Issue 11 SJC News 2020

SENIOR FOOTBALL

First XVIII – Saturday 1 August

St Joseph’s College 10.6 (66) defeated by Geelong College 14.5 (89)

SJC 4.1 6.3 8.4 10.6.66

TGC 2.1 7.2 11.3 14.5.89

GOALS: Mitch Langan 3, Ollie Henry 2, Xavier Huxtable 1, Lachlan Neate 1, Caleb Law 1, Quinn Taylor 1, Lachlan Kidd 1

BEST: Mitch Langan, Cameron Fleeton, Charlie Ham, Ben Clark, Xavier Huxtable, Lachie Kidd, Ollie Henry, Sam King

At Geelong College Main Oval

The highly anticipated opening game of First XVIII Football finally got the all clear on Saturday 1 August seeing St Joseph's College to take on their fellow suburb rival, APS Football’s The Geelong College. With energetic moral support being provided by CJ Holt’s self-proclaimed cheer squad and following a comprehensive win by the Second XVIII, the boys were pumped for the big clash.

After winning the toss and kicking with the stiff breeze, inspirational speaker Oliver Henry fired the boys up with a speech to be remembered. Starting as a congested contest with repeat stoppages, the game began to open up with clearances from the likes of speedy left-footer Charlie Ham who linked up with Lachie Neate for the SJC’s first goal. Skillful hands from contested bulls Lachie Kidd and Xavier Huxtable helped Joey’s pile on another 3-goals before quarter time with the scores 4.1.25 (SJC) to 2.1.13 (TGC).

Against the wind in the second, TGC midfielders streamed forward kicking 3 unanswered goals early, forcing SJC’s backs to lock down. Down by 12-points with 10 minutes left, high-flying back Cam Fleeton put on a show for his supporters in the crowd taking multiple intercept marks and setting up goals for fan-favorite Mitchell Langan and Caleb Law. After a tough quarter with TGC small forwards adding goals to the total, Joey’s were down 6.3.39 to TGC 7.2.44 coming into half time.

With the temperature heating up and the game intensifying, handfuls of boys struggled with cramps as the lack of training and isolation diets made themselves known. Standing up amongst the fiery contest was stud back-men Ben Clark who remained strong through the surging pressure of TGC midfielders. Late in the third, SJC’s power house forward Oliver Henry rose to the occasion continuing to make his presence known with a crucial goal whilst pressure acts from swift-moving mountain Mitchell Langan sparked the boys heading into the last with the scores 8.4.52 (SJC) to 11.3.69 (TGC).

Starting the final quarter against the wind, TGC’s small forwards piped up kicking two early goals placing the pressure on SJC’s midfield to continue fighting. After seeing Cam Fleeton come off the ground to grab one of Smokey Dawson’s signature calf rubs, silky right-footer Quinn Taylor snuck forward to kick a vital goal with less than 10 minutes left. With both teams providing a cracking last quarter, The Geelong College began to run away with the game, proving their weekly training had payed off compared to some underdone Joeys boys.

Although losing the game 10.6.66 (SJC) to 14.5.89 (TGC), it was definitely a memory the involved boys will cherish for life being their only Year 12 game of football.

By Joel Fleeton – Year 12

Second XVIII – Saturday 1 August

St Joseph’s College 11.15 (81) defeated Geelong College 2.5 (17)

SJC 0.2 3.8 6.10 11.15.81

TGC 0.2 1.3 2.5 2.5.17

GOALS: Tyler Murphy 3, Archie East 2, Blake Spiller 1, Flynn Kinsey 1, Tom Connolly 1, Hugh Menzies 1, Declan Clark 1, Hugo Clatworthy 1

BEST: Hugh Menzies, Hugo Clatworthy, Jack Drought, Colin Holt, Nick Routley, Blake Spiller, Ayrton Bloink, Ethan Durante

At Geelong College Main Oval

After a disappointing last few months of being left in the dark whether the Year 12 cohort would get any local footy in before it was finally canned, the boys were hungry when the opportunity arose to play against The Geelong College. Callum O’Leary led the Super 2’s in a first quarter arm wrestle. The backline was led by generals CJ Holt and Nick Routley who didn’t allow anything through and on the rebound misses from key forward Blake Spiller and Will Beste meant we ended the first quarter tied at two points apiece.

The second quarter was another tight contest but the Killer B team was helped with good-looking ruckman Hugo Clatworthy putting on a clinic as well as Hugh Menzies with absolute domination across the forward flank, putting through the first to open the Joeys boy’s checking account. College slipped one through the Great Wall that was the Joeys boys’ backline but the boys quickly rebounded with Blake Spiller finally putting one through after kicking 3 points prior. The Joeys midfield showed absolute class with Jack Drought, Ayrton Bloink and Ethan Durante all applying great pressure to keep the ball trapped in their forward which allowed small forward Tom Connolly to kick goal of the day with a dribbler from the pocket off the throw in right on the half time siren giving Joey’s the 15 point lead.

The second half started with even more inspired efforts from stud Hugo Clatworthy as well as equally good efforts, from the equally good-looking Hugh Menzies. Joeys piled on another 3-goals including one from Archie East who hadn’t played football in over 4 years to stretch the lead even further. CJ Holt and Nick Routley continued their dominance down back with help from Jack Bentley and Tom De Grandi to keep College to just two goals for the game at the end of the 3rd Quarter.

The final quarter was all domination by the Joeys squad as Tyler Murphy – having got the start time wrong – arrived in the last quarter to kick 3-goals and others to Flynn Kinsey and Declan Clark buried College to a point in which they couldn’t return. College were held scoreless in the last and the Joeys boys finished well on top to run out 64-point victors.

By Blake Spiller – Year 12