Retrospective: Round 4

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Geoff Reilley

10 YEARS AGO – 2010

Old Haileybury went ahead of St Bernard’s in Premier B Section, defeating the ‘Snow Dogs’ 9.16 to 8.10. Old Haileybury were now equal fourth in what was shaping as a very competitive section. OH were leading 8.15 to 4.6 at three quarter time in the awkward conditions but St Bernards stormed home in the final term with the strong wind assisting. Best – Siapantas, Johnston, Morrison, Voss, Erikson, McLauchlan (OH) and Cooke, Caven, Madden, Mitchell, Singleton, Forder (StB).

In Premier C Section, scribe Di Langton reminded us of the last piece of the Indian Summer as Beaumaris, at home, were too strong for the game Parkdale Vulture team, running out winners 22.18 to 11.6 with Matt Petering’s 7 goals a major contribution to the Shark’s big win. I had the good fortune to coach Matt’s Dad, Grant, a terrific player for Ormond in its glory days of the early nineties and a winner of the Monds’ best and fairest in a premiership season! And for the record, Grant’s dad, Bill, was a star for State Savings Bank when they were a very competitive senior club in the VAFA in the 50’s and 60’s. Wonder if Matt can produce a fourth generation in due course!

15 YEARS AGO – 2005

In D3 Section, West Brunswick appeared to have their game against Monash Gryphons well in hand for most of the day but a great last quarter by the Gryphons with 6 goals to 2 made it a very good contest. Final score 13.11 (WB) to 11.11 (MGrph). Best – West, Benjamin, Ellis (3), Pietsch, Gartland, Hamilton (WB) and Watson, Wells, J Rutherford, Garoni, Baxter, Davies (MG). Mark Gilday and Ross Kennedy were the field umpires and it was Chris Leeton’s 150th game for the Gryphons.

In D4 North Brunswick led  Hawthorn  Amateurs 10.9 to 9.4 at half time but the ‘Hawks’ were outstanding in the 3rd quarter with 9 goals to 2 and finished up winning comfortably 24.11 to 15.13. Best – Hall, Pritchard (3), Caruana, Tyson (6), Ryan (HA) and O’Connell, Robertson, Santecroce, Orr, J Boudoloh (4), Mountney (NB).

In the Coates Hire MVP Players of the Year awards for the round the winners  were Travis  Ruyg (Old Xavs), Simon Minton-Connell (NOBS), Glen Ormsby (Old Camberwell), Justin Costello (Old Mentonians), Leigh Brennan (Rupertswood, Jamie Dennis (Kew), Daniel Penny (Box Hill North).

25 YEARS AGO – 1995

Mazenod were the pacesetters in B Section and handed MHSOB a thrashing 28.21 to 7.8. Verbeek, Chilcott, Ellin (8), Murray, Buck (5) and Barker were outstanding for the winners while only  Kiley, Albergo and Magee were given a mention by MHSOB. Old Paradians, Old Brighton and Old Haileybury appeared to be the main challengers to Mazenod.

Peter Lemmon was ‘scribing’ for C Section and provided a glowing report on undefeated AJAX who kicked a mammoth 33.16 to Kew’s 16.13. Best players – Wrobel, Kalinski (6), Rozenberg (5), Hartman, Klooger and Rajch (AJAX) and Moses, Morgan, McColl (7), Hope, Cullen, Barnes (Kew).

The VAFA U18 representative team in the Pura Milk Championships was to be led by Paul Campbell (Whitefriars) as captain and Brad Fricker (Uni Blues) and Cameron Landry (Peninsula OB) as vice captains. Coach was the legendary Harry Harisiou supported by Max Lyon. The‘multi-skilled’ Peter ‘Agate’ Harris was team manager. (Harry’s outstanding contribution to amateur football continues in 2015 as he coaches Bulleen Temp’s U19 team.)

35 YEARS AGO – 1985

In A Section, there were now no undefeated teams in A Section and only Uni Blues were without a win in this very even section. Bulleen Templestowe defeated the leaders, Old Scotch, in a thriller at Koonung Park by only 4 points. Bulleen Temp appeared to be in complete control at half time leading 13.4 to 6.6 with key forward, Stephen Pace again in the goals. Scotch’s key forward, Tom Mason, brought his team back into the game in the third quarter with 5 goals in almost as many minutes and at the final change the Bullants led by only 9 points. In the final term both teams kicked 4 goals but Bullen Temp held on to win. Best – Clark, Van Den Driest, Harisiou, Pace (9), Asdagi, Faulkner (BT) and Moir, Kiel, Tallent, Thompson, W Matthews, Smith (Scotch).

