R5 2025 | Dev Squad at Preston BULLANTS

After last week’s gut-wrenching 7-point loss at the final siren, the JnrCorns had a point to prove. With grading officially wrapped up, Round 5 marked the true start of our 2025 campaign—and the boys made sure to kick things off in dominant fashion.

Thanks to some late changes in the fixture and a few teams pulling out of the comp, we found ourselves scheduled for a 9:20AM clash in Preston. But despite the early start, the group turned up switched on. The energy in the warm-up was spot on—focused, lively, and confident. That tone carried straight into the opening bounce.

From the outset, we asserted total control on the ground. The midfield trio of Ben Tyrrell, Asher Claney, and Lachie Sharrock were everywhere—winning clearances at will, applying immense pressure, and working hard both ways. Feeding them was debutant ruckman Oscar Payne, who slotted in seamlessly with some high-IQ tap work and physical presence. He wasted no time making an impression in his first run in the green, maroon and black. With the midfield on top, our forward line had no shortage of supply, but unfortunately, wastefulness in front of the goal was the story of the first term. Whether it was pot shots under pressure or refusing to lower the eyes, we finished the quarter with 3.10 on the scoreboard. While we dominated field position and inside 50s, we left plenty of points on the table. On a brighter note, defenders Callum Hackman and Sam Tralaggan both found themselves on the end of fast breaks and slotted their first majors of the year—a reward for their efforts and elite positioning. At quarter time, we held a commanding 34–1 lead.

The second quarter was more of the same. We pinned Preston deep in their defensive 50, and our rebound pressure ensured that every exit was short-lived. Blake Italiano and Matt Haberfield started to find more rhythm inside the forward 50, hitting the scoreboard with some composed finishes. The ball hardly left our half of the ground, with sharp link-up chains and wave-running footy overwhelming the opposition. That said, we still couldn’t quite shake the goalkicking woes, posting another 4.6 for the quarter. At halftime, the scoreboard read 64–1, but it could have been a whole lot more. Coming into the rooms at halftime, Kevin delivered a clear and simple message: be unselfish, lower the eyes, and start playing for each other. And the response was immediate.

The third quarter was, simply put, our best footy of the season. The ball movement was slick. Hands were clean. Spacing was elite. Lachie Sharrock and Aaron Shipperlee both hit the scoreboard to celebrate their birthdays in style. Mohammed Elfaki, who found his groove as a mobile key forward, snagged three goals and imposed himself physically. And Blake Italiano launched a monster from the paint of 50 to take his tally to five goals, capping off a standout individual performance. The back six stood strong, intercepting everything that came their way and launching wave after wave of attacking movement. By three-quarter time, the game was beyond doubt: 122–2.

Unfortunately, the final term didn’t quite reach the same heights. With the win essentially locked in, our intensity dropped. We got complacent. Preston were able to catch us off guard with some clean transition play, kicking three late goals—something the group will review and address ahead of next week. Still, the margin was never under threat, and we closed out the game with a 144–23 win.

The rooms post-game were buzzing. The team song rang out—admittedly still a work in progress for some of the newer boys—but the vibe was there. A win like that doesn’t just boost percentage, it boosts belief.

We now sit 3–2, on top of the ladder with a healthy 95%, and most importantly, a squad that is starting to click. Next week brings a triple-header at home—a massive opportunity for the JnrCorns to make it two in a row, protect Fortress Melbourne High, and formally announce themselves as a serious contender for the 2025 season.

Final Score: MHSOBFC Dev Squad 20.24-144 defeated Preston Bullants 3.5-23.

Goalkickers: B.Italiano 5, M.Elfaki 3, M.Haberfield 2, L.Sharrock 2, A.Claney 1, B.Gallop 1, C.Hackman 1, A.Reynolds 1, B.Sharrock 1, A.Shipperlee 1, K.Tailor 1, S.Tralaggan 1

Best Players: B.Tyrrell, B.Italiano, M.Haberfield, C.Hackman, A.Claney, O.Payne