November 19, 2024
RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
A Century of the Red & Black
VAFA football axction returned yesterday across Melbourne, with the Old Xavs sending ten teams in the field to begin the Red 'n' Blacks centenary season.
While rust, rain and wind played havoc with skills, there was some superb football played, particularly in the early games before the elements took hold.
Old Xaverians, returning to its ancestral home at Xavier College, fielded its youngest team in decades. Coach James Byrne chose seven debutants, rewarding them for their strong pre-season efforts.
Collegians opened well, scoring in the opening minute and looked the better team early. Xavs responded through Charlie MacIsaac as they worked their way back. Both teams looked better when playing through the pavilion side of the ground, and when the Purples finally chose that route, they added a second to finish the term in front.
The second stanza looked more promising for the home team. Seven minutes in, Hayden Woodhouse kicked his first senior goal, then Grant Valles smothered one while stand ig the smark, recovering and snapping a beauty from a tough angle. Julian Soccio completed the trifecta and the X-Men were on fire. Not for long, sadly, as the Lakers calmed the storm and then took over late in the term, their three goals for the stanza giving them a seven point lead at the half.
The third term sunk the Red 'n' Blacks. The Lions scored early, and then mistakes by the Xavs at critical times cost them dearly. Collegians led by 28 points at the lemons, with only Woodhouse managing to split the sticks in the third term after several crucial misses by others.
Finally, with the game well and truly on the line, the Red 'n' Blacks erupted. Majors in the last to James Langford, Denis Symeopoulos, Tommy McCrae and Bill Gowers saw the Claret and Stout just 11 points back with plenty of time left. Again, the Lions swooped, before a late goal from Gowers brought the margin back inside three goals.
Collegians was the better team, handling the ball in superior fashion and moving it with more method. Still, the Old Xaverians is no stranger to defeat on Opening Day. The young fellows on debut, while under severe pressure at times, all showed they could perform at this level. Tom Dunne was strong in defence, Darcy Feutrill strong at the contest and Hayden Woodhouse effective up forward and later in the ruck. There is plenty to work on for the coaching panel, and no rest with Olld Melburnians travelling to XC next week.
Goal Kickers: H. Woodhouse 2, W. Gowers 2, C. MacIsaac, D. Symeopoulos, T. McRae, G. Valles, J. Soccio, J. Langford
Best Players: D. Symeopoulos, S. Ralph, D. Feutrill, J. Kelly, G. Valles, T. Dunne
Bobby Knott booted seven and erstwhile Carey Panther Wade Brusnahan shone as the Red 'n' Blacks larruped the Lakers in the curtain-raiser. It was a one-sided affair from the start, with the young Xaverian team showing polish. The home team dominated all over the field from the outset, with skipper Joe Tobin controlling the back half, big Al Spralja strong in the ruck and plenty of flash all over the park.
Goal Kickers: C. Knott 7, B. Scala 3, E. Kennedy 3, W. Hart 2, M. Exell 2, W. Brusnahan 2, D. Tuddenham 2, O. Smart, E. Hummerston, W. Doquile, B. Kennedy
Best Players: W. Brusnahan, J. Tobin, M. Exell, A. Spralja, D. Tuddenham, C. Knott
Gallery here
The Lionesses proved too strong for the WOX at Greythorn. The home team managed a goal in each of the first two stanzas, but their progess was halted beyond the half. Collegians booted five after the long break to seal the deal comfortably.
Keirah Dowd was best for the Claret and Stout, while Tahryn Mant, Ella Neuwirth, Bridget Crowe, skipper Cristina Sgarbossa and Maggie Gaffney all played well. Onward and upward for the team.
Goal Kickers: M. Gaffney, R. VandenBoom
Best Players: K. Dowd, T. Mant, E. Neuwirth, B. Crowe, C. Sgarbossa, M. Gaffney
Dan Rush's team survived a tight one on the King, with St Kevin's showing plenty of resolve. Big Oscar Duncan shone for the visitors, dominating the ruck and proving a safe avenue to goal with three. Xavs led by a goal at the half, but managed to add some buffer in the third term. With the teams swapping goals in the final stanza, the Red 'n' Blacks held the Tricolors at bay to take the points.
Harry MacIsaac and Jude Sassi were solid all day, while Atticus Scally, Ben Moyle and Kye Walford were in the action all afternoon.
