Monash Gryphons Amateur Football Club

Seniors
15.10-100 ELTHAM def.
12.9-81 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: L. Dooley 4, D. Baxter, M. Davies, J. Fleming, N. Rutherford, J. Rotstein, T. Russell, C. Jones, M. O”Neill
Best Players: M. Davies, P. Gomizel, S. Bracecamp, L. Wells, D. Baxter, M. O”Neill

Reserves
11.15-81 ELTHAM def.
6.6-42 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: B. Coxhead 2, J. Rathjen, J. Hickey, S. Cantwell, A. Schroth
Best Players: J. Rathjen, B. Lange, G. Roche, B. Murphy, B. Coxhead, R. Tuttle

Review:
It might have been the great Leigh Matthews who first alluded to the fact that it is not your best six that win you football matches, rather your depth and therefore your bottom six. All clubs have injuries, so it is futile to blame a loss on such, however, it is a test of the club’s depth of talent and this fact is hurting Monash at the minute. Other clubs in our section such as Williamstown and Eltham have no greater talent at the top end, but their depth stretches far further.

Eltham had our measure for much of Saturday. The big ground did not suit us, but they used the ball far more effectively when switching in defence and were more efficient when entering forward 45. Still, the standard of football was very high and Monash refused to yield when it looked that the Turtles could break the game open many times in the second half.

Dan Baxter had another superb game across half back. Is he ever beaten in a one-on-one contest? His work-rate is second to none and was one who flourished on the expanses of Eltham College. Others to perform well for the Gryphs were 50 gamer, Mike “Abdul” Davies and Full Back, Matt O’Neill.

Remember Trivia Night is next Saturday. Let’s get a win!

All at Monash congratulate Mike “Abdul” Davies in registering his 50^th game against Eltham this weekend. Mike is a noted ‘high flyer’ and consumate hard-man of the Gryphons midfield and we wish him well for the next 50. Good luck on the weekend Mike!

Seniors
3.10-28 MONASH GRYPHONS def by.
9.10-64 WILLIAMSTOWN CYMS
Goal Kickers: J. Hart 2, W. Pocock
Best Players: C. Leeton, W. Pocock, L. Wells, D. Gilam, M. Malloy, B. Rose

Reserves
1.4-10 MONASH GRYPHONS def by.
14.22-106 WILLIAMSTOWN CYMS
Goal Kickers: B. Coxhead
Best Players: P. Rutherford, G. Roche, P. Warren, B. Lukav, G. Hickey, J. Hickey

REVIEW:
In my 15 seasons watching and/or playing for Monash, I can only recall two Saturdays where conditions were markedly worse than on Saturday. Beaumaris in 1995 and Bentleigh in 2004 spring to mind as standouts.

It is never pleasant playing in such conditions, but I would argue that coaching is never simpler than on a truly wet day, where modern gameplans and nuances are pointless. Basic yardage, a la “trench warfare” is the order of the day and one must attempt to score wherever possible. I think it was the great Ron Barassi who said even points are important in atrocious conditions.

The Monash/Willy game was billed as match of the day and regardless of the final score, match of the day it was. At the risk of sounding like Mike Williamson, “There were 36 gladiators out there” as each team refused to give an inch. The duel in the ruck between Chris Leeton and Carson McNamara was colossal. They must be the two best big men in the section and when the big men give no quarter, this attitude permeates through the ranks.

For three quarters the Gryphons made sure that Williamstown were made to earn every possession and there was an air of expectation at three quarter time in the Monash huddle. However, Williamstown upped the ante in the final stanza and showed why they are the clear premiership favourites at present.

Full credit to both teams for displaying all the values that the VAFA hold dear. We were not disgraced, Williamstown are a quality side who are slightly better skilled than us at this stage. Other players to revel in the wet included Wal Pocock and David “Dingo” Gilam.

All at Monash congratulate Johnny ‘pitbull’ Rutherford on reaching 50 games with the Gryphons this weekend against Williamstown. John has recently made a comeback after a serious knee injury. Congratulations and we wish him well for the future!

Seniors
7.6-48 ELSTERNWICK def by.
21.15-141 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: J. Harrak 4, L. Dooley 4, C. Jones 3, M. Davies 2, J. Hart 2, J. Ducat 2, B. Rose, W. Pocock, R. Sharkey, J. Rotstein
Best Players: J. Rotstein, C. Jones, C. Leeton, L. Dooley, B. Rose, D. Gilam

Reserves
11.4-70 ELSTERNWICK def.
8.13-61 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: J. Rathjen 3, S. Cantwell 2, G. Roche, G. Hickey, A. Schroth
Best Players: A. Schroth, N. Booth, B. Lange, B. Murphy, S. Cantwell, M. O”Neill

Review:
Even in our wildest dreams, none of the Monash supporters that flocked to Sportscover Arena on Saturday night could not have envisaged such a sight! Drubbings of Elsternwick are rare, and even more difficult away from home at their spiritual base of Elsternwick Park. So all the Gryphons faithful were stoked and jubilant with the 93 point win.

