November 19, 2024
RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
A Century of the Red & Black
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Mixed fortunes for the Red 'n' Blacks, with the Seniors and WOX Twos pulling off vital victories in less thn salutory conditions. The Reserves, Crocs and Menages all maintained their unbeaten records, with the latter two chalking up the points without even lacing on the boots. It's cruch time for the U19 Premier team, who face a big task to make the finals.
Old Xaverians won a tough slog at Harry Trott with a sustained four quarter effort that was the best of their season thus far. At times outplayed by the reigning premier, who handled the saponaceous conditions a little better, the Red 'n' Blacks kept pressing. They led at every change and won by 11 points after players from both teams had exhausted all efforts.
The rain that came at noon had made life tough, and the weather never really improved. Still, the game was played with great endeavour and in top spirit.
The visitors opened it up first. Charlie Knott marked and goal in the first minute, but Xavs fell behind at 11 minutes when the Lions booted their first from a stoppage. Marcus Stavrou marked an errant kick, received a long 50 metre penalty and slotted the X-Men's second at 17 minutes. Collegians had some excellent chances late in the term but could only manage minor scores with ground and bll slippery. The visitors took a 2 point lead to the first break and looked forward to attacking the southern goals, which had proved to be the scoring end in the curtainraiser.
However, Collegians kicked the first goal of the second term at ten minutes after Xavs missed a couple of tackles. It took another fifteen minutes, but Colls nailed their second for the stanza with effective forward kicking. The Purples were hitting targets by foot, and had taken over the game. The X-Men were struggling, but for no longer. From the centre, Dan Hannebery to Denis Symeopoulos to Jack Hewitt and the diminutive left legger kicked truly. From the restart, Xavs went forward again and Hewitt again goaled. Xavs were inexplicably back in front. And so it was at the long break.
A minute in to the third, Collegians couldn't cap a promising foray, but at the other end, Charlie MacIsaac danced through traffic to increase the lead. The visitors' advantage held only until midterm when the Lions finally straightened up and added two goals in short time. However, the pendulum swung yet again in time-on with Symeopoulos and Sam Ralph adding majors to send the Claret and Stout to an eight-point lead at the lemons.
There have been some gripping final stanzas between these two over the seasons. Many will recall Jason Holmes' miss from the goalsquare and his redmption from the same spot the year after. The Rohan Bewick torp from sixty, the Jarryd Skene incident and many other moments. It's always tense there when the game is tight.
Collegians missed early. And missed again at 10 minutes. A goal the difference. Neither team looked capable of stringing together effective passages, with turnovers frequent in exceptionally heavy traffic. Xavs went forward and might have received a free kick, but play continued. Xavier Austin marked and from 40 metres slotted a beauty at 19 minutes. At 21 minutes, Collegians goaled again after some quick ball movement that confused the Xavs' defence.
From the centre, the Red 'n' Blacks went forward and nearly managed a behind that would have been priceless. Collegians cleared, but Xavs came again. Long they went and Charlie MacIsaac, once dubbed 'The Future', but now very much 'The Now', took a screamer and goaled. 24 minutes elapsed and they led by 12 points. The sun shone through the drizzle as cools attacked with purpose. The X-Men defended with similar intent. Collegians scored a rushed behind at 29 minutes. A minute later, Old Xaverians secued their 8th win of their last 12 games on the Trott. And they were back in the top four.
Big Al Spralja was again high in the best. What a stunning season he is having. His tap work and follow-up is brilliant and he is becoming more of a force around the park. Mids Marcus Stavrou and Sam Fisher were hard at it all afternoon, and Dan Hannebery found lenty of it too. Defenders Hamish Bowen and Tom Hart were the pick of the back six this week.
Full marks to Collegians for ensuring the ground was in a condition that was better than most around Melbourne. They might feel that poor goalkicking cost them the points, but on days like yesterday, there are no gimmes.
Next week, Xavs return to Toorak Park for a two week hometand against the Varsity clubs. Blues is first up and the Red 'n' Blacks have a real opportunity now to put some distance between themselves and the field below it. Collegians head out to West Essendon, where winning can never be taken for granted by visiting teams.
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Fitzroy (37) were never in against Old Brighton (72) after the Tonners switched on early.
St Bernard's (98) put away Uni Blacks (63) at the Snakepit.
Old Scotch (61) triled by nine points at the lemons, but stormed home booting 5.1 to zero in the final term to defeat Uni Blues (39).
At Elsternwick, Old Melburnians drew with St Kevin's (48 apiece) after the OMs had the final three shots at goal, all of which were minors.
At the bottom of the ladder, Bernies are a game clear of ninth-placed Blacks, while OMs have half-a-game in hand.
Xavs went to 13-0 with a hard-fought win over Collegians at Harry Trott. There was plenty of wind and rain to ensure skill levels never soared, though the Lions put together some nice pasages in their five goal first term. The home team led by 17 points at the first change and with heaven's gate fully ajar, it might have been a margin that troubled some.
Not these X-Men, who took the initiative to kick four goals to none in the second. The Lakers weren't quite done, as their third term saw them go out to a lead before the X-Men levelled it up just before the lemons.
The final stanza was all Xavs, as they maintained possession and gradually incresed the gap. Collegians tried desperately to stem and reverse the flow, but the Claret and Stout weren't going to let this one slip.
The two Oscars led the way for the X-Men. Ben Bilston-McGillen played a peach of a game, while the Raging Bull Lucas Agnoletto made a welcome return after injury. Makuc Mahommed was the best forward on the park in conditions not conducive to slick skills.
The WOX, playing shorthanded, suffered a massive defeat against a powerful Westbourne lineup. Amy Benifer again showed the way for the Red 'n' Blacks and she had plenty of willing teammates. On this day, Xavs couldn't muster much in the way of forward entries as the home team outplayed them all over the park.
With a stunning final term, Old Xaverians beat second-placed Westbourne to jump into the four. A bright opening by the visitors gave way to barren quarters that allowed the Westies to lead by two poits at the lemons. However, the visitors weren't done. Holding their hosts scoreless while adding 2.1 thesmselves saw them scamper home and keep finals hopes alive.
Xavs nearly got there, but not quite. Instead, they played out a low-scoring draw at Dairy Bell and were left wondering what might have been, and indeed, what is next. The run home is tough, and at full-strength, the Red 'n' Blacks are capable of making, and going deep in, the finals.
Ed Dalton and Harry Bird were high in the best for Matt Handley's team, which could manage just four goalkickers and no multiple scorers.
There are tense days ahead for the defending champion.
The U19 Twos were caught well short against a rampant Old Carey at Stradbroke Park. Cooper McLean was best and Charlie Wright-Smith kicked three goals for the vanquished, who fell behind early and never managed to get back into contention.
Pat Quilty was best afield and kicked seven of eleven goals as the Red 'n' Blacks were well short of Glen Eira/McKinnon. At the lemons, the Xavs had a chance, trailing by just 13 points. But the visitors kicked seven in the final term to run away with it.
The U23s, led by four goals from Sam Asdagi and a BOG effort from Harry Hosking, ran away to a 127 point victory over Old Brighton. The Xavs led all day and the Tonners' only two goals came in the third term. Tougher opposition is expected in coming weeks.
The 232s returned to the winners circle when they torched West Brunswick by 89 points at Stradbroke Park. Jack Shirley played another beauty, and Charlie Cranderson was highly effective as the Xavs found the goals at either end. Conor O'Brien and Tomas Russell booted three each in the rout. The Magpies struggled from the start against a strong team that has big aspirations.
