Hoeing in: Old Ivanhoe go 3-0 for first time since 2016

Old Ivanhoe is Premier B’s last undefeated team, defeating the Old Melburnians in the Hoers’ first senior men’s game at Elsternwick Park since 2010.

The 14.12 (96) to 14.9 (93) win secured Old Ivanhoe its first 3-0 start to a season since 2016, where they would go on to start the season 6-1 in Premier C.

In a high-quality contest at Elsternwick Park, it was the OMs who kicked towards the Glen Huntly Road End in the first quarter, so often the scoring end and once again advantaged by the breeze, drawing the eye with 30 minutes of highlight-filled footy.

A pair of classy running goals from Ned Nichols punctuated a 12-minute passage in which the Redlegs racked up seven scoring shots to Old Ivanhoe’s singular behind. A spectacular pack mark at the top of the goal square from Ben Jackson later in the term, from which he converted, is sure to make the weekend’s highlight tape from across the VAFA.

But goals to Max Whiteman, Harrison Reid and Archie Franklin had the Hoers on the tail of Nathan Brown’s men – for all the Redlegs’ dominance, they took only an eight-point lead into quarter time.

“The game in general was a real arm-wrestle,” said Jarrod Gieschen on Sunday afternoon.

“Thankfully we were able to straighten up ten minutes into that first quarter, and balance the term. We went into quarter time only a goal down, which was pretty pleasing after how well the Old Melburnians started.” 

The Hoers would take the advantage with seven-goal-to-three second quarter, one OMs coach Nathan Brown would later identify as the difference between the two sides, and held firm in the third, going into the final term with a slender lead – and the wind.

But the OM’s weren’t to be perturbed, defending grimly despite the dominance of Alex Mirkov and Billy Murphy in tight. Matthew Payne kicked a goal to cut the margin to within a kick entering time-on, and from the next centre bounce, teammate Fletcher Teelow had a chance to put the Redlegs back in front after winning a free kick.

But his set shot missed, Old Ivanhoe survived a series of OMs entries, before forcing the ball forward to Mitris, who won a free kick and re-established a two-goal lead when he coolly converted the set shot from the fifty-metre arc.

Even then, the OMs had late chances, two shots on goal that drifted out on the full, but Old Ivanhoe would survive, winning by three points.

“With the way that we’ve played this year in last quarters, we were reasonably confident we’d be able to run over the top of them,” said Jarrod Gieschen.

“But (the OMs) just never gave up. We were very lucky in the end to hang on.”

Alex Mirkov’s terrific return season in the Ammos continued – the 210-centimetre ruckman dominant with 23 disposals, eight contested marks, eight clearances and a whopping 58 hitouts, while kicking a goal and setting up two others. Unsurprisingly, he was Premier Data’s highest-ranked player on the ground.

For the second time in three games, the OMs fell short by under a goal, coach Nathan Brown identifying the similarities between his side’s Round One loss to Old Carey and this defeat.

“Really proud again of our group who just don’t give up at the moment, which early days I love about them,” said Brown.

“(Their) footy was better than ours. We’ll keep chipping away at what works for us.”

The terrific Ned Nichols finished with 20 disposals, seven tackles and five goals while Jack Spargo fought manfully against Mirkov, finishing the game with 23 disposals and 11 clearances.

In the resumption of the ANZAC Day match between Fitzroy and Williamstown CYMS, it was Con Terzoglou’s CYs that broke through, beating the Roys for the first time since Round 17, 2018.

“We’ve struggled at this venue, it’s a nice one to put on the bingo card,” said Terzoglou after the game, the CYs having kicked clear in the last ten minutes to win 11.9 (75) to 7.13 (55).

A powerful ANZAC Day ceremony pre-game was followed by a tense and contested game of football, with rain beginning to fall early in the first quarter and tumbling down throughout the game, compelling the bumper Brunswick Street Oval crowd to find cover in the Kevin Murray Stand.

In a close final term, and despite appearing “spent” at the 15-minute mark of the last by the estimation of the coach, the CYs stormed home with the last three goals of the game, turning a two-point lead at the 21-minute mark of the quarter to a 11.9 (75) to 7.13 (55) victory.

“To be able to push out and not (play to) hold on, I think that was critical,” said Terzoglou.

“Even in the third, when we got challenged (and) looked like we were tiring, the fact that we kept running .. I just think that’s a testament to some of the work that we’ve been doing, but also maybe some of the maturity from the younger group.”

