Premier B closer than expected

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By David Chalmers – @DAChalmers81

I have to be honest. On paper I didn’t think much of any of the Premier B Round 7 matches. I picked my tips pretty confidently and didn’t think there would be many upsets or close results. How wrong I was! It turned out to be the closest Round of the season so far and included the Rovers first win of the season, Beaumaris’s first ‘non-win’ of the season and a five-goal final quarter comeback from St Bede’s/Mentone. The ladder makes interesting reading. There is now a two game gap between the top three and the rest, and although Old Brighton currently sits ninth, they are only one game out of the top four.

Plagued by injury and forced to delve deeper into the already thin Reserve ranks, Old Brighton played really bravely and competed hard against second-placed Old Scotch all the way to the final siren. Kick-started by a brilliant first quarter from Tom Mariani and the deft touches of Harry Hill, the Tonners were in touch with the visitors at the first break, despite Scotch having first use of a strong wind. Zac Alcott came in for his first game after years of carrying the Reserves’ ruck, young Sam Campbell also joined the fray and Levi Otto returned. Tom Larkworthy continued to impress. He scored strongly in the second term and continued to make calm and intelligent decisions with the footy.  Hill’s lightning hands and superb foot-passing enabled Dan Anthony to have three on the board by half-time. The Tonners won the quarter marginally, but Scotch had an edge in experience that kept them clear, hold the Tonners at arm’s length until the siren. For the winners, Aidan Franetic kicked four goals and Hayden Calway was among the best in his first game for the season.

Monash had their third victory in four games and continued their charge up the ladder with a 47-point victory over Ajax. The Blues are now in fifth place, which means the Premier B newcomers occupy four of the top five spots on the ladder. The home side set up the win with a five goal to two opening quarter. They looked set for a big one with three goals on the board in first seven minutes including goals from Alfred Oppy and Andrew Young. Jordan Cohen got the Jackas first with a nice snap from a throw-in, then David Fayman mowed down a Monash defender and was rewarded with a holding-the-ball decision and kicked truly. Nick Woodland and Maddison Hardiman answered for the Blues, giving them a handy lead at the first break. Ajax managed to stay with them through the middle stages of the game but then the Blues finished off well with six goals to three. For Ajax, Jordan Cohen kicked three goals and was among the best in his first game for the season.

The Hampton Rovers are on the board after snagging their first win of the season over Old Haileybury, set up by a six goal-to-one second quarter. Up to three-quarter time both sides had combined for 13 goals, but in an incredible final term both teams kicked seven each, to double the goals tally. The final term had an unfortunate beginning, as Lachlan Treverton hit his head on the ground as he was tackled at the opening bounce and didn’t look in good shape as he was assisted off. Daniel Corp extended the Rovers lead with the first of the quarter. Peter Shakallis replied for the Bloods, but the Rovers got the margin out to eight goals by kicking four of the next five through Sam Clements, Sam Bradford and Nathan Smith, who ruffled some Old Haileybury feathers with his over-exuberant goal celebration. Facing a big deficit, the Bloods got some respectability back on the scoreboard with five of the last six goals through the middle stages of the quarter. Josh Dawson and Sean Macpherson were both prominent. For the Rovers, Leigh Fletcher continued to lead from the front and Nathan Smith rocketed to the top of the Premier B goalkicking with a five-goal performance.

Fitzroy handed Beaumaris their first ‘non-win’ of the season after playing out a thrilling draw. The Sharks led narrowly at every break and went into the final quarter with a 10-point lead. They also had 10 more scoring shots but could only manage 1.6 as the Roys snatched the lead. The visitors struck first through Max Davie early on, and then a few minutes later Rory Angiolella and Julian Turner also kicked truly. Beaumaris’s first goal for the quarter was kicked by Joel Di Natale at the 17 minute mark and incredibly that was the last goal of the game, as the two teams traded behinds. The margin was never more than three points in the second half of the quarter. When Lachlan Boyd missed a pretty simple shot late in the game scores were level and when the siren rang, the two teams had played out the first draw in Premier B for 2016. After making his season debut last week, Julian Turner was again good for the Roys with three goals, while Jack Dalton returned after a few weeks out and was among the best. While the Sharks were missing their leading goal kicker Stephen Milne, they were well served by Jack Grange, Daniel Gribbin and Lachlan Boyd in his first game for the season.

St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers have consolidated third spot on the ladder with an impressive comeback victory over the Parkdale Vultures. In a see-sawing contest, the Vultures started better but the Tigers got their noses in front at half time. Four goals in the third quarter gave the Vultures a nine-point advantage at the final break and they looked set for a win, kicking the first four goals of the quarter thanks to Tom Redmond and Jason Bristow. When Jack Edwards goaled on the run at the 20-minute mark, the Vultures led by 31 points and the Tigers had only managed five behinds. From there, the Tigers began the long road back. Lachlan Mirams kicked a couple, followed by Alex Smout and when Brayden O’Toole marked strongly and converted the set shot there was only five points the difference. There was controversy in the final minutes. Parkdale had control of the ball and when Tom Redmond took a mark at half back, a shepherding free was given to the Tigers. This allowed a long kick to the goal square where Jarryd Robertson went up for the mark but the ball was knocked out of his hands. The mark was paid and the goal was kicked, giving the Tigers the lead and, as it turned out, the win.

Round 8 Tips

AJAX vs. Old Haileybury
Fitzroy vs. Monash Blues
Old Scotch vs. Beaumaris
Parkdale Vultures vs. Old Brighton
St Bedes/Mentone Tigers vs. Hampton Rovers