance battle that saw the Sherrin pinging from centre to forward 50 faster than Gout Gout.

St. Johns kicked off the fourth quarter the way they finished the 3rd, kicking 5 unanswered goals to start the term, taking the lead and smothering any momentum that Melbourne High might have had left. Tom Golz continued to be a marking, tackling, and running option throughout the entire day, deservingly seeing a spot in the best player for Melbourne High. Despite scoreboard ascendency for most of the day, the final push from St. Johns proved too much for the Unicorns to overcome, with St. Johns taking the day 134 – 120 victors.

Melbourne High will look to learn from the errors of this game and take that back to the Woodfull-Miller over where they will face off against Aquinas.

Final Scores: MHSOBFC 19.6-120 defeated by St John’s 21.8-134.

Goals: Matthew Pereira 4, Thomas Golz 3, Will Hellier 3, Lucas Judd 2, Nick McKinnon 2, Yonal Gunawardena, James Lees, Brayden Swenson, Liam Littore, Alex Mourtikas.

Best: Robert Rae, Allister Clarke, Will Hellier, Mathew Pereira, Nick McKinnon, Thomas Golz.