April 12, 2025
REALITY CHECK
R2 brings some disappointments
A Century of the Red & Black
A solid day for the Old Xaverians with plenty of teams landing in the winners' circle.
Old Xaverians looked off the pace early but gradually gottheir act together to defeat a sharp Old Haileybury lineup by seven points in a thrilling finish to the Round 3 clash at Toorak Park.
It proved another wasteful first term for the Red ‘n’ Blacks. Shallow entries were part of the problem, though Ed Delany landed a long bomb. Deep in time-on, Charlie MacIsaac snagged an intercept and pumped it home. Xavs trailed by eight points at the first break after Haileybury had dominated the early going.
The Bloods kicked the first of the second term after a long shot landed, but MacIsaac marked strongly and goaled from 25 metres in a quick reply. At nine minutes, some woefully lazy play in the middle of the park cost Xavs another goal. Two minutes later, Haileybury added another and if the alarm bells weren’t ringing, they should have been. MacIsaac marked strongly again, received a fifty and dribbled it through at 15 minutes.
The Bloods worked forward and only desperate defence saved the day, at least until the men in lime green paid a free kick at point blank range. At 30 minutes, the visitors booted their ninth, and went to a 29-point lead. Xavs missed another easy one and they went to the sheds. It was a half where poor choices and poor execution had cruelled too many of the home team’s forays forward.
Wade Brusnahan opened the second half with a goal after diving for a mark, but the Bloods went forward and replied immediately. Stirling Phipps-Parsons goaled at nine minutes. Xavs edged their way back with goals to Sam Fisher and then to Bobby Knott, whose six-pointer was a response to the Bloods’ eleventh. The X-Men went to the lemons with a 13 point deficit and a breeze that would blow against them in the last term.
A minute in, Fisher booted his second. They were just seven points down, as close as they had been since early in the first term. The goal set the scene for a torrid last quarter, but in truth, the Xaverian back six had already tightened since the long break and was ready to turn the screw once more. They didn’t allow a shot until 15 minutes in. It went wide. Then they went shotless for the last 16 minutes.
In their front half, Xavs also lifted the pressure, but were unable to score until Phipps-Parsons goaled as they ticked into time-on. The Red ‘n’ Blacks were two points down. Then one. Then all square. Then a point up. More wasted chances! But right on thirty minutes, Denis Symeopoulos tried to crash a pack and nearly lost his head. He slotted home from twenty-five and time soon ran out on the visitors.
The X-Men bagged a valuable four points but will realise that next week’s task against a seething Scotch will require more concentration and more polish from the outset. Still, it was no small feat to come back from five goals down against a team that will win quite a few games this season. It was the sort of win that will galvanise Dan Donati's team for the challenges ahead.
GOALS: Charlie MacIsaac 3, Samuel Fisher 2, Stirling Phipps-Parsons 2, Wade Brusnahan 1, Ed Delany 1, Charlie Knott 1, Denis Symeopoulos 1
BEST: Marcus Stavrou, Denis Symeopoulos, Charlie MacIsaac, Alec Spralja, Dan Tuddenham, Stirling Phipps-Parsons
Bernies (47) proved no match for Old Brighton (101) at the Snake Pit. De La Salle (45) took a licking from SKOB (119) at Dairy Bell. Scotch (51) was badly beaten at home on Friday by Collegians (89), while Blues (27) lost to Blacks (62) for the third time in a row.
Ted Kennedy was best in the 140-point starching of Old Haileybury atToorak Park. The Senator monstered the Bloods’ defence as the Red and Blacks piledit on to maintain their position at the top of the table.
With experienced and talented defenders Tom Hart and Hamish Bowen in total control, the visitors never climbed into the game. Charlie Westcott was prominent and the returning Julian Gangi and first-gamer Ricky Wood showed plenty.
Next week’s game with Old Scotch will be a closer affair.
