The Raiders had their fifth tough match in a row facing Woorinen on Saturday. It was a big ask for the Raiders to chalk their first win of the season against the Tigers on their home turf, and they now head to a bye for the next round.
The Under 14s had the only win for the Raiders for the day, defeating the Tigers by 41 points. The match was shortened as an ambulance had to be called.
The concerned family and trainers kept the young lad calm after a heavy knock. Remarkably, the ‘young fella’ was released from medical care the same day and is following medical advice and league concussion protocols. Mitchel Gilbert booted two goals for the Raiders. Dustin Bohn, Alexander Chisholm, Jye Hamilton, Hayden Pope and Clay Watts kicked a goal.
The Colts and Reserves matches were reduced to 15-minute quarters to keep the day running smoothly and for the Senior game to begin close to schedule.
In the Colts, the Tigers were strong from the first ball-up. The Raiders Colts struggled to find their groove as the Tigers had the advantage of calls missed by club umpires for holding. Both sides tackled hard, but the Raiders found it challenging to convert. Lachlan Laursen kicked two goals for the blue, red and yellow.
At the Senior level, injuries have called for the Reserves players to be pilfered, with Colts playing in two games for the day lining up in the Reserves side. The Raiders Reserves were like lambs to the slaughter against the 2022 CMFNL Reserves Premiers, Woorinen. The Tigers won by 117 points, with the Raiders kicking two behinds in the last quarter, avoiding a Raiders history-making no-score loss in the Reserves. It is easier to play a team game when the players are used to their teammates.
The Senior side achieved something that no losing team has against the Tigers this season – to win the first quarter. The Tigers have been beaten once so far, at the hands of Balranald, and their win against the Raiders placed them back into the top three on the ladder.
The Raiders’ first quarter demonstrated that behind the scenes, something is clicking. And like knitting, you need to complete the steps correctly to make brioche purl. Let’s say the wool is in the basket, and Coach Will Callow is doing his best to knit the players into a team. The Raiders played to the final bell while recording the fourth-highest defeating score of the season and keeping the toll under 100. There are glimmering positives; now, it is a wait-and-see for them to mesh.
Another first for the new football era, the Woorinen ‘club-supplied’ goal umpire should have stored his beer in an esky. Instead, a little collection of tins sparkled in the sun only to be shadowed by waved flags. Not the best look for the club and the league, with umpire shortages impeding Senior matches. We all know there are umpire shortages. Evidently, it is a state problem. From the outside looking in, nothing seems to be done to improve the situation.
Can technology solve the problem? The AFL has considered using technology for goal scoring. However, the expense of such equipment would not help a country club, even if the technology was perfected. Therefore, it falls to either pay, image, culture or bullying that prevents people from umpiring. To solve a problem, first, we must know the issues. Back in the day of umpires wearing white, an umpire would do multiple games on a day. Could that be returned to train people on the day if someone shows interest? Whatever the answer is, the umpire shortage needs to be taken seriously.
Cameron Moore kicked three goals for the Raiders. Reagan Hamilton and Lachlan Laursen kicked one goal. Harley Burmeister-Lyons earnt his fourth in a row Best Player. Jack Thrum backed up his last week’s Best Player, while Reagan Hamilton earnt his second Best Player for the year. Colin McVeigh, Cameron Moore and Patrick Goble netted their first Best Player for the season.
The Raiders will face Lake Boga at Barham on Saturday, May 27, after a week off from a bye.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 18 May 2023.
