Monash Gryphons Amateur Football Club

Seniors
39 – Lee Wells
32 – Dan Baxter
28 – Leigh Dooley
23 – Ryan Sharkey
20 – Nick Rutherford
19 – Wal Pocock
19 – Mick Molloy
16 – Chris Leeton
13 – Dave Giliam
12 – Phil Gomizel
12 – Chris Jones
11 – Ben Rose
09 – Jake Rotstein
09 – Mike Davies
09 – Jarrod Hart
08 – Adrian Schroth
07 – Jordon Fraser
07 – Mark Paolucci
06 – Tristan Russell
06 – Jason Harrak
04 – Tim Vesey
03 – Mark Wilkinson
03 – Jeremy Flemming
03 – Stuart Bracecamp
02 – Gerard Roche
02 – Graham Strain
02 – Nick Booth
01 – Matt O’Neill

Reserves
30 – Lachlan Monfries
23 – Vaughan Coffey
20 – Matt O’Neill
19 – Nick Booth
14 – Brendan Murphy
14 – Keiran Love
13 – Brett Coxhead
13 – Adrian Schroth
12 – Brennan Lukav
11 – Gerard Roche
11 – Luke Wilson
10 – Darren Holsinger
10 – Graham Strain
10 – Phil Warren
09 – Tristan Russell
08 – Johnny Rutherford
08 – Chris Leeton
08 – Rob Fletcher
08 – Jake Rotstein
08 – Jarred Rathjen
08 – Ben Rose
07 – Tim Vesey
06 – Bala Lange
06 – Jack Ducat
05 – Jimmy Hickey
05 – Dave Charleson
04 – Jordon Fraser
04 – Rod Tuttle
04 – Jim Gonis
03 – Gareth Kent
03 – Andrew Byrne
03 – Steve Cantwell
02 – Andy Robilliard
02 – Matt Power
02 – Michael Baldwin
01 – Mark Wareing

Seniors
15.16-106 MONASH GRYPHONS def
5.1-31 SWINBURNE UNI
Goal Kickers: C. Leeton 3, N. Rutherford 3, W. Pocock 2, J. Hart 2, M. Davies, R. Sharkey, M. Wilkinson, D. Giliam, N. Booth.
Best Players: W. Pocock, D. Giliam, J. Hart, C. Leeton, N. Rutherford, M. Malloy.

Reserves
20.9-129 MONASH GRYPHONS def
1.4-10 SWINBURNE UNI
Goal Kickers: V. Coffey 7, R. Fletcher 4, J. Rutherford 2, J. Rotstein 2, B. Rose, M. Healy, G. Kent, R. Tuttle, J. Ducat.
Best Players: V. Coffey, R. Fletcher, J. Rutherford, G. Kent, A. Byrne, A. Robilliard.

REVIEW:
It is not often that a player is so respected by the playing group that his mere presence is enough to lift a team. That is the case with Mark Wilkinson. Yes Wilko, a name I have probably not mentioned at all this season! Such is the admiration that this man has acquired in the four years he has been at the Gryphs, no less than 17 of his team mates ran to congratulate him as he slotted the final goal on Saturday. Scenes of euphoria followed reminiscent of Ian Fairley and his sortie up forward in the dying seconds of the 96 Grand Final, slotting a goal with his last kick in football. Wilko is set to leave us at season’s end and we wish him well. It is clear he is held in the highest regards by peers for his relentless courage and attack on the ball. You are welcome back any time.

On a less positive note, it was disappointing to view the demise of the Swinburne Amateur Football Club first hand. To think that a club that ‘thrashed’ us in the 2003 D3 Section Grand Final would struggle to field two sides and only boot 6 goals for the day was most disheartening. I hope that the Razorbacks can re-group in D4 and find some of that passion that has made them one of our great rivals, as Saturday’s game was essentially a training run. Swinburne offered little resistance after quarter time and were lucky to boot 5 goals. The Gryphons had many good players, but perhaps serial ‘hard man’ Walter Pocock The Third was our best. I am not the only one looking forward to 09. Nothing less than a finals position will be acceptable.

Congratulations also to Lachlan Monfries (reserves) and Lee Wells (seniors) for winning the respective Best & Fairest at yesterday’s vote count. Lachy has been a ‘rock of Gibraltar’ in defence all year whilst Wellsy has now won seven senior B & F’s. A figure that is hard to beat in any football club.

Well done to both of you guys!

Last Game Night will be held after the Swinburne Uni game.

WHERE: East Caulfield Reserve
WHEN: 16th August from 8pm and continue late into the evening.
WHAT: a fun night with cool tunes and CHEAP DRINKS!

