Premier B relegation race reaches conclusion

In a heel-turn for how many expected the Premier B home-and-away season to conclude, Beaumaris has drawn the short straw, falling into the bottom two for the first time since Round 1 and punching a ticket to Premier C football in 2025.

The Sharks, who have struggled this year due to injury and availability, started last weekend with a game and a tick under 4% on Caulfield Grammarians, who had not won a game since Round 5 and had been in ninth place since Round 15.

But the Fielders saved their best performance of 2024 for last, defeating Old Camberwell 16.10 (106) to 7.11 (53) at Glenhuntly Oval, while the Sharks went down to Old Trinity by 42 points.

With the four-point gap closed, all eyes turned to the percentage column and it was good news for Caulfield Grammarians – Guy McKenna’s team safely out of the drop zone by 1.99%.

“I told the group, ‘all we have to do is just win,’” said McKenna.

“Forget what Beauy are doing, we have to control what we’re doing.’”

For most of last Saturday – last week, really – the conditions in Melbourne have been exceptionally windy, meaning key Fielder Ingo Dammersmith played entirely at one end of the ground for the duration of the game: ahead of the ball when Caulfield had the wind, behind it when the wind was against it.

An indicator of conditions: 2.6 (18) was kicked by the sides into the wind, 21.15 (141) was kicked with it.

Julian Dobosz kicked five goals in his best performance in front of goal since Round 5, under 19s player Nick Madgwick booted three in his best senior performance, while Jack Webster was excellent on his wing.

“They were ecstatic. The players were jumping for joy,” said McKenna.

“We had extra motivation – we both went to gear four, but we had the extra gear and the turbo button to push.”

Josh Bourke’s Beaumaris side, which played before the Fielders, expected to see a stronger Caulfield side named and knew it needed a big performance.

At three quarter time, the Sharks trailed the Ts by two points – but with Old Trinity to come home with the wind.

And after Luka Pecer put Beaumaris in front, Old Trinity responded with the next seven goals of the game, winning 16.13 (109) to 10.7 (67) and leaving the Sharks destined to finish in ninth spot.

“I was fairly confident that Caulfield would have a pretty reasonable win, and it was upon us to have a real crack,” said Bourke.

“I certainly didn’t hide or protect (the players) from a little bit of frustration (post-match). Yes, we’ve been significantly hampered by availability, but at the end of the day there’s been a number of games where I’ve felt on talent that we’ve had enough on the park (where we could win).

“At the same time I signalled there was some real pride that in a tough year a portion of the group had really stuck fat and fought it out. That effort’s worth acknowledging.”

The Sharks haven’t played Premier C football since their premiership season in that division in 2010 – but in a grim 2024 have uncovered plenty of talented young players for the years to come.

“We underestimate how quickly young people in general can find positives, and find a different angle,” Bourke said.

“It hurts, it stings a bit – but the players reload, and start pulling together and talking about next year.

“We’ve certainly got to have a look at some stuff, and as a club, I’m sure we’ll do that…(but) we’re really confident in keeping the majority of our group together.”

Old Trinity needed to win to shore up its place in third, and in doing so have locked in a semi-final with Old Geelong this weekend at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

“They’ve been a real solid side – they had one little blip against Old Haileybury, but aside from that, they’ve been a pretty consistent side over the last two seasons,” said coach Donald McDonald.

“I think ‘Browny’ (OGs coach Nathan Brown) has put a really good system in place with them – they move the ball well, they’ve got a great ruck and midfield, and they’ve got plenty of options up forward.”

Christos Manoussakis ended his home-and-away season with a 39-disposal, two-goal outing, while Louis Davidson (31 disposals, two goals) and Hugh Beasley (17 disposals, four goals) are in fine touch.

The OGs in any other week would be the story of the round, Nathan Brown’s men making a statement in Round 18 by handing De La Salle its first loss since Round 9 – fittingly, also at the hands of Old Geelong.

But where last time’s contest was gritty and low-scoring, last Saturday’s match saw 32 goals kicked, the OGs starting on fire to take a stunning 46-point lead at half time.

“They were dominant around stoppage and made the most of the wind advantage in the first quarter,” said De La coach Nick Hyland.

“We couldn’t really get our game going and struggled to find any rhythm, but credit to Old Geelong as they didn’t allow us to.”

De La was forced on the long road back, able to close the margin to 20 points by time-on in the final term but unable to bridge the gap established early by Brown’s men, the OGs sewing up a spot in fourth with an 18.11 (119) to 14.12 (96) win in East Malvern.

