Round 1 of the 2014 season and Oakleigh had the long trip to Keilor Park for the season opener with PEGS. A fine day with a freshening breeze and a top notch playing surface greeted the Krushers along with a pumped up PEGS outfit and the first few minutes of the game promised a hard and fast encounter. PEGS drew first blood as the Krushers struggled to come to terms with the wide, open spaces and despite repeated attacks were having trouble scoring.A couple of quick goals to the hosts midway through the first term had the Oaks 3 goals down and looking uncomfortable but a change of fortune saw 4 unanswered goals rattle PEGS and put the Krushers 7 points up. A late goal to the home side before the siren had Oakleigh a point up at the first break.
The second quarter went goal for goal before PEGS broke the pattern and grabbed the lead back taking advantage the Oaks wastefulness up forward.
It was a 15 point advantage to the hosts at the long break but there was still a lot of footy to come and Oakleigh came out on a mission in the third term attacking relentlessly and grabbing back the advantage as tempers became frayed in the intensity of the contest.
Taking a 15 point lead into the final change, the Krushers needed to maintain that intensity but it was the home team that took the initiative and the lead and a tiring Oakleigh failed to keep pace and PEGS ran out victors by 11 points in a high standard game. New Oakleigh coach Jamie Mollo was naturally disappointed at not getting the points but was pleased with the effort and some positives that came out of the game. Tim Scott led the goalkicking for Oakleigh with 4 and Steve Tolongs added 3. Aaron Cloke stood out in his new role down back with new player Luke Andreatta showing some fine form.
The Reserves, not unusually, were undermannned with 3 on the bench but battled gamely against a superior PEGS. A lack of a key forward and some inexperience didn’t help the Krusher cause either but they fought the game out with Matt Bennett standing out in his first game back with Michael Klonaridis and Dan Mercuri also in the best. Nathan Miller finished with 3 goals and Chris Mercuri added 2.
The U/19s had a bye.
Final Scores:
1sts: Oakleigh 11.11.77 v PEGS 13.10.88
Goals: Tim Scott 4, Steve Tolongs 3, Luke Andreatta 2, Austin Deneys 2
Best: Aaron Cloke, Luke Andreatta, Steve Tolongs, Austin Deneys, Pat Di Servi, Liam Gillard
2nds: Oakleigh 7.8.50 v PEGS 15.14.104
Goals: Nathan Miller 3, Chris Mercuri 2, Tommy Golik, Adam Mathiesson
Best: Matt Bennett, Michael Klonaridis, Dan Mercuri, Will Manning, Adam Matthiesson, Blake Grizzell