BEST: Edward Kennedy, Hamish Bowen, Thomas Hart, Charlie Westcott, Ricky Wood,Julian Gangi
GOALS:
The WOX broke through early but Old Westbourne refused to quit. Fired by Melissa Poulton and Amy Benifer, the Red ‘n’ Blacks hung on to win their firstgame of the season by 2 points.
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BEST: Melissa Poulton, Amy Benifer, Anabelle Gangi, Amelie Menegola, Alessandra Libertone, Mel Clarke
GOALS: Amelie Menegola 2, Anabelle Gangi 1, Kasey Jobling 1
Bridget's gallery
Old Scotch proved too strong for the Red ‘n’ Blacks in their R3 game at Camberwell. The X-Men looked up to the challenge in the first term but fell away as the Cards consolidated. Harry Warfe booted two but the Claret and Stout couldn’t go the distance.
BEST: Tommy Trist, Lucas Bremner, Jagger Stafford, Ted Hansen, Darcy Pelz, James Godde
It was a tough day at the office for the young Xavs as they were clubbed by Old Haileybury. Reuben Shale booted four and was best for the Red ‘n’ Blacks, but the team found it difficult to stem the Blood tide.
BEST: Reuben Shale, Francis Bailey, Harry Glass, Joe Lee-Conway, William Allen, Ned Rogers
GOALS: Reuben Shale 4, Francis Bailey 1, Patrick Kenny 1, Ned Rogers 1
The Premier Thirds rolled all over St Kevin’s in the early one at Toorak Park. The Red ‘n’Blacks got off to a flier and never allowed the visitors to settle. Coach Matthew Bourke has plenty of options, with plenty of players in exceptional form.
BEST: William Wrigley, Tom Bourne, Oliver Tehan, Sam Asdagi, Ben Kennedy, Jack Francis
GOALS: Oliver Tehan 4, Harrison Bell 3, TomDavine 2, Will Stevens 2, Oliver Britten-Jones 1, Jack Hansen 1, Fred Visentini 1, Bailey Whelan 1
The Crocodiles stayed unbeaten with a strong win over St Kevin’s. The Green Sox led all afternoon, and with D’Arcy O’Shannassy and Stinga Stanley destructive around the sticks, SKOB found it difficult to stay with the reigning premier.
BEST: D'Arcy O'Shannassy, Eddie Paul, Seamus O'Shannassy, Samuel Stynes,Sean Stanley, Jack Lowe
GOALS: Seamus O'Shannassy 4, Sean Stanley 4,Joshua Nelson 2, Adam MacIsaac 1, Tiernan O'Brien 1, Michael Speakman 1
Bridget Wilson's gallery
The Menages crushed Old Camberwell in the curtain-closer at Toorak Park. The Xavs werenever threatened under the lights and moved into their work nicely.
BEST: Will Mantesso, Matt Lowe, Rory Calvert, Nick Nunan, Joshua Hanger, Murray Francis
GOALS: Rory Calvert 8, TomasFantasia 2, Joshua Hanger 2, Will Honan 2,William Reed 2, Murray Francis 1, Matt Lowe 1, Harry McCarthy 1
Paul Connors' and Andrew McLaughlin's boys whipped the Bears by 97 points in a strong four quarter effort at Stradbroke Park. Twelve Xavs scored goals in a strong team performance that allowed the visitors few opportunites to get into the game. Ed Logan was best, with Conor O'Brien and Charlie Ralph scoring hat-tricks.
The T-Birds tossed Caulfield Grammarians with thirteen of them drawing twin calicos. Connor Spears nailed six and best on ground pat Gilmour slotted four in the big win.
BEST: Patrick Gilmour, Connor Spears, Charles Connors, EdwardLogan, Nicky Tyrrell, James McCarthy
GOALS: Connor Spears 6, Patrick Gilmour 4, JamesMcCarthy 2, Francis O’Callaghan 2, Nicky Tyrrell 2, James Crawford 1, JacksonGomezel 1, Finnegan Kuner 1, Edward Logan 1, Ned Lyons 1, Sam Purcell 1, HugoTobias 1, Harry West 1
