Shepp News |
In the end, this was a game of footy like no other.
The final scoreboard showed — or rather it didn’t due to a Seymour behind not being credited — that the Lions had gone down by five points to Mooroopna.
What it also didn’t show — but which should not be forgotten — was that a Seymour side under-strength, undermanned, undersized, but most importantly under the collective burden of having to take the field under the worst possible scenario, almost pulled off a miraculous victory.
And that might still have been achieved had the Lions known they were a point in front after a brilliant goal to Harry Wheeler less than two minutes from time. With the board showing the sides locked at 106-apiece, both went to an attacking structure at the next centre ball-up.
The Cats’ gamble was the one that paid off, though only through a dubious mark being paid — it appeared to be a half-volley and only travel 10
But that should not take away from a fine Seymour effort. With the death of team-mate Eamonn O’Connor weighing on every Seymour player, official and supporter present at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday, the senior side put in a superb effort.
That included a seven-goal first term, in which the Lions, missing a host of regulars through injury or unavailability, were as efficient as they have been in a long time.
Despite getting a hammering in the clearances, mighty tackling pressure, the kind ‘‘Euwie’’ would have admired, got Seymour a handy break. Up front Paul Colbert, Saad Saad, Hugh Robertson and Dom Russo feasted on what balls they got.
However, the signs started to look ominous in the second quarter as the bigger Mooroopna side’s pressure started to tell. The tall Cats forwards — only Tim O’Keefe had a similar-height match up — started to find their radar and the gap was under a goal at half-time.
Mooroopna looked irresistible early in the third term, and hit the front halfway through. But a great Jason Cole goal on the run sparked the Lions back to life and Seymour was away again.
But the final term was almost all Mooroopna’s, and when the Cats led by two straight kicks with about four minutes to go, it seemed Seymour’s valiant effort had been in vain. Yet the spirit of Eamonn lifted the Lions one more time.
Nick Dundon ran, hand passed, ran and carried the ball 80
But the fairytale couldn’t quite come off. Yet more importantly, as was said in an emotional rooms after the game, every single Seymour player had given it their all for their mate.
O’Connor’s cousin Liddell was among Seymour’s best, overcoming a niggle to take the field and do the family proud. O’Keefe continued his fine season and Robbie Douglas was also superb in a defence that missed Matt O’Keefe, Cole again worked hard on ball as did fellow midfielder Adrian McCarthy, while Colbert and Russo were always dangerous.
Yet there were plenty of others. Robertson played some of his best football at senior level, in honour of the mate who he shared his Seymour debut with in 2011. Every Lions player made the one percenters count.
Coach Shane Robertson was moved to call it ‘‘the gutsiest effort I’ve ever seen’’.
‘‘Certainly we went in undermanned and the elements were against us with everything that has happened, but to fight it out to the end was enormous,’’ he said.
‘‘We played a brand of footy that (O’Connor) would’ve been proud of. The bond that they have got within themselves is just enormous. Over nine rounds I’ve continued to learn new things about them but you see it come to the fore (on Saturday).’’
Robertson faces a still-daunting task this week, ahead of the home game against Kyabram. The Lions attended O’Connor’s funeral on Monday.
‘‘We’ll take it day by day as we did this week and feel the feel of the boys,’’ he said.
Cole could be in doubt after suffering a collarbone injury, while others who missed Saturday’s game due to injury include skipper Brent Colbert, Matt O’Keefe, Gerard Liddell and Ash Walsh. O’Keefe, for one, expects to be back to face the Bombers.
Mooroopna4.2, 9.5, 11.7, 17.10 (112)
Seymour7.0, 10.2, 13.3, 17.5 (107)
It might have been a 79-point loss, but coach Shane Cockerell couldn’t fault his under-strength side’s effort against the high-flying defending premiers.
‘‘The boys’ endeavour was fantastic,’’ he said.
‘‘They were just too good for us but the boys had a red-hot go.’’
None more so than ruckman Will Brock, who Cockerell said was probably best on ground for either side.
And, of course, there was the matter of Eamonn O’Connor’s death weighing on every player’s mind.
‘‘They acquitted themselves well and paid great respect with the way they played,’’ Cockerell said.
Other standouts included Cam Muir, Sonny Judge-Williams and Jessie Dinnie, with Cam Clydesdale and Fraser Canobie also doing well.
Mooroopna3.4, 7.7, 11.13, 15.18 (108)
Seymour1.0, 2.3, 3.5, 4.5 (29)
Seymour was missing a host of players due to Assumption College commitments, but it mattered little as the under-18 side consolidated its spot in the top six with a 31-point victory.
Coach Matt O’Sullivan was as pleased as anyone with the win.
‘‘It was a great effort,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a bit hard at times but we played some really good footy and I was really happy with that.’’
A much better start than in recent times set up the win, with tackling a feature. While the effort fell away in the second term, a change of tactics proved the spark the side needed after the long break.
‘‘They beat us in the stoppages in the second quarter and we decided to play a bit more one-on-one and it made a huge difference,’’ O’Sullivan said.
‘‘We closed off their space and made contests for every ball.’’
Standouts included Rhys Clarke on the wing, despite being up against a giant opponent, while defenders Luke McAleer, James Ure, Tim O’Sullivan and Aidan Sharp had another good game as well.
The on-ball brigade, once they worked out they could beat their opponents one-on-one, provided good service to forwards Tim Dundon, Tom Martin and prolific goalkicker Jesse Thelen.
Seymour3.0, 4.4, 7.5, 10.8 (68)
Mooroopna2.1, 2.1, 4.1, 6.1 (37)
