November 19, 2024
RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
A Century of the Red & Black
The weekend produced some big results for the Red 'n' Blacks, headlined by twin 99 point victories for the Ones and Twos over Uni Blues. The Crocs completed their home and away season with a thumping win, and the U23 Twos defeated hitherto unbeaten Old Ivanhoe and the WOX Twos have clinched a finals berth after defeating OGs and jumping into second spot. Well played.
The continued absence of some star players did little to boost Uni Blues’ optimism about ripping the Carmody Cup from the Red ‘n’ Blacks. As it transpired, that pessimism was well-founded, as the Red 'n' Blacks ripped Blues by 99 points at Toorak Park to ensure the trophy will be in the cabinet when the new social rooms and grandstand are complete.
From go to whoah, Xavs dominated this one. First quarter specialist Stirling Phipps Parsons opened the home team’s account at five minutes. At seven minutes, Alex Trigar laid a brilliant tackle, the ball spilled to Tommy Dunne who opened it up for Sam Fisher, who goaled on the run. At eleven minutes, Campbell “Bronco’ Lane, who’d had plenty of it already, found Charlie McIsaac, who was scragged and landed the X-Men’s third from the free-kick. Blues were under intense pressure, already 22 points in arrears.
They did silence the Red ‘n’ Blacks for a short spell, and at 20 minutes, Blues finally managed a behind, and two minutes later, a goal. The Claret and Stout responded immediately. Xavier Austin drove them forward, MacIsaac gathered and snapped his second. Dan Tuddenham was on the end of a couple of constructive handballs and snapped truly at 28 minutes. The time matched the margin!
MacIsaac was the beneficiary of a free-kick off the ball, but was wide again as the second term opened. Skipper Stavrou missed too. Xavs led by 31. Six minutes in, Fisher snapped his second courtesy a handball from Phipps-Parsons. Lane had his first ping at the sticks and drew twin calicos. Ten minutes gone and the X-Men had shot out to a 44 point advantage. Sam Fisher booted his third with a arrow-straight set shot and then out of the middle they came again, with MacIsaac marking and goaling from close range.
Andrews marked 30 out and booted Xavs’ tenth. This was a rout. Symeopoulos snapped another after great pressure from the X-Men in the middle. The home team won the restart again and thumped it down to Andrews, who marked and goaled again. Into time-on in the second, the difference was a massive 73 points. Then MacIsaac goaled again after a strong mark. Blues went forward, Jed Feneley began a sweep through the middle. Lane was involved again. Julian Soccio won the raffle and strolled in for another goal. The Varsity had completely lost their structure, with the Xavs' back three waiting unmarked like NFL punt returners. After nine unanswered goals in the stanza, the teams went to the sheds with the Saveloys up by 86 points, the club’s biggest half time lead since the 2011 second-semi when they were 63 points ahead of these same Uni Blues.
The third term opened with the home team showing ferocity similar to that displayed since the outset. Five minutes in, MacIsaac marked 35 out and received a 50 metre penalty. Goal number five to the Big V forward. Then at 11 minutes, after Phipps-Parsons hit him lace out, he slipped throughhis sixth, splitting the centre from in front of a scoreboard. Xavs by 100!
Blues scored their second goal at 19 minutes, and their third seven minutes later. Their improved effort in the third term hadn’t stopped the X-Men increasing their advantage, which would have have been greater still had they kicked better.
Opening the final stanza, the Red ‘n’ Blacks went forward from defence with some run and carry. Phipps Parsons found MacIsaac who handed it off to Symeopoulus for Xavs 17th. Blues kicked their fourth but Sam Ralph kicked his first for the day. Midway through the term, Xavs were done in by a shocking bounce and the visitors kicked their 5th. Into time-on, King Charles kicked his 7th, and Lane his second. Andrews pointed to ensure Xavs won by 99, the same margin as in the curtainraiser.
Coach Donati would have been happy with the day's effort, which built on last week's four quarter effort against Collegians. MacIsaac was at his mercurial best, and across the middle, Stavrou, Lane, Fisher and Dan Hannebery pounded it forward with regularity. Of course, one cannot overlook Alec Spralja's role in providing opportunities. He has become a river to his people this past season and a half. Ben Andrews played at both ends and did so very well. Tom Dunne was perhaps in the game more than any of his defensive teammates and gave plenty.
It was a team performance that promised there is more to come. Xavs will complete their home commitment against Blacks next Saturday and rest for a week before a tough three week road trip that will decide whether the Red 'n' Blacks make the cut. Uni Blues are now cut adrift, but Collegians still have a lifeline. It ain't over yet!
.png)
As predicted in the Lugar on Friday, Old Scotch (105) tossed Old Brighton (80) at Camberwell. Fitzroy seems to have slipped a notch and was smashed by St Kevin's (116). Bernies (66) were plucky at home but were run down by Collegians (83) and Uni Blacks (71) jumped ahead of OMs (47) into eighth place.
The ladder, with four to play:
OB: v StB, @ Colls, v Xavs, v SKOB
SKOB: v OS, @ Blax, v StB, @ OB
OS: @ SKOB, @OM, v COLL, v OX
OX: v Blax, @ StB, @ OB, @ OS
COLL: @ Blues, v OB, @ OS, v Fitz
An old rivalry, played out over many Septembers this century, appears dormant after the Red ‘n’ Blacks pounded Uni blues by 99 points in yesterday's Toorak Park curtainraiser.
