Old Ivanhoe survive Trinity scare to take top spot

Paddy Grindlay

Chief in a second consecutive weekend of thrillers, Old Ivanhoe held off Old Trinity in a top-of-the-table nailbiter, surviving a Trinity shot after the siren to win by four points and take top spot by percentage.

Key Old Trinity midfielder Hugo McGlashan had a shot from the boundary after the final siren to win the game, following a whirlwind final minute where Hugh Beasley’s set shot from 45 metres fell short, only for the Old Ivanhoe defence to kick the ball out of bounds on the full from the resulting contest.

The final siren sounded as the umpire paid the free kick, McGlashan tasked with threading the needle from deep in the left forward pocket. Opting to snap the ball on his right foot, his kick lacked the bend and missed to the far side, handing Old Ivanhoe at 6.9 (45) to 5.11 (41) victory.

“I must admit, given who he is, it (would have been) a fairy tale finish for them at home…I thought he was going to kick it!” said relieved Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen on Sunday night.

Remarkably, it’s the second straight week where Old Trinity have played in a game featuring a missed shot at an after-the-siren game-winner, following Trent Shannon’s miss for De La Salle last week – although this time, Donald McDonald’s men are on the losing side.

For Gieschen, the win is confirmation of Old Ivanhoe’s ability to mix it with the best in Premier B – ironically, only fellow-Premier C graduate Old Camberwell has bested Old Ivanhoe this season.

In a high-pressure game between two disciplined clubs, key defenders Reed Jepson and Nick Riddle were outstanding, while gun on-baller Toby McLean was prominent, racking up an eye-popping 44 disposals and 24 contested possessions.

Old Trinity coach Donald McDonald lauded Old Ivanhoe’s defensive efforts and hard work to set up the ground and was left rueing missed opportunities late.

“The ball was camped in our forward 20 (metres) for the last ten minutes, but we couldn’t score,” said McDonald.

Ben Littlefield played a “terrific” game, while Tom Wenn worked hard through the middle of the ground.

Old Trinity should see club leader Harry Thompson return for this weekend’s meeting with Old Camberwell after the club stalwart played a half in the reserves, getting through unscathed on return from injury.

Old Haileybury’s resurgence after an 0-2 start continued in its clash with St Bedes/Mentone Tigers breaking the game open early and maintaining an early lead to run out 13.14 (92) to 5.9 (39) victors at Mentone Reserve.

Old Haileybury’s team defence and spacing constricted the Tigers in the first half, creating opportunities for intercept and turnover from which the visitors were able to convert.

Daniel Ward’s chargers established a 44-point lead at the long break having held St Bede’s to just one goal, with Charlton Harrop kicking three of his four goals in the first half.

Josh Gasparini (42 disposals and 17 clearances) dominated in the middle while Brede Seccull was outstanding – St Bede’s / Mentone coach Brad Berry taking time to praise the performance of Old Haileybury’s hard-working midfielder.

“He’s a bull,” said Berry of Seccull.

“You think you’ve got him out of the contest, but he’s just a brute.”

After a start to 2024 that Ward admitted he wasn’t “overly pleased with,” Old Haileybury have found form in what promises to be a desperately close season, now sitting fifth on the ladder.

The Tigers took their 2024 debutant tally to 12, with another three players running out at senior level for St Bedes / Mentone for the first time – Harvey Gleeson, Bailey Berry and Kyah Farris-White.

It was a senior feature years in the making for Berry (the son of coach Brad), who was primed to debut before the COVID pandemic derailed the 2020 season.

He then battled a horrific run with injury, finally able to run out in the same #16 guernsey worn by his father on Saturday.

Melbourne fans and keen track-watchers would’ve noticed Demons Category B rookie Kyah Farris-White’s name appear on the St Bede’s / Mentone team sheet – the 206cm basketball convert racking up 58 hitouts, 19 disposals and 11 clearances as first ruck.

Coach Brad Berry was full of praise for the Demon-turned-Tiger, who has thrown himself into every aspect of the club – attending training last Thursday night, being presented with his jumper and providing leadership for the youthful contingent at St Bedes / Mentone.

“Kyah was fantastic. We’re really proud as a club to be a part of his journey,” he said.

“A really impressive young man…we just love that he’s come and invested himself at St Bede’s / Mentone.”

Farris-White’s afternoon included a set-shot goal from the pocket – and like fellow basketball convert Mason Cox, Farris-White’s routine is rather mechanical – complete with an all-in team celebration.

Caulfield Grammarians’ habit of playing in tight, tense affairs has continued – although Guy McKenna’s men will walk away from Banksia Reserve enthused after holding on to a win against Beaumaris.

Trailing at the final break, Caulfield kicked two goals to take the lead, before a goal at the 30-minute mark from the Sharks saw the margin ratcheted back to just two points with mere moments to play.

