HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS IN PREMIER

If you tipped the home side in this weekend’s matches chances are you will have tipped the card. The weather played it’s part in most games, but being on your home deck was more important.
All five home teams in Premier won their round four matches. Old Trinity stand alone atop the Premier Section Ladder and have equaled their best ever start to a Premier (or A Grade) campaign as they defeated Beaumaris by 61 points. Old Trinity played the conditions better from the start against the previously unbeaten Beaumaris and the OT’s are now the only undefeated side in Premier. Beaumaris came into the game with confidence but were slow to adjust to the soggy surface, often over possessing the football, resulting in a turnover and score at the other end. Jack Hunt continued his solid form in front of goal with another three goals.

Old Scotch had a raft of their VFL stars return to their side as they held off an impressive Old Brighton by 25 points. The Cardinals created a buffer in the first term and whilst Old Brighton never went away, Old Scotch seemingly always had the game in control to take their season to two wins and two losses. The Tonners remain the only Premier side without a win.
Old Xaverians won their first game of 2014 as they held on at against Collegians to win by 3 points. In a low scoring slog at Toorak Park, Xavs finished the game with 17 men as Cayden Beetham was red carded late in the game. Beetham’s red card was Xavs’ second of the match as earlier John Shaw spent time on the sidelines for 20 minutes after being reported in the opening quarter. Despite the indiscretions, Xavs would have been delighted to get a win  having played more than a quarter with 17 men on the ground. Both Collegians and Old Xaverians have records of 1-3.
De La Salle had a fantastic win over St Bedes/Mentone Tigers at the Dairy Bell to win the La Sallian cup by 54 points. For the first time in the club’s history brothers Sam, Luke and Jake Williams all suited up for De La Salle. De La’s six-goal third term broke the game open as the Tigers managed just three goals for the day.
St Bernard’s knocked off the ladder leading University Blacks at the Snakepit by 33 poins. St Bernard’s were never headed as they handed the Blacks a first loss of the year. Conversely the Bernie’s haven’t lost since Round 1 and both sides join Beaumaris on 3-1 and inside the four. Pattison kicked three goals for Blacks but four from Nick Cooke and three from Tom Gleeson gave the home team the edge in the end.

In Premier B, Old Ivanhoe sent shockwaves around Carey’s Dunshea Oval with a five goal to none second term before the home side returned the favour in the third quarter. Victor Silciliano slotted five goals of his own for the visitors but Old Carey extended their three quarter time lead out to 25 points at the final siren to record their fourth win of the year. The Panthers move to third with the win whilst Old Ivanhoe are one of three clubs on just one win after five rounds.
Fitzroy won their second game of the year and moved up to sixth after they held on to beat Caulfield Grammarians at Brunswick St Oval. The Roys won despite their inaccuracy kicking 6.19 to the Fields 5.10.
Peter Summers kicked four goals and Sven from Sweden’s favourite player, Jeremy Mugavin booted three as Uni Blues celebrated their 2004 A Grade Premiership Reunion in style with a 98 point win over Mazenod at Uni Oval. The Nodders managed just two goals for the afternoon and they are wedged on the bottom of the table after round 5.
St Kevin’s proved too strong for the visiting AJAX in the battle between two of teams in the four before today. The Jackers hold on to fourth spot despite going down by 54 points to a SKOB outfit that has won their last four. St Kevin’s move to second with the win.
In the only match in the top two sections where the visitors won, Old Haileybury left the Junction Oval with the four points after they handed Old Melburnians two goal loss, their fourth of the year. Both sides were inaccurate in the low scoring match, but Old Haileybury’s defence were superb hold OM’s goalless for the first half.

Peninsula are on top of the Premier C ladder after handing Hampton Rovers a first home loss in two seasons at Boss James Reserve. The Pirates were outstanding in the five goal win as Guy Martyn’s Rovers lost back to back  matches for the first time under his stewardship. Turner kicked four goals in a losing cause, whilst Wood booted three for the victors.
In an absolute arm wrestle at Monash Uni, the visiting Marcellin earned the points despite a late Monash Blues comeback in a low scoring match. Marcellin won by 2 points but it really should have been more as they kicked a poor 4.12 to the Blues’ 5.4.
Oakleigh moved to the fifth with an impressive 17 point win over the visiting Parkdale Vultures. Aaron Cloke kicked three goals as the Krushers sent the Vultures to a record of 1-4, and 9th on the ladder.
PEGS confirmed their status as a contender as they gave Banyule a 71 point touch up. Forrest bagged 7 goals for the home side as the Bombers ran rampant in the opening term with a seven-goal-to-one burst that killed the visiting Bears resistance. The win sees PEGS move up to second on the ladder as Banyule remain rooted to the bottom, yet to open their account.
Old Camberwell clicked their season into gear with a thumping 112 point win over a hapless Ormond at Gordon Barnard. Allwright kicked six goals and Campbell five as the Wellers made a mockery of the ugly conditions. Ormond’s percentage took a hammering and as a result they slip back to 8th.