6-3 vs Jossie’s Giants [MacRobertson]
CB 3, DC 3, TW, RH, AW, TK, CG, JH, TH(coach)
MOM CB

It looked for a minute like we could be down to five players with Gilly and Tao having health issues and Wal silent in the flurry. However it was a fine brown team of eight plus one coach Thermos that sauntered into MacRobertsons Girls College to fulfil their destiny last evening.

An early goal from CB put us one up in the first quarter. This was equalised fairly soon after and it looked like a possible Nanna’s apple crumble. DC let one fly and we pushed in front to 2-1.

There was a fair amount of argy-bargy from the other team which pleasingly resulted in several free kicks to the Nannas.

TH firmly reminded the Nannas at half-time that if he said we were in D then thats where we should be. Consequently the defensive play in the third quarter was particularly good. DC and CB struck gold several more times earning themselves a hattrick each respectively and a double-hattrick for Northcote.

The opposition managed to score a couple of bananas and it would have been more if it were not for some excellent saves by CG.

A pleasing result and well-deserved.

Post-match at the Railway and Hinkley produced the stats in graph format to a chorus of oohs and aahs from the impressed Nannas. See below.

2-2 – Thursday Knights – MacRob
TW 1, CB 1, DC, JH, RH, CG, AW, TH (coach)
MOM CG

THAT WAS A TIGHT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!

AND MY KNEE REALLY HURTS AGAIN!!

The Nannas gave new definition to the word “brave” last night. Obviously out classed and out aged the weary brown men stood as tall as their spines would allow.

The match started with one of them RIPPING a hell toe poke into the top right corner, this was followed by another great goal across the face. We started to look at each other with “that look” in our eyes….It wasn’t until the coach Tommy came running onto the court and turkey slapped each one of us. AWAKE he yelled….From there we got one cheaky one back before half time.

The second half belonged to old ladies in cardigans. We had that many shots that rebounded of the bars and it was only a question of time before we struck again. We did and yet they continued to press. It must have been a warm night because a few nannas we a touch slow to double back and “get in D”…We go there with a second to spare as they made one last flurry.

The only interesting point to come of this match report is the precedent that will be set. I believe there is a missing match report – surely there has to be reprisals. Comments please…

Still the nannas for this season remain – UNDEFEATED!!!!

vs Jossies Giants 8-2
CB 2, DC 2, TW 2, JH 2, CG, TH (coach)
MOM CB

Are these guys not being fed or what? A hungry fiver of hardened nan-power stepped onto the court at the pits last night for a ravenous display of classic Nanna football glory.

Although the writer acknowledges the objective and inalienable truth of his being voted MOM this week, he cannot help but borrow the comment that it was the team that was the winner.

The eight goals we scored were divided evenly among the on-field players with everyone taking two each.

There was a lot of good passing. Jim was blisteringly on target. Cocky was all over it up front and pulling off some of his lovely trademark turns. Taozza was winning every fiftyfifty challenge and the writer ran quite a bit and nailed home an obligue angle shot at maximum velocity. Gillla continued to astound the opposition with stopping the unstoppable shots.

Tommy was solid on the touchline with a one-legged tripod and rousing advice and encouragement.

A great victory. Nannas undefeated in the top division.

Playing: CB, CG, JH, AW, TW

Boundary riders: TH, DC

Goals: JH2, CG1, TW1

MOM:JH

There are sometimes in sport, when competition takes on a life of its own and the protagonists are swept along on a trajectory all their own. So it was last night as a very special, tight five, Nanna outfit brushed aside an insipid opponent with little trouble. Almost from the first whistle a well defined Nanna shape developed, with as many as three brown men behind the ball at any one time, with the occasional surge as men in defence pushed upfield to take the game in new directions. Although there were hints of the usual Nanna game of over-excitement and a one-touch too many, there was also an overriding poise, or grace, to the Nannas, which effectively subdued the opposition and took them out of the game. It was if the Browns knew the opposition was not up to snuff if there was on display true Nanna respect. Indeed, a special Nannerian performance was afoot, and once the first goal went in this feeling only grew.

And what a goal it was. Gill, in the first minutes of play, took a range finder to the opposing goalie’s net, thinking, “yeah, better just loosen up the arm, get my bearings”. Well, the throw was on target and much to his team’s chagrin, Gill’s opposite number tried an ill-advised catch. The ball went straight through his fingers and the net shivered like a virgin, touched for the very first time. Like an idiot the blue keeper looked at the ref hoping some ancient, little known by-law of the world game might save him. But alas the ref pointed to the middle of the court and said, “try again boys”. One nil.

