November 19, 2024
RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
A Century of the Red & Black
Another mixed afternoon for the Red 'n' Blacks, but some very important wins nonetheless.
After a season off and another curtailed because of the virus, no-one knew what 2022 would bring. After six rounds, we still don’t know. The ten teams competing in the Ammos’ top tier are not tasked with prognostication, but merely to play with whomever they can muster and play against the young men in other colours.
The schedule pitted old rivals Old Xaverians against Old Scotch for this mid-May clash and so we trudged to Camberwell to see what this contest would bring. The news from the Claret and Stout was not so encouraging, with three players dropping out in the morning. As if the previous eight changes announced Friday weren’t enough.
Thus, Billy Kennedy, Julian Gangi, and Charlie Whitehead debuted; Tommy Amad and Charlie Holmes – whose senior experience amounts to five games - came back in to join Hamish Bowen and Dan Tuddenham who had but three senior games between them. Happily, Coach Byrne was able to recall the more credentialled Shaun Hampson and Xavier Richards.
In the epic contest that eventuated, Xavs opened the scoring with the wind in the opening minute with a brilliant gather and snap from Amad.The Claret and Stout was never headed and took the chocolates by 22 points, but that result seemed highly unlikely as the Cardinals had pulled within 8 points with just five minutes gone in the final term. With a six goal breeze behind them, it seemed they would roll on to victory.
Not so. Some telling grabs in the back half from Ryan Schoenmakers, Hampson, Ed Delany, and Bowen proved calming. The Red Men's procession stopped at three goals and Xavs, finally thrusting forward, responded with four in quick succession, the last a stunner from Holmes, who gathered a tough bounce near the boundary, turned inward and smashed one across his body that split the centre.
Five minutes earlier, an Old Scotch supporter heading for the Cardinals’ end had opined that the Xavs were crumbling, demonstrating alack of foresight as well as any understanding of VAFA history since 1958. Not that the Caledonians were ever out of it until the end. They kicked well into the gale, showing plenty of speed, run and confidence. Their second quarter, after Xavs kicked the first two, should have seen them go to the long break in better shape, but they wasted some very gettable opportunities.
The X Men had two excellent tall targets in Richards and Delany, both of whom marked well and kicked truly. Jack “Little Lleyton” Hewitt was superb on the carpet and it was his two goals in two minutes in the middle of the final stanza that stoned the Red revival.
The team’s new Swiss Army knife Tom Hart impressed again with a spirited run-with role, while Charlie Whitehead showed dash and poise all afternoon.
A third of the regular season has slipped by and the Red ‘n’Blacks are far from done. Three more before the Queen’s birthday break and then another shot at the Cardinals.
First up, though, next week’s clash with the fifth-placed 3-and-3Uncanny X-Men is a visit from the unbeaten St Kevin’s. It will be another busy week for selectors, with a handful of players set to return to the fray and push for inclusion.
Goal Kickers: X.Richards 4, J. Hewitt 4, E. Delany 3, T. Amad, C. Holmes, D. Tuddenham, W. Goss
Best Players: R. Schoenmakers, S. Hampson, J. Hewitt, T. Hart, E. Delany, C. Whitehead
The Ressies lost their first for the year, leaving Old Scotch the only unbeaten team. Under grey and dribbling skies, it was a hard slog for both teams. The Reds came home hard with the freshening breeze to snatch the points in a torrid clash.
Coach Landrigan, who finalised his side just an hour before the first bounce, said that his side never lacked effort, but just couldn’t string together sufficient passages to come out on top. The much-changed and unsettled lineup was perhaps good reason, butthe coach wasn’t having that. “We’ll see them again in a month and we’ll have another go,” he said.
Goal Kickers: H. Bell 2, C. Knott 2, M. Handley, J. Hess
Best Players: A. Lamanna, M. Handley, L. Soccio, C. Knott, L. Denton, A. Sheedy
PICS are here
The WOX ran into Caulfield Grammarians, a serious aspirant for the flag, and went under. The Red ‘n’ Blacks were over-powered and over-run, but nonetheless, put in their customary diligence. This is a team that is sometimes beaten, but never disgraced. Their effort and spirit is never questioned and there are some better days ahead.
Goal Kickers: C. Pittard 2, C. Lacey
Best Players: M. Clarke, S. Rothfield, I.Ellis, L. Aitken, A. Benifer, C. Pittard
Lack of numbers forced the Ressies to call it off.
The U19 Premier team rolled on, destroying Uni Blues in a one-sided romp. Hugh Basset won best afield honours, while Ed “Senator” Kennedy slammed home another seven move to 25 for the season.Tom Silvagni and Dec Fitzgerald nailed four apiece in the win and were high in the best players.
The unbeaten Red ‘n’ Blacks travel to Williamstown next week in what will be a clash for the ages. The CYs have lost two but are very tough to beat at home. Old Scotch sits on one loss, in second spot.
Kim Fenely's pics are here.
Goal Kickers: E. Kennedy 7, D.Fitzgerald 4, T. Silvagni 4, B. Bilston-McGillen 2, C. Holmes, K. Walford, C.Thomas, W. Stevens, J. Alexander
Best Players: H. Basset, E. Kennedy, D. Fitzgerald, T. Silvagni, T. Dunne, W. Hart
Batten's Boys lost a tough one to Trinity, who had the better of it in the final term as conditions improved. Matt Doherty booted four in the loss, while Aaron Ivak was best in the loss. The Red and Blacks are a game outside the four with plenty of opportunities to push up in the standings.
Kim Feneley's snaps are here.
Goal Kickers: M. Doherty 4, W. Exell 2, W. MacIsaac 2, C. Stepnell
Best Players: A. Ivak, S. O'Shannassy, S. Kavenagh, J. Shirley, C.Stepnell, M. Doherty
A tight game, but no cigar for the Red 'n' Blacksvthis week.
A great win from the Menages at Camberwell. Close all day, the Red 'n' Blacks booted three in the last term to seal the deal.
Goal Kickers: J. Hanger 2, N. Lefebvre 2, S.Cleeve 2, L. Tobin, T. Egan, O. Silk
Best Players: N. Lefebvre, J. Buffon, M.Forrest, S. Cleeve, M. Lowe, C. Impala
St Bernard's forfeited. Next week, it's the big derby battle.
The Reds had a big win over DLS, who saved their best for last, but were still comprehensively beaten. The Xavs move into second spot ahead of their clash with top-ranked OX Black.
Bridget Wilson was at the park to see the win. Her pics are here.
Goal Kickers: N. Harries 3, E. Ralph 3, G.Lachal, A. Eden-Lachowicz, W. Sheedy, J. Skene, H. Hosking, O. Tehan, C. Dunne
Best Players: C. Dunne, H. Berogna, H.Hosking, N. Harries, J. Skene, Z. Connor
The Lime Hose move on. Another big win, this time over Fitzroy. The Reptiles' output in the first term matched that of the Roy Boys four quarters.
Goal Kickers: H. Nidam 2, W. Wilson 2, M. Perrett 2, J. Lyon 2, L. O''Sullivan, C. Kim, J. Bueno, L. Aikman
Best Players: J. Bueno, L. O''Sullivan, H. Nidam, W. Wilson, N. Russ, C. Wilson
.png){kind=logo}