As usual there were some big scores in the Under 19 Sections – In Zone 1 North Old Boys kicked 50.29 to Old Ivanhoe’s 2.4, Therry, kicked 43.27 to St Kevins 1.2, Thomastown 31.21 to Old Paradians 9.9 and Marcellin 33.29 to Old Camberwell 5.5. In Zone 2, De La Salle scored 31.22 to Hampton Rovers 2.3 and Old Xaverians managed 26.18 to Williamstown’s 5.7. Fair to say that the weather conditions must have been favourable!

Uni Blacks opened their account in B Section over the highly fancied Old Brighton, 17.18 to 16.14. Best – Garde, Clark, Alexander, O’Halloran, Doyle, Warren (Uni Blacks) and James, McMahon, P Grant, T Grant, Thomas (7), Welsh (OBrighton). Brighton held on to 4th place.

B Section senior coaches were Ray Keane (AJAX), Peter Chisnell (Caulfield Grammarians), R Sleath (Kew), Neil Le Lievre (Marcellin), Greg Tootell (Old Brighton), Peter Yeo (Old Melburnians), Gerard Sholly (Old Paradians), John Wise (Parkside), Vince Laragy (St Kilda CBC and Michael O’Donnell (Uni Blacks).

Certificate of Merit winners were John Power (Banyule), Rex Doran (St Bernards), Ron Bungey (Old Mentonians), Jim Byrne (Parkside), Brian Lugar (Old Xaverians), Leigh McGregor (Old  Scotch), Mrs Eve McCann (Collegians), Joe Avery (Caulfield Grammarians), Barry Markoff (AJAX), Bruce Ferguson (Collegians) and Ed Burdekin (Ormond).

Milestones included Brian “Jock” McFadden with 150 games for Balaclava and Graham Herkess recorded his 100th game for Ormond. Peter ‘Speaks’ Rogerson played his 100th for Hampton Rovers and Allan Elliott (Williamstown CYMS) also reached his century.

During the intervals at the Interstate matches at Elsternwick Park the previous Sunday, twenty four amateur players took part in the ‘long-kicking contest’. After the heats where only one kick each was allowed, nine players were then selected to contest the final. With two kicks each there was not a lot in the final result but Glen Fletcher (Caulfield Grammarians) kicked the winner  (68)  yards  with his second effort defeating John Teasdale (Fawkner) who managed (66) yards. Third place went to Peter Ferguson (North OB) with (64) yards.

45 YEARS AGO – 1975

Coburg easily accounted for Geelong in A Section 20.16 to 10.11 to stay within touch of the top four. Best – Handley (7), M O’Brien, King, Walker, Beattie, Cunningham (Coburg) and Paulke, Neilson, Durnan, Lowcock (3), Herd, Ross (Geelong).

ANZ Bank’s accuracy was important in E Section when they won 12.12 to La Trobe University’s 7.22. Best – Baker, Gale, Minniti, Pinder, Towan, Vigus (ANZ) and Forbes, Cordner, Steer, Rumph, Macgregor, Sheehan (La Trobe).

Three centurians were noted – Bill Taylor played his 100th during a career including terms as Assistant Senior Coach, Reserves’ Captain and Assistant Secretary of the Club. Star Ormond defender and State representative, Peter Murphy, brought up his ‘ton’ and was well known for his brilliant runs out of defence and his long kicking. ‘Murph’ had also been a key member of the great Ormond premiership teams of the early seventies. Gerard Mahoney, former St Bernards’ Junior premiership captain, had commenced playing with his club while still at college. Despite a number of injuries, Gerard remained a fearless player.

55 YEARS AGO – 1965

There were no undefeated teams in either A or B section and it looked like a bumper season with only a game separating first and sixth in A Section and first and seventh in B Section.

The interstate games had been completed with Victoria winning both  of  its  games  decisively, by 56 points in both in fact! South Australia and Tasmania provided spirited opposition but were simply not good enough. Following these games the Australian Amateur team had been selected to play New South Wales in the Australian National Football, Section 2 championships in a week’s time. The Victorian representatives were – Mike Blood (St Kevins), Ed Burston (University Blacks), Alan Chaffey (Caulfield Grammarians), David Hughes (Old Scotch), Terry Lillis (Uni High School Old boys), Neil McColl (Geelong), Des Meagher and Peter Slattery (Old Xaverians), Julian Nance (De La Salle), Bernie O’Brien (Old Paradians), Peter Stokes (Brunswick) and David Walduck (Collegians).