Please bring down friends, family and partners to help celebrate the end of the season.

Vote count will be held on the same day.

Seniors
21.15-141 WILLIAMSTOWN def.
14.10-94 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: R. Sharkey 4, L. Dooley 4, B. Rose 2, C. Jones 2, J. Hart, T. Russell.
Best Players: P. Gomizel, N. Rutherford, R. Sharkey, L. Dooley, T. Russell, C. Leeton.

Reserves
21.11-137 WILLIAMSTOWN def.
7.9-51 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: R. Fletcher 3, V. Coffey 2, L. Wilson, J. Rathjen.
Best Players: M. O”Neill, R. Fletcher, V. Coffey, K. LOVE, T. Vesey, G. Kent.

REVIEW:
I continually find it remarkable how we differ in our analysis of the game. On Saturday for instance, I had a brief discussion with an assistant coach at the Gryphons regarding best players for the day and our top three’s were completely different. I’ve long held the view that you notice the contributions of the type of players you admire more than those who play the game that differs somewhat to your ethos. It is the same when opposition club analyse you. They tend to pick out players who are flashy or stand out rather than consistent performers. The case in point is that whenever I speak to opposition clubs at post match drinks or I read the tripe on Big Footy, number 4 for the Gryphons is always mentioned.

It was never more evident in Nick Rutherford’s 120 games at Monash of his uncanny ability than Saturday. Put simply, Nick was brilliant in the first half as each touch of the Sherrin turned to gold. It was the kind of contribution that matches his reputation throughout the section. Rutherford won clearance after clearance in the midfield and brought many others into the game. In fairness, it was not a one man band. Phil Gomizel and Tristan Russell also had fine games, but Nick Rutherford’s class shone. It was a real pity that two of our best players, Lee Wells and Daniel Baxter, were injured during the game as their absence meant that our depth was duly tested.

Full credit to Williamstown though. Our first half was as good a footy as we have played all year. It is clear that this level of intensity must be displayed for 120 minutes and not 60 though if we are to be a premiership contender next season. Some say we are not fit enough, and this may be partly true, but I believe that we lack the necessary leg speed required to break the lines and move the ball quickly in to the forward 45. Fast twitch fibre midfielders and flankers are what the Gryphs must look to recruit for 09′.

All at Monash congratulate Rob ‘Dulcify’ Fletcher for notching up 50 games this weekend against Williamstown. Rob has become quite a cult figure at the Gryphs since arriving a few seasons ago from Manangatang. Rob has spent much of his time as a nuggety ‘in & under’ on-baller in the reserves, but has also had the odd senior game as well. Hope Dulcy can hang around for a few more years yet.

Seniors
15.18-108 MONASH GRYPHONS def
9.13-67 ELTHAM
Goal Kickers: L. Dooley 4, R. Sharkey 3, W. Pocock 2, J. Hart 2, C. Leeton, C. Jones, M. Malloy, D. Giliam
Best Players: A. Schroth, N. Booth, D. Baxter, L. Dooley, T. Russell, G. Strain

Reserves
12.8-80 MONASH GRYPHONS def
6.10-46 ELTHAM
Goal Kickers: Coxhead 5, Coffey 3, Healy 1, Warren 1, Fletcher 1, Rotstein 1.
Best Players: Rotstein, Rose, Bracecamp, Coxhead, Vesey, Love.

REVIEW:
‘Where there is light, there is hope’, is a common cliché in theological circles usually reserved for some evangelist on his pulpit, however, I can’t think of a more apt description of the situation that we currently face.

Both seniors and reserves are chances to play finals, but we will have to win both our remaining matches and still wait on results going our way.

Very pleasing effort on Saturday. Sure Eltham are a club decimated by injuries, but you can only beat what is presented to you and Monash managed to do this comfortably by winning contested ball and displaying superior skill acquisition in blustery conditions.

It was pleasing to see both our key forwards, Ryan Sharkey and Leigh Dooley play well in tandem, whilst David ‘Dingo’ Gillam has been a revelation since being moved to the midfield in recent weeks Dingo’s ability to win the hard ball and dish it off to our runners such as Nick Rutherford and Adrian Schroth cannot be understated.

Suddenly, playing Cy’s at Fearon Reserve becomes our true ‘acid test’ and we may as well test ourselves against the best if we have finals aspirations. Should be a great game. Would be brilliant if we could have a cohort of supporters to make the trek across the West-Gate as Williamstown did the same for us back in May.

Bring on Saturday.

Seniors

Reserves