By JARROD POTTER
VAFA DIVISION 2 – ROUND 13
They’re battered. They’re bruised.
But despite it all, St John’s remains the best in VAFA Division 2.
The old boys from Melbourne High School threw everything they could at the JOCs – but throughout the worst of the barrage, the Dandy boys stood tall.
A horror first half gave no favours to the home side trying to work its way back onto the winners’ list – as it sprayed its way to 1.7 (13) to 4.3 (27).
The gut-run, dogged tackling and most determined aerial work in the second phase of the clash would have to be enough, with the black and green brigade determined to fire back.
From all parts the JOCs machine started cranking up; Matt Nicholson and Aaron Thornton (two goals each) chipped away at the Unicorns’ lead before the hosts blew right past it to snare a small break at the final change.
The fourth quarter was one for the ages as St John’s fought back time and time again … then once more for measure.
The Unicorns pranced right back into the match from the first bounce – booting the first.
They would try again and again to upset the JOCs last line, but Liam O’Connor and Damien Wilsnach did some mighty work on the tricky MHSOB forwards.
The skipper Glenn Costas continued a league medal worthy season as he scrambled under every pack alongside Corey Ladson, Brendan Ash and Matt Carter.
Up the front, Thornton and Nicholson made the most of their limited opportunities … as the ground-wide initiative started to grind the visitors out of the contest.
The final roll of the MHSOB dice came from a long bomb up the middle, but Wilsnach made a match-saving spoil to find the awaiting hands of the skipper at the fall of the ball. He thumped it long to find its way to Nicholson who booted it home to take away any chance of the visitors’ stealing St John’s deserved 8.14 (62) to 8.5 (53) victory.
“Gallant’s the word – down at half time by a good margin and we didn’t play well,” St John’s coach Ben McGee said. “To come back and do it with a side that’s got some first gamers in it was really pleasing.
“Considerable reshaping at half time and after the debacle of last week, to repair at half time we were obviously able to fix where we were struggling.
“Gallant win and showed a lot of character, but we’ve got so much work still in front of us to be able to us figuring in the big dance.”
The bye could not have come at a better time for the 10-1 ladder leading JOCs, with a weekend off to rest the battered bodies and get a few back before battling Emmaus St Leos at home on 16 July.
