Oakleigh’s struggles continued on Saturday as player shortages took their toll and the Marcellin hoodoo continued to haunt the Krushers. The vast expanses of the Marcellin school main oval have been an unhappy place for Oakleigh in recent years and the trend continued in their VAFA Premier C round 11 match. After a bright opening booting the first 3 goals, the Oaks could manage only three more goals to the Eagles 11 to trail by 34 points at three-quarter-time.
The Krushers game got a bad case of the wobbles as they fumbled and stumbled through the second and third terms turning the ball over with monotonous regularity. An improvement in the final quarter wasn’t enough as Oakleigh couldn’t string successive goals together as Marcellin answered every forward thrust and eventually triumphed by 33 points. Trevor Bromley, Aaron Cloke, Tim Scott and Stuart Wines each kicked 2 goals for Oakleigh with Tom Nolan, Luke Andreatta and Steve Buchanan in the best.
The reserves, with the bare 18 players, had no answer to Marcellin and, despite a game effort, were soundly thrashed by 73 points. Adam Matthieson, Pat Di Siervi and Nathan Miller worked hard for Oakleigh.
The U/19s also had a day to forget as they were forced to take the field with only 16 players to tackle MHSOB down at the riverside and proved no match for their hosts losing by 118 points. Kevin Baras, Brodie Weymouth and Corey Moore battled hard for Oakleigh.
Final Scores:
Seniors: Oakleigh 10.10.70 lt Marcellin 15.13.103
Goals: Trevor Bromley 2, Aaron Cloke 2, Tim Scott 2, Stuart Wines 2, Tim Doherty, Gary Bennett
Best: Tom Nolan, Luke Andreatta, Steve Buchanan, Aaron Cloke, Gary Bennett, Stuart Wines
Reserves: Oakleigh 5.3.33 lt Marcellin 17.16.106
Goals: Jake Benoiton, Kevin Harris, Ryan Henderson, Adam Matthiesson, Zac Thiessens
Best: Adam Matthieson, Pat Di Siervi, Nathan Miller, Andrew Weymouth, Paul Nikakis, Kevin Harris
U19s: Oakleigh 3.3.21 lt MHSOB 21.13.139
Goals: Dylan Goodwill, Anmol Malhotra, Robin Smith
Best: Kevin Baras, Brodie Weymouth, Corey Moore, Jordan Peeler, Mina Farid, Callum Gillard