R2 Coaches Report
A's; B's & C's vs Goodwood Saints; D's vs SHOC & LOSA vs Modbury
A Grade Match Report: Round 2 v Goodwood Saints
Our first home game of the season and a match against an opponent with whom we have a rich history.
We were aware of the importance of the game during the week with the preparation taking a focus on “ Trusting the Plan ” for four quarters irrespective of the scoreboard.
This focus was immediately tested with our opponents jumping us in the first controlling the contest off half back with speed and run putting our back 6 and midfield groups under enormous pressure. We fought hard to control the momentum heading into the first break 6 points behind on the scoreboard.
At the break we reset knowing and trusting what was required. Again, our opponents came at us kicking the opening three goals of the quarter and getting out to a 26-point lead at the 11 min mark. And that is exactly where the game turned. Our pressure and intensity around the contest lifted and we were brave with ball in hand. While the score at half time saw us still 6 points adrift the momentum and control had shifted.
After the main break the third was a fast and furious contest played between the arcs with our team defence holding out repeat attacks by our opponents which saw them score two points for the first time since early in the second in the final minutes of the third. During the quarter we continued to drive the ball into our forward 50 without the real reward we had earnt with the final break remaining 2 points behind.
The “trust “ and “belief” through the playing group was evident at the break, we craved the opening goal, and we were rewarded with a clinical front and centre running goal from Ferg “The Professor” Kernahan which put us in front for the first time in the game. The pressure dial “if possible” turned again to a new level at every contest, which was no more evident than a crunching bump in the term by Luca “ Senior” Stepic. Not satisfied we continued to run out the game which saw our opponents finish with another two points for the game and our side finishing with a victory by 20 points.
From the 11 min mark of the second we maintained our “Trust in the Plan” going onto to kick the next 7 goals of the game and holding out our opponents to 4 points. A tremendous win for the side and a game we will draw on during the season.
Special mentions were the performances of Damon “ Junior” Stepic who was solid off half back all day, Tyson “ Mr Accumulator” Walls through the midfield and up forward was creative and dangerous all day, Stefan “ The Barometer “ Lanzoni gave us a lift when pinch hitting through the midfield and energised the players and crowd with not just one but two goal of the year contenders, Tom “ Mr Evergreen” O’Malley who continues to defy Father Time rebounding at will all afternoon and Dan “ Captain “ McCallum another member of the back 6 who defended tirelessly for four solid quarters.
Best players were a challenge given those mentioned as well as contributions from all 21 , but Ferghus “ The Professor “ Kernahan was precise and clinical all day, kicking two critical goals and setting us up offensively.
Cam “ The Interceptor” Ball set the tone first with his pressure and goal saving smother early. His closing speed is elite and ability to intercept and crush a contest was on display all afternoon closing out our opponents’ forward entries.
Charlie “ Mr Smooth “ Kemp gave us a target up forward and link in transition for four quarters with his now customary enormous work rate and contest pressure and James “ The Stoppage King “ Warton did it all for four quarters, his pressure acts, stoppage craft and work rate were outstanding all day resulting in another high possession game and hitting the scoreboard with 2 clutch goals.
Best afield was Ryan “ The Contested Beast” Lymn. Playing out on a wing, he was back to his best, out running his opponent and winning contest after contest all day with huge metres gained and should have “gone to video review” following an outstanding long range shot on goal.
A great win at home but we need to reset to focus on the week ahead.
Final Score: ROCFC 9.11.65 defeated Goodwood Saints 6.9.45
Goal kickers : F. Kernahan 2, S. Lanzoni 2, J. Warton 2, W. Mead 1, L. Stepic 1, F. Wakelin 1.
Best Players: R. Lymn, J. Warton, C. Kemp, C. Ball, F. Kernahan
Bootsy
A Grade Coach
B Grade Match Report: Round 2 v Goodwood Saints
Always a challenge to play Goodwood Saints, and I’m pleased to say our team was up to that challenge from the start of the game.
We talked about how they play the game and it needed from us a discipline performance from the team as a whole and every player plays their role, and that happened which is a great sign that the group are gelling together and maturing as a group.
We started the game well with fine performances from our midfield – with Dylan Reinbrecht, El Murada and Jake Slivak getting to work, plus our pressure to their ball carrier all over the ground was great in particular our defence was brilliant with Darci Best and Jackson Thomas doing great jobs.
As the scores suggest it was a very contested game, we more than matched Goodwood Saints in this area plus were able to clear stoppages with clean disposals and give our forwards a one-on-one change.
As last week we played the last quarter with no rotations through injuries which adds to the win, showing great courage and fitness which testifies our fitness program pre-season.
It was very difficult to pick best players as I said before everyone played their role. Players who just missed out getting in the best, Tom Bradford and Connor Butcher playing the wing and time in midfield had great moments, Matthew Brown with 3 goals was always looking dangerous, and Peter Vorrasi in defence in the last half was very solid all day.
Final Scores: ROCS 8-6 d Goody Saints 6-8
Best – Darci Best, Dylan Reinbrecht, Jackson Thomas, El Murada, and Jake Slivak.
Goal Kickers – 3/Matthew Brown, one each- Adam Greenwood, Harrison Twiggs, Dylan Reinbrecht, Dylan Fitzsimmons, Tom Bradford.
