November 19, 2024
RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
A Century of the Red & Black
The best news of the day was the WOX victory over Old Haileybury, the Red 'n' Blacks first win of the year. The worst came from Elsternwick Park, where the lacklustre performance from the Senior men saw them lose to St Kevin's.
St Kevin’s ended Xavs’ three-game winning streak with a ten-point victory at Elsternwick this afternoon. The Tricolours led at every change and despite the equivalence in scoring shots, were too polished and too disciplined for the Red ‘n’ Blacks.
Possession was split evenly in the first term, though the X-Men struggled to find any real momentum kicking to the scoreboard end. When they had opportunities, and they squandered them. The Kevins did more with less and went to the first change with a 15-point lead.
The reigning premier booted the first of the second stanza, but the Claret and Stout hit back strongly. When they moved the ball into the open, they looked smooth and dangerous. They grabbed the lead just before the half, but not for the first time, a show of ill-discipline cost them and the Skobbers went in with a seven-point lead.
After the long break, St Kevin’s raced away, despite being two rotations down. Strangely, the Xavs could not get much going despite notbeing clearly overmatched. Perhaps it is the mark of a very good team that does what it needs when it needs it.
The game appeared well over by the lemons and nothinghappened early in the final term to suggest otherwise. The X Men came in a hurry at the end, but a SKOB win was never seriously threatened.
Alex Trigar stepped out for the first time in two seasons and was full of dash and derring-do. Dan Hannebery worked his way into the game, but his former Swans teammate Dan Robinson was probably the pick of the Xavscrop. Link man Julian Soccio looked crafty and was the most dangerous of the forwards, while Tommy McRae and Jed Feneley might have collected the rookie votes.
Xas were beaten in the middle, and at the stoppages. When the contest was tight, it was SKOB that hit in a little harder. Next week, the Red ‘n’ Blacks head to Camberwell for a tussle with Old Scotch, whose form thiss eason is tough to fault. Both teams will have plenty to prove.
Goal Kickers: T. McRae 2, H. Bell 2, B. Bilston-McGillen 2, D. Hannebery,J. Soccio, D. Symeopoulos, D. Tuddenham
Best Players :D. Robinson, G. Valles, C. Whitehead, J. Soccio,W. Gowers, T. McRae
A slow start, but by midway through the second term, Xavs were on top and headed for victory. With Al Spralja on top in the ruck and Ned Niall, Billy Kennedy and Charlie Holmes causing plenty of havoc around the stoppages,the X-Men cruised to an easy victory in the end, setting up a monumental clash with unbeaten Old Scotch next week.
Goal Kickers: E. Ralph 3, C. Knott 2, C. Westcott 2,B. Kennedy 2, W. Hart, M. Exell, W. Brusnahan
Best Players: A.Spralja, C. Knott, E. Niall, B. Kennedy, C. Dunne, C. Holmes
Sophie Rothfield and Tahryn Mant booted two apiece and shone as the Old Xavs collected the points at Old Haileybury. Tied at the first change, the WOX came home stronger and when the game was on the line, stepped up for the tidy win.
Goal Kickers: S. Rothfield 2, T. Mant 2, M. Mennilli
Best Players: S. Rothfield, T. Mant, K. Dowd, A. Fairweather, M.Mennilli, E. Neuwirth
Will Stevens was best and Will Excell and Tom Gorman booted three each as the Red 'n' Blacks were pushed hard by the CYs. Inaccurate kicking for goal meant that the Williamstown crew had a chance, but Xavs got the points in the end.
Goal Kickers: W. Exell 3, T. Gorman 3, J. Sassi, D. Calvert, W. Macisaac
Best Players: W. Stevens, J. Sassi, B. Moyle, S. Hansen, T.Gorman, K. Walford
Coach Andy Batten reports:
Tough day at the office
Round 5 and it was back to pristine conditions for our clash with Beaumaris. The 2PM kick off was slightly unusual and along with the ground size was an early dynamic that seemed to favour Beauy. After a fantastic week on the track, there was a lot to be optimistic about, however the first quarter would not go to plan.
