Southern league 2019: Resolute “ressies” do East Brighton proud

Light on for numbers this season, a dogged East Brighton reserves footy team is playing short and getting thrashed instead of forfeiting games. And the Vampires are chuffed with their fighting spirit.

The weary but determined East Brighton reserves during a break in last Saturday’s match against Murrumbeena. Pic: Murrumbeena FC

“Just want to tell you about a match being called off early,’’ the caller began.

It sounded like another story about a game of football being abandoned because of unruly player or crowd behaviour.

No. This was different.

As the caller explained, it was about the valour of the East Brighton reserves team rather than yet another bout of on-field violence.

The Vampires are struggling for numbers this season in the Southern league.

Last week their reserves team against Springvale Districts had only 14 players.

When one of those went off the ground injured and another was hurt but played on, the game was called off at half time (senior teams must have a minimum of 14 players on the ground).

Districts, who had taken players off to even up the numbers, were leading 18.12 (120) to 0.1 (1).

Ahead of last Saturday’s match against Murrumbeena at Hurlingham Park, East Brighton did a ring-around for players, and also had four Under 19s “double up’’ and turn out for the seniors, allowing players to drop back to the reserves.

They fronted with 16. But again, there were injuries and again the game finished early, this time in the final quarter.

The Beena were in front 27.16 (178) to 0.1 (1).

But East Brighton senior coach Peter Larsen said the scoreboard was irrelevant.

An East Brighton player goes down injured.

He said the Vampires were “enormously proud’’ of the players for representing the club in such tough circumstances.

Larsen said they were determined not to forfeit.

“When that happens, it’s a really bad look on a footy club, and it would have been detrimental to what we’re trying to build,’’ he said.

“The boys knew it was going to be tough. There was no sugar-coating what the result was going to be.

“But it was a case of all hands on deck and do the best we could. And I thought they did really well. With games like that you don’t even look at the scoreboard. You’re just patting the boys on the back, putting your arm around them and making sure they’re OK.

“I know this sounds really harsh but you want to make sure they come back. You don’t want them being beaten by 170 points every week. I’m extremely proud of them.’’

The scoreboard at the end of the reserves game.

Larsen said reserves playing coach Mike Paxman, nearing the age of 50, deserved credit.

“He’s a massively determined individual,’’ he said.

“To coach reserve grade footy at any club you need a certain amount of resilience. It’s a hard job and ours is no different, especially this year. He’s been determined to get a side out there every week. I know the last couple of weeks have taken a toll on him, physically and mentally.’’

The club had a few beers waiting for the players when they walked off the ground.

Murrumbeena president Fred Hargrave said he could only admire the East Brighton players for battling on.

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He said it would have been easy to forfeit.

“We as a club certainly appreciate them giving us a game of footy,’’ Hargrave said.

Larsen said the Vampires knew before the start of the season that they would struggle for reserves numbers, particularly if there were injuries.

East Brighton won the Division 1 premiership in 2014, but five years on is third-last on the Division 2 ladder.

The positive is that it has an Under 19s team this season.

And Larsen said there was a “fighting spirit’’ at Hurlingham Park, highlighted best by the resolute “ressies’’.

East Brighton’s reserves team on Saturday, June 1

Christopher Zisimopoulos, Brandon Smith, Codie Smith, Vince Rossignolo, Brendan Gouin, Andrew Tornese, Mike Paxman, Rory Molan, John Rogers, Brendan Stuart, Jonathan Mylonakos, Daniel Holland, Ryan Gray, Cameron Quashie, Zachery Molloy, Joshua Munn.