Dermot Cleary – 150 Games and 100 Senior Games
It was a dull day for Oakleigh in more ways than just the weather on Saturday as the club had no side salute. At Monash Uni a depleted seniors faced off with second placed Monash Blues on a soggy Frearson Reserve and were found wanting as the Blues showed why they are a contender for the flag. Using their knowledge of the big ground to advantage Monash just had more pace than Oakleigh, although the rain did slow them down a bit, and they ran in numbers with the Krushers struggling to keep up. Oakleigh kept battling though, their tackling was tenacious, they worked the ball well at times and there were some terrific passages of play but their finishing in front of goal was, at best, ordinary. Had they kicked straighter they may well have made the margin less but it’s doubtful they could have done enough to win the game such was the Blues confidence as they cruised to a 56 point victory. Aisea Valentini and Pat DiSiervi worked hard for Oakleigh along with Captain Dermot Cleary in his 150th game and 100th Senior game.
The early match, in comparison to the seniors was played not so much in the dry but at least in patches of sunshine which did little to help anyway but made it more comfortable for the spectators. A severly under manned Oakleigh outfit sporting 19 players were given little chance of making a game of it against the Blues and for 3 quarters it looked a lot like a shellacking was on the cards but a spirited last term by the Krushers saw them storm home with a 5 goal to 1 quarter to finish 13 points adrift. Granted the last goal came after the siren but it was a great effort by the Oaks in the finish. Jake Pappon booted 4 goals in his return for the Oaks with Adam Matthieson adding 2. Zac Thiessens, Adam Abel and Aaron Paisley were among the best players.
Michael Tate – 50 Games
The U/19s played host to De La Salle at Scammell Reserve and, after conceding a 14 point lead to the visitors at the first change fought back to take a 5 point lead into the long break. With Michael Tate playing his 50th game, honours were shared in an even third term and the Krushers looked to have the match in their keeping late in the last when leading by 11 points then lost focus and De La Salle ran over the top of them to snatch a 5 point victory. Alex Seremelis was the Oaks leading goal kicker with 4 and James Grigoriou added 2. Zac Barrett and Sam Ciavarella were in the Krushers best.
Final Scores:
Seniors: Oakleigh 4.12.36 lt Monash 14.8.92
Goals: Aaron Cloke, Liam Hard, Josh Paola, Tim Scott
Best: Aisea Valentini, Pat Di Siervi, Dermot Cleary, Stuart Wines, Keith Paisley, Steve Tolongs
Reserves: Oakleigh 10.4.64 lt Monash 11.11.77
Goals: Jake Pappon 4, Adam Matthieson 2, Rob Mether, Nathan Miller, Shaun Taylor, Zac Thiessens
Best: Zac Thiessens, Adam Abel, Aaron Paisley, Jack Van Der Ven, Jake Pappon, Jaryd Wines
U/19s: Oakleigh 7.14.56 lt De La Salle 8.13.61
Goals: Alex Seremelis 4, James Grigoriou 2, Jake Lever
Best: Zac Barrett, Sam Ciavarella, James Grigoriou, Alex Seremelis, Brodie Weymouth, Tim Michael