Beauy were fast, fit and most of all, efficient. They had a polished game plan that they worked up to speed quickly and it was impressive to see a team with such an extreme work rate find space and execute. Despite the impressive start from Beauy, we still had our moments. Will Troy was winning every tap, with Charlie Bourne and Luke Fares getting early touches in the stoppages. However Beauy’s thrust came from the backline and repelled are efforts. Eddie Paul had a chance for a nerve settler but hit the post, leaving us with a 44 point deficit at quarter time.
The players and coaches agreed that that first quarter was not an effort befitting our club. Beauy had started well but we hadn’t contested or worked nearly as hard we could have. The upside was that there were three quarters to turn it around. We asked for a lift and I’m pleased to say there was an increase in work rate. Troy was outstanding in the ruck and giving us an option up the line. Matt Dahlsen looked our most dangerous forward and combining with the midfield, we were able to give our forwards a chance and hit the scoreboard. However Beauy still had outlets and looked dangerous in transition, putting our backs under immense pressure. We trailed by a commanding 62 points at the main break.
There was an obvious shock in the rooms at half time, however I’m adamant that there is always something to gain or learn whether you win, lose or draw. It was important we took the challenge and tried to find ways we could nullify the opposition. Identify small areas where we could get some wins. We deployed Tom Regan as a spare in defense for the third quarter and asked the boys to increase their work rate, avoid kicking over the man on the mark and play on at all cost. Connor Spears and Jimmy Spiridonos had a great quarter down back, using their body well on a number of occasions and we genuinely had most of the play for the quarter. Harry West was gut running to give us an option on the wing. And Hector Mclean was doing chase down tackles… exactly why we have him in the team. However, after all the hard work to get us into the contest, we turned the ball over consistently through centre-wing. A really promising quarter from an effort point of view, just our execution letting us down significantly.
The game was taking its toll on the boys.. there was a lot of heavy breathing at three quarter time. We set a challenge to not let this boil over to 100 points, as every percentage point matters, however Beauy finished as well as they started. Troy, Fares, Bourne and Tom Egan were excellent all day in really tough conditions through the midfield and pushed right to the end.
There is still plenty of upside for this team. I have seen firsthand dramatic outcomes flipped the next time teams meet. Everyone suffers a tough loss at some point, however it’s how you respond that is really going to matter. If we can put the loss behind us quickly and work on improving some key areas, I’m confident we can get a different outcome next time. It will take a lot of hard work, but I’m with them all the way.
Thanks to all those who sent a message through about my uncle and to the boys for wearing black armbands. Jack coached an Old Xavs senior premiership in 1978, coaching our U19 Premier coach Dan Rush’s father, my assistant coach Fergus Browne’s father, our head of Player Development Brendan O’Sullivan and a host of other people with connections to the club. It was really warming to read about these connections and experiences.
Next week we have Parkdale, with the venue and time to be determined following the fixture change. On Saturday night we have the Old Xavs 100 year gala, so if you have booked tickets I will see you there and we can chat footy.
Thanks and go xavs!
Goal Kickers:C. Bourne, J. Salce, B. Sherman, M. Dahlsen
Best Players:W. Troy, M. Dahlsen, C. Bourne, W. Beattie, H. McLean, T. Egan
Goal Kickers:N. Brown 3, S. Asdagi 2, Z. Connor 2, L. Danielis-Morley 2, J. Lowe, J. Francis
Best Players:J. Lowe, Z. Connor, S. Asdagi, T. Lowe, N. Brown, C. Connors
Will Honan was BOG and Oscar Silk nailed three as the Menages finished all over Old Geelong at Como.
Goal Kickers: O. Silk 3, R. Beaton 2, W. Mantesso 2,J. Close 2, W. Honan, B. Curtis, J. Hanger, L. Strathdee
Best Players: W.Honan, L. Tobin, J. Hanger, J. Close, J. Samartzis
Goal Kickers:T. O''Brien 3, N. Harries 2, M. Perrett 2, J. Lucchesi, J. Lyon
Best Players:J. Jones, T. O''Brien, A. Eden-Lachowicz, J. Carroll, W. Bryce, M. Perrett
