Our ruck stocks were depleted with Burnside out. Also making way was the unlucky Irishman, Brian Kyne with a Hamstring and Warde going back to take control of his charges in the seconds. Back into the side was our Captain, Foz, after a stint away with the family, along with Storma and Bahry back from injuries.

 

The side was well aware of the type of football that was required to be one of the better teams in this division, and were also aware of the respect needed to be paid to the opposition to get the 4 points.

 

The House started with the first major of the day to ACE, but it was West Brunswick in their alternate strip that started to gain the ascendancy with some hard work around the ground and constant forward 50 entries. Powerhouse were under enormous pressure, but with some determination, we clawed our way back into the contest, and led at the first break by 10 points. Wes and Richie were rucking well against the odds, giving Jake, Sos, Bakes and Bahry first use of the ball. It was a good reply by the House as West Brunswick certainly showed that they were not there to make up the numbers.

 

The second term was a tough affair, with both sides scoring 4 majors. Edo was sensational down back with Moresi, constantly repelling each entry, and Wigzy was very tight as per usual. Disco was working very hard down forward creating chances, with Tayles and Coops presenting hard across half forward. The House totally dominated possession in the last half of the second, but could not mount enough scoreboard pressure to put the opposition away, and you could see that their backmen were breathing a sigh of relief when the siren sounded. A slender 14 point lead to Powerhouse at the major break, but it could have been more with better finishing.

 

A good start to the last half was imperative, but it was West Brunswick who came out firing. They put on 5 goals in a determined display of hard running and committed football. Their runners around the stoppages were causing major headaches, and made Powerhouse turn over the ball too many times. Speaking of head aches, Old Mate went down like a sack of spuds after a head clash, and was stretchered off. All is well though, nothing that a bit of ‘baby blue’ bandage and some Metzel can’t cure. Owey, Billy and Benny white were effective across half back, and ACE was a shining light with the only 2 majors for the quarter, the last on the stroke of 3 QTR time, which kept us in the game. We had our backs against the wall, and we knew that with some more commitment to the contest, we could get back into the game.

 

The last term was much better by Powerhouse. We controlled play and put on some scoreboard pressure. Storma was good on the wing with many forward 50 entries, and Bakes was sweeping very well across the centre of the ground. Jake was working tirelessly and presenting very well when roaming down forward. We had almost snuffed out any chance West Brunswick had with a clever roving goal to Bahry, but with some costly misses, West Brunswick still had a glimmer of hope. 2 quick goals against the tide was all that was required, and with a long goal with 20 seconds to go, the margin was suddenly 4 points. The House were under enormous pressure to hold on. The centre clearance was all important. The ball was bounced and Sos got a crucial clearance and bombed the ball long into the forward line. Although collected by the solid West Brunswick defence, the siren then sounded, and the House held on to a hard fought win.

 

It was a gutsy win in the end, nothing pretty. We were certainly down on our best form, but it was pleasing to come away with the four points. We are at home again next week against a much improved St Johns outfit. They are certainly no easy beats, and Powerhouse will need to be at their best to beat them.

 

Let’s aim for another couple of wins to both grades, so we can go into the Queens Birthday Break as winners.

 

RESERVES

A stronger lineup from the previous week had Rocket over his bout of (swine?) flu to line out at centre half foward and a fitter (ankle) Marty Leahy in the goal square. Big Ryano returned in the ruck and there was some old timers in Jimmy Neal, David Gough and Shane Lloyd returning for Paddy Arnold's milestone 100th game for the club. Irishman Eoin English made the 22 after returning to Melbourne after previously playing some games in '07. Also making the looooong awaited comeback from back and hamstring troubles was Macca, to start his first game since Aug '07 on the wing. 'Spida' Wilson was a massive inclusion on the half back flank returning from injury and unlucky not to be in the senior side. Micheal Lynch recovered from his tricep strain to be another big 'in' on the ball.

 

Paddy Barrett handed over the captaincy to the milestone man and Arnold lead out the side for the warm up. The game started at a frenetic pace with some tough tackling in the centre. Macca got hands on it early and got it long to Marty and who broke it down well for Jimmy Neal to crumb a great goal from around the body with his back to goal. The ruck contests were to be an even affair all day but West's onballers started to get some dominance from the centre as the quarter wore on and got it long to hit a few targets inside 50. The result was 3 goals to the away side. The 'house needed to lift and Sammy kicked a vital goal towards the end of the quarter to leave 1 goal in it at the 1st break.

 

Warde pointed out the lack of voice and shepards in the opening qaurter and asked for this to be rectified in the 2nd term. A more committed midfield started to exert more dominance over the oppostion lead by Warde, with Steve Batton and Lynchy getting plenty of possies to give the forwards a chance. Rocket was beginning to dominate his direct opponent and provide a great target and Marty stepped up his efforts, leading positively from the goal square. Wal bagged a good goal from a forward contest to get the scoring going and Marty chipped in with three more, Goughie ran in a great effrot from the pocket and Batten kicked another. The defence was playing with more authority lead by Paddy Arnold and Spida ably assisted by the Unit and Paddy Barrett providing the run and carry off the backline, Kennelly-esqe style. A great effort by the boys to keep the visiotrs scoreless for the 2nd quarter and pile on 6 to leave it 8-8 to 3-5 at the long break.

 

West Brunswick were always going to come out fighing for the 3rd quarter and for the 1st 10 mins, Powerhouse's intensity was down, perhaps sensing at half time that the job was done. This allowed the visitors to apply the all important scroeboard pressure and close the gap to 2 goals midway through the 3rd. They were simply getting too many forward 50 entries for the backline to cope and with their running midfielders providing support, they got 3 goals from open play to leave our boys with plenty of food for thought. Slowly but surely the boys responsed with the midfield stepping it up once more, Lloydy adding his experience to get the ball moving in the right direction. Spida's expereince was proving vital and Barrett was having arguably his best game for the club in the pocket, marking strongly and hitting targets. 'House eventaully eased the pressure with Steve Batton kicking an important goal from the arc to leave 3 in it at the final break.

 

A massive effort was going to be needed from the boys if our 2009 home record was to stay intact, epecially with big Ryano going down injured in the 3rd and not much tall timber in the side. That's not counting the 'Dogga' Watson, who made up in effort what he gave away in height to make a big impact in the ruck in the final term. Everyone in green white and black stepped up in the final quarter to make the voters task very difficult at the final siron. Fitness, pressure, run & carry and good decision making saw the 'house completely dominate the final term with West Brunswick struggling to get it out of there own half. When they did, the man of the moment Paddy Arnold returned it with interest with his performance sure to make everyone's ears burn in the rooms afterwards and throughout the trivia night. Powerhouse piled on 5 goals to zip in the final term, Marty finishing with a lazy 6 for the day. That he wasn't in the best shows how good the rest were. Warde didn't loose out in single a contest in the final term, Steve Batton finished with 2 and in the best and Lynchy had it on a string to give the senior selection committee a welcome headache this week.

 

The song was sung with gusto in the rooms after, Arnold taking the showering and all happy that we were inside the top 4 a third of the way through the season. There was even more surprsies in store at half time in the seniors when Glen 'Spida' Wilson realised half time beers in the carpark was a Ressies tradition. Coops will have trouble getting him to play seniors again this year.

 

Best: Rocket, Batten, Lynch, Watson, Barrett.

 

Powerhouse 14-15 (99) - 6-9 (45) West Brunswick