Collegians are on Seventh Heaven as there’s a great divide in William Buck Premier

A weekend that was hyped up to be a classic round of matches has resulted in the first weekend of blowouts across each game. The top five have pulled away from the bottom five, while University Blues moved out of the relegation zone. 

Mentioning each week the evenness of the competition. The closeness of the scores. This weekend stuffed the stats sheet with the closest margin being 34 points at T H King Oval between St Kevin’s and Old Scotch. 

Uni Blues were emphatic in their performance against Old Trinity, Sam Grimley may find himself in hot water after being sent from the ground late in the game. Before that moment, the game belonged to him, a bag of nine extended his lead at the top of the sharpshooters table to 17 with 56 goals for the year. 

For the first time in 20 games, the Blues were able to kick 100+ points in a game. It’s set’s up next weekend vs. Collegians as one to watch with both sides scoring big this weekend.  

The T’s effort didn’t dissipate for the entire afternoon, fighting as best they could in Ed Weatherson’s 150th game. Christos Manoussakis (3) lifted for his best mates big day with best afield honours for Trinity. It wasn’t to be however and now find themselves in the bottom two, with three games remaining. 

The Purple Army of Collegians walked into Elsternwick Park hellbent on making amends for the Friday night flogging. It was a complete mirror image of Round 8 with Old Melburnians kicking the opening goal of the day. The Lions proceeded to kick the next 11 and shut the door on the contest. 

Jackson Paine, Sam Dunell were both significant outs for OM’s, but the 22 that took to the field looked a step behind the 22 in purple and gold. Kenny Ong led the way in the midfield, Kobi George (4) set Elsternwick Park alight in the first quarter, Dave Mirra (4) can lay genuine claim to being the best player in the competition and to cap it off, they’ve now won seven games in a row! That’s right, your eyes don’t deceive you. After losing five straight games, they’ve won the last seven and daring to dream. 

OM’s drop to third place on the table, Collegians remain in fourth. Both sides are equal on wins, the percentage gap is just 6%. St Bernard’s, Old Xavier and Old Brighton to come for the Navy Blue. Maybe it’s a loss they ‘had to have’ giving them the wake up call required for the final three games. 

Collegians welcome the Blues to Harry Trott next weekend. With St Bernard’s (10th), and Old Trinity (9th) to finish. The red and black mafia breathing down their necks.

While Caulfield Grammarians stayed with Old Xaverians for the opening quarter. The powerhouse flexed their muscles after that. 14 goals to six from there. Charlie MacIsaac (5) led the way. Aaron Vandenberg (4), Xavier Richards (3), and Jack Hewett (2) were part of the onslaught. They’re well aware they have no room for error. They can’t put a foot wrong from here on in. And, it’s the least surprising result and margin from the weekend. They were badly stung last weekend by Collegians, setting the tone for what’s to come in the last month. 

Declan Reilly again fought valiantly in the ruck for the Fields, named in the best for the travelling side. Tom O’Sullivan was back in the side from Port Melbourne after his 150th VFL game, unfortunately it was a tough day out at Toorak Park for the Fields. It may get even tougher with the ladder leaders coming to Glen Huntly Oval next week. 

Old Scotch pushed comfortably past the average score opposition teams have been able to score against St Kevin’s, but the one area that has left question marks over the Cardinals this year has been their own defensive aspects. 

11 goals to four between the second and third term for SKOB was enough to break the game open. Shaun Kennedy, wound back the clock with a bag of six. The man who’s dressed to impress from the 1980’s put on an old fashioned full-forward display while Patty Kerr (5) the man chasing Sam Grimley assisted in the one-two punch required. 

A quick scan of Old Scotch’s best players (Harvey, Stubbings, Sellers, H.Brown) sees the youthful exuberance of talent that’s coming through, the next wave of Cardinals that will take great learnings from the result. 

Old Brighton slammed the door shut on any talk of St Bernard’s coming to Brighton Beach Oval and ruining another home game. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t pretty and it took until the last quarter to get the bite out of the Snowdogs but eight goals to one signalled their intent to run out the game strongly. 

Will Lewis (3), Max Kennedy best on ground. The win puts the red and blue back to second on the table. Two of their remaining three games are at BBO. Old Scotch awaits them next weekend before St Kevins (1st) and Old Melburnians (3rd). After next weekend they may as well consider starting their finals preparations early. Or will Greg Hutchison not want to show his complete hand and bag of tricks in the final fortnight? 

St Bernard’s welcomed Nick Videcombe into the line-up, the son of the President made his debut for the side. A young fella who has watched every Saturday at the Snakepit since the age of 2. He’s made the jumper #60 famous at the club. While it’s not the result he or the club was after, it’s another sign and step as part of the rebuild for the club with its own youngsters coming through.