By Marcus Uhe
A red card to Gembrook Cockatoo playing coach Michael Firrito for inciting a half time melee against Emerald “ruined what was a great contest” in the words of the man banished from the ground.
After scores were tied at the long break, Firrito’s side was forced to play with 17 men in the third quarter during what was dubbed the “relegation cup” between two fierce rivals and conceded four goals while being held goalless, leading to a 21-point loss.
While he won’t face suspension after receiving a reprimand from Outer East Football Netball (OEFN), Firrito said he was disappointed in the sanction he was handed on the day, given the nature of the incident.
“If it was a grand final, I’m not too sure if the umpires would have made the same decision, but I would have put my 10-year-old boy in the middle of that pack of guys,” he said.
“Every contest is big between these clubs.
“Never at any stage was it vicious or did it look like there was anything untoward.
“I didn’t hit anybody, I didn’t throw anybody to the ground.
“We’re not in a position we want to be in for a variety of reasons but I take full responsibility as coach and the player that got red carded.
“I want us to play a particular brand and umpiring decisions are always going to happen, but I take responsibility for what the game looks like and the league too, because we want our league to be a strong vibrant league and we’ve got some challenges, but we all need to work together and get our league back to where it belongs.”
The old adage that a week is a long time in football could not be truer for Brookers in the context of OEFN Premier Division, now in the box seat to be relegated back to Division One with three weeks remaining in the football season following a 13.13 91 to 10.10 70 loss to the Bombers on Saturday afternoon.
The previous week saw them bank one of their better wins in 2024, and a fervent atmosphere took hold in the rooms as a result of downing a finals prospect in Mt Evelyn.
By contrast, Firrito said the mood in the rooms on Saturday following the loss was “extremely sombre” and has led to some sleepless nights since the final siren.
“It was one of the more disappointing days I’ve been involved in in football across my career,” Firrito said.
“I felt terrible myself.
“It was a cracking game of football up until half time and I’m sure everyone there would have agreed.
“The scores were level and it was disappointing that what unfolded, unfolded.”
As the Brookers adjusted to their new constraints in the third term, four goals in eight minutes from the Bombers snatched momentum in the contest and build an unassailable lead.
Gembrook Cockatoo fought back to close the lead to 15 points midway through the final term, but a pair of steadying goals from Emerald young gun Noah Van Haren steadied the ship, and another to Nick Russo pushed the margin to 33 as the quarter entered time-on.
Firrito was proud of his players for showing heart and character in the final term, but concedes they face an uphill battle in the final three weeks of the year to avoid relegation.
“The last quarter, Josh Tilly, Aaron Firrito, Damian Volta, they did all they could but reality is, the third quarter, we were a man down and that was the difference in the game.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t out there and I cost the team in the end.
“It’s something I’m not happy with but you can’t go back in time and change it, you just have to look forward and go forward.
“I stand by that I think we’ve got enough talent on there to be super competitive in Premier Division but we need to be in Premier Division and we’ve got three weeks to justify that.
“We weren’t done any favours on the weekend, but it is what it is.”
Firrito kicked three goals before his red card, with Myles Wareham and Daniel Welsh adding two apiece.
Benjamin Schultze, Dante South, Brayden Weller and Brad Frater were among the best of the Brookers.
Saturday’s home clash with Officer shapes as must-win, with contests against finals-bound pair Wandin and Upwey Tecoma to finish the season.
For Emerald, consecutive wins to keep its Premier Division prospects alive is a tremendous turn in fortunes for the young Bombers, who look destined to build on 2023’s success by fronting up for the top flight again next season.
Russo, Van Haren, David Johnson and Harvey Siwes each kicked two for Emerald, with Russo continuing to remind the local football scene of his class on the back of a knee reconstruction.
Dylan Cawsey also impressed in his return from injury.
In other results around the competition, Pakenham was unable to put a tumultuous week behind them against local rivals Officer, with the Kangaroos keeping their finals chances alive thanks to a 35-point win.
With president Derrick Brown coaching after Paul Carbis’ resignation, Pakenham could only manage four goals for the afternoon, with Officer kicking away in the final quarter to win 10.8 68 to 4.9 33.
Officer led by only 19 at the final break but kicked the final three goals of the afternoon to put the result beyond doubt.
Mark Seedsman finished with an equal-season high four goals for Officer, with Brent Moloney and Daniel Davies kicking two apiece.
It’s two wins from two matches against the Lions for Officer in 2024, who marked the formal naming of Robert Porter Recreation Reserve by honouring the suburb’s most famous son.
Sam Hoghton’s brilliant season continues, as does Brenton Hillard’s, while Dandenong Stingrays Under 16s listed talent Diesel De Santis impressed in his second game at senior level.
Ryan Martini, Kade Perkins, Rhys Clacy and Matthew Debruin were among Pakenham’s best.
Mt Evelyn’s thrilling six-point win over Monbulk puts a game gap between the Kangaroos and sixth, however, while Pakenham is only spared 11th place and the looming threat of relegation by percentage, with Emerald, Gembrook Cockatoo and the Lions now all locked on four wins with three games to come.
Berwick Springs found itself on the end of a 79-point hammering against Woori Yallock at home.
Nine consecutive Tigers goals saw the Titans trail by 58 points at the long break, before offering some more resistance in the second half.
Senior midfielders Matt Soutter-Smith, Justin Markulija and Chris Johnson continue to shoulder plenty of the burden for the Titans in the middle.
Another stellar performance from Matthew Scharenberg, meanwhile saw Olinda Ferny Creek put an eight-point gap between itself and sixth place, likely sealing a place in the top six, and drawing level with Upwey Tecoma, the side they knocked off by 35 points at home.
Scharenberg kicked four goals and was named in the Bloods’ best for the 14th time in 15 games this year.
