Today was also 100 games for the “Ginger Barb” himself, Storma Driessen. Well done Storma on this milestone. It was also “Boland’s Last Stand”. A sensational career is about to come to an end. With over 150 games, 2 Premierships and a Best and fairest, this Old Mate of ours will douse himself in Metzel one last time. The club will be happy that they can now save some money without having to supply so much “White Doctor” for DB, but will be sad to see one of it’s most accomplished and respected stalwarts hang up the boots. Knowing Damian, it is not the last you will see of him. There is a rumour going around on the Bush Telegraph that Old Make likes a beer, so expect him to be up the rooms on the occasional Thursday night having his standard 2 stubbies, and performing the 3-point turn out of Village Green Drive.

 

By all means, this was not to be the Old Mate and Storma Dreisen show. The boys had a job to perform against the front runners in Bentleigh. It is backs to the wall stuff, something Powerhouse thrive themselves on.

 

Another windy, stock standard day at the Ross Gregory. The Reserves were well on their way, and were showing us how it was done. There was some inspirational stuff, with Richie throwing a bloke over the fence, and Macka showing eyes only for the ball. They say that if you go in hard, you don’t get hurt. Well Macka can attest to that. He got up straight away and went for the pill. Although visibly hurt at the break, you could see that he had nothing else on his mind other than to do everything he could to win. Thank you Macka, and for the rest of the Reserves for showing the senior side how to play good, hard, accountable football. We certainly looked at this as a defining moment, one that would set the tone for the remainder of the day.

 

Whilst the visitors decided to rest some so called stars, the House put out a side that was full of vigour, and that would battle to the very end. “Dogga” Watson was back after some fishing in Darwin, Chocko found his way back from a dirty weekend in Caroline Springs, I mean Hepburn Springs, and Disco “Bums on Seats” Ercoli back in the team after a week off through work commitments. There was a great feeling in the rooms prior to the match. The players were full of focus, and were ready to give one last effort for the year.

 

Fozzie lost to toss, and we were kicking into the wind. Bentleigh got out of the blocks pretty kick with one of the easiest of goals, and you could only think that the flood gates may open, and that they would open up the House defence pretty easily. But not to be. Powerhouse got running, something that had been missing for the whole back half of the year. Reece and Spider were the main instigators, providing plenty of dash from half back and the wing, making many forward 50 entries. ACE Collett was able to swoop on the loose balls, with Jaye and Disco having a field day with the supply. Dave Maloney found himself in unfamiliar territory at full forward, giving Ed Woods the job on Bentleigh full forward Sharp. I am tipping Sharp will be having nightmares as Edo completely tore him a new one with a brilliant display of how to play full back. There was much intensity by the boys from the Ross Gregory, highlighted by a desperate crunching tackle by Sos against a Bentleigh bloke running into an open goal. The House were rewarded with a lead at the break, but could have been better if not for inaccurate kicking.

 

The second was more of an arm wrestle. Edo was swung to full forward, but that did not last long, a good move by Coops to get him back to Full Back. Bentleigh managed to claw their way back in to the contest, but you could sense the Powerhouse boys were playing with much more purpose, with every time Bentleigh went near it, they were having a very good look over their shoulder. The pressure from the Whelan Boys in Jake and Chook was superb, which allowed Bakes to get many clearance and drive into the forward line. Disco was on fire, and was counting his marks. I think he counted over 20, my sources tell me. Get your hand off it Disco! Coops played at Centre Half Back, and he looked very comfortable, allowing Old Mate Boland in his final game to play with more freedom. As a consequence, he snuck down forward and kicked a ripper from the boundary. Powerhouse went into the break with a slight lead. It was much deserved, although they felt it should have been a lot more.

 

Now to the Premiership QTR, and the crowd were anticipating a flurry of goals from the opposition. You cannot keep a good side down they say, but strange things happen in football. The House kicked in a gear led by a superb defence. Dogga Watson was as solid as a rock, and Sos was clearing the ball at will, and setting up goals with precision passing. ACE was all over them, slotting home major after major, and Kurtsy chimed in for a couple himself. The highlight was a brilliant goal after the siren, which deflated the boys from Bentleigh. Shane Bahr had arguably his best game for the club, and was nothing short of brilliant. Wes also showed some form from the past, also getting in to the act with a nice goal. Chocko showed his evasive skills and clever crumbing, Foz was playing some great footy at half forward, and Lynchy relished the chance to play his own footy, rather than hanging out of the back pocket of the oppositions best player. With that late goal from Kurtsy, the crowd got right behind the House, and the tails were well and truly up.

 

The last was a procession from Powerhouse. Goal after goal, high five after high five sent the crow into raptures. The atmosphere was electric as Powerhouse decided to play good, hard, accountable team football. Reece was sensational on the wing, and in his 100th Game for the House, storma was nothing short of brilliant. Bahry absolutely dominated out of the guts, allowing ACE to put home his 6th for the match. There was nothing to fault at all as the intensity remained for the whole four quarters. It was fitting that Old Mate was moved up forward for his last hurrah, and was rewarded with the last goal of the game. He was as happy as a kid in a candy shop, and the boys were certainly proud of him. Bentleigh did not score agoal in the last, probably the first time this happened for the year. Powerhouse were ruthless, and once again showed them how to play footy.

 

A great win by the House. With news that Monash had actually gotten up, Powerhouse took their “get out of jail card” with much joy. The song was sung with great gusto, with many past player filing into the rooms to congratulate the boys. It was a great effort and a great day for the club. Coops also announced that it was his last game as coach and player. Coos leaves us with 2 years as coach, over 100 games, best and fairest, premiership and best on ground performance in our Grand Final win. Coupled with many premierships in his days before Powerhouse, Coops can certainly reflect on a very accomplished career.

