March 28, 2025
LIFT-OFF!
Season, social room launched
A Century of the Red & Black
From the packed-out lunch to christen the new pavilion to four smashing performances on the Toorak Park lawn, and some big wins elsewhere, the Old Xaverians' season jumped off to a brilliant start. Of the ten teams, one won by a point, and eight won by a minimum 80 points. Only the WOX lowered their colours after battling a strong opponent.
Dan Donati's team began its season with a comprehensive victory over De La Salle at Toorak Park. The Red 'n' Blacks dominated all over the park and did not for a minute lapse into the lethargy that cruelled their campaign last year.
The Bellers began in competitive fashion with the breeze but could not puncture a tight Xavs' defence that rebounded strongly. The home team looked sharp, moved the ball well and managed four goals to the High Street end.
De La did better up front in the second term with two goals, but the Red and Black deluge was on and their return was ten goals from sixteen shots, giving them a 75 point advantage at the half.
In the third, the vistors managed three goals, but the X-Men booted six, and then to close out the game, the home team kicked another eight to complete the demolition.
It was a dynamic forward line performance, driven by a midfield that was relentless. Co-captain Lane and Woodrow Medallists Stavrou and Fisher were in everything. Brusnahan, creative as always, played his best senior game for the club, while MacIsaac and Delaney were strong targets always. Alex Trigar was perhaps the strongest of a tight back six which reveal few weaknesses.
Tex Wanganeen was the sole debutant and proved lively, booting three goals. The son of a gun is VFL-listed, so his availability comes with a question mark. However, Coach Donati has another dozen or so players who will press for selection when available or when cracks in form emerge.
The depth is there, but next week's trip to TH King to battle with a stung St Kevin's will prove a more reliable guide to the Xavs' upside. The Tricolours win-rate at home tops 80 per cent and the Clarret and Stout has taken the points once in a decade. It's time to change that.
See here for Ari Hatzis gallery
BEST: Campbell Lane, Marcus Stavrou, Charlie MacIsaac, Samuel Fisher, Alex Trigar, Ed Delany
GOALS: Charlie MacIsaac 4 Ed Delany 4 Charlie Knott 4 StirlingPhipps-Parsons 4 Wade Brusnahan 3 Tex Wanganeen 3 Julian Soccio 2 Campbell Lane 2 Marcus Stavrou 1 Samuel Fisher 1
At BBO, last year's runner-up Old Brighton (133) hammered Uni Blacks (37) with Felix Flockhart dominating up forward. Reigning premier Old Scotch (88) outplayed St Kevin’s (74) at Camberwell. Last year's B Section premier Od Haileybury (137) buried Collegians (63) at Princes Park, while Uni Blues (80) was the only home team to miss out, falling behind again to St Bernard’s (81) with a kick after the siren. The Varsity had dominated after going ahead at 23 minutes, but could add only a further behind. When the Snow Dogs went deep into their forward line, a hurried kick from defence ten seconds from the siren proved fatal. A mark, a goal and pandemonium ensued.
New coach Dan Richardson saw his charges register an 111 point victory to kick off its title defence. Again, the Magoos started slowly and some frustration was evident. Of course, last year's team was no stranger to slow starts. As last year, the team eventually found its rhythm, the Senator entered the chamber, and the Xavs zoomed away to win big.
Oscar Duncan led the way, tall, strong and able, and Charlies Holmes and Westcott bobbed up everywhere. In defence, Hamish Bowen and Tom Hart were a formidable pair and turned away many Beller drives. New boy Josh Cumberlidge impressed in the middle, while plenty of others did things that underlines the true quality of this team.
A clash with St Kevin's next week will present a true test for a team that has become used to winning. The Tricolours touched up last year's grand finalist yesterday and will be looking to stay undefeated.
See here for Bridget Wilson's gallery
BEST: Oscar Duncan, Charlie Westcott, Charles Holmes, Josh Cumberlidge, Hamish Bowen, Thomas Hart
GOALS: Edward Kennedy 4 Ben Moyle 3 Charlie Westcott 3 Oscar Duncan 2 Nicholas Brown 1 Josh Cumberlidge 1 Makuc Mahommed 1 Daniel O'Loughlin 1 BenScala 1 Atticus Scally 1 Charlie Whitehead 1
There was little joy for the WOX as they fell to Old Brighton at Basil Reserve. The lack of fire pwer up forward was evident as the visitors did what the home team couldn't - put them through the sticks. Still, there were some encouraging performances and better days will be ahead. Melissa Poulton was best, the long-serving Amy Benifer was strong throughtout, and recruit Emily Callinan showed plenty.
BEST: Melissa Poulton, Emily Callinan, Mel Clarke, Amy Benifer, Zoe Purcell, Olivia Benston
For so many years, U19 coach Matt 'Chopper' Handley monstered defences at Toorak Park and yesterday he watched as his lads thumped through fifteen goals without a miss to begin their season. Nothing lasts forever, and there finally came a miss that drew gentle booing from the growing crowd. Still, the Red 'n' Blacks did not let up and managed another 14 goals before the curtain came down.
