There was one stat from Saturday that should have jumped out at everybody- all three men’s footy teams had relatively comfortable wins against League benchmark club Woori Yallock. We can’t recall the last time that happened.

Each match followed a similar trend - OFC had to overcome stiff opposition in wet and muddy conditions. It was OFC hardarse winter footy at it’s best.

However the Seniors had to wait until the last quarter to overrun the Tigers. It was a very similar scenario to our last hit out against Mt Evelyn when we were probably one goal short of getting them.

This time we were three points down at the last break but managed to find an extra gear as we piled on the pressure in stunning fashion scoring 4.5 to Woori’s three behinds. To be frank it shoulda/coulda been a six goal last quarter.

While we seldom talk about our opponents in this newsletter it’s intriguing to try and predict the final five- Monbulk, Officer and Upwey are on 28 points- and separated by just 1.4%. Woori is a game and three per cent behind, and they head to Upwey next Saturday. Only two of those teams will make finals ( OFC and Mt Ev are four and three games clear respectively).

Anyway- back to our game, which was a milestone match for big hearted Josh Wallis who played his 250^th game (seniors and reserves). Jwol faced a sizeable hurdle to get over if he was to help lead OFC to victory. Woori man mountain Ryley Monkhurst was back in town and determined to spoil Jwol’s party. Seriously Josh must give away at least 20kg and 5cm to the big guy but as always faced up to the challenge with guts and determination and, in our estimation, took the points over Monkey courtesy of a sensational goal in the last Q that put the match beyond Woori.

When Josh took a strong mark in the forward pocket (some say it was closer to the wing) some OFC fans unfairly dredged up Jwol’s unforgettable goal kicking exploits at Emerald last year when he took five attempts before splitting the big sticks. Well he nailed it this time with his first shot on goal.  What a perfect climax to a tough and challenging day.

OK, some take aways-

-            We had Frank Seal down as BOG before his knee injury. Looks like its not season ending and he’ll rest up for a few weeks.

-            Noah didn’t make the BP list but we thought his ruck work and his agility once the pill was on the ground were sensational.

-            It was a big welcome back to Kelse and ET. As they say during the Spring Carnival they’ll both be better for the run.

-            Sammy kicked a couple but it was Skeet’s three majors which turned our heads- including  one on the outside of the right boot. Wow!

-            Keegs also bagged a couple, including a typically Keeganesque goal that he dribbled along the ground- no one saw it coming until it was too late. That’s our guy! He could have had a couple more from set shots but we suspect Nick is very much aware of that.

-            We hit the ground running in the last Q, and the energy from Zach and Heaney in particular was a game changer.

-            We reckon it was the three goals from Shep and Horse in the third Q which turned the game our way.

-            OK we are off to Warbie this week and normally by this stage of the season the reigning Second Div premiers are cooked but check the results, the Burras are still playing with plenty of pluck. Should be a good challenge for us. 

BEST PLAYERS-Josh Wallis, Matthew Scharenberg, Percy Hyett, Sam Cuthbert, Peter Lucas, Francis Seal

LEAGUE NEWS-

Members of the Officer club recently voted to leave our League and join the Southern Football Netball League.

In the past few years Narre Warren and Doveton have followed the same path.

Outer East FNL has declined to release Officer and the matter will now be decided by the AFL Vic Appeals Board.

Last year the Appeals Board sided with OEFNL and refused Upwey permission to join EFNL. Upwey has decided not to press it’s case again this year while OEFNL and EFNL complete a Memorandum of Understanding which will set the details for the amalgamation of the two competitions in 2028.

What’s happening at Pakenham? President Salv Mileto has told Bloodlines that since West Gippsland rejected what the club thought was a very compelling argument to join that League last year they’ve been focused on playing footy and netball.

Salv’s concerns about his club’s future centre on netball- as they currently stand neither the Southern FNL nor Eastern FNL offer a netball program which comes close to the country FNL model favoured by Outer East. In the end though his club members will decide if the MOU meets their requirments.

