Monash Gryphons Amateur Football Club

Yes, It’s that time of year again when you put on your smarty pants, call up those nerds from high school and hope you don’t have to rely on DB’s dance off skills or Charlies pubic hair being burnt to get you extra points in -

DRINK AND THINK TRIVIA

Date: 17th July
Time: 7:30pm (8pm start sharp)
Where: East Caulfield Reserve Club Rooms
Cost: $20 per person
Table size – 10 people
REMEMBER – organise your own table of 10 or you will end up on a table with Mike Davies and believe me, if that happens, you wont win!
BYO: Food and snacks

Drinks at cheap cheap prices!

Great games and prizes available on the night! Including everyone on the winning table to take home a prize each.

Also on the night will be a Sporting Memorabilia Auction…
Football, Cricket, Basketball, Horse Racing pieces for sale and much much more!!!

Tickets on sale now and will sell out! So see Benny Rose…

Seniors
25.16-166 MONASH GRYPHONS def
8.10-58 NORTH BRUNSWICK
Goal Kickers: D. Wills 5, N. Booth 4, J. Nuguid 3, M. Fletcher 3, L. Wells 3, C. Mackie 2, G. Munro 2, D. McConville, L. Allan, N. Rutherford.
Best Players: C. Mackie, N. Booth, J. Nuguid, L. Wells, L. Wilson.

Reserves
11.16-82 MONASH GRYPHONS def
8.11-59 NORTH BRUNSWICK
Goal Kickers: W. Pocock 5, R. Fletcher 2, L. Fisher 2, P. Rutherford, E. Strain.
Best Players: R. Tuttle, K. Love, W. Pocock, V. Wijewardane, R. Fletcher, M. Paolucci.

Review:
Ardent Gryphon supporter, Shane O’Connor, would’ve been in raptures. It was the defining moment of the game and it was embroiled in controversy.

Sometimes in a game of football a tackle or a bump can mean the difference between pleasure and pain and in finals this barometer becomes even more significant. Young Varun Wijewardane’s bone crunching bump on a Nth Brunswick opponent was one such moment. From there on in, The Gryphons held sway and showed they wanted it more in the contested ball stakes. Full credit to all involved, the winning streak is now 12.

Oh yes, there was also a senior game on the weekend as well, but this was over at quarter time as the Gryphons held a two goal lead after kicking into a Cyclonic breeze. Nine goals to nil in the second term reinforced our dominance. Ivan Nuguid was at his best around goal and Clint Mackie had at least 30 touches for the day. Some may suggest we let them off the hook in the second half, but in truth we rested many of our better players to give them a well earned break.

Photos:

Seniors
6.8-44 RICHMOND CENTRAL def by
17.14-116 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: N. Booth 3, D. Giliam 2, L. Allan 2, B. Hilet 2, L. Wells 2, G. Munro, M. Fletcher, P. Gomizel, D. Wills, N. Rutherford, J. Nuguid.
Best Players: N. Booth, M. Fletcher, C. Mackie, B. Rose, G. Munro, M. Malloy.

Reserves
4.2-26 RICHMOND CENTRAL def by
13.17-95 MONASH GRYPHONS
Goal Kickers: W. Pocock 6, B. Lukav 2, K. Love, T. Russell, E. Strain, D. Gatsios, H. Vasconcelo.
Best Players: V. Coffey, M. Davies, T. Russell, W. Pocock, H. Vasconcelo, B. Murphy.

Review:
It is a fabulous time to be at the Monash Gryphons. Those who have faithfully travelled far and wide over the past seven seasons have not had much to cheer for; however, season 2010 is far different. Each Thursday night contains great anticipation of the coming Saturday as defeat is not even considered a possibility and there is a spring in the step of all and sundry.

At quarter time on Saturday, it was as if we were about to watch a close contest again as it was clear that Richmond were employing a Lyonesque (as in Ross Lyon) gameplan. They had numbers behind the ball and made us work for each possession in an attempt to mitigate our scoring power. The slow start was rectified in the second term as Nick Booth, Ben Rose and Matt Fletcher began to win the contested ball and give first use to our forwards.

The third term was a mixed bag where we didn’t improve our buffer over the Snakes as their ultra-defensive tactics once again proved frustrating, however, as they tried to win the game in the last, so did the game begin to open up considerably and we went away with it in the end.

What was most pleasing was that Laynton Allen and Daniel Wills were not dominant, yet we still kicked a score on a reasonably heavy track. Also pleasing was the spread of the goalkickers and the form of Brodie Hilet as the ‘extra’ tall in the forward 45.

Special mention must also be made of the reserves who notched up their 10th straight win. You are now rewriting your own history boys as this is the longest winning streak in the history of the club. Let’s continue the sequence against Nth Brunswick next Saturday and it may be a record that stands for many years to come.

Photos:

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.

Photos:

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…

Photos:

Seniors
33.25-223 MONASH GRYPHONS def
1.6-12 CHADSTONE
Goal Kickers: L. Allan 6, J. Nuguid 5, D. Wills 4, L. Wells 4, M. Malloy 3, N. Booth 2, M. Holloway 2, R. Fletcher 2, B. Hilet, C. Cooper, C. Leeton, W. Pocock, R. Mundy.
Best Players: B. Hilet, C. Leeton, N. Rutherford, M. Malloy, D. McConville, J. Nuguid.

Reserves
22.18-150 MONASH GRYPHONS def
2.3-15 CHADSTONE
Goal Kickers: M. Malone 6, M. Davies 5, L. Fisher 3, E. Strain 3, D. Gatsios 2, G. Strain, A. Clarke, A. Kooperman.
Best Players: R. Bronkhorst, M. Davies, G. Strain, R. Tuttle, L. Fisher, E. Strain.

Review:
I hasten a guess that no one will see the immediate significance of the forgotten William Lloyd Murdoch, Australia’s first great Wicketkeeper Batsmen from the 1880s. Even got Peter Williamson scratching his head… That’s right, Billy Murdoch’s highest test score was a brilliant 211 against England at the Oval in 1884. This happens to be equal to the Gryphons winning margin on Saturday, 211 points. Surely a record that will stand for ages (well at least until round 17 when we play Chadstone again) and it was pleasing that it came in front of such a partisan crowd as past players day was again a success.

It is not often I feel sorry for an opposition club, but Saturday was one such occasion. The Monash Gryphons have survived some colossal drubbings over the years, but I seriously doubt we have ever been in the predicament that Chadstone (nee Syndal Tally-Ho) FC are in. It is a credit to the current administration that they are putting our two teams each weekend and I sincerely hope they continue to do so in the future.

The game itself was a cakewalk from start to finish. I recall remarking to the past players in the luncheon just before the opening bounce that I’ll give even money on Chadstone with 120 points start. We slammed on two goals in a minute without Chadstone even as much as touching the ball and I had to reconsider he market.

Winners were numerous. Leeton in the Ruck, Brodie Hilet down back, Jill-Ivan ‘Nugget’ Nuguid as a goalsneak and Nick Rutherford around the packs are four that come to mind, but the gulf in talent between the two teams would’ve been equivalent to us pitting our wills against Old Xaverians! In all honesty, I hope it is far tougher next week…

Photos: