The Friday night showdown in Monbulk for Olinda Football Club’s Under 9 mixed juniors was everything the huge crowd came to expect.
Olinda came to play, and by quarter time had piled on four incredible goals, including a boundary snap that brought the crowd to life.
The skill and determination of this team has been growing steadily all year, with some say the best is still to come.
A coaching switch at half time saw local football legend Tom Dawson take the reins.
His passion and game sense helped the team cement another solid week of highlights and memories.
It was a typical winters day in Olinda for the home side’s Under 11s’ clash against Seville. Drizzle, fog, a chilly breeze and a soaking deck set the scene for our round 11 clash with a dangerous Seville team, that was only three places behind Olinda on the ladder.
Olinda’s young guns were up for the challenge in the first half, absolutely blowing the opposition away with constant pressure, good team ball use and finishing around goal with some classic wet weather footy. At half time the home side was 59 points ahead.
This gave the coaches a chance to throw the magnets around a little. The second half was a little more even on the scoreboard, but plenty of superb play from a team that was in control of the game.
Final score
Olinda 10.6.66 v Seville 2.2.14
Rain and mud were no deterrent for the U12 girls this week.
The last time Olinda played Wandin it was a very close match with Olinda taking the win, so the club knew it was going to be a tough game.
After a rest during the holidays, the girls came out on the ground with good energy. The numbers were slightly low with a couple of key players out but this team worked together with such cohesiveness and gusto.
The last half of the game saw Olinda kick three goals to sit just two points off Wandin’s score and as they scrambled to try and get that final goal the siren went. Olinda couldn’t quite get there.
However, the club was extremely happy with the efforts by the girls but there is some serious white washing soaking going on at the moment to get ready for the next game.
Whilst the other OFCJFC teams were playing in the fog at home, the Under 13 boys Reds headed down the hill to play neighbours Monbulk in wet (but clear) conditions.
After a week off due to school holidays, the lads started slowly as Monbulk applied some good pressure in the first quarter. It was only late in the first quarter that the bloods managed to hit the scoreboard.
The second quarter was a tight contest with the game being predominately played in Olinda’s forward half with the side kicking 1.3 for the quarter.
Kicking down the hill in the third quarter the boys ‘turned it up a notch’ playing some really good football. Spencer Garrett and Ollie Wilford were finishing well up forward, and Olinda’s midfield of Jack Ford, Jarra Bellemo, Nate Johnson and Archie Green were winning the ‘one on one’ contests and continuing to surge the ball forward.
A solid last quarter saw the boys run out eventual winners against a solid opposition in what was a good game of junior football..
Final score Olinda 7.8.50 def Monbulk 2.5.17
The U13 boys Whites kicked off the day’s footy in some pretty miserable conditions but that didn’t stop their enthusiasm of the contest against one of the top sides in Wandin.
While the scoreline didn’t go Olinda’s way, the boys were really good all match and it was only a second quarter blowout with five unanswered goals that made the scoreline look not so good. Olinda even won the third quarter which they can take some real pride from.
Olinda’s Under 14 girls played as the feature final game on Sunday in front of a big crowd who were delighted to see some tough, competitive footy in difficult conditions. The girls consistently won the hard ball at the contest and put together some great passages of play with fast ball movement against a bigger opposition.
Olinda fielded a team of 19 and everyone of them was a solid contributor, with the side closing the gap from when they last played and the girls’ improvement evident every week.
Round 11 saw Olinda’s Under 15 boys hosting Gembrook on a wet, muddy track and after Gembrook scored the opening goal, Olinda steadied the ship to take a five-point lead into quarter time.
The second quarter was hard fought in the slippery conditions and the same lead to Olinda remained at the main break.
The visitors never stopped trying but the second half belonged to Olinda; scoring 4.1 to Gembrook’s four points to record a comfortable 26-point win.
The usual suspects, Tom Ford ( three goals), Aden Bates (two goals) and Lenny Barry (one goal) were prolific ball winners and along with Kael Johnston, River Bellemo (one goal) and creative Wingers Ry Tudor and Al Deering, dominated the midfield.
Will Meyer, a rock in defence as always, was ably assisted by young guns Spencer Garratt and Jarrah Bellemo, while up forward, a special mention goes to Louie Barry who took a strong mark and played on to kick his first goal at Under 15 level.
An impressive win in tricky conditions.
(Final scores)
Olinda 8.3.51 d Gembrook 3.7 25.
In wet and muddy conditions Olinda’s U17 boys came up against a strong and physical Mt Evelyn side in a top of the table clash. Unfortunately Mt Evelyn got off to a quick start and we were never able to head them. Olinda played some good footy in patches but need to put it together for a full game to compete with the top teams.
