Kilmore snapped a two-game losing streak and ended Old Eltham Collegians’ incredible run in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3, defeating the Turtles by eight points at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
The 5.12 (42) to 5.4 (34) victory in wet and difficult conditions, helped the Blues consolidate their place in top four and also kept their double chance hopes well and truly alive. They have now drawn to within a game of the Turtles on the ladder.
To emphasise the importance of the win, Kilmore would have been three games adrift of the top two had they lost.
An even and low scoring first half saw the teams go to the main break level at 2.1 (13) apiece. Both sides were winning the ball well through the midfield, but the kicks into forward fifty for both teams often went to an outnumber in favour of the defenders. At other times, the slippery conditions made it hard for forwards to take advantage of opportunities.
The game opened up in the third term with the Blues dominating proceedings. Goals to Bailey Taylor-Egan, Chris Ryall and Marcus Webb saw the home team zoom out to a game-high 23-point lead, while holding Old Eltham Collegians scoreless.
But a free kick right on the siren to Tim Woods at point blank range saw him convert and reduce the deficit to a manageable 17-points.
In 2021, Woods slotted a goal after the final siren to give his team the win over Kilmore at Eltham College. This major wasn’t as significant, but the goal against the run of play did give the visitors some energy at the three quarter huddle.
Addressing his players, coach Matt Sleeman urged the Turtles to take the game on and be willing to take the dangerous options in order to grab what seemed like an unlikely win.
The final term saw Kilmore do all the attacking early, but without landing the killer blow. Then Jay Smith found Jeremy Murphy in space for the first goal of the quarter, while reducing the deficit to 11 points.
A great left foot snap by Benjamin Cox soon after made it a five point game and the comeback looked like it might be successful.
But the Blues controlled the last few minutes of the contest and won some crucial one on one battles. They scored three behinds as the game wound down to prevail by eight points.
“It was good to get back on the winners list,” said Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips.
“I’m proud of the way the boys went about it in less than ideal conditions.”
Thomas McMillan received praise from his coach for his good work on the wing where he continually won the contested ball and found team mates further afield.
Leigh Irons and Michael Marrett also revelled in the wet conditions, while Hayden Phillips played a selfless game and did the tough work to assist his side.
Marcus Webb and Chris Ryall scored two goals apiece. Webb kept sending the ball inside fifty in the final term to give the deep forwards scoring chances while Ryall excelled with a mixture of tough football and smart ball use and was awarded the player of the match.
“We were beaten around the ball in the past two weeks,” said Ryall after the game.
“We needed to raise our physicality and work for each other to give our forwards a chance and we did just that today.”
While beaten on the day, the first half of the season had lots of positives for the Turtles.
“We’re happy with our position in the competition now,” said Old Eltham Collegians coach Matt Sleeman.
The best performed players for the Turtles was their oldest player on the field in Mathew Crooks as well as their youngest in Sebastian Francis-Perkins who is just 17 years of age.
Crooks stood out in the ruck and gave his team first use of the ball while Francis-Perkins was terrific off the half back line with his intercept marking and penetrating kicking.
Player availability has been a problem for most teams this season and this time it was Old Eltham Collegians’ turn. They lost the experienced duo of Nick Milne and Tom Rogers at the selection table, and then Nick Snowden and stand in captain Eden Simpson were late withdrawals on the day.
Both teams now head to the mid-season bye before then having interesting matches to begin the second half of the season.
Old Eltham Collegians play Heidelberg West at Eltham College in round 10 action. The Turtles defeated the Hawks by a solitary point last time they played at Heidelberg Park.
Kilmore remain at home on the other side of the bye, this time hosting South Morang in a third versus fourth battle.