This will be Old Geelong’s first-ever finals campaign in Premier B – and they go in red-hot, the likes of Tim Jones (32 disposals, 21 clearances), Jack Sheridan (16 disposals, 69 hitouts) and Sam Barnett (23 disposals, two goals) in great form.

“This young group’s done something that’s never been done – this club’s been around nearly 70 years,” Brown said.

Adrian Indovino kicked five goals for De La Salle, while Christian Algeri performed well in a midfield that was well beaten on paper – the OGs taking a +24 clearance and +27 contested possession differential from the game.

With De La’s loss, Old Haileybury was assured of top spot regardless of the outcome but finished the home-and-away season strongly with a 17.14 (116) to 8.7 (55) defeat of Old Ivanhoe.

The eye is drawn to Charlie Harrop’s outing: 24 disposals, 11 marks and nine goals in an astonishing display in blustery conditions.

“We got a good look at one of the best teams in the competition on Saturday,” said Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen.

“Although I was happy with our playing group’s effort and endeavour, there was a noticeable skill and class gap between the two sides.”

Old Ivanhoe’s year has been promising after rising from Premier C, with the Hoers still a mathematical chance for finals going into Round 18 but having their hopes extinguished by a loss to the ladder-leaders.

“We learnt a lot about what is required to be competitive at Premier B level this year and our best footy was very exciting,” Gieschen said.

Old Haileybury’s semi-final with De La Salle will be must-watch football from Box Hill City Oval, kicking off at 2:10pm this Saturday.

St Bedes/Mentone has finished its 2024 season on a high note, holding off Williamstown CYMS’ late charge to win its third game of the year.

Brindisi Street was rocking on Past Players’ Day, and Brad Berry’s quarter time and three quarter time huddles were well populated as a Tigers team intent on farewelling Premier B football with a victory was stirred into a frenzy.

“We probably underrate that home ground advantage, the whole ‘Brindisi Street’ thing,” laughed Berry.

With two more club debutants – bringing this year’s figure of new players to a whopping 25 and a total of 49 players used – Berry’s men found a gear, with the likes of Matt Lehpahmer, Jake Harding, Max Hoult and Jack Ferraro key.

Ferraro exploded into the game with four first-quarter goals and would finish with five for the game after receiving some closer checking after the first break.

Aided by the wind, the Tigers led by 36 points at quarter time, the CYs forced to play catch-up from that point onwards.

“I thought their ability to chain on hands and run out of stoppages was amazing,” said CYs coach Con Terzoglou.

“They had some really strong midfielders and got numbers forward of the ball. They caught us napping a few times off our half-forward line.”

At the final break, with the wind at their backs, the CYs had a 20-point deficit to haul in and had their opportunities on goal with eight scoring shots to two.

But the Tigers held fast, only one CYs scoring shot resulting in a goal, and St Bedes/Mentone held on to win 15.10 (100) to 11.15 (81).

It’s a win that should serve as a launchpad for Berry’s young and hungry group, with a 2025 season in Premier C ahead.

“We needed that (win) to go into the off-season,” he said.

“(I) spoke to the seniors and reserves as one group, (saying) ‘you’ve just laid the final brick on the foundation for the next era of sustained success.’”

With a talented young brigade that has improved dramatically in the latter part of this season, Berry is confident his side will be able to return to Premier B before too long.

“We’re going (to Premier C) to bounce,” he said.

For Terzoglou, it’s been a great escape from what looked to be almost certain relegation – but it’s ultimately one win short of the six-win goal he set for his side at the King’s Birthday break.

“The lesson here is about resilience. That’s the one-word answer,” he said.

“The plan that we had going into the season was derailed reasonably early on. Sitting 1-7 going into the King’s Birthday break, you have to re-assess… we stumbled early (in our plan) and persevered.

“I was filthy that we lost, because it was an opportunity to show some growth. We’d been playing well… but I’m not going to let that sour the story.”

In this Saturday’s Second Semi Final, Old Haileybury and De La Salle will play for a place in the Grand Final from 2:10pm at Box Hill City Oval, before Old Trinity and Old Geelong battle for the preliminary final slot at Trevor Barker Beach Oval from 2:40pm.

SEMI-FINAL TIPS:

1st SEMI-FINAL: Old Trinity v Old Geelong

2nd SEMI-FINAL: Old Haileybury v De La Salle