By David Nagel
“Not only do the players believe now, but every supporter in the club is starting to believe as well.”
It was impossible to ignore the statement made by Officer coach Daniel Charles and his playing group after the Kangaroos dug deep to win an absorbing Outer East Premier Division contest by three points against Pakenham on Saturday.
The ‘full-house’ sign was up at Toomuc Reserve as the near-neighbours locked horns for the first time since July, 2022; with Officer returning to the big-time after a season in Division One.
The Lions won by 110 points – on this same deck in 2022 – but it became clear early; not long after the echoes of the ‘Ode’ had petered out, that the Kangas had come to play.
Goals to Riley Wierzbicki, Tom Marks and Mark Seedsman – after a classic run from winger Jeremy Monckton – had the Kangaroos three goals in front after seven minutes of play.
Things could have been worse for the shell-shocked Lions, with Ben Gilberto missing a golden opportunity to inflict further damage at the 16-minute mark.
A strong defence, led by Josh Westra, Kyle Hagger and Zack Charles, held the Lions scoreless in the opening term; the Kangas leading 3.4 to 0.0 at quarter time.
Pakenham’s connection problems stemmed from poor use by foot, but it rectified that at the first break, kicking eight of the next 11 goals.
Three of those came quickly in the second term, with Tyrell Bignoux, Jake Thompson and Joel Sarlo – courtesy of a 25-metre penalty from Brenton Hillard – cutting the margin to four points; 10 minutes into the second.
Seedsman steadied for the visitors, who led 4.5.29 to 3.4.22 at the main break.
Pakenham once again came out lazy after half-time, with Wierzbicki taking an easy mark in the goal-square to make it 13 points just two minutes into the third.
Sensing the danger the Lions lifted their intensity, with great tackles from winger Jackson Bramich and Sarlo providing a buzz around the ground.
Consecutive goals to Sam Kors cut the margin to two points after 13 minutes of play.
A late goal to Bignoux, who put his body on the line, gave the Lions the lead for the first time in the match at the 25-minute mark of the third.
Pakenham coach Paul Carbis asked his side to be more precise with its kicking, to spread the game with ball use in the final term; making Officer defend more.
But the Kangaroos opened the final term with more intent, with midfielders Hillard, Anzac medalist Ryan Hutton and skipper Brent Moloney capitalising on some great work from Jake Gains in the ruck.
Lachie Ward missed a sitter for the Kangas, early in the last, but Gilberto gave them back the lead at the six-minute mark.
Pakenham’s midfield then lifted, with Jake Barclay, Jimmy Harrison and Rhys Clacy sparking into action.
Bailey Stiles took a mark from a tumbling entry, and kicked truly, before a clearance from Harrison, and quick hands from Jai Rout, set Stiles up for another.
The Lions were 10 points up, 12 minutes into the last, and looked home.
But Officer refused to lie down, with Anthony Quach cutting the margin to four points with a fine goal on the run.
The critical moment of the contest then ensued.
More great play from Barclay and Harrison saw the ball surge forward for the Lions, with some desperate defence from the Kangaroos seeing the ball rushed through for a point.
From the resulting kickout, the Kangaroos went the length of the ground with Seedsman kicking his third to give the Kangas back the lead.
A minute later, 17 minutes in, Luke Hetherington kicked another on the run to make it a two-kick game.
Hetherington missed the chance to seal the deal, a minute later, before Thompson gave the Lions some hope with a six-pointer after 27 minutes of play.
A desperate midfield clearance ended in the Officer forward line; celebrating a 9.11(65) to 9.8(62) triumph.
Coach Charles agreed that it was a great moment for his footy club.
“We’ve been building something over the last two years, but stepping up to Premier Division we knew we had a pretty big jump,” he explained.
“But with the workrate the boys are prepared to put in, and the efforts they’ve put in over the pre-season, the rewards are starting to come.
“A few of the recruits we’ve picked up over the off-season have also helped a lot, so it’s all very exciting.
“Not only do the players believe now, but every supporter in the club is starting to believe as well.”
The recruits Charles speaks highly of are ruckman Jake Gains, midfielder Brenton Hillard and former Cora Lynn star Jeremy Monckton on the wing.
“The experience and knowledge that they pass down to some of our young blokes, because we still have a very young side, is invaluable, and they’ve got cool heads in a crisis,” Charles said.
“The three of them are around the ball for most of the day, so they help with our set ups and keep us organised around the ground.
“He (Monckton) knows his role, and he’s one of many blokes that are just happy to play their role.
“He’s a class winger, he’s been a class winger for a long time and he’s got the smarts on the outside.”
Charles was impressed with his sides ability to hit the ground running, kicking three goals in seven minutes after a lengthy tribute to the Anzacs.
“Anzac games are definitely different; they have a finals-type feel about them, so to come out and have a good start was important,” he said.
“We had a good first quarter, then dropped away from our structures and workrate a bit in the second quarter, and Pakenham took advantage.
“They looked a little shellshocked in the first quarter, but came back hard in the second and third, as we knew they would.
“It was pleasing for our boys to lift their workrate again in the last quarter and get across the line.
“That win came down to want, more than skill level and structure and those types of things, it came down to want and desire.”
Charles said its now onwards and upwards from here.
“We’ve got a massive test this week against Narre Warren, and that will give us a true indication of where we’re at, but those are the tests we are longing for,” he said.
“We’re sitting at two wins and one loss at the moment, and hopefully we can build on that.
“Finishing fifth in Division One last year, I think a lot of people expected us to be at the bottom, but the club is very confident in the direction we are heading in.
“Our whole pre-season has been based on how we want to play, and even though we went away from that for a little bit, I think we showed how effective it can be today.
“When we get it right it works, but it’s also enjoyable to watch, and we’re trying to create a style of play that not only wins us games…but people want to come and watch.”
Charles gave special praise to Anzac Medal winner Hutton.
“Ryan Hutton winning the Anzac Day Medal is fantastic, because he played in the twos in round one,” Charles said with a satisfied smile.
“He did everything that was asked of him, and has now played two terrific games in the seniors.
“He hunts the ball as good as anyone, and for a young bloke is really clean below his knees, and loves to bring his teammates into the game.
“Our three wingers, Monckton, (Brodie) Snooks and (Robert) Hudson, they all love playing with him because he brings the ball to the outside.”
Seedsman was the leading goal-kicker on the ground, ending the day with three for the winners, while Bignoux, Kors, Stiles and Thompson kicked two each for the Lions, who struggled to cover the loss of key forward Tom Gamble.
Officer rolls out the red-carpet for Narre Warren this week, while the Lions head to Chandler Reserve to take on the winless Emerald.
