PREMIER PLAYOFFS

PREMIER:
Collegians arrive in the second semi-final after just two losses, neither of which was to Old Xaverians, whom it beat on Opening Day at the Trott and again at Toorak Park in R12.  The big question is whether they can pull the hat-trick and beat them at Sportscover, not quite the home of the Red ‘n’ Blacks, but for a decade and a half, their very own holiday resort.
While both teams are highly capable of shutting down the opposition on a smaller field, the attacking phase of each is suited to the spaces. However, the expanse is one thing and the conditions entirely another. We’ve all witnessed games played almost entirely on the outer wing, with the westerly serving as virtual prison walls and forays into the corridor as rare as successful jail breaks. In this circumstance, it’s about making those shots at goal, when they come, count to the maximum. Both clubs have topped the ton on six occasions. Fergus Watts can be a big force here. He rarely misses when in range and that ability extends beyond the arc. Balancing this, Matthew Handley and Dan Rush can score from distance too. Perhaps it comes down to which team’s tall forwards get more of it. Both defences are solid. The Lions conceded a hundred just twice, and over twenty per cent of their season points against in just two mid-season defeats. Xavs are tighter still, conceding the ton just once, to, you guessed it, these Purples in R1, who also held the Xavs to their season low offense in the return bout.
Xaverians should win in the ruck and their mid-fielders should enjoy first use, but then they must steer their way through or around James Jorgensen and Nick Stone, bogeymen that regularly haunt them. Collegians’ speedsters will see plenty of ball too, but penetrating the Xavs’ back six will be like chipping away at granite.
Don’t expect the fireworks of last Sunday’s encounter. This will be a more dour, conservative affair. Collegians have lost just two games in twenty-five and their success has been built on discipline. They are an imposing bunch, with plenty of top flighters including Trent Zimbachs, Daniel Strahan, Shura Taft, the brothers Bull and their great skipper Chris Blumfield. Xavs have plenty of star power themselves, with Jon Mercuri, skipper Matty Ball, Ryan Colbert and Josh Agius, plenty of goalkickers and a rear guard that boasts Damian Lynch, Nick Wynne and Dan Noonan, all big, solid types who can also play forward, as well as Andy Biddlecombe, one of the strongest and finest players in the VAFA.
Choosing anyone over Xavs on the Plain is risky business, but last time they met here, Collegians won the day comfortably, turning it on in attack while holding the Red ‘n’ Blacks. I sense a very tough, tight tussle in less than optimum weather and I can see a purple haze in my crystal ball. No other team has consistently given Xavs as much trouble as these Lions. Of course, all things must pass.
PREMIER B
Fraser Cameron reports: Now we turn our attention to the quest for promotion, and another week off before the Big Dance. It’s almost everyone’s flag favourite in Old Carey seemingly with one hand on the cup against Lappa’s wildcards from Badlands. David Lappage should be commended for moulding his group together as a blend of the obligatory ex-AFL guns with plenty of refreshingly home-grown talent coming from the school. Spencer Roberts and Matthew Douglas have added plenty this season, whilst Hamish and Jarrod McLauchlan have relished another season together. Up front, no-one could possibly deny the enduring quality of Tony Brown and Brett Voss, and it is for this reason the Bloods are in with a genuine show today.
The opponents are probably a little more even in their output, and boast a miserly defence led by Luke Crozier, Lachie McQueen-Miscamble and the likely G. T. Moore medallist Grant Baldwin. Julien Rowe has been brilliant this season, and combined with Brendan Huf, Glen Parker and particularly Jarrod Reid the forward-line boasts enough firepower to seriously trouble the Bloods defenders. The game will be won by the side that can get plenty out of their support cast, and it is for this reason I’m leaning towards Old Carey. They may not have the out-and-out guns of Old Haileybury, but the Panthers ‘bat deeper’ with the experience of Parton, Josephs, Kent (!) and Tommy Evans to call upon in trying times. For this reason, in the immortal words of Norm Nugent……I select……
Old Carey by 16 points.

For those keen to get down early, watch out for SKOB in the Thirds and Bernies in the Reserves, with Andrew Smith to grab BOG honours. 

PREMIER C
Di Langton says:
Beaumaris’ arm-wrestle with Caulfield and Ajax’s resounding win over Old Camberwell has brought our combatants together this weekend via vastly different semi final results.
Both were super impressive: Beauy for their dogged determination – they refused to give up and fought the Fields in a tense game belying the four goal margin – and Ajax for an amazingly drilled performance we know they’re capable of but have seen only in patches this year.

Head-to-head:
In round 6 Beaumaris took the chocolates in a heart stopper at Banksia reserve. Smoke was coming from the stats van as Adam Catlin ripped up one wing, De Fontenay the other. Fayman kicked four for the Jackas but accuracy deserted them in the last term; injury struck and the Sharks capitalised, snatching a 2-point victory.
The return bout at Gary Smorgon oval in round 15 was a watershed moment for Ajax. After losses to Old Camberwell and Mazenod, their drop in form looked chronic, if not terminal. A second half revival against Beaumaris produced a 34-point win that not only turned the tables on the inaccurate Sharks, it heralded the Jacka’s unbeaten rampage through the final rounds (including a 10 point win over Caulfield in round 17) and into last week’s first semi final annihilation of Old Camberwell.

How it will unfold:
Beaumaris’ fleet-footed brigade has the potential to add significant scoring power to their bigger forwards if players like Petering, Murton, Dean and Langdon are on song to help slip through the Jacka wall of Steinberg, Weislitzer, Bruce and Segal. Adam Catlin plays well against Ajax and is a valuable calm head. Coote and Ensor have been towers of strength all season for Beauy, and will offer far more resistance this week to the Ajax scorers. The Jackas have the power to dominate centre clearances and this will be telling. David Fayman is no certainty to resume his position on-field and while it may sound ludicrous, the Premier C leading goal scorer (who hasn’t played since a shoulder injury in round 13) is practically superfluous to Ajax’s current forward structure anyhow. Lew, Ludski, Ben Kalmus, Seidl and Routman are just as formidable and the run of Ritterman, Freed and Blieden can turn a game on its head.
Beaumaris is a proud club and a grand final berth is their single-minded focus; the Sharks will lay their hearts and guts out on the spongey Sandringham turf to get there. Ajax can certainly match them for ferocity and endeavour and their stronger physical presence may again be Beaumaris’ downfall. It seems they have timed their sporadic form well; if the Ajax team that shows up today is the same disciplined, skilful and relentless side we saw last weekend, Beauy won’t withstand them.