Interestingly Salv also expressed concerns about the future of the smaller clubs Pakenham has been playing this year- he says even though his teams have handed out some thrashings the smaller clubs still take great pride and pleasure in representing their communities.

Wow, our guys have become the talk of the League as they continue to bravely press their case for a finals berth.

We’ve had people say to us “this can’t be right??!!” as they look at the Reserves ladder and see OFC in fifth place with a percentage of 63. In Premier Division footy teams with a percentage in the low 60s are usually somewhere in the cellar.

In our first five games this year we managed a total of 21 goals (169 points) and our opponents kicked 67 goals (457 points). But with five wins in our last six games we are up and around.

So congrats to coaches Steeny and Chrisso and all the guys who’ve worked so hard.

If you check out the BP list it tells a major part of our story. Youngsters Cass Hine, Will Boote, Kit Sutton, Bon Sullivan, Max Monkhurst and Will Boote were all among our best. Silky skilled Cam Hutchins wasn’t far behind them while Botchy added some class with his smooth ball movement and a red hot goal.

Did you happen to see Kit’s classy goal? He’s strong in the ruck and overhead but there’s also a massive upside to this guy’s mobility and ball skills. He’s certainly one to watch.

Also a nod to Maxy back in the ruck, we know he’s had some injury issues but he’s a huge asset in this role and Mitchy Low has really added some steel to the backline since he came home.

OK, the equation is pretty simple- it looks like there’ll be just one available slot in the top five over the next few weeks and we have to keep winning to hold on to it.

Some advice from a cricketer who watches you guys each week- don’t approach the last four rounds like a batsman in the nervous nineties who tightens up and begins to focus on the goal and not the process! Stay loose and stay confident.

BEST PLAYERS

Cassian Hine, Kit Sutton, Bon Sullivan, Mitch Low, Will Boote, Max Monkhorst

Our boys had another big challenge this week against a team that was two wins above them on the ladder, however for the first time in almost a month they had almost a full list to select from- and gthe result was sensational. Here’s coach Scott Tonkin-

In really wet conditions the boys knuckled down to work and came away with a gritty but comfortable 51point win. The ball movement from the boys in wet conditions was some of the best we have produced in recent weeks with the leaders of the team again stepping up when needed. It was great to see Mads Peacock kick his first goals for the 18s and Jake Boyd hit the scoreboard again. The improvement of the new players this year has been fantastic and seen the team continue to improve.  

BEST PLAYERS

Lachlan Tonkin, Luke Clifford, Will Meyer, Rio Neish, Ry Tudor, Jesse Desta

Note- its an early start for the boys next Saturday-9.10 am, they’ll be followed by the women’s match

Olinda Women’s 0.2.2 to 7.6.48 loss to ladder leader and reigning Premier Mount Evelyn at The Bloodery Saturday night will see the girls missing the Finals for the first time in their history.

How did this happen? 

Well let me use a piece of play from the 2^nd quarter that epitomised Olinda’s season to illustrate. Former skipper and dual B&F winner Maddy(MadDog)Collins answered an SOS to come and help out on field for the first half.

She won the footy at half back up the Eastern end, in front of the Opposition box. She then turned and spotted Charlotte(Webby)Edwards far out on the opposite wing. Webbster wasn’t expecting the ball, didn’t even call for it, but Mads fired a 45m wormburner between 3 Mt Evelyn players directly onto Webby’s chest that would have been impossible to drop, it was so perfect. This is the sort of kick that 9 out of 10 AFLW players couldn’t pull off, and I’m being generous. It was the most elite field kick you will ever see in Women’s football, at any level. Webby turned and kicked truly to none other than her Blood Blister Olivia(The Weapon!) on the forward flank. Liv played on and lobbed the ball into the forward line to a 50/50 contest. 

