Old Xavs consolidate Top 4 in William Buck Premier Men’s

Old Xavs won the battle for 4^th spot while the league-leaders kicked a game-and-a-half clear after Round 13 of William Buck Premier Men’s.

Old Xaverians took a huge step towards September as they outlasted Collegians in a tight and tense clash at Harry Trott Oval.

There was very little in the contest all afternoon as the two very evenly-matched teams went blow-for-blow across the full four quarters.

Xavs held a narrow lead at every change – 2pts, 1pt and 8pts but when Ed King goaled for the Lions at the 19-minute mark of the last quarter, scores were level once again.

Xavs responded with an immediate goal to Dan Tuddenham, before Charlie MacIsaac’s goal 4 minutes later put the outcome beyond doubt.

A huge victory for the visitors who move a game clear of the reigning premiers and two games clear of Uni Blues in the race for September.

Dan Donati (Old Xavs): “It was a brutal and tough game of footy in tough conditions. The game had its ebbs and flows, with both sides having momentum at various times through the game. I certainly never felt the game was going one way or the other for the entire day.

“Absolutely rapt for our boys to get a win against last year’s premiers in a big game for both teams. With so many stoppages, it became a game of inches and we probably won the battle on the inside, which gave us the advantage.

“Genuine team performance in those conditions, but special mention to Alec Spralja who was tireless in the ruck all day feeding the mids who all had great impact. Some wonderful defensive efforts from Bowen and Hart again were crucial.”

Jordie McKenzie (Collegians): “It was a great battle and a high-standard game in challenging conditions. Throughout the day we played the game in our forward half enough and gave ourselves enough opportunities to win.

“Old Xavs showed their class in some big moments and were ultimately deserving victors. Their midfield of Spralja, Stavrou, Fisher and Hannebery was very combative and had a strong impact.

“We had many strong efforts. Jasper Davy continues his great year with a pivotal role down back, and Kenny Ong gave his all as always.”

The first draw of the Premier Men’s season played out at Elsternwick Park as Old Melburnians & St Kevin’s played out a 6.12 (48) nailbiter.

SKOB entered the game with thoughts of injured teammate Michael Pisker squarely in their mind and it quickly became evident that this was going to be a roll-up-the-sleeves struggle with just the one goal kicked in the opening term.

It was 2 goals apiece in the second quarter with St Kevin’s heading to the major break with a 7-point lead, which they carried into three-quarter time after both teams added another couple of hard-fought goals.

The final term was a thriller with OMs booting the first two goals to hit the front at the 19-minute mark – the first time they had led since the 12-minute mark of the opening term.

SKOB responded with a goal at the 24-minute mark to regain a 3-point lead, before the last 3 behinds of the game to OMs saw the final siren sound with two exhausted teams tied together at 6.12 (48) apiece.

A critical 2 points for Old Melburnians lifts them out of the drop zone by half a game.

Paul Satterley (OM): “We entered the game with a real awareness that the SKOB lads had endured an extremely traumatic week so our messaging was just control what we could and be very respectful to Plugger and his boys.

“The result was fitting as both sides missed some gettable chances late. For us, Adam Richardson, Ned Nichols, Lachie Templeton & Sam Wundke were important. It was our leaders in Jackson Paine, Ben Harding, Lachie Haysman & Will Nichols who ensured our team played out the full 4 quarters.”

Anthony Lynch (St Kevin’s): “Firstly, I just want to say how proud I am of our club and, in particular, the players. Getting out and playing was genuinely in question at the start of the week given the challenging events of last weekend.

“The game itself was really even. OMs had a real crack from the first bounce and although conditions were slippery the game was played at a high intensity for 4 quarters. Both teams had opportunities to win it but in the end the draw was probably indicative of the evenness of the contest.

“I would like to publicly thank everyone within the VAFA community for the incredible support of our club and in particular the Pisker family. It makes us incredibly humbled to be part of such a wonderful competition and community.”

The draw at Elsternwick Park opened the door for Old Scotch to make up some ground in the race for second spot and they did so with a hard-fought 21-point win over University Blues at Melbourne Uni.

The Blues played some of their best football of the season in the opening half, holding Old Scotch to a solitary goal while booting 4 themselves to lead by 20 points at the major break.

But – as they did last week against St Bernards, the Cardinals rallied after half-time and got the game on their terms, kicking 3 goals to 1 in the third quarter to narrow the deficit to 9 points at the last change.