Goal Kickers: O. Duncan 3, W. Exell 3, W. Stevens, W. Macisaac, H. McAuliffe
Best Players: O. Duncan, H. MacIsaac, J. Sassi, A. Scally, K. Walford, B. Moyle
After an even first term at Central Reserve, Old Xaverians poleaxed the Nodders with some blistering football. Mazenod scored a goal in the second stanza and henceforth provided no scoreboard action at all. The visitors booted eight in the second, four in the third and rthen sailed home with nine in the last for a 23 goal win.
Luca 'Marshal' Patane kicked five, while Charlie Christopher slotted four in the goalfest.
Will Troy received the nod for best afield.
Coach Andy Batten weighs in:
I’m not sure what had bigger fanfare this weekend, the AFL gather round, or the VAFA U19 Div 1 opening round. I know one of them certainly kept me awake at night. It’s official, footy is back.
Round 1 saw us make the trek out to last year’s grand finalists, Mazenod OC. With the premiers from that grand final (St Bedes) moving into the U19 Premier, Mazenod OC could be considered the ones to beat early, so the coaches and players put in an intense week on the track to ensure we were well prepared for the challenge.
A late ground change saw us move off their main oval onto their equally sublime second oval, and considering how close our games were last year, one could be forgiven for thinking “mind games, already?” Nevertheless, the boys arrived early, focused and ready to go.
Matt Dalhsen, captain for the day after a great pre-season, strolled into the middle and took what would prove to be our only loss for the day, the toss. We were kicking into a strong breeze to start, so there was no margin for error. The first quarter was tight, it was goal for goal in some respect, but the pleasing sign was that we were getting a look in despite the breeze. The forwards looked dangerous, with Dalhsen, Charlie Christopher and Connor Spears offering different options and testing the Mazenod backs. However, Mazenod had some weapons of their own, with one of their midfielders looking particularly well skilled, and they were putting our defenders under the pump with repeat entries as the quarter drew to a close. They gained a handy point to take a small lead into the first break. Mazenod OC would have only one more scoring shot for the entire game.
The second quarter signaled a change in momentum. The tight tussle was gone as Will Troy, Luke Fares, Charlie Bourne and Ben Sherman took over proceedings in the engine room. All of a sudden it looked like a different game. The boys had run, they moved in waves and they cut through the centre of the ground to pile on 8 goals for the quarter. The talls were presenting well, however the smalls started to win the secondary balls as well. Justin Salce, Luca Patane and Max Murphy had too many tricks as our scoring options stretched Mazenod to breaking point. Harry Bird and Charlie Ralph were providing great wing coverage, and the drive from Paddy Gilmour and Oliver Sheehan out of the backline blew the game wide open. I can’t remember who got the goals this quarter, there were too many.
Third quarters are the premiership quarter, and over the years I have seen too many games drastically shift thanks to third quarter surge or lapse, depending on whose side you’re on. So a challenge was laid down to the boys. Do not let them back in. They will come with a surge, weather the storm, don’t be afraid for repeat stoppages and once we have killed the contest, get things going again. A 4 goal quarter into the breeze put the contest to bed. Patane was now starting to have a day out.. 2 goals, 3 goals… how many would he get? Salce looked a tall small, or a small tall, depending on your perspective. And Eddie Paul joined the goal party. The midfield was tireless and you could see their defensive effort taking shape. Fares and Sherman working overtime. However, what was most pleasing was the backline. Structurally sound, there was obvious communication and information being shared and though we had a lot of forward ball, the backs never once fell asleep. Will Wrigley, Liam Peppard, Dan McCarthy and Luca Santalucia took turns in marshalling the troops and coming off their man to repel attacks.
The final quarter was a procession. 9 goals 7 took the game from comfortable to head turning. Patane finished with 5 goals, Christopher with 4 and Paul with 3… all playing their first game for the OX. Fares himself got a couple as well as a huge bomb from Troy to cap off an outstanding day in the engine room.
The challenge for this group will be to not get ahead of ourselves. A superb victory, one we should celebrate, however it’s round one of a long season. This division throws up many challenges, momentum shifts, players coming back from seniors, players going up to seniors and players going/coming back from holiday. The dynamic of strong/form teams can change quickly and it can hard to swing it back momentum. There are a few boys who missed out this weekend and they will be hungry to take part.
Stay humble and driven and let’s get ready for the next challenge, Old Haileybury.