Disappointed with his team’s effort against the Ts before Easter, Terzoglou drew inspiration from the US Masters.

“We want to start to be able to compete and beat some of those sides that are traditionally above us,” Terzoglou explained after the game.

“I won’t lie, there were question marks after the Old Trinity game – you think at home, you peg yourself (to win) that one.

“Just to spoil a little secret, we used Rory McIlroy as the example (for this week) – it took him eleven goes to break through (and win the Masters). Thankfully for us, it was only two (goes) this year.”

The question for the CYs was whether they could harness their late-season 2024 form, and transfer it into the early passages of 2025. At 2-1 and with a key win on the road against an opponent that won five games of William Buck Premier football last year secured, the mood at the Fearon is positive.

“We feel like the group is starting to believe,” Terzoglou said.

“Not that we needed the win, but jeez, it gives (the players) confidence … you’ve got a physical piece of tangible evidence that you can say, ‘we can do it, let’s try every week now’”.

In the rooms shortly after singing the song, star CYs midfielder Jordan Busuttil agreed with his coach’s sentiment – fresh off a dominant afternoon complete with 28 disposals, 11 inside 50s, seven tackles, seven clearances and a goal.

“We’ve matured so much as a group … we’ve actually never won a game (at Brunswick Street Oval),” he said.

Busuttil was effusive in his praise of those players who “fill holes” for the footy club, the two-time best-and-fairest winner lauding teammate Harry Carter for a courageous back-with-the-flight mark during his coach’s post-game address.

“Good football teams need (those players),” he said.

“I thought just to point that out in front of the group, so they know how much it means to us …  acts like that, that gets us over the line.”

Busuttil’s superb form for the CYs over the last two years, combined with a power of work over the summer, saw the 23-year-old win a place at Essendon VFL for 2025, where he’s featured twice in red and black.

“I feel so comfortable coming back to play my local footy here,” said Busuttil, who tugged evocatively at his jumper after a superb running goal in the last quarter

“I’ve had a massive pre-season. It’s been awesome, they’re a great group down at Essendon.”

Fitzroy coach Travis Ronaldson, speaking shortly after the final siren, said he was pleased with his team’s start to the game, but is still searching for a full game of consistent play.

“(We’ve) obviously had significant turnover and change from the way we finished the season last year,” said Ronaldson.

“It’s going to take some time for a young group to gel and build that connection to enable us to really string the four quarters together.”

Ruck Bill Clayton (22 disposals, 14 clearances, 29 hitouts) was superb around the ground, Rhys Seakins ran all day on wing and key forward Dane Harvey, who has put on noticeable size and strength after a full pre-season with Carlton’s VFL team, was prominent despite tricky conditions.

“We didn’t play well against Caulfield in Round Two. I thought we addressed some of our weaknesses on that day (against the CYs),” said Ronaldson.

“We will get to the level. Playing 120 minutes of footy, it’s going to take a little bit of time and it’s going to take a lot of work on the track during the week.

“I was really comfortable that we took a big step forward today. And if we keep improving, the outcomes and the results will take care of themselves.”

Sadly for the Roys, 19-year-old Darcy Winstanley suffered a suspected broken collarbone, exiting the game in the second quarter.

Old Carey’s impressive graduate season continues to turn heads, the Panthers travelling to Gordon Barnard Reserve and breaking loose late in the final term in a tight contest with Old Camberwell. 

Weller Ben Hart destined the game for a close finish when he tied the score with the second of his two final quarter goals at the five-minute mark, but there wouldn’t be another goal kicked for almost 20 minutes – a remarkable run of seven behinds (six to Old Carey) doing nothing to ease the nerves of both sets of supporters.

It was Panther Mitch Wooffindin, as it has been often over the course of his storied career, who broke through, punching through his second of the afternoon to establish a two-goal advantage, before bubbly left-footer Eddie King nailed two goals in two minutes to seal the deal.

The 20-year-old was one of coach Luke Giles’ best in the 13.19 (97) to 11.7 (73) win that sees the Panthers right in the mix with Premier B’s finest.

“My summation is that we’re a trustworthy side in this competition,” said the Old Carey coach on Sunday evening.

“The win against Old Camberwell on the weekend was the final bit of belief that we needed to know that we can compete week-in, week-out.”