They continued to pile on the pressure in the final term, slotting the only 4 goals of the term to hit the front for the first time at the 6-minute mark before adding another 3 majors to pull away to a 21-point win that moves them within 6 points of SKOB in the race for second spot.

The Cardinals now get the chance to test themselves against Old Brighton in a Round 14 blockbuster, while Uni Blues face a critical clash for their finals hopes when they face the 4^th placed Old Xavs.

Mark Gnatt (Old Scotch): “This was our best win of the season. We were down to 2 rotations in the 2nd quarter and then a 20-point deficit at half-time.

“The boys showed great resilience to get back in the game in the third and then finished very strongly in the last term with 5 goals while keeping Blues scoreless. Our leaders stepped up – Jelbart, Easton, Lawrence, Hays and Franetic – and James Tarrant was brilliant.”

Guy Martyn (Uni Blues): “A real game of two halves from our perspective.

“We were really pleased with our first half – we were strong in the contest, our pressure was right up and our ball use was reasonably efficient given the conditions.

“Totally different story after half time. Scotch sliced us up with the ball and dominated contests all over the park. A really disappointing second half after a first half that offered so much.”

It was a massive game in the race to avoid relegation as St Bernard’s hosted University Blacks at the Snake Pit.

They entered locked together on 3 wins, with the victor to kick a game clear of the drop zone, while the OMs draw meant the loser would slide down into it.

Blacks booted the opening 2 goals of the game before a late goal to returning star Tom Sullivan brought the hosts back within 5 points at quarter-time.

A couple of Edyn Sibbald goals saw the Snowdogs pinch the lead midway through the second term, before goals to Louis Vescio & Tom St Clair handed the visitors a 6-point advantage at the half in a game that felt destined to go down to the wire.

But St Bernard’s had other idea and rocketed out of the blocks to boot 4 goals in the first 8 minutes of the third quarter to push out to a 19-point lead. Blacks responded with a couple to tighten things up, but the Snowdogs answered again with 2 goals in time-on to turn for home with a 3-goal advantage.

The final quarter belonged to Edyn Sibbald – the St Bernards spearhead kicking 3 goals in the first 12 minutes to blow the game open, then another entering time-on to put it to bed. He would finish with 7 for the afternoon as the Snowdogs raced away to a critical 35-point win that moves them a game plus 16% clear of the Blacks in the race to remain in Premier Men’s.

Steve Alessio (St Bernard’s): “Our improved form has been building over the last few weeks. After an even first half and great contest by both teams, it was pleasing to see us dig in with a solid second half.

“We had our challenges and it was the grit of many of our players to dig deep and do their bit for the team which shows me this young group wants to move forward together. That’s exciting for our club.”

Dale Bower (Uni Blacks): “We failed to bring the required effort to match St.Bernard’s for 4 quarters. We will need to find a way to get back to our Blacks brand of footy ASAP.”

The final match of the round saw Old Brighton stretch their lead at the top of the ladder to a game-and-a-half when they successfully got the job done against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street Oval.

The Tonners left nothing to chance, launching onto the front foot from the outset to kick 5 goals to 1 and lead by 28 points at the first break.

The second term turned into a real defensive grind with just one goal for the quarter extending the visitors’ lead to 34 at the half.

The third term provided much of the same – again just a single goal kicked by Old Brighton, who edged out to a 43-point advantage at the last break.

The Royboys finished strongly as they so often do, giving their faithful something to cheer about with a 4 goal to 2 final term. But the result was never in doubt – the Tonners moving to 12- 1 with a comfortable 35-point win.

Marcel Bruin (Old Brighton): “Our group started really well, hitting the scoreboard efficiently through the first quarter. Credit to Fitzroy – they lifted their intensity and got to work at contest and defended strongly.

“Really happy to get through the miserable conditions with the win, driven by some strong performances from Nic Pavlou, Alfie Jarnestrom and Campbell Tweedie.”

Travis Ronaldson (Fitzroy): “Old Brighton started hot and showed why they are the top team, with some impressive ball use in what were tough conditions for both sides. We worked our way back into the game and had a good second half but could not bridge the gap.

“Heath Ramshaw was strong in the midfield, Rhys Seakins provided plenty of drive on the wing and Caleb Harward was in and under all day.”