The match began in disappointing fashion as Marcellin caught the boys flat-footed, piling on four quick majors before Bails finally got the Pirates on the board at the 10-minute mark.

The Pirates showed greater resolve in the second quarter, lifting their work around the contest and absorbing the heat while also getting improved looks at goal.

Disco led the charge through the middle, racking up 11 touches for the term, skipper George Fletcher complimenting him with 5 tackles of his own. Despite a much improved start to the quarter, Marcellin still managed to answer each surge, keeping the Pirates at bay until Craig Sanders was able register a much-needed major on the back of a forward 50 stoppage. The rest of the term saw Bails add two more to his tally—including a steadying set shot late in the term, and a strong finish from Cooper Denton, giving the Pirates a a much needed boost on the eve of half time.

The third quarter developed into a grim defensive battle, with scoring opportunities hard to come by for both sides. Disco, Pistol and Craig fought tirelessly across the turf in an attempt to will the Pirates back into the contest; unfortunately, the boys struggled to convert inside 50 entries into scoreboard pressure, recording just two minor scores for the entirety of the quarter. Marcellin wasted no time capitalising on the inefficiency, adding two goals against the grain to stretch their lead to 45 at three-quarter time.

Refusing to roll over, the Pirates dug deep and fought the game out to the final siren. Cobba provided a spark up forward, slotting back-to-back goals within three minutes, while Ned Evans-Brumby and Nelson Forrest continued to dig deep. Jake Williams marshalled the backline while George Fletcher laid another 3 tackles in a gritty four-quarter display. Marcellin had ultimately put the game to bed in the third term, but the competitive drive shown in the second half will be highlighted before next week.

All eyes now turn to a season-defining final round, away against PEGS, where the stakes couldn't be any higher. In what has been a tough year plagued by injuries and availability struggles, we sit ninth with Glen Eira/Old McKinnon and Marcellin just one game ahead, making next week's trip to PEGS a non-negotiable must-win. A victory just about guarantees Premier C survival and locks in a spot for next season, while a loss will go the other way, ensuring relegation back into Division 1 along with Ormond.