March 6, 2025
TWICE AS NICE
Stavrou, Lane announced as co-captains
A Century of the Red & Black
The Red ‘n’ Blacks had been that team, in 2000, and though they had secured titles since in 2003, 2005 and 2007, there were no back-to-backs.
After defeating De La Salle in a hectic, low-scoring nailbiter in 2009, it was expected that the Claret and Stout would again compete hard, and indeed, contend again.
But there was no shortage of challengers. De La Salle looked strong again, Collegians seemed primed for a run, St Bede’s Mentone Tigers were but one season removed from their inaugural Premier section flag, and Uni Blues were in the habit of winning many more than they lost in the VAFA’s top tier.
The Xaverians squad needed some strengthening to counter losses from player losses in 2009. Tim Fleming, who had sandwiched an AFL career between 143 appearances and three premierships with the Red ‘n’ Blacks, club and Big V captaincy, retired, as did star centreman/forward Tim Clarke. Andy Bowen and Nick Serafini headed overseas, and Travis Ruyg, who had been injured in late 2009 and missed the finals, headed back to the country.
Coming in were the blond firebrand Marcus Allan, who had been schooled at Burke Hall before moving to Queensland, later playing with the Brisbane Lions and Claremont, and John Shaw, the rangy ruckman who had gone from Barkers Road to Western Oval, where he was on the Bulldogs’ list. Andy Biddlecombe, a star of the 2003 premiership team, who had spent the intervening seasons as a strong defender at Sandringham, came back to the Red ‘n’ Blacks.
Matthew Ball was appointed captain as Simon Lethlean returned for his third season with the clipboard.
On Opening Day, Collegians kicked clear of Xavs late in the afternoon to take the points at the Trott, but the following week, the Red ‘n’ Blacks raised their 2009 premiership flag and pummelled Old Trinity by 97 points.
A trip to Elsternwick was on the menu in Round 3, with Xavs feasting on Marcellin in the second half. The following week, however, De La Salle proved too quick for the Claret and Stout at Dairy Bell.
In Round 5, Old Xaverians held out against a strong finishing St Bede’s Mentone Tigers at Brindisi Street and then went home where they beat a determined Uni Blues in Round 6.
In Round 7, Old Brighton provided some strong opposition, but Xavs booted four in the final term to seal it.
The X-Men beat Old Scotch In Round 8 and then headed to Barkers Road, where they accounted for Old Melburnians at XC to close the first half in third position.
After the break, Xavs beat Marcellin and then defeated De La Salle at Toorak Park to take over second spot.
Into Round 12, all three top teams were at 9 and 2, but this logjam was broken when Collegians beat Old Xaverians at Toorak Park. De La Salle beat Marcellin to resume second spot.
Xavs won at the Daley against Old Trinity in convincing style, maintained their unbeaten home record against St Bede’s Mentone Tigers, and then walloped Uni Blues at Elsternwick.
The run home featured clashes with three strugglers and a top two finish seemed possible, even likely, but certainly not assured.
Oliver Gidley played his 150th as Xavs beat Old Melburnians In Round 16.
In Round 17, Xavs survived a wild one with Old Scotch. The Cards led by 10 points at the lemons, but Coach Lethlean rejigged the whiteboard. Big final quarters from Wynne, Biddlecombe, Handley, Howard, Darvell, Ball and Noonan produced a five-goals-to-none final term and another victory over the Red Men.
Round 18 at Beach Road saw a 26 point win to the visitors. In a scrappy affair, the leadership and toughness of Matt Ball was a highlight whilst the form of Darvell, Larkins, Wynne and Howard was solid.
The boys kicked well early which probably sealed the game in retrospect. Rush goaled well twice and Darvell also chimed in to give the Xavs an early lead. The remainder of the day was a real slog and to the boys credit, they dug deep when needed and got the crucial 4 points.
So the home and away season ended. Xavs had dropped both games with Collegians, but aside from a R4 defeat at DLS, had won every other encounter.
De La Salle missed the double chance on percentage, while Uni Blues had sewn up fourth spot in early August.
The bottom half of the ladder had failed to make any impression in this season of mismatches. Old Melburnians and Old Trinity might have been relegated in other seasons, and both would be over the next two years.
The ladder showed the strength was all at the top.
Collegians 16-2
Old Xaverians 15-3
De La Salle 15-3
University Blues 12-6
St Bedes-Mentone 9-9
Old Scotch 7-11
Old Melburnians 6-12
Old Trinity 5-12-1
Old Brighton 3-14-1
Marcellin 1-17
De La Salle accounted for Uni Blues in the stand-alone affair, while Collegians and Xavs had to wait a week to fight for the first grand final offer.
In a tension-packed low scoring affair, before a large crowd, Collegians defeated Old Xaverians for the third time this season in the Premier Second Semi-final at Elsternwick today.