Mt Ev won that contest. 

They then switched the ball to the Coaches Box side and took it end to end for a goal. 

These players listed here are elite talents. Add to this list the names Lily Carlin, Sky Wilson and Chelsea Wilson, and this top end talent is as good as anyone’s in the Competition.

The side is capable of elite passages of play as illustrated here. They are capable of elite quarters, halves, or even 3 quarters. Putting together elite passages that result in goals or elite quarters for the full 4 quarters has been the side’s problem.

They have beaten the 2 teams below them every time this year.

They beat 3^rd place Upwey away on ANZAC Day.

They were in front of 4^th place Healesville by 10 points at 3 quarter time in Round 1.

They were in front of 2^nd place Warburton by 20 points at halftime in round 7.

They held Mt Evelyn to the lowest score in their history in Round 4, and haven’t been blown out in any of their 3 defeats.

The point here is the side can match any sides in the Competition, and Coach Simon firmly believes that their best football is better than any other side.

The problem this year is being able to play the best football for 18 minutes x 4 quarters. 

There will be some soul searching in the coaching group over Summer to try and figure a way to bridge the gap between talent and promise, and performance.

Remembering the side’s average age is around 19-20, and the side blooded 6 new players this year, 2 that had never touched a football before. With this in mind, if the side sticks together and matures together, they will only get better. 

Of course, there is one more game to play this season, as the side ventures out to Warburton next Saturday morning. With the pressure to make finals removed, the side will be encouraged to have fun and we’re hoping this will result in some entertaining footy. 

Some special shout-outs: 

This was Maddy Collins’ 50^th game for the Club.

Mads was the inaugural skipper and B&F winner for the fledgling side.

Dubbed “The Un-coachable genius” by her coaches, a free spirit on and off the field, Mads is also the most natural footballer this correspondent has seen.

She is capable of anything on the football field as noted earlier in this report.

Mads once kicked 8 goals in a game at Seville, every one over her shoulder much to the exasperation of the Assistant Coach.

She once performed 8 smothers in a game out at Yarra Junction, an amazing feat.

She also once torpedoed the footy into an opponent’s stomach because she was talking smack to Mads as she was kicking for goal!!

Mads has given Olinda supporters years of highlights and has been an inspiration and comfort to many teammates.

The girls always walk taller with Mads by their side.

Congratulations on your 50 games Mads, let’s hope we can squeeze a few more out of you!! 

Skipper Miss Football Lily(Laser)Carlin received many plaudits last year on the way to her League B&F win.

Her influence and brilliance has been in no way diminished this year, and she was at her very best Saturday night.

Lil was vocal all week about her desperation to avoid missing finals, and her actions during the game absolutely backed this up.

She worked ferociously all night to get to every contest, and was frenzied in her attack on the ball and her opponents when she got there.

It was a true Captain’s game. 

Vice Captain Liv Edwards had been working night shift all week and had to go straight to work after the game.

Liv played Saturday off little sleep, but was equally as desperate as her fellow leader to extend the season.

It is a massive credit to her and her love for this side. 

The end of the footy season comes all too soon for the girls this year.

They will be looking at going out in style with some exciting footy out at Warby next Saturday morning after thhe U/18s game. It’ll be a massive day with four hotly contested games of footy and toe to toe netball on the courts which overlook the footy ground.

BEST PLAYERS

Lily Carlin, Sky Wilson, Kyah Barry, Charlotte Edwards, Olivia Edwards, Jacqueline Ring

In just their first season in the competition George Azzam’s Over 35 Veterans team has made the final. To Big George and the guys, congrats from the entire OFC family.

George finished the home and away season with 10 goals but our major goal kicker was The Guvna, Glenn Stevens, with 14.

Another OFC legend, Davey Noorda, was our most consistent player, based on mentions on the Best Player list. Noords got a gong in 6 of the 7 games he played.

