December 20, 2024
VALE ANNE DENTON
Club matriarch passes away
A Century of the Red & Black
The R12 featured a trimmed-down card, with the U19 teams beginning a two week layoff. The day began well with the WOX saluting against Hawthorn, but at the end of the day, Xavs were just five of seven, with the seniors sustaining another severe blow when they lost to Uni Blacks. It was a terrible finish to a wild, windy and wet day.
The Red and Blacks fell to 6-6 on the season when they lost a low-scoring affair to Uni Backs on the Roche. The Varsity team came in full of confidence after beating St Kevin's last Sunday, and might well have appreciated the elements. Xaverians, for their part, haven't been near their best in poor conditions, and with several more changes to the team courtesy of tin cans exiting Tullamarine, would need to be on careful watch.
As it transpired, Xavs scored a point into the wind in the first term. It was the only time they led for the game. Early days, the Xavs determination frustrated the visitors, but again, as has has happened too often this campaign, the pressure ebbed away after half-way in the term and the Blacks popped through three goals.
A late second term strike from Charlie MacIsaac, the third goal of the quarter for the home team, saw the X-Men go to the sheds just five points adrift.
The third term saw Blacks add another three goals without reply, pushing out to a lead of four goals. A last quarter burst from the Xavs was still possible, but the first twenty minutes were played without score, and Ben Bilston-McGillen's brace came in the time-on period.
Charlie Holmes was a solid contributor all afternoon, and Alec Spralja competed well with the Blacks' trump ruckster Steadman. Jordan Kelly was strong across the back, while Marcus Stavrou and Grant Valles never stopped. all in all, though, it was a performance that will soon enough be confined to the forgettery.
So to the bye. Three Xaverians - skipper Marcus Stavrou, and forwards Charlie MacIsaac and Jack Hewitt - will represent the Big V next Saturday. They'll be back in red and black when James Byrne's team heads to the Trott to meet Collegians. A tough task, but Xavs do have a superb record by the Lake.
Goal Kickers: B. Bilston-McGillen 2, C. MacIsaac, H. Bell, G. Valles
Best Players: C. Holmes, A. Spralja, M. Stavrou, G. Valles, B.Bilston-McGillen, J. Kelly
A makeshift Twos team tore Blacks apart in ordinary conditions on the Roche. Xavs got away early and were never in trouble. Jude Sassi, up from the dormant U19s, booted three in a strong performance, and he was joined on the score sheet by fellow U19s Charlie Landrigan and Makuc Mohommed, while Charlie Woodley, Tommy Gilbert and Dannny O'Loughlin all laced them up one more time to ease the player shortage.
Goal Kickers: J. Sassi 3, C. Woodley 2, D. O''Loughlin, O. Smart, T.Silvagni, T. Gilbert, M. Handley, C. Niall, E. Delany, C. Landrigan, M. Mahommed
Weeks of strong performances falling short on the scoreboard were all forgotten as the hard-working WOX smashed Hawthorn at Rathmines on Saturday morning.
The visitors were in the game from the start with two goals in the first term. They snagged another to go to the half with a thirteen point lead.
In the third term, they opened it up with four goals while the Hawks were becalmed. Two further majors acame in the last as the WOX won by 46 points.
Sophia Rothfield booted four for the victors and Claudia Lacey scored three. Not surprisingly, Rothfield got the nod as BOG, but she had plenty of help from Olivia Benston, Lacey, Maggie Gaffney, Monica Clarke and Big V squad member Tahryn Mant.
A week off for the WOX before they head to Hampton Rovers for a game that will be super competitive.
Goal Kickers: S. Rothfield 4, C. Lacey 3, M. Gaffney, T. Mant
Best Players: S. Rothfield, O. Benston, C. Lacey, M. Clarke, T.Mant, M. Gaffney
Tommy Ingham booted four, Steph Strangherlin and Paddy Kenny three each as the U23s beat the Swamp Hens at Stradbroke Park.
After the bye, just three home and away games remain for the third-placed 23s, two of them against sides that sit above them in Old Scotch and Fitzroy. Winning those will likely mean a double chance.
Goal Kickers: T. Ingham 4, P. Kenny 3, S.Stangherlin 3, C. O''Brien 2, E. Browne, H. Lucas, T. Barbakos, M. Coffey
Best Players: P. Kenny, N. Ongarelo, T. Hansen, H. Lucas, S. Stangherlin, T.Paul
A strong performance from the Menages on the road. Josh 'Tooka' Hanger led all comers with three goals. The top-ranked Xavs have a thirteen day break before a big Friday night clash with Williamstown CYMS.
GoalKickers: J. Hanger 3, L. Braithwaite, M. Tempone, J. Buffon
Best Players:O. Silk, B. Curtis, E. Ponari, C. Condon, J.Norman, J. Samartzis
Josh Lyon booted another six as the Emerald Hose pounded second-placed Beaumaris to move two games clear of their elasmobranch rivals.
GoalKickers:J. Lyon 6, A. MacIsaac 2, M. Perrett 2, T.O''Brien 2, N. Harries, S. Stanley, C. Kim, M. Zhou, M. Speakman
Best Players:J. Lyon, A. Taouk, J. Stratford, J. Rickard, M.Perrett, C. Kim
