Monash Gryphons Amateur Football Club

Seniors
25.13-163 MONASH GRYPHONS def
5.7-37 SWINBURNE UNI
Goal Kickers: L. Allan 7, D. Wills 5, L. Wells 4, N. Rutherford 2, J. Nuguid 2, M. Fletcher 2, C. Leeton, C. Mackie, N. Booth.
Best Players: L. Allan, M. Fletcher, G. Munro, J. Nuguid, D. Wills, L. Wells.

Reserves
16.11-107 MONASH GRYPHONS def
6.7-43 SWINBURNE UNI
Goal Kickers: W. Pocock 7, L. Fisher 2, M. Ramadan 2, T. Russell, D. Gatsios, M. Malone, M. Davies, B. Lukav.
Best Players: M. Davies, W. Pocock, M. Paolucci, B. Murphy, T. Vesey, S. Illangakoon.

Review:
“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever” is a memorable quote from British Film Director, Ken Russell. The chance meeting between Gryphons Founding Member, Craig Robinson and Lee Wells at O-Week in 1995 would change the course of Rowdy’s life forever. Here he was asked whether he played football and whether he’d like to come down to the Uni club for training. Lee was a shy 18 year boy from Bendigo way who had no affiliation to any school old boys club in the big smoke, so he thought he’d go down for a look. The rest is history…

It was as if it was meant to be on Saturday. We were ‘on’, and the contest was over after fifteen minutes. There wasn’t a Gryphon who failed to win his position and we made Swinburne look third rate. If we can play football like that each week we are going to be very hard to beat come September. Jill-Ivan Nuguid, aka nugget II, was one who particularly impressed. His pace over the first five metres makes Nick Rutherford look slow and Nugget certainly appreciated the drier conditions of East Caulfield. Others who shone were Laynton Allen and Matt Fletcher up forward, David Giliam down back and the great man himself across half forward.

It was a great day for all.

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The Monash Gryphons greatest ever player, Lee ‘Rowdy’ Wells registers his 250th game this weekend against Swinburne. It gets to a point where one runs out of superlatives to describe Lee’s Footballing prowess and achievements, so here is but a few: 7 Time B & F winner, Life Member, games record holder and former Club Captain. To add to that list, the club plays a derby (where possible) against Elsternwick AFC partly in honour of the Wells name (Murphy Wells Cup).

Rowdy epitomises (more than anyone is the 20 year history of the Gryphons) the club values of commitment, honesty, mateship, passion and pride. Your service to Monash is a credit to your family the club and yourself. There is only one thing missing on your list of achievements and hopefully we can rectify this come September.

You’re invited to attend – his ROWDY OLD MAN 250th game celebrations

It’s not often that someone plays 250 games of football let alone 250 games at one club…

Please get down to this prestigious event to help celebrate such an occasion:

Wellsy facts:
- Started at the Gryphs in 1995
- has 7 x Best & Fairest
- kicked over 150 goals
- Previously captained the side
- Isn’t going to retire until he plays a game with his son Sam (could be 15 years away!)

Cheap Drinks will be available all night along with prizes for the winner of various OLD MAN games like Carpet Bowls and Darts

Occasion: Lee Rowdy Wells 250th Game Vs Swinburne Uni
Time: 8pm till late!
Date: 26th June
Location: East Caulfield Reserve – Clubrooms

Seniors
11.7-73 MT LILYDALE def
9.14-68 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: M. Fletcher 4, D. Wills 4, L. Wells.
Best Players: M. Fletcher, N. Booth, D. Baxter, M. O”Neill, D. McConville.

Reserves
1.6-12 MT LILYDALE def by
15.19-109 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: M. Malone 4, E. Mitchell 3, L. Fisher 2, W. Pocock 2, M. Paolucci 2, T. Russell, M. Davies.
Best Players: E. Mitchell, B. Murphy, M. Davies, K. Love, E. Strain, T. Russell.

Review:
“Horses for courses” is an idiom much used in sporting parlance and means ‘what conditions are suitable for one, may not be suitable for another’. I cannot think of a more appropriate way of analysing Saturday’s narrow loss to the Mountain men. I’m sure if we had our time again, knowing we were about to plain on a Heavy 4, we would’ve gone in with a slightly different line up. It was clear in the “wash-up” that our opponents played more effective wet or heavy ground football and the Gryphs needed a couple of more “in and unders” in the starting 22 to counter this. I’m not suggesting for one minute that the 22 who represented us on Saturday gave us anything but their best, only that there may have been a better starting 22 to represent us given the heavy conditions.

Another aspect that many will look to was the fact we lost two players in the first term and effectively our entire bench by half time. But blaming injuries for a loss is a cop out. Full credit to all 44 players at Lilydale on Saturday as they gave us an excellent contest and let all the supporters ride a wave of emotion, especially in the final term where the lead changed on three occasions. Mt Lilydale won the battle, we must endeavour to win the war as it is likely to be the first of four key meetings between the two sides in 2010.

Amongst the Gryphons best were Matt Fletcher up forward, skipper Dan Baxter down back and on-ballers Daniel McConville and Nick Booth who relished the conditions. The Gryphons began well and had built up a handy lead half way through the second term until, The rams fought back to be 8 points down at the main break. Lilydale also had the better of the third term and held the slimmest of margin at lemon time, before a pulsating last quarter unfolded. The Rams got out to a 7 point lead, then Monash replied with several scoring shots that eventuated in 7 point lead to us. Alas, Lilydale refused to die and kicked the final two goals of the game, the last with six seconds left on the clock and ran out winners on the last clean possession of the day. We can only hope the next encounter in half as good.

Be sure to come down to ECR this Saturday for Rowdy’s 250th…

Photos:

A consummate and unassuming backman known for his high marking and penetrating left foot kick. All at Monash wish him well.

Seniors
8.4-52 ELEY PARK def by
11.20-86 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: D. Wills 3, W. Pocock 2, M. Malloy, G. Munro, J. Nuguid, D. Baxter, E. Strain, N. Booth.
Best Players: J. Nuguid, N. Booth, N. Rutherford, G. Munro, C. Leeton, G. Strain.

Reserves
4.7-31 ELEY PARK def by
22.21-153 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: L. Fisher 7, M. Malone 7, E. Mitchell 2, D. Healy, G. Roch , B. Jewell, B. Murphy, D. Gwynne, K. Love.
Best Players: R. Tuttle, L. Fisher, M. Malone, D. Gatsios, E. Mitchell, R. Bronkhorst.

Review:
I love football on days such as Saturday. For too long now the effects of anthropogenic climate change have meant grounds in South Eastern Australia have been spared of winter mud and slush. We were still deprived of a muddy ground, but did the heavens open in the second half!

Ron Barassi once said that “on the wettest days, even points are important”, and we kicked 20 of them which at one stage early in the final term was a defining factor as Eley Park surged to within 8 or 9 points, yet had outscored us by one in the goals tally. Our conversion rate would be of slight concern, but endeavour could not be questioned as we were clearly outplaying the Sharks, but to their credit, we could not put them away. Full marks to the likes of Ivan ‘Nugget’ Nuguid and Clint Mackie whose (near to the ground) skills were most suited to the conditions and were vital in our finishing burst.

It wasn’t a day for the high marking forwards, yet Daniel Wills played like it was dry across half forward and was assisted by Wal Pocock and Lee Wells. The extra weeks break will be appreciated for the big one against Mt Lilydale on Saturday Week.

Special note to the reserves who continue to defy logical expectations. Six wins in excess of 100 points in a row and a percentage of over 400. Jack McDonald is in the process of having his door frames widened…

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