VAFA Premier C: ‘Gutsy’ Ormond hands Monash Blues first loss

Centreman Jack McCartney was best-afield as Ormond brought an end to Monash Blues’ run of wins.

Happy Ormond players leave the ground after defeating Monash Blues in VAFA Premier C. Pic: Ormond AFC

Ormond failed to score in the second and final quarters.

Yet it was still able to pin a first loss on ladder leaders Monash Blues in a stirring performance at EE Gunn Reserve in VAFA Premier C on Saturday.

The home team got up by three points – 9.9 (63) to 8.12 (60) – in a performance that coach Greg Hoskin said was potentially “season-defining’’.

The Monders split the match open from the middle of the third quarter with six goals to none, and protected their lead against the wind in the last term.

“It wasn’t that pretty, to be honest,’’ Hoskin, a three-time premiership coach at Fish Creek in the old Alberton league, said.

Best-afield Jack McCartney for the Monders. Pic: Ormond AFC

“It was pretty hard-fought. There wasn’t one goal kicked to the changerooms end. It was a slog, and the boys were determined. It was a gutsy effort.’’

The Monders had identified a block of their fixtures as “big boys’’ games, and they had fallen short in each encounter, against Monash before the Covid break, Old Geelong and then Mazenod.

Their theme for the day was to apply themselves “time and time again’’. In his pre-match meeting with his players, Hoskin played the song “Time’’ by Jungle (it seemed to hit the mark with team manager Bomber Murray, who just stopped short of a few dance moves in the pavilion).

Max Kennedy on the burst for Ormond.

Hoskin said lapses had been hurting his team.

“When things don’t go our way, we’ve tended the drop our bundle a bit, and it’s been really costly,’’ he said.

“So that’s why we went with that idea of going time and time again.’’

Centreman Jack McCartney, the son of Hawthorn AFL head of football Rob, was best-afield, shading Max Kennedy, who has been added to Collingwood’s VFL list.

“He’s a pure footballer. He’s skilful and he’s built himself up and got stronger, and he’s a natural footballer,’’ Hoskin said of McCartney.

Matt Hine was busy at half forward and Matt Oaten was stout at fullback, giving up size.

The same went for Edward Quinn, who came up against towering Blues ruckman Macgregor Cameron, a formidable player in Premier C. Quinn competed hard.

Henry Simons marks for the Monders.

“It’s huge,’’ Hoskin said when asked about the importance of the win.

“It puts us back in the game, back in the race. We’re back in the four now. The top two is pretty advantageous. We’re a game off that but we think we’re a chance to get back to that again. Massive win for us, no doubt about it; it might turn out to be a season-defining win. Time will tell.’’

Three points also separated the reserves teams, but in that match Monash Blues got the points over the Russell Barnes-coached Monders, who called on four Under 19s players.

Former AFL star Matt Suckling gets busy for Ormond.