OFTEN wonder what’s in a coach’s mind when his team is smashing the opposition like shown on the right.
In the spirit of a sporting contest and respect does he rest some of his best players or, maybe. play some out of position.
Or is he thinking what on earth can he say to the losers after the final bell that doesn’t sound condescending and demeaning.
Most certainly he should thank the opponents for providing a game against the odds and selflessly turning up each week to support their home community.
Many, many decades ago coaches going into opposition rooms after games to say a few words was a common courtesy.
Not, of course, if the on-field action had reminded fans of Festival Hall.
While we’re talking drubbings, there’s the disgrace of tasteless high fives and car toots after endless goals. No suggestion that this happened at the game mentioned, but, shamefully, it sometimes does.
It’s unsportsmanlike and offensive to overwhelmed defenders doing their best.
Caramut’s failure to score two weeks ago was a repeat of their previous game against Wicky/Bolac. After that Gen/Dunkeld match, now against Hawk/Mac last Saturday, they finished with but three points.
The club has been struggling similarly for some time now.
But that wasn’t always the case.
The Swans have enjoyed the ultimate successes in the modern era.
Who is to say they can’t lift themselves off the floor again.
Think Port Fairy last season forfeiting games and this year now on the verge of playing finals.
The Caramut community obviously has strong pride in the jumper.
Take Stephen Giles, for example. The Melbourne lawyer (pictured) returned home to play footy for 22 seasons. That’s a 500km and six-hour trip.
He started in 1966 in the Caramut U13s at eight years of age. He progressed to the U17s then registered more than 200 games with Monash Uni Blues.
Stephen played his last senior game for the Swans aged 47, then kept coming home to help the seconds.
His last match was in April 2018, aged 60.
WONDER if any Dunkeld fans present on the recent day when Caramut failed to score remember when the boot was once on the other foot.
Not sure who Dunkeld’s full back was on May 7, 1994, when the club played the Swans but I’m sure the date is fixed in that player’s mind.
This was the game in which Caramut coach and spearhead Jason Mifsud kicked 28 goals, 15 behinds – a feat that still stands as a Victorian Country Football League record.
The final score that day was Caramut 32.23 (215) to Dunkeld 4.6 (30).
The second time the clubs met that season it was 36.25 (241) to 0.1 (1) with Mifsud adding another 18 goals to his tally.
That year Dunkeld got smashed most weeks and finished the year without a win – with the wooden spoon and a percentage of 17.
Caramut, on the other hand, went through undefeated to register 310%.
THE decade beginning 1993 was the most successful in Caramut’s tenure in the Mininera league.
Mick Soulsby (Hamilton, Collingwood reserves, North Gambier) was appointed coach at the age of 36 but would still go on to play 189 games for the red and whites.
He led the club into the finals that year, but they were eliminated in the first semi.
The Swans then appointed joint coaches, Darren Bradshaw and Jason Mifsud, for the 1994 season, resulting in a premiership.
Caramut’s previous MDFL senior flag was back in 1971 when they beat Lake Bolac in the decider.
Their third, and last, was in 1999 when they overcame Tatyoon.
Over the journey Caramut has boasted four league best and fairest winners: David Wynd (‘74), Jason Mifsud (’94), Todd O’Sullivan (’07), Lachie Barr (joint ’08) and Nathan Jones (‘12).
There were home and away leading goal-kickers as well: Richard Coghlan (88), David Wynd (82), Jason Mifsud (190), Tony Russell (157), David Bell (117) and Tim Chatfield (88).
Caramut’s last flag-winning team
B: D. Anders, R. Mifsud, M. Bell
HB: J. Lehmann, F. Robinson, N. Hassett
C: G. McCrabb, J. Watson, R. Fedley
HF: D. Bell, R. Watson, A. Lehmann
F: D. Lynam, D. Potter, M. Soulsby
Foll: J. Mann, S. Rowe, W. Aitken
Inter: C. McInerney, T. Dickson, S. Bell
CARAMUT’S DISCIPLINE CRUSHES TATYOON
From the Spectator, September 1999
PENSHURST provided ideal playing conditions for Saturday’s Mininera and District Football League grand finals, with the weather enticing a large crowd of supporters who paid $10,290 at the gate.
Caramut with a disciplined display of team football ran out of the senior premier for 1999. Tatyoon came to Penshurst seeking a league record of three premierships but ended the season with three losing grand finals.
Caramut’s win in the big one can be credited to the astute planning of coach Wayne Aitken and selectors and the perseverance of players with the work ethic of ‘take no prisoners’ throughout the contest.
Caramut was totally focused on attacking the ball and the consistent pressure applied in the execution of its game plan, which paid dividends at the end of the game.
Tatyoon, judged to contain more skill and talent, constantly displayed a brand of fancy football that allowed Caramut to continuously harass opponents in the quest for the ball.
Roger Mifsud completely shut out Tatyoon’s key goal scorer, Paul Campigli, taking away the few opportunities Tatyoon had in its scoring zone. Jason Lehmann was given the big task of stopping Scott Astbury showing his usual domination of big gamers and carried out the job to perfection.
Mick Soulsby, Adam Lehman and Aitken added bite across the midfield and converted the chances inside the arc.
Glenn Antonio, Nick Mertz and Simon Brady were a few shining lights for Tatyoon and had limited impact on the game during the second term but were able to bring their score to within four points of Caramut at the main break.
John Mann’s height and bulk created problems with his telling marks during the final term and Tatyoon had no answers.
Caramut deserved the premiership and may have proved that in a final five, finishing on top of the ladder and winning a direct path into the grand final through the second semi may be a distinct disadvantage, with only one game in four weeks.
In a strong, disciplined and dedicated team effort, Caramut was well rewarded by the supreme efforts of Steven Rowe, who carried out the hard work in the midfield and impacted heavily on the game when Tatyoon looked to make a resurgence.
Jason Lehmann and Mifsud should be mentioned for closing out Tatyoon’s danger players, Campigli and Astbury, as should Ron Watson for his strength in the heavy going, creating many opportunities up forward.
Wayne Aitken deserves praise for his leadership, planning and for gaining many kicks at opportune times. Adam Lehmann was accurate in front of goal.
The VCFL Medal went to Rowe, the J.A. Knight Medal to Mifsud.
FINAL SCORES
CARAMUT: 6.1, 8.1, 13.5, 15.8…..98
TATYOON: 1.3, 6.10, 6.10, 9.13….67
Goals: CARAMUT – A. Lehmann 4, D. Bell 3, M. Soulsby, D. Lynam, J. Mann 2, S. Rowe, W. Aitken. TATYOON – G. Antonio 3, A. Ward, R. Scholten 2, D. Madex, D. Bohner.
Best: CARAMUT – S. Rowe (VCFL Medal), R. Mifsud, J. Mann, A. Lehmann, J. Lehmann, W. Aitken. TATYOON – S. Brody, N. Mertz, R. King, J. Tucker, R. Scholten, G. Antonio