To the Grammarians’ delight, Jono Moren hauled down a contested grab between wing and half back as Beaumaris pushed forward, the siren sounding to confirm an 11.10 (76) to 10.14 (74) road win.

In an indicator of Premier B’s evenness, Caulfield are yet to play in a game decided by more than 12 points and, fittingly, sit at an even 2-2 ledger.

“It’s all going to be pretty close this year,” surmised Guy McKenna on Sunday evening.

After an 0-2 start, and a 1-17 2023 season in William Buck Premier, the Grammarians are up and running with consecutive victories.

“We’ve got a fairly young squad, but they’re learning from senior players who are guiding them through rough water,” McKenna said.

There was a touch of musical chairs to the Grammarians’ line-up: Harvey Dawson was capable in the ruck with Oliver Ruddick absent while defender Ingo Dammersmith was thrown forward with Archie Loughnan out of the side.

Josh Hutchings booted three goals while Dylan Ting dominated, finding the footy frequently and kicking three goals of his own.

Beaumaris coach Josh Bourke was impressed with the work of Riley Mihailovic, while Nate Dear kicked three goals.

18-year-old Ted Clayton, listed at the Sandringham Dragons, was impressive again in just his third senior game – but on an unfortunate note for the Sharks, they’ll be without skipper Callum Linehan for next week’s clash with Old Ivanhoe due to a hip injury.

De La Salle side was given a massive scare by Williamstown CYMS at Fearon Reserve, who stunned De La with a white-hot beginning to the second half after a tightly contested first hour.

With De La leading by 17 points at the long break, CYs goals to Rohan Diwell, Zac Provest and Bradley Tucker saw the home side snatch the lead early in the quarter, before De La was stung into action, piling on six third term goals in quick time and asserting dominance.

From there it was smoother sailing, De La Salle running out 16.16 (112) to 7.17 (59) winners thanks in part to seven goals from Nathan Scollo.

“It was his lick of the ice cream (this week),” said Hyland on Monday, referring to the dangerous one-two combo in the De La forward line of Scollo (17 goals this season) and Adrian Indovino (12 goals this season).

Hyland was impressed with his sides ability to “handle the moment” after being jumped by a fierce Williamstown midfield unit to begin the third quarter.

“We couldn’t get our hands on it, we couldn’t get the ball in our front half,” he said, before the likes of Christian Algeri (34 disposals, 12 clearances), Hugh Nicholson (29 disposals) and ruck Tom Stanton started to get on top in the centre.

“Selfless” spacing up forward allowed Scollo room to engage in one-on-one contests – a feature of De La’s forward mix when they’re on song.

On the injury front, Tom Filipovic didn’t return after an early leg knock, but is expected to be fit this weekend.

While CYs coach Con Terzoglou will take plenty of positives from his side’s punchiness, he’d like to see more consistency.

“Full credit to (De La) for being able to withstand the pressure and then reverse things to put us on the back foot,” he said.

Old Geelong rounded out Round 4 by breaking away from Old Camberwell in the final quarter at Como Park, holding Anson Brownless’ men goal-less in the final quarter to win 9.10 (64) to 6.12 (48).

The contest between talented rucks Jack Sheridan and Gus Milham is worth a watch – Milham’s 38 hitouts may have edged out Sheridan’s 37, but Brownless gave the points to Old Geelong’s big man.

“He dominated all day…he’s just a class act. He wasn’t keen on sharing it with us!” said Brownless.

“They’re always hard to beat at home, Geelong.”

The Grammarians held a slender lead to three quarter time but despite recording as many inside 50s (nine) as Old Geelong in the final term conceded three goals to none, two to Harrison Kol and one to Mickey Nicholls putting paid to the match.

Kol, who has enjoyed a ripping start to 2024, was called out by coach Nathan Brown as one of his side’s best.

“He’s been a super player – a wonderful young kid, he’s got speed to burn and wherever we play him, he gives us enormous run and carry,” Brown said on Monday.

William Horsfall (37 disposals, 12 marks) and Tim Jones (31 disposals, 12 clearances) found plenty of the ball in a game where Old Geelong won the disposal count 401-294 – but it’s likely the +11 in the clearance column that will please Nathan Brown.

“Our contest work was awesome and got better as the game went on,” he said.

Premier B leading goalkicker Harry Laukens booted two for Old Camberwell.

This weekend, De La Salle host Old Haileybury in a match of the round contender at Waverley Oval, with Daniel Ward’s men on a two-game winning run and keen to prove their slow start as a mere hiccup.

Beaumaris will take on the ladder-leading Old Ivanhoe at Banksia Reserve, while Old Camberwell will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they host Old Trinity.

Old Geelong face St Bedes / Mentone at Como Park, while Williamstown CYMS will visit Caulfield Grammarians.