Dave Moyle
B Grade Coach
C Grade Match Report: Round 2 v Goodwood Saints
Rostrevor OC 07 11 (53) defeated by Goodwood Saints 07 12 (54)
Goal Scorers: Dylan Matthews 2, Julius Piro 2, Ky Haddad 1, Dillon Huppatz 1, Olly Piro 1
Best Players: Stuart Greenslade, Samuel Hearn, Lachie Hill, Julius Piro, Amer Elhosn
D Grade Match Report: Round 2 v SHOC
Rocs on the road this round travelling to challenge reigning premier & archrivals Sacred Heart OC . Rocs with great teamwork and skilful use of the footy dominated the early stages of the contest & with confidence booted the goals the Team needed to reward all the excellent efforts around the ground. Rocs were desperate in defence backing each other up & attacking forward to create the best chances for our forward line to score. 1/2-time score Rocs 5-3 vs SHOC 1-2 .
The Rocs were under extreme pressure as SHOC as expected lifted their intensity and attack on the ball & player, Rocs did enough to even out the 3rd term as our team were running on empty after a frenetic QTR of pressure football. 3/4-time score Rocs 7-5 vs SHOC 3-6. The Rocs were under siege as SHOC stormed into attack repeatedly, kicking important goals to whittle down Rocs lead as we held on with desperate efforts just keeping the lead, then SHOC finally hit the front in the dying minutes. Rocs with a final foreword entry was held up & cleared out deep in our forward pocket as the final siren rang out. Rocs gallant in defeat by 2pts....
Final Scores: ROCs 7.5 (47) def by SHOC 7.7 (49)
Goalkickers - G. Kemp 2, A. Slivak 2, J.Thoday 1, T.Matsis 1, P. Norris 1.
Best players - S.Tagg, B. Warren, G. Kemp, F. Brasher, A. Slivak.
Best team man - M.Augustine.
Stevo Edwards
D Grade Coach
LOSA - R2 vs Modbury
Loreto OS 02 02 (14) defeated by Modbury 06 10 (46)
Round 2 was a twilight home game and a Div 5 grand final rematch against Modbury. Our line-up included six changes from Round 1, seeing the return of 2023 premiership players Minnie Turner, Stephanie Principe, Jana Ivancic and Jess LeMire, as well as returning 2022 Inaugural LOSA players Annie Green and Lucy Franzon.
In the first quarter Modbury came out hard and fast, winning the midfield battle early as they hunted the ball and transitioned forward quickly. Some defensive pressure contributed to Modbury missing some opportunities in front of goal. Modbury led the first break 10-0.
In the second quarter our running game and ability to find space away from the contest was smothered. Working tirelessly in the middle were midfield duo Bella Simpson and Hannah Osborne. A concerted effort to gain front position around the ground was made but Modbury’s team defence was able to keep us scoreless at the main break. Young Defender Scarlett Pearce showed her determination chasing down a Modbury player who was running into an open goal, with a 50m sprint, stopping a sure opposition goal. The defenders and mids worked hard, however Modbury were able to find time and space, with effective kicking to continue the scoreboard pressure, leading the game at the main break 19-0.
Our backline again came under pressure quickly in the third, however the team’s defensive efforts did have an impact on Modbury’s ability to score, led by experienced backliner Sarah Catterwell. The second half of the third quarter we improved our ability to hunt the ball and work together at the contest. Our competitive ability overhead and at ground level had us winning our share of the contest. The physicality of the game had taken another step. By the final break Modbury had added a further 3 goals, to our 1-point, and led 37-1. It’s notable that this could have easily been a 5/6 goal quarter by Modbury, had LOSA’s pressure on the ball carrier not been as effective.
With some glimpses of how we wanted to move the ball in the third, there was a key message delivered to the team. We knew the score was going to be hard to chase down at that point in the game, but we wanted to put a dent in it, so our focus was set on the final 17-minutes. The ownness was put on each player, that there will be time/s in the final quarter where they will be faced with deciding how hard to go, and it was going to come down to sheer determination and guts. Not to come off the field and feel like you could have done more. If you do that, then the scoreline will take care of itself. True to messaging, the players came out, and there was a change. They had stepped up again from the third quarter, as they tracked the play, hunted the ball, had gave second and third efforts. Simpson and Osborn set the standard early at the contest and found time and space to deliver the ball forward on the outside. The team started to string together plays through handball receives, similar our Round 1 form. Our final forward line-up was bolstered with pace as balls were kicked to their advantage or to space for them to run onto. This had the Modbury defenders and mids caught on the back foot. More and more support around the ball was evident from LOSA teammates. Olivia Law added two quick goals in succession early in the quarter, proving her ability to play midfield but also handy when forward, scoring in two consecutive games. In her first game returning from a ruptured achilles, Lucy Franzon was centimetres from kicking her first goal after a soccer off the deck in the far pocket took a bounce in the wrong direction. It was not all one-way traffic through, as we still had to work tirelessly when Modbury gained possession. Winning the final quarter battle 13-11.
Coming off the field with some things to reflect and focus on, but also some positives will help us roll into Round 3, vs Scotch.
Best Players: Bella Simpson, Olivia Law, Sarah Catterwell, Hannah Osborn, Scarlett Pearce.
Goals: Olivia Law 2.
Brooke Copeland
LOSA Head Coach
