A historic night at Ivanhoe Park saw Old Paradians move to 2-0 in the 2024 Heidleberg Golf Club Division 3 competition, holding on to defeat Ivanhoe by four points on Saturday night.
In the first NFNL clash between these two clubs, the Raiders looked to have all the answers up to half time before the Hoers turned the momentum to their favour in the third term, making for a tense final quarter.
A low-scoring affair saw only one major kicked in the final term, but it was that goal from Old Paradians captain Marcus Nolan which proved to be enough to see his side prevail 6.6 (42) to 5.8 (38) in front of a large crowd.
Nolan would finish with three goals for the night off the back of a five-goal display in Round 1.
However it was Sam Gilmore who was argubly the most influential player on the ground. He won the majority of hit outs, constantly giving his midfielders first-use, all while playing key roles in defence and up forward to give his side the best chance of maintaining possession.
His brilliant display allowed his teammates to have an impact such as Declan Brunskill, Jack Nicolo and Jack Witchell while Kyle O’Sullivan’s second half was also pivotal in the Raiders securing the four points.
Ivanhoe’s main contributor for the night was Ash Close, who in his first game back for the club, stood tall inside 50 to kick goals and provide a valuable target for his midfielders. Often having to beat two-three Old Paradians defenders, Close worked hard to take some strong contested marks, highlighted by a hanger in the third term.
Liam Ward got plenty of the football in just his second senior game, and first since 2023, while playing-coach Wayne Schultz was composed with ball in hand, and his second efforts always allowed the Hoers to keep pushing forward, particularly in the third quarter.
The visitors would get off to a hot start, kicking the first three goals of the night to put the pressure right on Ivanhoe.
When David Paolino goaled to make it a 19-0 start, the Hoers were dealt a big blow when Matthew Harte was stretchered off injured, leaving Ivanhoe one player short for the remainder of the match.
A goal in time-on to Close gave the home crowd some joy, but it was Old Paradians who enjoyed a 14-point advantage at quarter time.
Both sides struggled to keep the ball in their attacking halves during the second term, before Close got on the end of another opportunity in front of goal which he converted 13 minutes into the quarter, cutting the margin to nine points.
The Raiders responded through a magical major from Mitchell Merkel, as he shrugged the tackle and snapped truly to restore their 15-point lead.
A third goal of the game from the home side at the 19-minute mark helped keep them in touching distance by half time as they faced an eight-point deficit.
The second half started with Ivanhoe turning up the pressure. Their ability to force Old Paradians into turnovers swung the momentum of the game, and for the first half of the third term, the Hoers were capitalising, as Close’s third goal and a set shot conversion from Nick Vines put the hosts in front after 12 minutes had gone in the third quarter.
The pressure continued from Wayne Schultz’s men, but as the term drew on, Ivanhoe missed some vital chances to extend the margin, kicking three of the next four behinds, before a Marcus Nolan major broke a goal drought of over 30 minutes for the Raiders.
Just one-point separated both sides at three quarter time, making for a highly anticipated final term.
Goals were hard to come by again for each side as the pressure of finding that important goal grew.
After five combined behinds from the two teams, it would be Nolan who found himself at the back of a marking contest to run into the open goal and put Old Paradians in front during time on.
Despite a few more forays forward for Ivanhoe, their last chance for a mark inside 50 came just after the final siren had sounded, signaling a second straight victory for the Raiders and marking an end to a terrific contest between the NFNL’s two newest sides.