The second goal was somewhat more conventional but no less of a kick in the nuts to the opposition. After some highly competent defence and counter attacking, the Nans had a kick-in deep in enemy territory. Tao, sensing an opportunity was ripe, lay off a sensitive little pass with the outside of his foot. James, who was waiting for just such an opportunity, settled himself, cocked his favoured left boot and, concentrating on keeping the ball on the carpet, struck true. The shot didn’t do as he or Cocky, who was shouting instructions from the sideline, wished but did find the top right corner of the opposition’s goal. 2 zip. That’s the way it stayed until half time.

The third goal was a thing of pure beauty. The blues had a pussy shot at goal. Our goalie chested it down and ran – ran the lines like a fool, and almost made it to the opposition’s little circle. The soft blue goalie came out to stop me, but I feigned to the right and slipped a pass out to Tao (who was wearing a trench coat with a red carnation), who just walked it in. 3 zip.

The Nans, who went to the break in the ascendancy, rode their luck it’s true but chance is made by true grit and, last night, the inspirational sight of Chas, the fittest Nanna ever, in full flight, ducking and weaving passed opposition players. It has to be said that Christopher was also very unlucky not to have a couple by the end of the first stanza.

Although Tommy, with his leg newly wrapped in green anti-moisture material, delivered several pearls of wisdom at half time, the second half started with the opposition pegging a goal back, through a combination of Nanna confusion in D and a fortunate bounce of the ball off Gill. 3-1.
Mid way through the second stanza, the game was put beyond doubt as James ran into space and received a long throw from Gill. Taking it down on his chest, and again putting it into the path of his favoured left boot he tried a speculative shot to the opposite corner from where he was turning. Much to his surprise, and maybe with a slight deflection, it found that corner. 4-1.

After that, the game slowed considerably and the Nannas were seen frustrating their opponents. This is where the aforementioned Nannerian grace really came into its own. Andy Wong was the principle proponent of this tactic, wasting no time or energy on trivial matters or hectic schedules. With soothing words for his comrades and an unquenched love of running, he was what you would expect with five minutes to go and the game all but over: a picture of calm confidence inflicting the final blows on an already beaten opponent. Tao, following his lead, was seen congratulating the referee on several calls that went against him, while on the sly tripping up and grabbing at opponents, even though he was in every aspect playing far above any challenger he came up against. Gill, at this point, feigned not knowing where he was and tried to take the ball off the court, like the match was over. He was grabbed unceremoniously by some jerk in blue, who tried unsuccessfully to wrench the ball out of his hands. The opposition knew the jig was up, and although they huffed and puffed, they were never going to better a supreme Nanna outfit, full of Brown pride.
After, an impromptu captain was nominated and a bad speech given. However, the spoils of the coveted APISC second division were delivered to the deserving team.

vs Allens FC
6-1
CB 3, DC 1, JH 2

CB, DC, JH, AW, CG, TW, (RH coach)

MOM CB

Oh dear struggling to remember all the details now but here goes..
Our minds were focussed right from the start with some precise strategies from our illustrious Captain who spelt out just what we should be doing, who we should be marking etc.

We took it to them, but also played an excellent defensive game, consistently shutting down their attacks until they started to fall part at the seams and shoot wildly from way out and forget to pass.

We also capitalised on our opportunities making them count at a very high rate.
DC bought one goal with a sprained ankle, our second injury in two weeks after the Howie fibula.

CB got an own goal for the other side which spurred him on to a hattrick to make up for it. But that did mean Allens failed to put one past Gilly at all.

A big match, a big semi-final and now we are set up for a big final with a big tight five with DC in a coaching role. Go Nannas!

location: Wesley | nannas: TW, DC, AW, JH, CB, CG, TH | opposition: Foregone Conclusion
score: 6-4 | goals: DC 1, CB 2, AW 1, JH 2 | mom: CB + CG

A tight Nannas ensemble of 7 dismantled Foregone Conclusion in a hard fought victory last night at Wesley.

DC and TW hustled hard at both ends of the court and put through a couple of delectable touches forward into space for CB to run onto.
TH gave 110 per cent with some excellent defensive play.
JH slammed home a couple of scorching strikes.
AW got up for some slippery backdoor action and tackled well.
CB got a couple of better than average goals.
CG “the animated chastity belt” raised the goalkeeping bar again with a double pronged penalty resistance followed by a some classic victory postures.

Nice!

It was TIGHT and thats how the nannas like it!!!! Tempers were freyed, refs were abused, indians were bumped and victory was signalled!!!!

SCORELINE 6 – 4

MOM – 2 CHris’ – Brown and Gill

Goals were shared, not hoarded, the nannas were a team of MEN. THe crazed nature of the game leaves details blured, suffice to say that we WON.

Details to emerge post game are VERY interesting. Manic promises were made by a lanky memeber of the nannas – who will remain nameless, but his name does rhyme with Bim – that he will purchase an inhaling device known as “the vapouriser” Things we do for our friends….

Also there was one more thing….maybe someone else can remember it….I must have been too “tired” again.