Giles is confident his team has the ability to perform at a consistent level – but has circled Old Ivanhoe, who in Round 2 handed the Panthers their only loss of 2025 so far, as the example of the level of football his side aspires to achieve.

“What we did on the weekend against Old Camberwell, no disrespect to them, but that won’t beat Old Ivanhoe. We’ve still got to bridge, in our minds, 20-or-30% to beat those better couple of sides in the comp.”

Tristan Borghouts was lauded for his effort in tagging Weller midfield dynamo Lachie Harker, who in turn was praised by Old Camberwell coach Neil Connell for his hard work despite a heavy tag.

“That will be great for his development,” said Connell.

Garnet Brennan performed well in the ruck for the Wellers, Liam Thomas kicked four goals and defensive pair Josh Holding and Will Day held up well.

“Old Carey (were) very impressive with their ability to get the ball from inside to outside, (they) have really good leg speed through the midfield and off half-back,” said Connell.

“We were a bit off with our pressure around the contest, plenty of missed tackles which was our strength in the early games … It’s another good reminder to our players that if you’re off a little in B grade you will get punished on the scoreboard.”

The theme of Round Three was quick breaks in the second half – and for Old Geelong coach Nick Dixon, that was the tale in a key win at home over Caulfield Grammarians.

“We just tried to settle them down a little in the third quarter, we started to be a little more clinical in the way we moved the ball,” he explained, after two points separated the sides at the long break.

“Coming to Como (Park) is different for any side, because of how big and wide it is. I thought our ability to play the way we wanted to on Como was really good in that third quarter.”

Focusing on quality entry and time spent in the forward half, the OGs kicked 6.4 (40) to 1.2 (8) in the third, flipping a two-point half time deficit into a five-goal three quarter time lead, and from there held fast to win 14.10 (94) to 10.9 (69).

The blitz was capped off by a brilliant individual effort from Mickey Nicholls, who sprinted from half back to full forward to tumble through a major as the three-quarter-time siren sounded.

Connor Dixon was best-on-ground with six goals, and has added a defensive flair to his forward craft over the pre-season

“He’s really led the way with pressure and his tackling down there – I think his first two or three goals were from defensive effort turnovers,” Nick Dixon said.

“He’s been really good to start the year, and he’s probably been our most damaging forward.”

Caulfield Grammarians coach Paul Satterley lauded the OGs for their control of the ground and their superb third quarter, 

“We probably missed a few opportunities to capitalise on locking the footy in our forward half, especially in the second quarter,” he said.

Archie Loughnan followed his haul of four against Fitzroy in Round Two with five in the loss and was “an absolute standout.”

Old Trinity is the fifth squad to start the year 2-1, and enjoyed the services of ex-Giant and Demon Adam Tomlinson in its 14.11 (95) to 10.3 (63) defeat of the Hampton Rovers.

“Tommo’ was listed with Sorrento, he’s on North Melbourne’s VFL list … he’s a Trinity boy, I know him really well, he just reached out, he desperately wanted to have a run,” said coach Donald McDonald, with North Melbourne VFL on a bye week.

“We’d had a lot of changes during the week, it ended up working out really well … it’s not often that the boys get to play with an AFL player of ‘Tommo’s’ note, it was a great experience for them”.

34 disposals, 12 marks, seven rebound 50s and a game-high 174 Premier Data ranking points later, Tomlinson was named best-on-ground after the Ts survived a scare in the third term from a young and improving Rovers team. 

“It was a great learning opportunity for our younger players who I felt took giant steps forward,” said Hampton coach Marty Pask, who says it’s a “delight” to coach the rapidly progressing group, despite an 0-3 start to life in Premier B

“We currently have 14 players playing under 21 years of age … we will gain experience as the weeks go by and have a really good mix of players who are up to the level. This will set our side up for many more years to come and we keep evolving.”

Christian Carnovale had 27 disposals and 11 tackles, Liam O’Driscoll kicked three goals and 19-year-old quintet Dan Hall, Will Crawford, Blake Jensen-Muir, Ben Seddon and Zach Ziesing are a group to watch.

This week, the Rovers take on Old Geelong at Como Park while the Ts host Old Melburnians in what promises to be a critical contest as the ladder begins to take shape.

Williamstown CYMS travel to play Old Ivanhoe, Fitzroy will be desperate for a win when it hosts Old Camberwell and Old Carey meet Caulfield Grammarians.