November 19, 2024
RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
A Century of the Red & Black
The U19s returned to Stradbroke Park to face their latest challengers. The Threes went down, but Batty's Boys and Rushy's Rookies landed victories.
Rushy's Rookies claimed their sixth scalp of the season, smothering an early Scotch threat and going on to win comfortably at the Burke Road Bowl.
Coach Rush observes:
Scotch was on top early but didn't capitalise from their opportunities.
Xavs backline held off many inside 50's to go in at quarter time just one point down.
In the second term, Harro Bell took a couple of big grabs and converted. The Red 'n' Blacks Xavs went in to the sheds leading by 17 pts.
After the break, Scotch lifted and managed a couple of goals, but the home team outscored them to hold a 25-point lead at the lemons.
The final stanza saw the Xavs negating any Scotch momentum and running out winners by 29 points.
Will Hart was best afield, taking many intercept marks in the back fifty. Jack Rosier emerged on top in the ruck in the 2nd half and gave the mids plenty of opportunities, while Julian Gangi was classy in the middle and hit every target. The relentless duo Darcy Feutrill and Dan Tuddenham laid tackle after tackle, and skipper Billy Egan proved a general at CHB, creating many forward sorties. Harrison Bell booted five, all of which were timely. He's kicked 36 goals in six games.
Next week, the team kicks off the day-long Boots on the Beach Bonanza at South Road, with an early start at 9:20 am. Old Brighton is fourth at four-and-two.
Goal Kickers: H. Bell 5, L. Ford, L. Fitzpatrick, J. Gangi, D. Tuddenham
Best Players: W. Hart, J. Gangi, D. Feutrill, J. Rosier, L. Fitzpatrick, D. Tuddenham
After an even first term, the Red 'n' Blacks skipped away to beat Fitzroy by eight goals.
Coach Andy Batten had this to say:
After suffering our first loss of the season last week, there was a renewed focus from the team at both training sessions and on game day. The coaches all had a good feeling. There was a good buzz. There was an extra element of weirdness in the air.
Fitzroy had played some solid football and we knew they would be a tough opposition. With some familiar foes in their team, there was more than enough motivation. The game began with a couple of key match ups. Jacob Jones had the task on the league’s leading goal kicker, and Charlie Anderson was asked to shadow ex-Xav Joseph Kairouz. Both would not trouble us at all.
The first quarter was unsurprisingly tough. Fitzroy had The Mountain playing in the ruck, and a skillful midfield unit that were reading him well. The Xavs had a plan to wear him out with a three-pronged ruck trident of Calvert, Tehan and Savage who started to get into the game and give us first use. The quarter ended with the Roys up by 2 points.
The second quarter, as has been the case all year, belonged to the Xavs. Salvatore, Dunne and Nugent were getting first use of the ball, and our half backs Klein and Ellis were positioning well, creating run and delivering the ball forward with poise. Monk was looking dangerous, I could hear him commentating himself from the bench, which sent the weird metre through the roof. A couple of goals to him consolidated our efforts, with the Xavs scoring 3 goals to the Roys 0 in the quarter, a lead of 19 points at the main break.
The boys came in to the rooms excited from a great first half. However, we had been in this position before. The coaches asked for an even bigger effort in the second half to ensure there was no fadeout. The boys delivered. A third quarter power effort from the mids ensured we had plenty of forward opportunities. The defense led by O’Shannessy, Lowe and the unrelenting Jones held strong and looked dangerous on the counter. A clutch set shot from Donohue the highlight and the dagger that broke the Lions resistance.
The fourth quarter began well. The Demolition Man AKA Jack Hansen provided a bone crunching hip and shoulder which left a player winded and the Lions ready for home time. The leading goal kicker in the comp was well held by Jones, and had to move into the midfield to get a kick. To his credit, he did, and it was a timely reminder to the team that when concentration drops for even a second, the opposition can make you pay, as he kicked a couple of junk time goals. However, the damage had been done and the Xavs had played the game on their terms for the full four quarters.
Batty's Boys are a game clear in second position as they head to an unforeseen bye, created by last week's withdrawal of Old Carey.
Goal Kickers: M. Exell 3, T. Donohue 2, C. Anderson, D. Savage, P. Gaffney, N. Johnson, G. Torney, O. Tehan
Best Players: M. Salvatore, J. Klein, N. Nugent, N. Johnson, C. Dunne, J. Jones
Dom's Dynamos couldn't get it done as the visiting Brunswick NOBS opened with some fury. A 29 point lead ata the first break spelled the possibility of abig defeat, but the Red 'n' Blacks fought hard, with only a goal separting the teams the rest of the way.
The Threes head to Garvey Oval next week in fourth place. Old Paradians is in eighth spot, but will provide stiff opposition.
Goal Kickers: J. Karn, F. Jenkins, J. Camilleri
Best Players: E. MacIsaac, N. Dobbyn, T. Burt, J. Meehan, S. Dahan, S. Bonomo
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