None of us thought it would be this easy, especially with coach Freddie Naumoff absent (due to personal reasons). Reserves coach, Jim Gonis took the reins and will be hard pressed being relegated to the twos coaching duties after such a big win. Assistant coach and master tactician (The ‘Mike Brearley’ of D3 Reserve) , Phil Warren was the mastermind behind each of our matchups, and the pressure we placed on the Elsternwick running brigade never gave them a chance to deliver into the forward line with any purpose.

The thumping win was set up in the first quarter as the Gryphons piled on nine goals to two through the influence of Chris Leeton in the Ruck and Leigh Dooley up forward. Add Jason Harrak and Chris Jones to the mix and it got to the stage whereby the Wickers barely got to touch the ball!

We are now in a position where our younger players are no longer all that inexperienced. Many of our core of youngsters now have 30-50 games senior experience, meaning the term ‘footy smarts’ is au fait. No doubt we are an improving side, however, the depth of this improvement will be fully tested next week against the competitions front runners in Williamstown.

Seniors

Reserves

Come and celebrate a couple of big milestones this week at Elsternwick Park. Please note it is a night game this week. The Twos will be playing at 2pm on the small ground and the Seniors will be on Sportscover Arena from 6pm.

100 Games – Daniel “Darren” Baxter
All at Monash congratulate our courageous and consistent Skipper in registering his 100th game this weekend. It is fitting that such a grand player would reach this mark in rivalry round against Elsternwick at VAFA headquarters. Dan is rarely beaten in any contest and has been under-rated by friend and foe for a number of years.

50 Games – Ryan “Feargal’ Sharkey
A la his 80’s counterpart, Ryan has ‘A Good Heart’, but more importantly he is an integral part of the Gryphons forward line and is fast becoming one of the key spearheads of D3! Ryan is an exceptional mark for his size and also posesses a ‘radar’ like kick that can penetrate from a long distance.

Seniors
26.9-165 MONASH GRYPHONS def.
17.5-107 LATROBE UNI
Goal Kickers: R. Sharkey 8, L. Dooley 4, J. Harrak 3, D. Baxter 2, B. Rose, M. Davies, W. Pocock, T. Vesey, L. Wells, J. Rotstein, J. Hart, C. Jones, M. O”Neill
Best Players: R. Sharkey, L. Dooley, J. Harrak, M. Malloy, D. Baxter, J. Fleming

Reserves
13.16-93 MONASH GRYPHONS def.
6.9-45 LATROBE UNI
Goal Kickers: B. Coxhead 4, C. Yanni 2, A. Schroth 2, N. Booth 2, V. Coffey, P. Warren, L. Cowlishaw
Best Players: L. Monfries, N. Booth, A. Schroth, J. Rathjen, P. Warren, P. Jellis

REVIEW:
I believe it may have the great John Kennedy that first coined the phrase “a week is a long time in football”, and this saying is a more than adequate way of describing the fortunes of the Gryphons over the past two weeks.

Last Saturday’s dour defensive slog against Powerhouse was the absolute antipodean of the 43 goal shootout witnessed at East Caulfield Reserve at the weekend! Tony “Freddie” Naumoff deserves much of the credit for re-jigging the Monash ’spine’ into an outfit not seen by many of the Gryphons faithful for quite some time. Feargal Sharkey had a lot more freedom and he was able to play possibly his best game for the club with 8 majors.

Although 17 goals against is a problem defensively, Malcolm Blight once said “…that the best form of defence is to kick a couple of goals yourself and have your opposition play catch up footy”. I am not sure the Gryphons have assembled a squad to rival Geelong of 89′, but the sentiments are still relevant.

We can go into the Rivalry round against Elsternwick (Wells/Murphy Cup @ VAFA Headquarters) with renewed confidence that we can kick a winning score, only issue remaining is whether we can do this against quality opposition. Only time will tell.

This week against Latrobe we have 2 Milestones:

50 Games – Jeremy “Rubiton” Fleming & Andrew “Solvit” Robilliard

Special mention also to Jeremy and Andrew who bring up 50 games and have developed into seasoned players through hard work and determination.

Congratulations and we hope they can both be around for years to come.