OK, so next up, and you could not have written this script, we meet Monbulk at Monbulk in a semi final on Friday week. Langers, Wraggy and a bunch of other old frenemies are going around for the Hawks so it’s FOMO time- don’t miss out on this one.

Friday 7 Aug.

Semi Final 1, Monbulk Reserve

Monbulk v OFC

The League website says it’s a 12.00am start but we suspect most of the guys will be asleep by then and it should read 7pm.

Gees Louise we sort of didn’t quite nail this one. Down by nine goals at the last break we left our run much too late and came away with a four goal loss. With our full team on the court we probably would have taken the chocolates and gone a game and a half clear of Woori- while securing fourth place on the ladder. We know the points system, and the way it’s being interpreted, is really cruelling us but we need to put that to one side and beat Warburton this week in what’s shaping as a crucial game.

BTW Bloodlines would like to add Eloise Argoon to the best player list too. Ella has shot 286 goals for the season which puts her in the A Grade top 10.

BEST PLAYERS

Mera Pringle, Ella Grigg, Emma Van der Nest

After a week off due to the league bye, B Grade faced an ever-improving Woori side. Sitting third on the ladder and having only narrowly lost to the top two teams in recent weeks, Woori wasted no time putting their foot down.

With a somewhat slow start from us, Woori took an early lead in the first quarter. They maintained that advantage into the second, despite the relentless efforts of M Grigg and E Grigg through the midcourt, who worked tirelessly up and down the court to break through Woori's defensive press.

At the attacking end, we continued to build strong connections with a different shooting combination, featuring C McCallum in the GS bib and M Brewster in the GA bib. Unfortunately, some unlucky bounces off a wet ring meant we were unable to fully capitalise on a number of our defensive gains. With the weather clearing in the fourth quarter, we finished the game with our strongest period, but ultimately went down 11–19.

Thanks Eb Tucker.

BEST PLAYERS

Cass McCallum, Matilda Brewster, Millie Grigg

Well we figured this would be a tough one and our figuring was on the money. Just four goals in a tough second quarter- that ain’t going to cut it. Still we loved watching Ms Versatile Martha “X” Box throwing goals and we admire the never say die attitude of the girls even when they are outgunned.

BEST PLAYERS

Martha Box, Alivia Nelson, Molly Jones

Unfortunately, like our U17's, D Grade is cursed with the early morning slot which this season has meant some horrible wet weather conditions. The girls started their game against Woori well, with a very tight contest in the first quarter.

The defensive connection of A Clyne and A Nelson each week just keeps growing, with multiple turnovers, however the wet ball and court meant we were unable to convert. At the end of the 1st quarter, D was only down by 6 which was pretty impressive against ladder leaders Woori.

Second quarter saw the return of S Mik in the goaling end after being out since Round 2, and the girls managed to stick with Woori, with a 6-7 second quarter score, thanks to an amazing mid court showing by J Day and K Anderson.

However, the second half just got away from the girls and showed why Woori were number 1 on the ladder going into this contest, with the girls being kept to 2 goals. It was not all doom and gloom for the D grade girls however, walking away from this match feeling fairly positive with the growth and improvement, and another impressive showing from S Pringle and E Watson in their 6th and 3rd senior matches, respectively

Thanks Eb.

BEST PLAYERS

Alivia Nelson, Jessica Day, Amy Clyne

So we came up against second placed Woori on Saturday, in really dismal conditions, and we knew we were up for a significant challenge. After two weeks of solid, position focused training we were able to execute our skills a lot better than we have in previous weeks. Our body positioning and cutting in the goal circle was the best it’s been all season and we also managed to pick off a few intercepts off the high balls going into the circle.

The scoreline doesn’t reflect the positives we were able to take from the match- legts keep growing girls and put it all on the court at Warbie this week.

BEST PLAYERS

Natalie Daly, Zara Jenkin, Eliza Watson

Hayley and her junior club have won the right to host week one of the Outer East underage competition finals and  three of our teams will be in action on Sunday.

