Around 150 Monbulk supporters made their way to Woori Yallock on the morning of Sunday 10 September to watch the Unders 19s take on Officer in the 1st Semi-Final. Ideal cool, calm and overcast conditions greeted the teams as they assembled at the ground. The Hawks had beaten Kangaroos by 46 points at Officer the last time they met in Round 15 and were hopeful of a repeat performance.
It was Officer who started more assuredly and they had a goal on the board within two minutes. The Kangaroos controlled the ball for most of the first quarter and took in a 14 point lead at the first break. The second term was to be a tight affair but it was Officer who managed the only goal for the quarter. Monbulk’s usual ability to control the tempo of the play when they fall behind and to use short options or successfully switch the play was stifled by the pressure that Officer were able to apply.
Having let Officer play the match on their terms over the first 40 minutes, it was to be a more physical approach in the opening minutes of the second half for the Hawks as they were determined to wrest back control of the game. Players went in hard after the football but it was again the Kangaroos who came out on top as far as the scoreboard was concerned. By three quarter time Officer looked home, with a commanding 31 point lead as Monbulk were still anchored on one goal.
Throwing caution to the wind, as their season was on the line, Monbulk were able to break through Officer’s defences on several occasions to register four last quarter goals as they came home with a wet sail. But it was to be too little, too late however, as time beat them with the margin still at 14 points when the siren sounded. Coach Kris Fletcher praised the team after the match for what they had achieved for the year. He also announced that he would be stepping down as coach of the Under 19s after three years at the helm, having made finals in the two seasons since the Covid interrupted years.
Officer 7.5.47 def Monbulk 5.3.33
Best: Officer – Sam Hoghton, Taj Beddows, Bowen Johnston, Beau Sargent, Byron Neale, Riley Perkins
Monbulk – Mackay Bateson, Nick Taylor, Ben Smith, Timothy Rickard, Tait Colee, Jack Downard-Pengilly
Goals: Officer – Ryan Mibus 1, Bowen Johnston 1, Al Claxton 1, Riley Perkins 1, Jay West 1 + 2 not recorded
Monbulk – Nick Taylor 1, Zeke Charlton 1, Mackay Bateson 1, Mackenzie Rouget 1, Lachlan Smith 1
