T’s off the mark as SKOB, Holden end Blues run

Nick Armistead

Old Trinity officially kick-started their 2019 season with a comfortable 44-point victory over Old Carey at Daley Oval. The T’s opened with the first eight scoring shots of the game and led by 28 points at the first break before the Panthers hit back with the first three goals of the second term. The T’s stabilised as Brandon Wood slotted two of his five goals in succession and maintained a healthy lead thereafter. Wood, who kicked four of his five goals in the opening half, was instrumental for the T’s early and finished the game with 23 disposals. Harry Thompson’s 24 touches and two goals were only usurped by his aerial dominance and contested marking, while Harry Tinney starred with 22 disposals after leaving the field with an injured elbow midway through the match. Will Mitchell stuffed the stat sheet for the Panthers with 23 possessions, nine tackles and eight clearances alongside a sensational display from Marc Lock who had 18 of his 23 touches after quarter time. Young stars Cooper Leon, Oscar White and Oliver Dickson impressed for the Panthers. The Panthers ended the game with two on the bench after Zander Adam (calf) and Tyrone Bean (hamstring) suffered injuries. The healthy percentage boost lifts the T’s into eighth spot on the ladder.

St Kevin’s OB claimed their second win on the trot and third for the season as they defeated University Blues by 19 points at TH King Oval. SKOB, after entering the match as underdogs to the previously undefeated Blues, led by seven points at the final break before kicking four goals to two in the final term. Jack Holden went king-mode for SKOB as he accumulated a game-high 32 disposals and kicked two goals in a best-on-ground performance. He also had an equal game-high eight inside 50’s. Ryan Kemp kicked three majors for the winners and Nick Wood had another 28 disposals after racking up 25 last week. Tim Harper and Josh Green each kicked three for the Blues and Connor Lappin was named their best player, while Tom Young found the ball 30 times. It was the Blues’ first loss of the year and they now fall into second spot on the ladder.

Old Melburnians defied tipsters and registered their third win of the season with a 10-point triumph over St Bernard’s at the Snake Pit. OMs kicked five goals to three in the opening half and maintained their lead as both sides struggled to hit the scoreboard with two goals apiece in the third and fourth terms. Jackson Paine returned to the line-up in dominant fashion with four goals and 20 disposals for OMs, while Josh Freezer led admirably with 19 touches and 12 marks. Adam Bentick (26) and Chris Peart (24) had 50 between them as the Snow Dogs continue to struggle in second halves, averaging one goal over the past two games.

Viv Michie (32) and Sam Hibbins (30) were simply unstoppable for Collegians as they ran out 73-point winners over De La Salle at Waverley Oval. The Big V midfielders combined for 62 disposals and three majors for the match as the Lions ultimately won the game when they kicked nine goals to one in a dominant second half. Hugh Johnson top-scored with four goals for the Lions while Ben Nethersole racked up a game-high 30 for De La. Hugh Nicholson continued his outstanding individual form with 22 touches and nine tackles for De La as they now sit in 10^th spot on the ladder while the Lions move into seventh.

Old Xaverians showed no signs of complacency five rounds into the season as they registered their fifth straight win, defeating Old Brighton by 86 points at Toorak Park. Xavs, who now sit on top of the William Buck Premier ladder, had 14 individual goal kickers share in their 22 majors with Matt Margin and Tom Gilbert kicking four apiece. It was total dominance from Xavs as they registered 148 more disposals, 62 more hit outs and 25 more inside 50’s than the Tonners. Marcus Stavrou recorded a season-high 43 disposals for Xavs while Cauley Beetham continued his outstanding form with 34 after 40 last week. Gilbert, whose four goals came in the first three quarters, found plenty of it and finished with 26. It was a lean afternoon for the Tonners but Elliot Le Grice (23) and Nick Pavlou (22) fought hard while Hamish Dick kicked three goals.