September 7, 2024
ONES STUN CARDS: RESSIES ROLLED
R18 was VAFA football at its craziest
A Century of the Red & Black
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The Week 12 split produced just five wins from ten starts. The U19s endured another poor weekend, but Saturday's win for the seniors punted them into the four and places their destiny back in their own hands. Next week, a bye for all teams.
Old Xaverians hammered Old Melburnians at Elsternwick with a fine four quarter performance that gave the Dark Blues no chance. The Red 'n' Blacks won by 73 points, their biggest margin of the year, allowing just two late consolation goals to the Men of Harlech after holding them goalless for the best part of three quarters.
The X-Men posted their highest score of the season, booting 17 goals for the second time this campaign. They won every quarter on the scoreboard for the the first time, and clambered into the four on percentage over Uni Blues and Collegians, both of whom lost.
The slippery conditions factored in, it was a splendid effort, with many players close to their best. The mosquito fleet of Hayden Troiani, Ben Bilston-McGillen, Jack Hewitt and debutant Xavier Austin (is he the first 'Xavier' to play seniors at Old Xaverians?) revelled in the action. Stirling Phipps-Parsons, Ed Delany and Charlie MacIsaac were ever dangerous around the goals, and Wade Brusnahan booted 3.1 in the final term as well as hitting the aforementioned Austin lace-out to allow him his first senior goal.
The Red 'n' Blacks were well served in the middle with Sam Fisher, Marcus Stavrou, Alec Spralja and Charlie Holmes all playing significant roles. Sam Ralph played a ripper, linking the defence with the attackers, and Charlie Westcott continued to impress. The defence was disciplined and solid and gave OMs little latitude, apart from a few turnovers.
Dan Donati's team now has an excellent path to September. There will be plenty of challenges along the way, but this is a team that is building. a two week break will freshen up some legs before the huge run home.
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Some crucial results around the grounds, with a ladder shuffle before the double bye:
Fitzroy won its second when it stunned St Bernard's, who kicked woefully.
Uni Blues lost its second straight when it fell at home to Old Brighton
Old Scotch nearly blew its game with Uni Blacks at Scotch College, but eked out a narow win.
St Kevin's smashed an undermanned Collegians at Moonga Road.
Dimitri's Gladiators stayed unbeaten with a 52 point torching of the Old Melburnians at Elsternwick. Xavs had first use and went out to a twenty-three point lead by the first change. However, the Dark Blues had the better of the second term, challenging late to cut the margin to 19 points at the long break.
But that was it for the home team. After the rev, the Men of Harlech limped through the second half, adding just 3 behinds to their score.
The X-Men added 2.6 in the third, and the same in the final term, to stay in top spot at the the double bye.
It began well enough, with the Red 'n' Blacks booting two first quarter goals, but the scoring dried up for the home team beyond the first break. The visitors went from strength-to-strength and inflicted a heavy defeat on the WOX.
Amy Benifer was again named best, extending her purple patch.
Visiting Williamstown managed at least one goal per quarter as it ran over Xavs at Greythorn Park. The Red 'n' Blacks did not score a goal in the first half, which made a comeback win unlikely.
Old Xaverians trailed all day at Fearon and went down by 22 points to Williamstown in a tough contest. Brendan O'Sullivan returned to the coach's box for a one-game cameo, but was powerless to stop the Seagulls, who established an eary lad that it would not relinquish.
Two goals and a BOG performance from Pat Gilmour was not enough to hoist the Ted 'n' Blacks to victory. Old Haileybury, for years without an U19 team, did the business all too well for the X-Men, who found scoring difficult and defending even harder.
Beaumaris came from behind to seize the points at Shark Park on Friday night. The home team fell behind early, but held the visitors scoreless in the second term and then worked its way back to trail by just three points at the lemons. The last quarter was a tussle, but Beaumaris did a little better and grabbed the valuable points.
Oliver Tehan booted four and was BOG as the Red 'n' Blacks won a tight, wind-affected tussle with SKOB at Toorak Park. Scoring into the breeze was a trial, and Kevs were goalless in the first term.
The X-Men managed one into the gale while the Tricolours frittered away chances to go to the sheds at 2.10, still 17 points adrift. They straightened up in third, playing well to score 3.1 to the Claret and Stout's 4.6.
The home team led by 28 points at the lemons. Kevs scored enough to take the points, except that the Red 'n' Blacks added another two majors to edge them out.
The Emerald Hose clobbeted Masala for the second time this season, securing four more premiership points in a 98 point romp. Tom McCarthy was best in a strong team effort. Ten Crocodiles scored goals and plenty more tried.
Xavier McIntyre and Conor O'Brien booted three apiece and Ethan Browne was best as the Xavs rolled over Hawthorn at Rathmines. It was a solid four quarter effort from the Red 'n' Blacks, whose first quarter return was just a behind short of the Hawks' four-quarter output.
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