The Tocumwal Bloods returned to their home ground on Saturday for what was expected to be a fiercely contested clash with Picola United.
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With a growing crowd lining the boundary and ideal winter conditions, the stage was set for a big afternoon of country footy.
But despite moments of brilliance and plenty of fight, the Bloods were ultimately outgunned, falling to a sharp and disciplined Picola outfit by 30 points.
The match began evenly, with both sides feeling each other out in the early minutes. Tocumwal looked dangerous when moving the ball quickly, and with Flynn Tonks presenting strongly up forward, they had their opportunities.
However, it was in the second quarter where the match tilted dramatically.
A drop in intensity, some costly turnovers, and a string of undisciplined acts handed momentum squarely to Picola.
The visitors made the most of their chances, piling on multiple unanswered goals to build a lead that Tocumwal would find difficult to peg back.
The coach's messages at half-time were clear: tighten up the discipline, lift the work rate, and get back to basics.
To the Bloods’ credit, the second half was a much more even contest.
The midfield lifted their output, with Ricky Gittens leading from the front and Corey Parish digging in at the coalface.
Brayden Hall’s run and carry gave the side much-needed drive, while Harvey White continued his strong defence with another solid game, showcasing his clean hands and footy smarts.
Down back, Achoung Agog’s relentless pressure and intercept work kept the door ajar for a comeback.
Flynn Tonks was a clear standout in front of goal, finishing with six majors in a brilliant individual display.
His strong marking and clever positioning made him a constant threat and one of the few Bloods to win his position for the full four quarters.
Braden ‘Backman’ Hall pushed forward to snag two opportunistic goals, while Brock Close added one of his own to round out the scoring.
Among the many positive takeaways from the game was the senior debut of Cody Palmer.
The young gun from the thirds took the step up with confidence and courage, laying strong tackles and showing that he belongs at this level.
It was a proud moment for the club and his family, and we hope it’s the first of many senior appearances in the red and white.
The club also congratulates this week’s award winners:
Dylan Maxwell – showed strength around the contest and a willingness to do the hard things for his team.
Cody Palmer – impressive senior debut marked by grit and maturity beyond his years.
Charlie Locke – worked tirelessly in multiple roles and continues to improve week by week.
Final score: Tocumwal 9.10 (64) def by Picola United 15.4 (94).
Reserves
The Tocumwal Reserves put in a solid effort at home against a strong Picola United side but fell short by 17 points in a competitive clash.
The game was tightly contested early, with Jaiden Wapshott hitting the scoreboard and Ryan McGrath leading the way through the midfield.
Jake Hicks was solid down back, and Jordan Finlay worked hard across the ground, adding a goal of his own.
Will O’Connell chipped in with a clever major, while Wapshott finished with three goals in a standout performance up forward.
Tocumwal lifted in the third quarter with increased pressure and cleaner ball movement, but despite their efforts, a few missed chances and turnovers proved costly.
Picola held on in the final term to secure the win.
The best players for the Bloods were R McGrath, J Hicks, J Wapshott, D Eddy, J Finlay and L White.
Final score: Tocumwal 5.6 (36) def by Picola United 8.5 (53).
Thirds
The Toc thirds had a commanding win by more than 20 goals over Picola, with the boys putting on a clinic.
Liam Sutton was unstoppable up forward, booting nine majors in a standout performance.
He was well-supported by Heath Mansell with five, while Chace Brunskill, Logan White and Rory Shepherd chipped in with two each.
Harrison Wilson, Josh Cabri and Sam Bennett also hit the scoreboard.
The whole team played with confidence and composure, with best on ground honours going to Liam Sutton, Logan White, Heath Mansell, Chace Brunskill, Declan Palmer and Rory Shepherd. It was a great team effort all around in ideal conditions.
Final score: Tocumwal 24.14 (128) def Picola 2.1 (13).
The fourths faced a huge challenge against the ladder leaders and a much bigger-bodied side.
With several players unavailable, it was always going to be a tough ask.
While it wasn’t the team’s best footy, there were still some solid efforts across the ground.
Ollie East worked hard all day, with Archie Chellew, Harrison Wilson, Jack Watson, Lewis Petersen and Lucas Grieves also among the best in a tough outing.
Final score: Tocumwal 0.0 (0) def by Picola 15.11 (107).
Awards: Ollie East, Henry Tuck, Lewis Petersen, Henry Watmore, Angus Kruizinga.
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