First up at 10.45 its our U/14 girls- this is a combined team with Gembrook so if we win it’s ”Go Blood”s and if we lose it’s “Bad Luck Brookers”. The girls finished the season unbeaten on top of the ladder.

They’ll be followed at 11.45 by Tim Francis’s U/14s- they also finished the season unbeaten on top of the ladder. Interestingly the kids play Wandin, a side they beat by 141 points in their last hit out.

From a senior club perspective it’s impossible to beat Wandin by enough points, but I suspect 140 is ball park. Slade Dean, Rylan Johnson and Alex Cremean each bagged four goals in the last hit out against Wandin.

Suffice to say there are a couple of excitement machines in this U/14 team- as there are in the U/16s as well.

Lachie Taylor’s boys meet Mt Evelyn at 1.15 in the Qualifying finals. Its’ fair to say that the Rovers have had the wood on us this year but Horse has struggled to get his full team on the park. Our boys, who finished second, could be building to something.

There are some familiar names in this team, the highly talented Spencer Garratt is skipper and many people in the senior club will already by familiar with Jess Desta, Fletcher Brown and Jack Ford and a bunch of other exciting youngsters.

Not sure if Syd Higgins will play U/14 as well as U/16 but it’s worth going along just to see this kid in action. He’s from the Rae/Hines/Higgins clan.

The U/14s and U/16s play in the top grade and point to an incredibly exciting future ahead for the senior club. (not to mention the batch of exciting U/18s such as Rio Neish, River Bellemo, Will Meyer, Lachie Tonkin, Lenny Barry and a few others who are potential 100 game senior players!!)

Our ground is always under the pump this time of year because of wet weather and overuse.

Thanks to those teams who have moved to the top oval for training and are sparing the main ground, which will shortly host some junior and senior (women’s) finals.

Hilltop is trying to organise some rehab work on the ground surface to level-off the hollows which have developed in recent years. We have also asked for an update from the Shire of Yarra Ranges about any proposed drainage work on the bottom side of the oval. The drainage pipes under the ground there are dry.

Meantime work on the final stage of the Olinda Green project is due to begin in September, although there’s often a lag time between Parks Vic projected start date and work actually commencing.

The car park will be sealed and extended much closer to the oval. A toilet block will be constructed and there’ll be a permanent shelter next to the ground.

The old Golf Club building will also be coming down, which means we’ll have a view of the top oval from the main reserve.

In some other news from Hilltop-

-            We have being doing some costings on replacing the floodlights with LEDs. They give better lighting coverage and are cheaper to run. However it would cost each club about $30k (or considerably more) to undertake the work. The Shire has told us Olinda is on the short list of 10 clubs to have the work completed.

-            Moves look to be underway to replace the visitors coaching box- some will be sad to see it go.

-            The Disabled Parking space is finally being added

The word ‘Revenant’ comes from the French verb revenir  meaning ‘to return’.

A revenant is a visible ghost, or a person who returns from the dead. Up until 2 weeks ago, last year’s conquerors ET’s Aliens had been relatively quiet.

2 weeks ago they regained their place atop the All-Stars weekly winners list. They sit there again this week, that’s 2 out of 3 weeks on top.

The other 19 squad owners must feel like they’re seeing a ghost who’s returned from the dead!

While we’re talking French things, The Aliens’ skipper Etienne Griersmith-Rowe has just returned from France and is primed for a big finish to the season.

Cass Hine is getting BOG in the Rezzies. Cass McCallum is getting BOG in B Grade. Matilda Brewster is getting 2^nd BOG in B Grade.

B Grade?! Doesn’t the skipper of the leading squad 7, Molly(All-Star)Howie usually get votes in B Grade?! (Ed.- she’s currently in C Grade. Any writer using the noun “revenant” in a sports article should be across that 😁😁).