Round 15 Match Reports (2024)

With so many premiership and past players at Tony Sheehan Oval on Saturday, the players were primed for a crack at second placed North Brunswick after we suffered a heavy defeat at Allard Park in Round 7. Coach Andy Castles‘ pre-game message focused on tactical and game plan aspects learnt from our first encounter, plus the emotion of playing in front of Trober greats. With nothing to lose, the players were given license to take risks and play with confidence and swagger. First year player Zach Gebauer was making his senior debut, Jade ‘Rusty’ Russell came into the side and Lachy Randall was a late replacement for Darcy Thorn.

The contest was hot from the opening minutes with ruckman Hugo O’Callaghan going to work and our midfielders cracking in at every stoppage. Much of the play was between the arcs but when the Bulls did take the ball inside their 50 our back 6 applied enormous pressure and conceded only behinds. Ten minutes in and mighty Liam Walsh delivered lace out to key forward Andy Castles who kicked truly to open our account. Tate Spiteri added our second for the quarter but then it was a series of behinds to both teams as we took a 9-point lead into the first break.

The second term was an arm wrestle with neither side giving an inch in the early minutes. Midfielders Jonty Randall, Archie Conboy, Sam Benetti-Baker and Lachlan Webb were matching it with the Bulls onballers, while Connor McCredden, Adrian Marulli, Lachy Randall and Nich Simons were making it difficult for their forwards to score. The visitors kicked their first major during red-time but we held a 4-point lead going into half time – 16 to 12.

North Brunswick hit the lead early in the third quarter and we conceded a second goal in the first 4 minutes – an early lapse which could prove to be costly. Lachlan Webb kicked a ripper goal off the outside of his right boot soon after to cut the margin to 3 points before both sides added another behind to close out the third quarter – the visitors leading by 3 points at the final break with all to play for!

There were plenty of supporters at the three-quarter time huddle as Coach Andy Castles urged his players to continue taking the game on and to bring home a memorable victory. North Brunswick goaled in the fourth minute but Walshy replied shortly after as both teams gave it their all. A series of behinds followed as the visitors stretched the lead to 5 points with the Trobers missing some important shots on goal. Another major to the visitors and the margin was out to 11 points before another red-time goal sealed the win for the Bulls. A courageous effort by our lads who took the game on all day and never gave up. The loss of big ruckman/forward Adam Zimmermann and the overlap run of our bigger bodied opponents were among the telling factors.

The post-game message was all about bringing the same level of effort and intensity to next week’s final home game against Richmond Central.

Jonty Randall, Hugo O’Callaghan, Archie Conboy, Liam Walsh, Lachlan Webb and Bailey Timms were named as the best players.