Old Ivanhoe knock over the PEGS castle as the Wellers come from the clouds

Ari Paevere

Perhaps the King’s Birthday bye came at the right time for PEGS. With momentum on their side right up until the break, they came into round nine stunned by a side who’s on the rise. 

2022 tailed off for Old Ivanhoe after starting in a blaze of glory. This year, it’s not been too dissimilar, however the formline of the lads from Chelsworth Park in 2023 suggest this time around it’s more sustainable. 

A six game winning streak is now what Jarrod Gieschen’s men are rolling with. A four goal head start with the wind, extended to an insurmountable 53 points by three quarter time. 

The ladder leaders, restricted to just four goals for the afternoon, now sit in third spot. 

Nick Reeves-Smyth led the charge with four majors in a best on ground performance, Luke Scuderi loves a goal. 22 for the season, 11 of those in the last three weeks. Patrick Naish is having an incredible season as well, running rampant through Premier C. 

PEGS were without co-coach Andrew Horne, and Darby Scott who was selected in the Big V squad last week. Two key playmakers down, and the side was outplayed on the day.

They’ll be looking to bounce straight back in Round 10 against Old Camberwell Grammarians who have replaced them on top of the ladder. Recent history says PEGS win this game, but the Wellers have been hot to trot in 2023. 

If momentum is anything to go by, Old Camberwell will walk into Round 10 against PEGS with a freight train stopping at no stations. Marcellin served it up to them well and truly on Saturday and will be feeling very aggrieved they didn’t walk from the ground winners. 

Leading at three quarter time by 37 points. Having held the home side to two goals for three quarters (both kicked in the second term), the Wellers exploded in the final stanza with 7.9.51 to 1.0.6 and stormed home over the top of Marcellin.

In an incredible show of strength, Ben Hart and James Allen combined for four goals. Kallan Percy led from the front. 

Josh Atwell did all he could for Marcellin, a goal and amongst the best players. Matt Capetola and Alex Strempell were also some of the best players on the day. 

The win gives Old Camberwell top spot on the table, while Marcellin are still situated at the bottom. Can they cause the upset this weekend against Mazenod and leapfrog the Monders in ninth? 

Apart from a 7-goal onslaught from Old Carey in the second term against Ormond – These two sides matched up relatively well against one another on the weekend. 

Nine different goal kickers for the Panthers had a hand in the 47 point victory which was set up with the aid of the breeze at the Carey Sports Complex. Much of the damage was caused by Godden, Gaiardo, Ellwood , and Bean who kicked 8 goals between them. 

Carey has a unique scoreline of having won three games, lost two and drawn two. The points combined has them inside the top four for the moment. Equal on points with Mazenod, percentage being the separator between the two. 

For the Monders, the brigade of hyphens were positives to come from the contest – Zach Hanson-Villalobos, Jonty Sharman-Smith, and Kai Seeto-Grossi. Each one fighting valiantly for the afternoon. 

Ormond will now face a red hot Old Ivanhoe back at EE Gunn Reserve. Old Carey will have their second week off in three weekends with the bye. 

Jack Casperz was the standout forward for the weekend in Premier C with a bag of five as Mazenod put Hampton Rovers to the sword. 

With the Rovers finally able to debut Josh Hudghton (son of St Kilda legend Max), it was a see-sawing opening half before the Nodders were able to get on top after half time. 

A 6-point half time lead became 21 at three quarter time before the final margin of 49 sealed the fate of the Rovers.

Liam Welsford put in his best performance of the year as did Thomas Warby for the home side. While Liam O’Driscoll and Christian Carnovale continued their impressive seasons for the Rovers.

The Nodders last three matches have seen them go 2-1 and stay right in touch with the top four halfway through the season. They know what it’s going to take in 2023 to climb the mountain again, spurred on by the heartache of the 2022 finals campaign. 

Round 10 pins them against Marcellin, an opportunity to re-establish a strong set of percentage and close the gap on Old Carey who are ahead of them. 

The Rovers will face a well rested, double-bye Parkdale. Owen Lalor will face off against his old side, he was able to come up trumps in 2022, can he do it again in 2023?