THE SATURDAY SKINNY

XAVS, OMs STUNNED IN A DAY OF WILD ONES
The second round of VAFA Premier football threw up two stunning upsets as title-holder Old Xaverians tumbled to Old Trinity and St Bede’s Mentone Tigers rattled on six late goals to steal the game from Old Melburnians.
Old Trinity arm-wrestled all afternoon with Xavs and looked to be destined for another agonising defeat when they fell behind as the clock ticked into time on. However, the Greens finished strongly on home turf to win the day, with captain Brendan Iezzi starring.
Old Melburnians had looked clear winners for much of the afternoon but the Seasiders swung into action late, fired by Hiwad Shakaib in the ruck and Luke Collins in the midfield. For the second week running, OMs fell apart late, despite the four quarter effort of Nathan Henley.
Collegians slaughtered University Blues at the Trott, with Nick Sautner kicking eight in an even team performance, while Old Scotch accounted for Old Haileybury, which now shares the cellar with Blues and OMs.
Old Carey survived two major comeback threats from an inaccurate De La Salle to win at Waverley Park and sits in third place behind Collegians and the Seasiders.
In Premier B, Mick Giansiracusa kicked eleven as St Kevin’s tossed Marcellin, while Owen Weatherley fired Old Ivanhoe to victory at Beaumaris with a six goal haul. The early front-runner, Caulfield Grammarians had eight from Justin Perkins and six goals from the emerging star Sean Meredith as it smashed Hampton Rovers.
Jordan Foster kicked ten for Uni Blacks sending St Bernard’s to its second successive 100 plus point defeat.
In Premier C, newly promoted Werribee Districts remained white-hot with a thumping win over Fitzroy while in Division 4, Ben Spencer kicked thirteen as St Francis Xavier romped over Chadstone.
Goal meisters flourished on the day. Apart from the featured performers listed above, plenty more got in on the act.
Steve Tolongs dobbed six for the Monders in their win over Rupertswood. Nathan Black kicked six for the ‘Bees while David Boundy kicked six for Paradians in their loss to the Pirates.
Cal Cormack slipped through five for Aquinas, which lost to the Turtles.
Andy Brazzale kicked eight for Kew, which outlasted the ‘wickers and at Toorak Park, Peter Cristoforo snagged five in the Four Blues win over Monash Gryphons. Power House’s personal power house Paul Edwards kicked six in the shock loss to West Brunswick.
Albert Park got five from Dylan “Liqueur” Muscat as the Bankers pumped the Cidermen at HQ. As well as the even dozen from Ben Spencer, the Frankies got six from Dwayne Scott and five from the Dimitri “The Gladiator” Dimakopoulos as the pained continued for the Shoppers.
Justin Howarth had five for Box Hill North as the Demons pitch-forked the Cookies, who had five from Aaron Marsh.
There were several close shaves and shock results in VAFA football today. All results on this website.
Please note, the Sportingpulse system is apparently having trouble with the Premier C percentages.