2017 William Buck Premier Review

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Nick Armistead – @NickArmistead

History was made at the conclusion of the 2017 William Buck Premier season as St Kevin’s OB claimed their first-ever premiership in the VAFA’s top section via a thrilling three-point victory over Collegians.

Prior to the season’s commencement, excitement was high as several ex-AFL and VFL players either entered or returned to the VAFA’s ranks and ultimately strengthened the overall competition.

SKOB were at the forefront of attracting quality to their club as they brought in players the ilk of Sam Critchley, Jay Schulz and Mitch Brown. Mark Jamar also returned after first signing in 2016 before playing the season with Essendon as a top-up player. While Schulz and Brown were particularly influential throughout the season, it was SKOB’s depth and Shannon Grant’s coaching nous which played the largest role in their breakthrough season. They spent 13 of a possible 18 weeks on top of the ladder throughout the home and away fixture after losing just two matches with an average winning margin of 55.5 points. Harassment of the ball carrier and scoring prowess were the two main strengths of Grant’s game plan with SKOB leading the competition in points for (105) and against (64). Five players were named in the William Buck Team of the Year, while six (Anthony Lynch, Gerard Gleeson, Thomas Jok, Sam Critchley, Bill Coates and Mitch Brown) represented the Big V in the senior side’s 82-point victory over AFL Victoria Country in July. Brown was equal second in the Woodrow Medal count while Gleeson (=2nd), Brown (=6th) and Rising Star winner, Lachlan Sullivan, (=6th) finished in the top six for the Premier Coaches MVP.

Collegians also recruited hard over the off-season as they welcomed back Lachlan Ferguson and brought in Viv Michie, Corey Cassidy and Nick Dixon. They spent the remaining five weeks of the home and away season on top of the ladder after they exploded out of the blocks with six wins in the first six rounds; including, a 90-point drubbing of SKOB under lights at Harry Trott Oval. After averaging just 64ppg in 2016, coach Shane Joyce added an offensive arsenal to their game style while maintaining their elite defensive structures and increased their output to 83ppg this season. Ferguson led all Lions with 12 votes from 11 games in the Woodrow Medal, Sam Hibbins and Courtney Hylton were named in the Team of the Year while Hibbins, Cassidy and Michie represented the Big V.

Under new senior coach, James Walker, University Blues commenced the season with three losses from their first five matches before securing 11 wins and one draw in their last 13 outings. Ross Young returned from a season in the country and dominated through the midfield, finishing equal second in the Woodrow and as the starting centre in the Team of the Year. Tim Geappen (49) and Kieran Harper (43) played their first full seasons with the club and kicked 92 goals between them, but the Blues suffered their second consecutive straight sets exit after finishing second on the ladder.

After narrowly missing finals in 2016, De La Salle went one step further this season with 11 wins and a semi-final appearance against Collegians, eventually going down by 15 points. Despite losing their first two games of the year, De La got their season back on track with five wins in the ensuing six rounds. The Paul Satterley-led unit were the kings of the close shave, winning five of seven games decided by eight points or less. Coaches MVP, Jason Tutt, was outstanding across half back in his first year at the club, while Tom Humphrey was selected as captain in the Team of the Year after another standout season in defence.

Old Xaverians were unable to reclaim their premiership-winning form of 2016 as they completed the season with nine wins and in fifth spot on the ladder. James McDonald replaced Ted Woodruff and Pat Hawkins as senior coach and had the Xavs firing early in the season as they won their first four games. However, they struggled to find consistency over the last 14 rounds as they mixed supreme performances such as their 92-point victory over SBMT with losses against University Blacks and Old Trinity. Denis Symeopoulos had a breakout season through the Xavs’ midfield while Matt Handley registered 44 goals despite playing largely in the ruck.

Old Melburnians mirrored their 2016 win/loss record of eight wins, nine losses and one draw as they once again sat sixth on the ladder at the end of the year. The top-tier talent at OM’s is as strong as any club, with Thomas Paule, Josh Freezer, Nick De Steiger and Al Armstrong four of the best players on the ground during the Big V’s senior win over AFL Vic Country. Tom Cameron captained the Big V U19’s to a thrilling four-point loss, while Freezer, De Steiger and Paule were each named on the ground in the Team of the Year. Victories against Uni Blues and Xavs showcased their potential alongside a one-goal loss to eventual premiers, SKOB. Despite being suspended and thereby ineligible for the Woodrow Medal, Matt Thomas was recognised by the umpires with 14 votes in just 11 games.

Three consecutive victories in their last three matches helped Old Trinity avoid relegation after they failed to maintain their winning form from the past two seasons. Two consecutive grand final losses took its toll on the T’s as they lost nine straight games between Rounds 7 and 15. With five games remaining in the home and away season, Adam Andrews and the T’s parted ways after six years at the helm. It was senior stars, Brendan Iezzi and Luke Pacconi, who took the reins and helped the T’s win their final three and avoid relegation. Harry Thompson established himself as an A-Grade ruckman of the competition and Iezzi was at his dominant best with a standout display for the Big V in July.

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers returned to William Buck Premier for the first time since 2014 and registered four wins and a draw against local rival Beaumaris. With a new-look coaching staff led by premiership player, Sam Anstey, the Tigers took some time to register their first win against Uni Blues in Round 4 but followed it up with a sensational victory over De La two weeks later. They managed just three wins from their nine home games and lost their final five games by an average of 79 points but, having avoided relegation by half a game, have the chance to regroup ahead of 2018.

Needing an unlikely Round 18 win over St Kevin’s at TH King Reserve, University Blacks were unable to claim victory and will thereby compete in Premier B for the first time in six years. Injuries to key personnel and unavailability’s derailed the Blacks’ season as they managed just four wins. Despite the disappointment of relegation, Blacks captain Bede Mahon was sensationally awarded the Woodrow Medal on 17 votes, with a BOG performance in the last game loss to SKOB enough to go ahead of the chasing pack on 14.

Beaumaris struggled to find consistency throughout the season and were relegated one year after claiming the Premier B flag. The Sharks were unable to taste victory until a breakthrough Round 14 win over Old Trinity paved the way for three wins in their final five games. Nick Dickinson polled nine votes after an outstanding individual season, while Stephen Milne kicked 39 goals and was instrumental during the Big V’s record-breaking victory.

William Buck Premier Team of the Year

FB Sam Critchley (SKOB) Tom Humphrey (DLS) – C Connor Lappin (Blues)
CHB Courtney Hylton (Coll) Josh Freezer (OM) Jason Tutt (DLS)
C Tom Jok (SKOB) Ross Young (Blues) Hugh Curnow (Blacks)
CHF Kieran Harper (Blues) Mitch Brown (SKOB) Lachlan Sullivan (SKOB)
FF Lochie Dornauf (Blacks) Tim Geappen (Blues) Stephen Milne (Beau)
RUCK Nick De Steiger (OM) Gerard Gleeson (SKOB) Tom Paule (OM) – VC
I/C Sam Hibbins (Coll) Jaryd Robertson (SBMT) Brendan Iezzi (OT)
Denis Symeopoulos (OX) Bede Mahon (Blacks) Jeremy Taylor (Blues)
Coach James Walker (Blues)