CYs continue rise, Bloods find top gear

Williamstown CYMS’ unlikely rise from the relegation zone appears to be all but complete with the club’s third straight victory.

Having elevated themselves from the dropzone with a win over Beaumaris in Round 15, the CYs faced a challenging two-week block, with finals contenders Old Ivanhoe and Old Trinity to come, before a clash with last-placed St Bedes/Mentone to end the season.

But Con Terzoglou’s men will be breathing easier, having established a six-point gap to the ninth-placed Caulfield Grammarians with a 15.11 (101) to 10.8 (68) defeat of the Hoers at Chelsworth Park.

The CYs are now seventh on the ladder, have kicked two of their three 100+ scores of the season in the last fortnight, and haven’t lost a game in a month after taking care of an Old Ivanhoe team neck-deep in the final race.

“We knew they were a quick side, they love ball-in-hand,” said CYs coach Con Terzoglou.

“They want to run – and that’s how it started. Our pressure had the right intent, but was ineffective.”

Old Ivanhoe scored the first three goals of the game, two through Luke Scuderi, before captain Nicholas Reeves-Smythe was red-carded after arriving late to a marking contest.

From there, momentum swung – the CYs quickly booting three goals, and indeed piling on seven goals unanswered to hold Old Ivanhoe goalless from the 17-minute mark of the first term to half time.

“Our boys just lost focus,” said Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen.

A crunching tackle from Will Bokma highlighted the CYs’ run – the impressive Bokma tasked with a role on dynamic Old Ivanhoe half back Archie Franklin, Round 15’s Anytime Fitness Rising Star nominee.

Bokma’s day was sensational – 28 disposals, 16 contested possessions and two goals – as was Harry Miller’s, the small forward punting four goals from his 17 disposals.

“He’s a little gem, that kid. He will play VFL next year,” said Terzoglou.

The Hoers responded after the long break, putting together a four-goals-to-one run to open the second half – but yet again conceded a late flurry CYs goals, this time three in four minutes to finish the third term.

“We regrouped at half time, and we got back within a goal…(but) again a lack of concentration, and we went into three-quarter-time four goals down,” said Gieschen.

“We got a reality check, it’s probably a sign of their improved form and the momentum that we’ve lost.”

Terzoglou’s team settled, steadied, and eventually ran out 33-point winners – the fifth CYs win of the season.

“Eight weeks ago, Old Ivanhoe get in front (in the third quarter), and we probably lose that game…we’ve become better at dealing with teams with momentum,” he said.

The final word must go to Jordan Busuttil, who recorded his third consecutive 30-disposal game with the remarkable statline of 36 disposals, 24 contested possessions and 20 clearances, to go with 12 inside 50s.

“He was awesome. I can’t speak highly enough of what he’s done to get his body and health right,” said Terzoglou.

“We needed someone to stand up across these last five weeks. He’s done that.”

Old Ivanhoe is now one game and a tick under 7% away from fourth-placed Old Geelong, and will almost definitely need to win its last two games – against Caulfield Grammarians and Old Haileybury – to play finals.

“We’ve got a challenge to play our best footy in the last two games of the year, there’s no real excuses for us,” said Gieschen.

Old Haileybury’s run of so-so form over the last month seems a distant memory after the Bloods made a stunning statement at Haileybury College, trouncing Old Geelong by 133 points in their best performance this year “by far,” according to coach Daniel Ward.

Old Geelong held back the avalanche somewhat in the first term, before 13 Old Haileybury goals to one across the middle quarters emphatically put a button in the contest.

The 22.15 (147) to 2.2 (14) victory is the largest of this Premier B season, eclipsing the Bloods’ 126-point thumping of the CYs back in Round 3.

“That’s a look at an A-Grade team,” said OGs coach Nathan Brown, pitted against former Melbourne teammate Ward in the clash.

“It was boys versus men…they had bigger units all over the ground, and they were just way too good.”

The Bloods’ Luke Bailey, returning from VFL duties with Coburg, was simply enormous: 51 disposals, 30 contested possessions, 20 clearances, 11 score involvements, seven inside 50s and one goal, bringing up the exceptionally rare double-ton in Premier Data ranking points.

Harry Jones kicked six goals, Max Sievers and Mattias Rose continued their good form on-ball, while Durras Seccull, usually a focal point of the Bloods’ forward line, made a move behind the footy.

“The way our team looked suited us – we’ve got a bit of a juggling act with a few players to come back, with VFL finished,” said Ward.

VFL-listed trio Charlie Harrop (North Melbourne), Andreas Stefanakis (Box Hill) and Hugo Nosiara (Carlton) were all absent with VFL duties, so there’s a good chance this Bloods team will get even stronger for its clash with Old Camberwell.

“We’ve got some real selection headaches…we haven’t really had that (challenge) in my time,” said Ward.

“It was one out of the box, but we’ve set that standard and hopefully we can continue it for the next five weeks.”

The Bloods hold a two-point lead in the race for first from De La Salle, and with their imperious percentage of 155.69% have sealed a top-two placing with the Wellers and Hoers ahead.

Old Geelong, meanwhile, lost almost 15% in the defeat, but  maintained a two-point hold on fourth place from Old Camberwell, with Old Ivanhoe a full game and percentage behind.

“We’re still alive in the season to have a crack in finals, and the club’s never done that before in B Grade,” said Nathan Brown.

De La Salle’s winning streak has extended to seven games as it maintains pressure on Old Haileybury’s hold on top spot, making the most of its chances to defeat Old Camberwell by eight points.

