Under 19’s over the Round 1 hurdle

The Holmesglen Under 19’s competition officially opened the VAFA 2024 season, a week ahead of all Senior Men’s and Women’s competitions. The spotlight on the up and commers in the VAFA showcased a display of youthful exuberance and raw talent.

Saturday’s match ups in the Premier Under 19’s served up a smorgasbord of footballing drama with reigning premiers Old Xaverians going down to rival St Kevin’s OB, and the newly promoted Beaumaris dominating the opposition, leaving fans eager for more.

At Waverley Oval, De La Salle themselves in a rather precarious position against Beaumaris. With a score-line that looked more like a misprint than reality (22 to 80), De La Salle’s valiant efforts were overshadowed by Beaumaris’ relentless onslaught.

It seemed the Beaumaris boys had breakfasted on goals and came hungry for more, leaving De La Salle dazed and confused. Jhett Haeata and Angus Marcombe kicked 2 majors each for Beaumaris, whilst Mack Higginbotham was the soul multiple goal kicker for De La. The Sharks feasted in their debut in the Holmesglen Premier U19 section, proving themselves to be quite the competitors and a force to be reckon with.

Meanwhile, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers faced off against Old Brighton in what promised to be a clash of the Bayside titans. However, it was Old Brighton who emerged victorious, triumphing with a 50-point margin. Archer May stole the show with 8 goals and was arguably best afield for his side. Their performance left spectators wanting more taking down semi-finalists from 2023.

Jack Behnk slotted two majors for SBMT while Harvey Gleeson featured in the best. This early in the season, teams are finding their feet and with a little more match day exposure, no doubt St Bedes/Mentone will be back on the winners list.

The fans didn’t have to wait long for a grand final rematch. TH King Oval witnessed a showdown between St Kevin’s and Old Xaverians. The St Kevin’s boys were strong out of the gates and Xavs just couldn’t catch them. Skipper Geroge Delimitrou led the charge for his side with a goal and a spot in the best afield, while at the other end, Connor Spears took charge in front of goals for Xavs with three 6-pointers for the afternoon.

St Kevin’s walked away with the chocolate due to their slick passes and precision shots. Xavs will need to regroup from here and find their premiership winning form should they hope to go back-to-back.

In one of the closer games of the round, University Blues squared off against Caulfield Grammarians in a battle of wits and wills. It was a contest where strategy met stamina, and Caulfield Grammarians emerged victorious with a 26-point lead.

Starting on the back footy Caulfield went into the first break with only four minor scores and an uphill mountain to climb. The fought their way back into the contest through the like of Jared Freedman and Dylan Ting. Despite leading at every change, the efforts of the Uni Blues boys weren’t enough to hold off the 7-goal onslaught that Caulfield produced in the final term, sealing their Round 1 victory.

Last but certainly not least, Fearon Reserve witnessed a clash between Williamstown CYMS and Old Scotch. In a match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, Williamstown edged out their opponents by a mere 7 points. It was a victory that tasted sweeter than victory itself, leaving Old Scotch to lick their wounds and ponder what could have been.

In a low scoring affair with multiple lead changes, it was Liam Taylor’s two final quarter goals that sealed it for Williamstown. Captain Xavier Snelling should be proud of his team for their first-round win against a formidable opponent and was best on for his side. Old Scotch faithful, Mackenzie Allen was best on ground for the Cardinals.

As the dust settles on Round 1 of the Holmesglen Under 19’s Men’s Premier competition, one thing is abundantly clear: this season promises to be a rollercoaster ride of thrills, spills, and jaw-dropping moments. With each team hungry for glory and determined to leave their mark on the field, fans can rest assured that the best is yet to come. So, buckle up football aficionados, because the battle of the youth has only just begun!

Round two sees things kick off under light on Friday night with SBMT hosting Williamstown CYMS. St Kevin’s will travel to Brighton Beach Oval to get Saturday footy under way against Old Brighton, whilst Beaumaris will be taking on Caulfield Grammarians not to far away at Banksia Reserve. The Old Xaverians will be looking to redeem their round one performance with a win over the University Blues and rounding out the Holmesglen Under 19’s Premier competition this weekend will be Old Scotch facing off against De La Salle.