Match Report
Elimination Final
Saturday 10 August 2024
AJAX v Old Brighton - Home
Episode 13 - Heartache and Heartbreak the Old Brighton way
For everything or anything else we couldn’t have hoped for a better day.
The sun was out, the ground was in great condition, the evil southerly breeze had left itself at home and in its place we were given beautiful blue skies above
Elimination finals are never easy. All finals are never easy. With the increase in the stakes also comes the increase in intensity and scrutiny
Having played Old Brighton on three separate occasions across the season this year, including the previous week, we came in to this game behind 1-2 on the scoreboard. All games with Old Brighton had been tight affairs and to be fair the score could have been 3-0 either way
Having selected a strong team to represent us, including our match ups and jobs to be done on their better players we went in to the game confident we could win it
We got off to a great start in the first quarter kicking early goals and getting out to an early lead, only allowing Old Brighton one scoring shot to our 6 in the first quarter
In all reality, it was probably the first 10 minutes of the second quarter that cost us the win. We totally dominated the game with possession, and had the ball in our forward 50 for most of that time. Unfortunately out of all that we only scored 1 point for the quarter and by half time we had let them back in the game
The third quarter was another tough one which saw Old Brighton move ahead kicking 3 goals to our one. Although we lost the lead, we never lost our competitive hunger and never gave up. Despite being two goals down at ¾ time but it never felt like that
The final quarter was tough tough tough unforgiving football. To everyone’s credit, we battled hard, we gave our all but unfortunately we just couldn’t get there in the end. My personal reflection kept coming back to the fact that we just needed a little lucky break to either get back in front or just get to a tie. It never happened
Regardless of the result, we couldn’t have been prouder of the group and stood there as coaches, as parents, as friends in awe of the effort you all put in to win the game
Zac Miller, did a great job on 21 as did Jarrod Waislitz on 6. They beat their opponents fair and square and set the tone for everyone else. Sam Jacobs worked tirelessly across the whole ground across the whole game. He was the benchmark for both teams over the day. Our backline led by Jackson and Izzy, were a pillar of strength as were all that played in the backline. Everyone who represented the club gave their all. We couldn’t have asked for more
For 2025, the lessons for us to take in to next year is that preparation is everything. Training and practising ball work is of paramount importance combined with playing games which is the place where you get to test out all in the heat of battle. As I’ve said across the year the hardest thing in football is to concentrate for the full game. In all of our losses this season, and there weren’t many of them, they all involved lapses of concentration that cost goals
The season postscript wouldn’t be complete without thanks to so many for all of your help across the year
To the playing cohort for showing up each week, for embracing our club and our team, for wanting to learn and embracing everything that comes with that, and for celebrating new friendships. For me personally, showing me the greatest amount of respect and kindness and for allowing me help you with the footy 101 sessions
To our tireless leader Alida, for the many hours of work she has put in to making sure that we have a thirds team that is well supported and resources. That goes for Peter Kagan, Andrew Shenker and Nathan Caplan who do much work behind the scenes to make sure we have grounds, umpires and resources each week, and to Johnny Klein for being the team manager, even when Chooka was away overseas
To my mate the Antony “Cooky” Klooger for being the super coach that he is, for his very unique brainwaves and for just seeing the game so well. Despite his own busy life, he is always at games before me and loves the interaction with everyone. The fact that we are able to get him to impart his great knowledge and experience to the playing group is invaluable
To our clubs' committee, for all of their support and for helping out across the season and for continuing to help make sure that we the club will now always have a Saturday Thirds team
To my car boot for doubling up as a mobile store room and never complaining once
To my beautiful children, you know who you are, for all of their love and support and for helping me with the team sheets and rotations every Friday night and helping me work that crazy useless label maker. A special thanks to Jonah for his “1 for 1” performance this year too. It was a great win against Williamstown and he has been smiling and giving me s**t about it ever since (and how easy coaching is). Love you all very much!
And finally, to the one and only Dana, the chef de village who moves quietly in the back corridors and alleyways of life keeping our family’s show on the road. Running a house of 8 is not easy especially when you work a full week yourself! I am eternally grateful for her love and support and for having made these last two years possible. I would tell her that I love her, but she’d tell me that there’s no room in our relationship for public showings of affection, Love you
So that’s it for another year
See you in 2025
Coach A
Goals: Waislitz 1, Lehrer 1, Southwick 1,
Bests: Miller, Jacobs, Becker, Rothschild, Waislitz, Simonovich
Teams
|
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
AJAX |
2.4.16 | 2.5.17 | 3.6.24 | 5.12.42 |
Old Brighton | 1.0.6 | 2.2.14 | 5.6.36 | 6.9.45 |