Xavs started well and looked dangerous in the heavy conditions and at quarter time we held what was to be the biggest margin of the game (13 points).
In the second quarter Collegians hit back hard and the game was again an arm wrestle. At half time Old Xavs held a slender 1 point margin.
The third quarter was much the same with both backlines holding up very well with only a goal scored by each side. Just one behind separated them as the last quarter commenced.
Courageous Collegians skipper Chris Blumfield booted the winning goal with just minutes left to send the Lions back to the Grand Final. Ruckman/defender James Jorgensen was again the killer for Xavs, marking and clearing with constancy and purpose. Xaverians face De La Salle next week in the Preliminary Final.
Collegians: 7-8-50 defeated Old Xavs: 6-9-45
Goal Kickers: M. Darvell 2, B. Goss , M. Handley , L. Howard , J. Shaw
Best Players: J. Shaw, M. Allan, A. Biddlecombe, R. Colbert, M. Darvell, D. Noonan
There are always winners and losers, but the football gods are at their most cruel in September.
De La Salle fell to Old Xaverians by three points in a preliminary that was seemingly theirs for the taking.
The Red 'n' Blacks were all over DLS in the first term, but much of their goal advantage was put down to wind. However, for nearly twenty minutes of the second period, their backline held firm. Matthew Moore went ballistic for five minutes and the Dees played out the half with confidence.
That confidence soared in the third when they outran Xavs, who had seen all of their momentum evaporate under the fierce pressure of the Blue and Gold running game.
DLS trailed by just three points at the last turn and with a favourable breeze at their backs in the final term, the bookies were keeping them safe.
There wasn't much smiling going on among the Xavs crowd. Matt Handley drew first blood and Xavs led by 9 points, but just minutes later, after Sam Pickett, Jordan Pollard and Jarrod Moloney goaled in a frenzy, the Dees led by nine points.
Marcus Allan pulled one back at the twelve-minute mark and suddenly Xavs were looking the better team. Defences held sway until the 21-minute mark when Handley grabbed one in a pack and kicked truly to put the reigning premier back in front.
The Red and Blacks attacked again, full of run and Ollie Gidley had a chance from twenty-five to boot the sealer. Instead, he began a chain of kicks that took the ball across the ground and back to the grandstand wing. Finally, there was a contest, but it was Luke Howard, one week shy of the anniversary of his Jock Nelson Medal win, who leaped and smashed the Sherrin into the fence.
The resultant throw-in signalled curtains for De La and another grand final for Old Xaverians, who will chase their first back-to-back flag since 2000.
Collegians, of course, will have plenty to say about that.
Old Xaverians 12.7-79 defeated De La Salle 11.10.76
Best: Wynne, Mercuri, Agius, Allan, Dimattina, Shaw.
And so to the finale, the Premier Grand Final. Collegians have not lost since June and have beaten Old Xaverians three times this year.
On Opening Day at the Trott, they ran away at the end and subsequent meetings have been decided in the dying minutes. Only a fool would predict anything but another close tussle.
If history is any guide, these teams appear to have the tools to stop each other, more shields than spears. In attack, these teams measure up fairly evenly, while Xavs defence is the tighter of the two secure units.
All in all, it's set to be a spectacular weekend of VAFA football, culminating in the fight for the L A Adamson Cup. "Dickie" Adamson, a giant of Victorian sports administration, was a Collegian to his bootstraps, and no doubt he'll be watching from somewhere as the men of Wesley attempt to spoil Old Xaverians' year.
Easier said than done, but of course, entirely possible.
Old Xaverians 4.3 6.6 9.7 11.8-74
Collegians 2.1 6.9 6.11 7.12-54
Goals: Mercuri 3, Allan 2, Rogerson, Handley, Colbert, Howard, Larkins, Biddlecombe
Best: Colbert, Allan, Rogerson, Biddlecombe, Mercuri, Howard
Old Xaverians won their twelfth premiership in the top tier when it defeated Collegians by twenty points at Sportscover today.
It was the into-the-wind play of the Red and Blacks that made the difference. In the final term, they added two goals - a tricky set shot from Luke Howard at the four-minute mark, and the sealer, a scintillating and devastating Jon Mercuri chase-and-bait and full speed finish that brought down the house.
Played under overcast skies and with a souwester blowing hard most of the afternoon, Xaverians got away early but Collegians reeled them in. Had they kicked straighter, they might have been harder to toss. As it was, they led by a whisker at the half, but Chris Blumfield and Nick Ries, the Lions' captain and vice, had come off late in the second stanza.
Once again, as in the third term last week, Xavs struggled with the wind but Andy Biddlecombe bombed one late in the quarter to stretch the lead to fourteen points.
Certainly, the breeze was strong enough to provide the Lions with confidence going into the season's final stanza, but Xavs milked the clock from the outset, finding loose players across half-back and bottling the ball on the defensive outer side.