Goal Kickers: L. Patane 5, C. Christopher 4, E. Paul 3, M. Dahlsen 2, L. Fares 2, M. Murphy 2, B. Sherman, C. Spears, W. Troy, J. Gomezel, O. Sheehan, J. Salce
Best Players: W. Troy, L. Fares, L. Patane, W. Wrigley, L. Santalucia, C. Christopher
The Red 'n' Blacks had few dramas at Garvey, leading all day. A four goal lead at the lemons turned into a ten goal win as the Claret and Stout added six unanswered in the final term.
Xavs defeated the Swamp Hens at Crawford, led by a stunning 6 goal BOG effort from Charlie Westcott. The visitors led all afternoon but could not really shake Blues, who fell eventually by 23 points. Lucas Agnoletto, Rory Calvert, Pat Cockerill and Zak Connor were in everything as the Claret and Stout won the tought contest.
Goal Kickers: C. Westcott 6, M. Robinson 2, D. Fitzgerald, H. Hosking, T. Mantesso, L. Agnoletto
Best Players: C. Westcott, L. Agnoletto, R. Calvert, P. Cockerill, Z. Connor
Mazenod ruled the roost at Stradbroke with a solid 46 point victory over the Red 'n' Blacks. Xavs could manage just four goals, while the Nodders booted a dozen on the day. Matt Lowe and Nick Ongarello were best for the home team.
Goal Kickers: S. Clark, A. Mccormack, S. Asdagi, O. Tehan
Best Players: M. Lowe, N. Ongarelo, S. Clark, O. Tehan, S. Asdagi, W. Bryce
Bridget Wilson's Gallery here
The Menages opened their account with a 43 point win over Collegians. The Silver Fox, Josh 'Tooka' Hanger kicked three and was high in the best. It was a strong team effort, with nine scoring goals to light up Stradbroke Park.
Goal Kickers: J. Hanger 3, M. Tempone 3, J. Forrest 2, S. Knox 2, L. Tobin, X. Romanin-Green, A. Fuller, T. Fantasia, J. Buffon
Best Players: C. Impala, O. Silk, J. Hanger, W. Mantesso, L. Busk, M. Tempone
Bridget Wilson's Gallery here
The 'Diles had fourteen goalkickers, led by Josh Lyon with six, as they rolled over Glen Eira at Stradbroke Park. The final margin was 185 points as the Xavs booted seven, ten, six and six in successive quarters.
Bruce Wilson reports:
The Crocs got off to a great start for season 23 with athumping of Glen Eira by 185 points. Although a one-sided affair, nothing should detract from coach Carabine’s and assistant coach Williamson’s strategy of run and carry, switch at every chance, and deliver the ball infront of the leading player.
After last year’s premiership win, the Crocs have continued where they left off and taken no prisoners. From the get-go, the midfield of McCarthy in the ruck, Stanley, Russ and company dominated the centre delivering the ball lace-out. to a leading and hungry forward line.
With a swirling strong wind across the ground all day, accuracy was an issue but as with all good teams, the ‘Diles acclimatised to convert 29 big ones. Josh Lyon was superb at full forward and could have easily slotted 8 goals but unselfishly passed to other players in better positions all day.
Old Xav’s back line – the “Great Wall of China” of Veljkovic, Doquile, Nunan, O’Shannassay, Ralph and Jones when put under any pressure quickly shut down any attack and moved the ball to runners like Tom Lyon, Perrett, Murray, Hanson and others.
With Josh Lyon firing on all cylinders, there were plenty of other major contributors and genuine opportunists in the forward lineconverting including O’Brien, Russ, Taouk, Vanderkley, Veljkovic and Nunan,with the last two being moved from the back to the forward line in the 2nd half.
Old Xavs had strength in every position and accountability to boot. The Reptiles’ back up crew soon become frontline dominators with McCann, Grimshaw, Chiodo, Zhou, Todaro, Speakman having rippers and running all day.
Ginnane had his best game for a few years and a ripper whent he ball came near. A great day out and above all, a great team effort!
Next week we face Uni Blues at Carlton and will have a full team to select from. Thanks to all the volunteers today including Rob Bergin, theaccurate one in goals, Brown, Abrahams, Lachal, Rickards, Kim, Cara and Twil.
Goal Kickers: J. Lyon 6, M. Perrett 4, T. O''Brien 3, N. Russ 3, P. Nunan 2, W. Veljkovic 2, A. Taouk 2, H. Vanderkley, S. Murray, T. McCarthy, H. Ralph, T. Lyon, J. Hansen, M. Zhou
Best Players: S. Murray, N. Russ, J. Lyon, M. Perrett, S. Stanley, T. Lyon
Bridget Wilson's Gallery here