 

What a day to cap off the year. We underachieved, but it was certainly a great way to end.

 

That is it for the year, and we look forward to seeing the Reserves side carrying the hopes of the club in the finals series. All the best to Wardey and his charges.

 

GO HOUSE!

 

RESERVES

Their coach had said after their 90 point win against Powerhouse in Round 5 in May that he thought his side had not played very well, when an extremely undermanned Powerhouse travelled to Bentleigh. One wonders what he said after Saturday's defeat. He didn't say much in the rooms afterwards because, for the 1st time in my time involved in the club, no opposition player came up for a drink afterwards. Again, a bit disappointing from a great team who let themselves down on Saturday on and off the field.

 

Big Warde was back in the Powerhouse side with the new hips and the forehead vein was flexing in the rooms early as he went through the tactics. Jados was still out with a hair straightener problem, but hard b%^$&rd Fergal Crossan was back on the half back flank. Goodsy was back in the side on the wing after a fine stint with the ones and chomping at the bit to nail a finals spot. The Rhinoceros was also back in the ruck and big target Richie Benson and backman Billy Baxter were huge inclusions and the rest 'was as you were' from last week.

 

One minute before half time, Powerhouse 5 gaols to the good, Macca attacked the contest, collected the Bentleigh player, did a cartwheel over him and head 1st into the dirt. He got up, claret lip, face covered in dirt and won the footie. Their man came off worse with some bruised ribs we believe, and we wish him well in his recovery. But the incident was a huge lift for the boys as the half time siron sounded with the 'House in front 8.6 to 3.3.

 

Another outstanding opening quarter of tough contested footie had seen the boys kick 6 in the opening term before a shellshocked away team who were not at the races. Russ McCumber was sensational in the middle and Chris Plazzer was having his game of the year, peaking nicely for finals. Benson had been seeing double all morning for some reason but a 1st min 'spew' saw him right and he was taking the big grabs. Goal sneak Wal got the 1st couple after some great crumbing and immense of forward prerssure from the whole forward line. Marshall Bull continues to show why he's a huge asset to the club with another fine half and was able to continue the scoreboard pressure with 2 opportunist goals, one from a quick kick from a pack and the other a long effort which bounced the right way but the boys were making their own luck. Richie was leading well from the goal square and marked and goaled twice in the opening term to leave it 6.5 to 1.0 at the first break.

 

Powerhouse continued to dominate in the hard ball gets in the 2nd quarter against a significant breeze as Bentleigh tried but failed to get their style of footie going. Warde was working his socks off and Plazz continued to be a mongral around the pill. Kynie was getting plenty of it and down back, the 6 man unit were collectively having another awesome day spoiling, marking switching and running to set up the attack. An even quarter against the elements was a fine result, Wal and Marshall adding to their tallies. The boys marched off pumped up and Macca looking a little worse for wear but everyone was focused and resdy for the 2nd half battle.

 

As usual, it was a case of forget what had happened and get focused on winning another quarter of footie and that's exactly what the boys did. It was sheer pressure at the footie that was winning the game but 'House showed plenty of players can play good footie too, with McCumber, Marshall, Richie and Billy the standouts in a great team display. Warde said at half time it was the last time he was going to run onto Ross Gregory oval. He's clearly talking sh*te but it had the desired effect. A hanger from Richie on the clubrooms wing set the tone and it went to his head as he hasn't stopped celebrating since! Wal bagged number four for the day in typical fashion, a Stevie Milne special running in from the pocket. The boys gave it their all and won the quarter 2 goals to 1 to leave 6 in it at the final change. Micky Verberne was defying age, injuries and his nose for his best display of the year and is another man peaking well for finals.

 

The pressure had been immense for 3 quarters but Powerhouse are going to have to do it for 4 in Finals. They didn't on Saturday and allowed a talented Bentleigh side to start running in the final quarter and they got to within 1 and had a shot to get within a few points towards the end of the game. It would have been in injustice but Wal finsihed the tie at the death with number 5 for the day and arms went up with joy, relief and exhaustion from 22 Powerhouse men. What a day for the club and the Senior side produced a performance of the year to again beat the top side and pull off the great escape from D3 relegation. A super effort by the boys, a great win for Old Mate Damien Boland, chaired off in his final game and Coops throwing the boots up on the clubrooms roof. Well done boys.

 

It was only the start of a superb night for the chug-a-lug where the Mr. cool cucumber Russ McCumber took out the Ressies B&F and big Paul Edwards the Senior B&F. The night deserves a report in itself with a few glorious incidents with Micheal Lynch getting my votes for best of ground for the night... again! 15 heroes turned up to the recovery session at 11am on Sunday morning. Fergal Crossen proved what a hard b^^*&^t he is in Port Philip bay, as poor Dave Maloney struggled with the elements. Captain Barrett was showing no ill-effects of a big night, plunging head first into the sea in very entusiastic style. A good performance also by the T-Bone Treaby and Brian 'Goodesy' Kyne, who eventaully coaxed the big Maloney into the healing waters! The Wardster, fresh from a 2hr sleep in Jacob's room wasn't actually in the water all that long and he managed to get the other few hours kip in at the clubrooms afterwards, as the 'recovery' continued with the raffle.

 

Great effort all weekend boys, lets get 35 on the track on Tuesday night, it goes without saying what a big week lies ahead!

 

                   Q1   Q2   Q3    Q4

Powerhouse  6.5  8.6   10.7  11.8 - 74

Bentleigh     1.0   3.3   4.6   9.9 - 63

 

Goal Kickers: M. Bull 5, M. Wallis 4, R. Benson 2
Best Players: M. Bull, C. Baxter, R. MacUmber, C. Plazzer, M. Wallis, R. Anderson