Shura Taft booted one at the twelve-minute mark to answer Howard's early goal, but the scoring dried up again until Mercuri turned on the after-burners.
Ryan Colbert, whose work pushing back deep into defence was invaluable, won the JF Nelson Medal for best afield.
Collegians, who had a massive season, losing just two of nineteen following seven wins to finish 2009, were left wondering how it all had come undone at the wrong time.
One reason was the game of Dan Rush, who ensured that regular Xavs-killer James Jorgensen played but a minor role. The big ruckman had taken many telling defensive marks in previous meetings, but this time Rush was employed as a defensive forward. He often dragged him away from the contest, but also had his measure in the aerial duels.
After the triumph, Xavs' coach Simon Lethlean announced that he would not be back next year, though wouldn't rule out a return at a later date. While six of his players yesterday were first time premiership medallists, Lethlean now has seven blue necklaces, a VAFA record he shares with former teammates John Bowen and Tim Ockleshaw. Some nice symmetry there for the man who wore the number 7 as a five-time premiership player.
The game started well for the Xavs and we got onto the scoreboard early through Colbert, and a couple of minutes later Agius narrowly missed with a shot on his non-preferred on the run from outside the arc.
Purss and Shaw were getting first use of the ball out of the ruck and the backline looked like they were on. Marcus Allan kicked a great goal, and a few minutes later Matt ‘Chopper’ Handley marked right on 45, went back and pumped it through the big sticks.
A pinpoint pass from Agius spotted up Mercuri right on the 45-metre arc and as Chopper had done earlier, Mercs sent the Sherrin straight over the umpire’s hat. A couple of late Collegians goals wasn’t what we were looking for, but all in all, a solid first quarter and you could tell the boys were on.
Out on the ground at the huddle, one had a better feel for the breeze, which seemed to be strengthening and helping Collegians in the second quarter. Chopper almost got us off to the perfect start, and his set shot, which looked good off the boot drifted on the wind and missed.
Goals into the wind at Elsternwick Park are worth their weight in gold, and managing to kick a couple through Rogerson and Allan, evened out the fact that Collegians piled on four goals, and could have easily been a lot further in front if not for inaccurate kicking.
The third quarter saw an early set shot goal to Larkins, the game slowed a bit and we looked as if we were playing into the wind, not with it. The backline was under enormous pressure. Noonan was keeping the big man Watts quiet, and Dynon was doing a great job on the dangerous Taft. Big Lynchy, playing as the loose man across half-back was reading the play to perfection and preventing likes of Dixon and Watts getting their hands on the ball.
Biddlecombe sneaked forward and was on the end of a great passage of play and kicked an important goal late into the quarter, then Mercuri kicked his second for the day, a quick snap from the goal square.
Fourteen points up at three-quarter time, with the opposition kicking with a solid breeze. Could we hold off the opposition, into the breeze, two weeks in a row?
A huge Old Xavs army formed behind the goals at the scoreboard end. A huge effort was needed if the Xavs were to protect this lead and come out on top.
Collegians got off to a good start early in the quarter and our back six was under the pump. Taft snapped truly and the score was back to 8 points.
It was a real arm wrestle for the next few minutes, with the Xavs managing to chew up the clock without allowing Collegians to impact on the scoreboard.
Time was ticking by, but with only an eight point lead, we knew there was plenty of time for Collegians to take the lead.
Luke Howard marked 20 metres out on an extreme angle, on the wrong side for a right footer, and the wind not helping. This would have to be a perfect kick. Off the boot, the kick looked to have missed everything, but the wind got a hold of it and it sailed inside the near goal post and then through the goals.
Back to a 14 point lead with half the quarter gone. The ball went forward for Collegians again and Dimattina, Wynne, Dynon and co, held strong, ate up the clock and kept the ball wide and in the pockets.
We got the ball forward and wide, in front of the Collegians coaches box. It was Mercuri versus a couple of opponents. Jono let the ball go over his head, turned quickly, paddling it forward while being held by his opponent. The umpire was clearly paying advantage and could feel something special coming.
The little master kept the ball moving forward while somehow managing to keep his feet. Closer and closer to the goals, until he shrugged off his opponent, took clean possession for the first time and pumped it through from a tight angle. The crowd behind the goals went nuts, and I think just then the boys knew they were home.
The siren sounded a couple of minutes later and the celebrations began. The coaches box erupted. All except for coach Lethlean, who stood with his arms folded, a tear in each eye, savouring the moment. The last moment of four-year coaching career that has seen one premiership as assistant coach to Barry Richardson, and two consecutive flags as senior coach.
Congratulations to all the players, coaches, and helpers throughout the year. The celebrations have been huge, and they are continuing.