After trading early goals, it was the home team that jumped away in the latter part of the first stanza when Wade Brusnahan, Nick Brown, Harrison Bell and Makuc Mahommed drew twin calicos.
The visitors scored the first goal of the second, but Bobby Knott, Bell and Ted Kennedy replied. Knott added another, and half way through the period,the X-Men led by 43 points.
The giant that has hibernated until well beyond noon most weeks this year had risen early. Matt Exell, Sam Turner and Bell again hit the scoreboard, a run of seven goals to the home team broken by just one six-point response from the Varsity. At the half, Xavs were 56 points to the better.
After the break, Blues again booted the opening goal. Minutes of inaccuracy from the home team were broken by Bell, who nailed two in the third term. Will Hart landed one at 18 minutes and Brown snapped another two minutes later. Blues responded to close the quarter 72 points in arrears.
There was a slow beginning to the final stanza, but at 11 minutes, the Senator slipped through his second. Brusnahan marked, sat down, adjusted his footwear and then punted it through from 40 to extend the lead further. From the ensuing centre ball-up, Xavs went forward from the back of the square. Mahommed found Kennedy, who smashed one home from 55 metres.
Time ran out as Harrison Bell added Xavs’ 20th to see the table-toppers win by 99 points. Though undermanned and outskilled, Blues played it out to the very end despite falling well short of the result they required. Finals chances are still there for Blues, but they will need to win their last four. That Xavs will play the three teams in front of them might help.
Mind you, Dimitri's Gladiators appear to be in no mood to help anyone but themselves to premiership points. The coach's hardest decisions are at the selection table and then in choosing his best six from twenty-two. Connor Dunne received the nod for BOG yesterday. His form has been sound, as have the performances of Oscar Duncan. Each week is different, with different stars shining, but the team is functioning at seriously effective levels.
Having seen their clubmates destry OGs in the curtainraiser, there was some optimism that the WOX could mount a serious challenge in ther clash with the hoops. Although their performance improved as the game wore on, it was the Oggers who established the early pace, and kept it up all afternoon.
Chiara Chiarelli booted two and was named best. Mel Clarke, Ella Neuwirth and Amy Benifer have been great performers regularly and were again. Keirah Dowd and Vanessa Murphy also shone in aperformance that did not provide suitable reqwards befitting the strong effort.
The WOX Twos will play finals after pouncing on the Oggers at Greythorn yeterday. Lucy Lentini showed the way and Linia sinikov kicked four as the Red 'n' Blacks conceded just a solitary goal while pumping through twelve of their own.
The WOX have jumped into second spot but will likely need to beat top-ranked Fitzroy to avoid the knockout first semi-final. Still, it has been a great effort to qualify for thr post-season, so congratulations to a team that never lost sight of its goals.
The U19 Premier team matched it for a half with the top-of-table Tonners, but could not sustain their efforts as effectively beyond the long break. The final result saw Old Brighton win by 21 points, despite a solid effort from the Red 'n' Blacks.
Ned Betts and Tom Gorman were the pick of the bunch yesterday. aaron Ivak kicked two but Xavs couldn't find that well-worn path to goals that the team needs.
Xavs are a game and a half out with three to play, so further slip-ups will be deadly.
St Bernard's proved far too good for the Red 'n' Blacks at West Essendon yesterday. The Pitters established an early lead and while the young Xavs fought back to trail by just a goal at the half, the Bernies applied the pressure in the second half and took the points easily.
Michael Cannalonga was best and Gus Gorman and Sam Turner booted six apiece as the X-Men routed arch-rival SKOB. The big win saw the 193s record hit 5-9 with three to play.
Old Xavs survived a close one as Fitzroy pushed the U23s all the way in a low-scoring affair at Peterson Oval. Sams Casserly and Asdagi were best as the visitors held a narrow lead at each break and kept their noses in front.
Next week, finals time, as the minor premier Old Xaverians meets St Kevin's. Details to be advised.
Sunday afternoon at David Smorgon was the setting for a first v third clash, and for the first three quarters, it look as if the Jackers might take this one to the line, if not the bank.
Xavs seemingly shook off the home team late in the third stanza, but the locals responded with 2.3 in the dying minutes to get within 4 points at the lemons. But as they turned for home, the Triangles went into top gear. By half-way home, they's kicked out to a five goal lead and there it stayed.
Big Bill Curtis was best and Lucas Soccio booted four in the win that clinched an unbeaten/untied home and away season.
The Menages meet St Kevin's next week in the second semi-final.
The Reptiles negotiated their regular season dance card without blemish, topping it with an 119 point win over Old Camberwell. Sean Stanly, [laying game 100, was best in a great tune-up for next week's finals. Adam MacIsaac booted four in the big win and eleven of his teammates split the uprights on the day.
The Emarald Hose will meet Old Carey, which has not lost since R10. Details to follow.
Xavs met late competition entrant Old Ivanhoe for the first time yesterday, and survived a strong challenge from the Browns. Ed MacIsaac and Charlie Cranderson led the way in the tight tussle, which the Red 'n' Blacks eventually won by 26 points after trailing by a point at the lemons. The Old Ivanhoe team was looking to maintain its spotless record, but couldn't match it in the final term.
Old Xaverians have won the minor premiership - that's four from four this year in VAFA Thirds' competitions. Next week is a week off, as there will be a five team finals series.
