By Callum Ludwig
It couldn’t have been more of a mixed bag of results for Lilydale as they took on Wantirna South away from home in round 8.
The U19.5s started off the day with a disappointing result up against the first-placed Wantirna South side, going down 20.19, 139 to 6.9, 45.
Daniel ‘Spin Moves’ Ryan featured in the best once again, playing like he wouldn’t look out of place in a ballet class as well as at the centre bounce.
Mitchell ‘Gym Rat’ Van De Maat had his silky foot skills in tune, particularly with a darting entry to hit me up lace out on the lead in the second quarter. My GOAT if you ask me.
Ashton ‘Dobby’ Dobbin resembled Rambo with his taped-up head and played with the same fury as the action hero, mainly furious at himself for missing a shot through on goal before converting a set shot minutes later to atone.
Luke Phillips, Jaymin ‘Bull’ Townsley and Cooper ‘Backpacks’ Beckwith were the other players in the best, while the goalkickers alongside Dobbin were Ryan ‘Ninja’ Haley with 2, ‘Spin Moves’ Ryan, ‘Gym Rat’ Van De Maat and your loyal scribe who finally converted truly from the skippers work, Callum Ludwig.
The U19.5s slipped to seventh on the ladder.
The Reserves played out a gripping clash that ended in a stalemate, Lilydale kicking 7.13, 55 to draw with Wantirna South’s 8.7, 55.
Controversially in the third term, Lilydale players were adamant a point should have been given by the Wantirna South volunteer goal umpire, who instead awarded a goal. Can only play to the umpires’ calls, unfortunately.
Harry Gayfer, Lachlan ‘Old English’ Cox, Alex Carrigan, Nathan Thompson, Matthew ‘Dip’ Di Pietrantonio and Cameron ‘Fridge’ Oude-Meilink were the top performers, showcasing the strong display from the 2’s midfield rotation on the day.
Goalkickers were Trent ‘Chunk’ Davison, ‘Old English’ Cox, ‘Fridge’ Oude-Meilink, Jordan ‘Tubes’ Trollope, ‘Dip’ Di Pietrantonio and Harry ‘TikToks’ Mitchell in what must be a pleasing spread of goalkickers for coach Jesse Rottinger.
The day also marked the sad departure of the simultaneously beloved teammate and renowned pest Mitchell ‘Marty’ Arthur, who is off on a trip around Europe and was aptly farewelled to the tune of James Blunt’s ‘Goodbye My Lover’.
A promising result against a strong side, the draw has the Dales ninth on the ladder.
To complete the spread of results, the Seniors came home with all four premiership points, triumphing 13.12, 90 to 11.13, 79.
It was a day of desperate efforts from the 1’s, with a number of notable moments.
A dash and dive from Johnny De Vincentis, mustering his military training in his desperation and determination to lunge and touch the ball through for a behind in the 2nd quarter, a chase-down tackle on a much-bigger ruckman from young 2nd gamer Zac ‘Chicken Schnitty’ Carolan and a courageous mark back with the flight from Jayden ‘Jib’ De Pace with 3 minutes to go in the final term chief among many outstanding efforts on the day.
Riley ‘Santa’ Clausen, Marc Massarotti, Isaac ‘Bazinga’ Biasuzzo, ‘Jib’ De Pace, Josh ‘Scone’ White, and 17-year-old star Rowan ‘Ro-Ro’ Tucker were the best players on the day.
Goalkickers were ‘Jib’ De Pace with 3, ‘Bazinga’ Biasuzzo and Jack Bateman with 2 while Massarotti, Jesse ‘Bert’ Ebert, the nose-busted Ryan “Dobby’ McNay, ‘Ro-Ro’ Tucker, ‘Scone’ White and the injured Beau Mitchener were all singular goalkickers.
Their second win on the bounce saw the Seniors rise to sixth on the ladder.
The day was celebrated fittingly with the very successful 1990’s/2000s themed iPod Shuffle function back in the clubrooms. Next week Lilydale takes on EFNL newboys Beaconsfield at home.