Anson Brownless’ side was left to rue its poor finishing in the first half, recording two more scoring shots to the long break yet trailing 2.8 (20) to 4.4 (28).

“That kept us in it, particularly in the first and second quarters,” said De La coach Nick Hyland, who felt it was the Wellers who held the whip hand early in the piece.

“I thought they controlled the game. I thought they had more of the ball than us, and at stoppages they were slightly ahead,” he said.

“Our ball use was pretty good, and when we had chances in front of goal, we took them.”

After De La led by 19 points at the final break, goals to Liam Thomas, Sam Veitch, Harry McColl saw the margin cut to a point at the start of time, a tense finish guaranteed.

And it was Nathan Scollo, sneaking forward from his post in defence, who dribbled through the sealer from ten meters out to hand De La a 9.12 (66) to 8.10 (58) away victory.

De La Salle’s last quarters have been its strength, the Wellers one of only teams able to take the upper hand against Hyland’s team after the final break – but ultimately, it wasn’t enough against a De La side that has now won eight of its nine away games this season.

“We threw a few things around in the last quarter to get some fresh legs forward of the ball,” Hyland said.

“We’ve got an even spread all over the (ground). We’re not reliant on any star players.”

Liam Thomas booted another four goals for the Wellers, while Lachie O’Neill, Riley Verbi and Patrick Blew were named in the better players

Injuries to Hugh Nicholson (lower leg) and Tom Docherty (ankle) will be monitored by De La across the week with St Bedes/Mentone and Old Geelong to come, while the Wellers, two points out of the top four, have Old Haileybury and Caulfield Grammarians to finish.

Old Trinity round out the top four, and took care of business against Caulfield Grammarians at Daley Oval whilst punting its highest score since Round 2.

The 20.16 (136) to 8.7 (55) victory sees the Ts a game and percentage safe inside the four, with a win this week against Williamstown CYMS all but certain to lock them into finals footy.

“We kicked so straight – we should’ve kicked that straight in the last quarter, last week!” laughed Ts coach Donald McDonald – his side booting seven goals straight to quarter time.

“I think some individuals were disappointed in their goal-kicking, and might’ve done some work on it.”

Alex Emery was chief in Round 16’s stat-sheet stuffers: 42 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 11 marks, 11 inside 50s to go with five goals in an utterly dominant performance.

Now comes an unenviable task for the Ts: handing the CYs their first loss in a month at Fearon Reserve.

“They’re going to be at full strength – they’re tough to beat at home, they’re pretty physical and strong at that ground,” McDonald said.

“We went down there last year, and they gave us a bit of a touch-up.”

For Caulfield Grammarians, they’ll need to make up a game and percentage to eighth-placed Beaumaris over the next fortnight to avoid relegation, with Old Ivanhoe and Old Camberwell to come.

Ruck Oliver Ruddock should return, but Jasper Rouget will miss after suffering a concussion.

St Bedes/Mentone round out the winners list for Round 16, taking home just their second victory of the 2024 season, defeating Beaumaris at Mentone Reserve.

The Sharks kicked poorly, Joe Nowell and Nate Dear presenting strongly but left to rue their finishing in front of goal – yet Beaumaris led by a kick with one quarter to play.

The Tigers roared home though, kicking five goals to two in the last quarter, with Jake Harding and Darcy Fountain dominant in the middle.

Fountain’s 22-disposal, ten-clearance outing was capped off by a lovely running goal from right half forward that gave the Tigers the lead at the 19-minute mark of the final quarter.

The midfielder’s 2023 season was ruined by injury, affecting his 2024 pre-season, but Fountain has found form late and earned praise from both coaches after his performance.

“In the last couple of weeks, he’s got his power back…he’s just got that ability to hit stoppage, and explode away from it. He was able to do that a couple of times,” said Tigers coach Brad Berry.

From that point, St Bedes/Mentone charged home, a second goal in the quarter from Louis Hanson and a flying snap from David Goodman securing a 9.11 (65) to 6.19 (55) win.

Harding continued his excellent season, racking up 35 disposals, ten clearances and seven tackles.

“He’s a terrific young player, we’re really looking forward to what he can produce this year, and the year after that,” said Berry.

“He’s a St Bedes College boy, he’s got the opportunity to play some really high quality footy and do so with his mates.”

Formidable Beaumaris ruck Cal Heath’s battle with Melbourne Category-B Rookie Kyah Farris-White was worth a watch – Heath with 55 hitouts and 16 disposals, Farris-White 33 hitouts and 12 disposals in an improved showing on his last run-in with Heath.

“Last time we played Beaumaris, that was the first time Kyah had come up against someone who could shift him. (Heath) taught him a big lesson,” explained Berry.

“(Kyah) was very good against ‘Chopper,’ he probably got him around the ground a little bit.”

With St Bedes/Mentone locked into one of the relegation places, Berry reflected on the season with two games to come – against De La Salle and Williamstown CYMS.

“The mechanisms are there, the game plan we’re teaching them they’ve bought into, but the execution’s been off,” he said

“The messaging is along the lines of retention for next year – we’re building a really strong platform here.”

Beaumaris has a one-game gap and a percentage advantage on ninth-placed Caulfield Grammarians with games against Old Geelong and Old Trinity to come – one more win should see the Sharks safe from relegation.

“When they get rolling on that ground it is near impossible to stop them,” Beaumaris coach Josh Bourke said.

“We have a couple of huge weeks coming up and clearly need to keep showing up and putting our best foot forward.”

Joe Nowell provided a strong target for the Sharks all day, finishing the game with two goals from 15 kicks and eight marks.