By Callum Ludwig
An undermanned Lilydale cohort took on Upper Ferntree Gully in tight clashes over the weekend, with only two, one and 10 points separating the sides at the final siren.
The U19.5s kicked off the day’s games at Kings Park, with the Dales prevailing 8.9, 57 to 8.7, 55 in a finish that had Lilydale supporters, officials and players with their hearts in their mouths.
Luke ‘Turkey’ Bates proved turkeys can fly to great heights for a short period of time, climbing high with just over a minute left to take a strong, juggled grab at the half-back flank. Luke Phillips then took off from full-back to provide a switch option but the kick was just too far ahead of him from Turkey, who continued his habit of doing something unreal only to follow up with an error. Upper Ferntree Gully was able to turn the ball over and hit up no.22 Braidyn Wilson 30 metres out from goal, directly in front. Wilson had proved a smooth operator with 2 goals for the match and everyone was on the edge of their seats. Fortunately for Lilydale, the kick came off the side of Wilson’s boot and went out of bounds for Lilydale’s ball and the clock ran out of time.
Zac ‘Chicken Schnitty’ Carolan headlined the best players for Lilydale, followed by Jaymin ‘Bull’ Townsley, Turkey, skipper Mitch ‘Gym Rat’ Van de Maat, Ryan ‘Ninja’ Haley and the man in need of his own pair of jeans Caleb Daniels.
Lachy Baxter (who sits equal third in the league’s leading goalkickers on 22) and Gym Rat Van De Maat each kicked two, while Cooper ‘Backpacks’ Beckwith, Chicken Schnitty, Bull and Callum ‘Articles’ Ludwig each kicked one.
The U19.5s are fifth on the ladder after round 11.
The Reserves were equally thin on the ground, with a few late outs requiring 5 U19.5s players to double up to supplement the bench, and inaccurate kicking cost them in the end going down by a singular point 5.6, 36 to 4.11, 35.
The occasion did mark the return of the ‘Champ’ Eden Champion who registered for Lilydale in the days leading up to the game to help chip in with numbers and provide another forward and midfield option.
The Twos only had 2 goalkickers for the day with Harry ‘Tiktoks’ Mitchell grabbing a customary 2 goals to leave him on the cusp of the top five goalkickers in the league with his season tally of 15 and Jordan ‘Tubes’ Trollope also snagging a pair, including one from a lovely passage of play down the wing and a selfless handball from Champ.
Tubes grabbed best on ground honours, joined by Jack ‘Weasel’ Leithhead, Champ, the bruised, battered and winded Jamie ‘Bundy’ Moller who performed admirably in the absence of the flu-stricken Cameron ‘Fridge’ Oude-Meilink and Matthew ‘Dip’ Di Pietrantonio.
The Reserves sit above only their opponents Upper Ferntree Gully on the ladder in ninth.
The Seniors celebrated the long-awaited 100th game of Jayden ‘Jibba’ De Pace as well as the debuts of U19.5 guns Bailey Bateman and Daniel ‘Spin Moves’ Ryan.
They did so in style with a come-from-behind win, with the final score reading 9.6, 57 to 7.5, 47.
Despite six changes to the side this week, it was the forward-50 pressure in the second half and the desire to get the footy inside-50 that helped the Falcons grab the win, with 50 inside-50s to Upper Ferntree Gully’s 30.
Jibba lead the charge in a best-on-ground performance to mark his milestone game, and he was joined by Beau ‘Beau-ner’ Mitchener, Mitchell ‘DeFran’ De Franceschi, Lachlan ‘Cocka’ Cox, Rowan ‘Ro-Ro’ Tucker and Jarrod ‘Jazz’ Thompson.
Goalkickers were Jazz and Macauley ‘Bags’ Beckwith with 2, and Jibba, the tone-setting free-kick merchant Matthew Phillips, Jack Bateman and Ro-Ro all grabbed one.
The Seniors climbed three spots to sixth on the ladder.
Lilydale takes on Mitcham at their home of ‘The Nest’ next week.
