VAFA 2019: Ormond footballer sleeps in, misses start of game

A snoozing footballer made for a dramatic start to Ormond’s crucial game against Mazenod in VAFA Premier C on Saturday.

Blair Atkins was late arriving at Ormond’s game on Saturday but he was one of the best players on the ground. Picture: Chris Eastman

A snoozing footballer made for a dramatic start to Ormond’s crucial game against Mazenod in VAFA Premier C on Saturday.

Monders player Blair Atkins was nowhere to be seen as game time neared at Central Reserve in Glen Waverley.

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Frantic phone calls to Atkins from Ormond team officials went unanswered.

It turned out Atkins, who works nightshift, was sound asleep after his phone had gone flat, disabling the alarm.

When he finally awoke, and saw the time, he made a mad dash to the ground, arriving after the start and going onto the ground late in the first quarter.

The stalled start only seemed to fire Atkins up, as the Sandringham-listed midfielder was one of Ormond’s best players in its fast-finishing 13-point win, 12.13 (85) to 9.18 (72).

Ormond coach Ash Lever. Picture: David Crosling

The Monders kicked the last three goals of the game after trailing by seven points with a handful of minutes remaining.

Ormond coach Ash Lever said Atkins’ absence had team officials panicking.

“Everyone’s trying to ring him, his folks were in New Zealand and his missus was interstate, so we couldn’t get a hold of him,’’ he said.

“He managed to wake up and he had his laptop and saw the time, s..t himself, and then rang me and managed to get from Elsternwick to Glen Waverley just as the game started.’’

Ormond midfielder Ethan Hanley was best-on-ground while Dae Szydlik, Zach Benson and Tom Buckley were influential. Sam Mason and Max Kennedy kicked crucial late goals.

In Division 2, a dominant display led to Glen Eira posting its first win of the season. The Gryphons dispatched Melbourne High School Old Boys 12.19 (91) to 8.12 (60), with Lachlan Pound, Todd Richardson and Phil Falvo leading the way.