Match Report
Semi Final 1
Saturday 19 August 2023
AJAX v Oakleigh - Oakleigh
It was set to be a massive day for the club as we travelled out to Oakleigh to face them in the elimination final.
Oakleigh sat 2nd on the ladder for most of the season, having only lost 3 games for the season. We had never won at their ground before, but having beaten them at home in the last round of the season, we went in confident of a good performance.
Celebrating club legend Jess Margets' 100th game, we started brightly. We had much of the play with young guns Goldberg, Klooger and Tuszynski getting their hands on it, but we failed to convert. Our backs lead by Gabriel and Mrocki were holding up well. We took a 3 point lead into quarter time.
We started where we left off in the second quarter. Our ruthless tackling and harassing from all players was a great sight and with some excellent smothers from A Caplan, Shustin and Boylan we felt like we were getting on top. Our set ups and structures were holding up and when Tuszynski goaled it put us 11 points up and full of running. Cobbe was dominant at centre half forward and although new to the game her kicking on both sides of the body were telling. Brophy, Gunn and Payne-Gill were tough in defence as was Goldman who was pushed back there this week following the injury to Burstin. A miraculous and team lifting goal to Boylan, who was being heavily tagged, helped us to a 19 point lead at half time.
We still had plenty of work to do in the 3rd quarter, but were fiercely determined to run out this game. 100 game hero, Marget, kicked a great goal and we were full of running. Oakleigh were trying everything, but they had no answers and when Shustin kicked a pressure set shot goal from a mark, it put us 30 points up at ¾ time. Rainey, in only her 8th lifetime game of football was starring on a wing and making that position her own. Our midfield of J Caplan, Boylan and Folwell were right on top and getting plenty of touches.
The last quarter was an arm wrestle as we scored 2 points and kept Oakleigh scoreless to run out 32 point winners. Incredibly we kept Oakleigh scoreless in 3 quarters last week and to show it was no fluke we did it again this week, in a final. We allowed them 1 goal in 8 quarters of footy over the last 2 weeks as they averaged approximately 6 goals per game during the season.
Our defenders are working well together and our mids are helping out at every opportunity. We have a great belief at the moment and an incredible team unity and bond.
In a sour note we suffered an injury to young gun Ruby Jacobs. She has had a terrific 1st season with the team and we are all hoping that there will be some good news out of the scans.
Next week its arch rival, Glen Eira, in the preliminary final. Details to be confirmed.
Goals :Boylan, Tuszynski, Shustin, Marget
Bests : Rainey, A Caplan, Boylan, Cobbe, Gabriel, Brophy
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
AJAX |
0.3.3 |
2.7.19 |
4.8.32 |
4.10.34 |
Oakeigh |
0.0 0 |
0.0 0 |
0.2.2 |
0.2.2 |