New boy Harry Warfe looked impressive and slipped through seven majors. Max King landed five and six others managed braces and five others slammed home singles. The team looked extremely slick with quick and accurate ball movement, that if repeated, will see them a worthy contender.
Hampton Rovers was completely outclassed but stuck at it. It was their misfortune to run into one of the section's stronger outfits.
See galleries from Bridget Wilson and Ari Hatzis
BEST: Thomas Delahunt, Jagger Stafford, Harry Warfe, Max King, Lachlan Mallett, James Godde
GOALS: Harry Warfe 7 Max King 5 Thomas Delahunt 2 Gerard Forrest 2 Alby Hewitt 2 Charlie Landrigan 2 Lachlan Mallett 2 Lachlan McNeill 2 James Godde 1 Charlie Hummerston 1 Mitchell Loughnan 1 Miles Regan 1 Tommy Trist 1
Will Maxa was best in the narrow win as the Claret and Stout shook off a serious challenge from the Snow Dogs.
BEST: Will Maxa, Harry Glass, Reuben Shale, Ned Rogers, Cooper McLean, Patrick Kennedy
GOALS: Will Maxa 3 Charles Anderson 2 Reuben Shale 2 Harry Glass 1 Tom Mcauliffe 1 James Nania 1 Blake Nixon 1
The Premier Thirds swooped at Ramsden Strret, smashing the Royboys by 105 points. Fourteen of Matt Bourke's team hit the scoreboard in a strong Opening Day performance. Monkey Exell was best and he had plenty of co-conspirators in the big win.
BEST: Matt Exell, Nick Honeyman, Fred Visentini, Tom Curtain, Charlie Cranderson, Tom Bourne
GOALS: Oliver Tehan 3 Tom Curtain 2 Nick Honeyman 2 Harry Mcauliffe 2 Fred Visentini 2 Sam Asdagi 1 Tom Bourne 1 Tom Comer 1 Tom Davine 1 Matt Exell 1 Thomas Gorman 1 Jack Hansen 1 Will Stevens 1 Bailey Whelan 1
The Green Hose completed the quadrella at Toorak Park with the destruction of Old Carey. The Reptiles were challenged early as both teams shook of the summer rust, but once they hit their straps, they pulled away. A seven-goal last term added an exclamation mark to the victory.
BEST: Jack Lowe, Edward Ralph, Alistair Barr, Sean Stanley, Aaron Ivak, Ed MacIsaac
GOALS: Alistair Barr 3 Aaron Ivak 3 Jack Lowe 3 Josh Lyon 3 Callum Abrahams 1 Matt Perrett 1 Joey Ralph 1 Sean Stanley 1
The Menages put the sword to the Combine at Packer Park yesterday. Rory Calvert was best, while Will MacIsaac booted five in the 84 point dismantling. Inaccurate kicking in the third term was the only black mark, but this talented lineup can surely remedy this.
See here for gallery by Savanna Villis
BEST: Rory Calvert, Will Mantesso, Lachlan Hecker, Will MacIsaac, Nick Nunan, Ky Lowrey
GOALS: Will MacIsaac 5 Rory Calvert 3 Will Mantesso 3 Harry Hatton 1 Edison Ponari 1
Paul Connors' and Andrew McLaughlin's boys whipped the Bears by 97 points in a strong four quarter effort at Stradbroke Park. Twelve Xavs scored goals in a strong team performance that allowed the visitors few opportunites to get into the game. Ed Logan was best, with Conor O'Brien and Charlie Ralph scoring hat-tricks.
BEST: Edward Logan, Oliver Sheehan, Charles Ralph, Charlie Bourne, Thomas Wood, Will Troy
GOALS: Conor O'Brien 3 Charles Ralph 3 Will Troy 2 Thomas Wood 2 JoeCorser 1 Angus McCormack 1 Max Murphy 1 Nicholas Pozzi 1 Sam Purcell 1 MatthewRobinson 1 Luca Santalucia 1 Oliver Sheehan 1
Strange days. The U23 Twos thought they had received a forfeit from Parkside. On the Wednesday night following that lay-day, they fronted up at Elsternwick to meet AJAX in a R1 replacement contest. It was another Red 'n' Black romp, with seven goals scored in three of the four quarters. Pat Gilmour and Connor Spears turned it on and the team had eleven goalscorers. There's no rest for Matt Tyrell's T-Birds - they play again on Saturday.
BEST: Patrick Gilmour, Connor Spears, Jackson Gomezel, William Wrigley, Hugo Wyman, Will Beattie
GOALS: Connor Spears 6 Patrick Gilmour 3 Jackson Gomezel 3 Hugo Wyman 3 Luke Fares 2 Xavier McIntyre 2 Tom Egan 1 Ashton Evans 1 Jack Forde 1 Hugo Tobias 1 Harry West 1