B: Tim Dynon, Dan Noonan, Nick Dimattina
HB: Andy Biddlecombe, Damian Lynch, Nick Wynne
C: Brad Rogerson, Matt Ball, Esmond Prowse
HF: Luke Howard, Matt Handley, Chris Larkins
F: John Mercuri, Dan Rush, Michael Darvell
Foll: John Shaw, Ryan Colbert, Marcus Allan
Int: Josh Agius, Oliver Gidley, Cam Purss, Lachlan Smith
This was an epic Grand Final in every respect. The large crowd; the weather - warm turned to cold - the wind was up, then down, then blew again; the commitment of both teams to the contest and to the outcome.
The first half was frenetic and there’s no doubt that the Lions should have scored more goals, but splitting the sticks at Elsternwick in September is not as easy as it looks, not when pressure is applied and players know that the chance might not come again.
The second half was not as pretty. Played at a more tactical pace, the teams wrestled their way through, though there some individual masterpieces. Foremost, of course, was the sealer: some sheer, uncanny and electric brilliance from Jon Mercuri. For those who saw it, it is likely still their favourite-ever strike.
There’s a touch of sadness about that one too. The following March, Mercuri crashed into the Toorak Park fence at speed and with force in the internal practice match, and we never saw him at his peak again. I remember Simon Lethlean watching him that day alongside David Landrigan, who had taken the senior coaching role at OMs. “How are you going to stop Mercuri? He’s the best player in the comp,” he taunted his former teammate. Sadly, Chach didn’t need to worry about that one.
Colls had beaten Xavs three times in 2010 and had won six of the previous eight contests between the two teams. Not this day. The unfettered aggression of Brad Rogerson and Luke Howard stand out still. Both were creative with the football and just as dangerous when they didn’t have it. When two of the smallest players on the ground set the scene, the team usually follows. At the back, Damo Lynch, dubbed the “Big Glazed Ham” by frustrated opponents, along with Andy Biddlecombe, Tim Dynon, Nick Wynne and Nick Dimattina played out of their skins. In the midfield, the long-sleeved duo of Marcus Allan and Jock Nelson winner Ryan Colbert just kept running and bouncing and penetrating.
Winning back-to-back flags was a triumph for coach Simon Lethlean, who had lost some leaders from 2009, but knitted together a team that did a magnificent job, especially when it counted.
The following season, under new coach Andy Gowers, saw the Xavs inexplicably splutter against St Bede’s Mentone Tigers in the preliminary final. Collegians then won the flag, though Fergus Watts had departed for Uni Blues, replaced by Nick Sautner.
And the Lions did it again in 2012, narrowly defeating the Red ‘n’ Blacks on a windy day when the umpires didn’t see all that the players and crowd did.
In 2013, of course, the X-Men returned to the dais.
The Lugar reported:
The Ménages were crowned the inaugural Premier Thirds Premiers on Sunday after another top class performance in the Grand Final. It was a relatively tight affair early against the always dangerous De La Salle, but the Xavs fought hard and deserved their medallions.
The day didn’t quite get off to the start we were after, with a centre square line infringement gifting De La the first clearance and a subsequent goal. But the boys regrouped, won the next clearance and managed to answer it back through Matt Roache. The remainder of the first quarter was tense and tough, with De La coming into the first break slightly in front.
The second quarter was again tense as the Ménages kicked with a slight breeze heading towards the Glenhuntly Road end for the first time in history. We controlled the footy for much of the quarter but just couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard. The back six of DiPietro, Sleeman, Lynch, Trahair, Tom Grigg and Doyle were resolute and mostly unbeaten in the air or on the ground all day. By half time we had wrestled the lead back and were gaining momentum.
The third quarter is the premiership quarter and it’s probably fair to say that’s where the Ménages won the game. A dominant display starting from the combination of Morton and Dan Meehan in the ruck with Torre, Purcell, Trovato, Moylan, Evans, Chisholm and Dipierdomenico all contributing through the midfield. The boys were on top in all areas of the game and started to create a handy margin. Dan Molan was super in the third quarter and could have added another quality goal to his tally if not for an apparent shepherding infringement in the goal square.
The last quarter was a formality, but the boys never gave in and fought it out right to the end. Hanger, Romanin and Roache presented well across half forward and McDonnell, Altis and Dimattina gave great options deep in our forward half and supplied some intense forward pressure. There was some slight inaccuracy in front of the goals, but in the end it was irrelevant as the Ménages ran out the game better and were justifiably rewarded with the 2010 Premiership.
Congratulations Ménages, it has been a tough and challenging year for this group, but we got there in the end. 52 players represented the Thirds in 2010 and each contributed to this premiership. Many thanks again to the off-field help in Dale Kaine, Nick Butler and Kotown, who all did a sterling job.
The boys have celebrated well thus far and will continue to do so in the coming days and weeks. Well done and enjoy it, we are the Premiers.
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