Confucius say the season is still young

William Balme
@Balmey21

A very foolish man is the man who believes he has his finger on the pulse at the end of round 4 in a VAFA season. Rash judgments and outlandish predictions become an omnipresent feature of conversations at footy clubs at the end of round 4. It’s fair to suggest that most of us imagined that Old Geelong and Ormond would feature in the top few and Yarra Valley was going to struggle, but then where does that leave the 1-3 Prahran and the surprise packet Kew at 4-0?

The footy history books are fortunately not written in Round 4. If they were, Ron Barassi’s Kangaroos would have been condemned to the bottom 4 at 0-4 in 1975 and Collingwood would have been flag favourites at 4-0 (5-0 after 5) in 2000. The rest, as they say, is history. The Psychic convention was in Moorabbin over the weekend but none of them seemed that interested when I asked about the fortunes of Prahran Assumption, who finally broke the duck with a strong win against Bulleen Templestowe.

It was a scintillating day across Melbourne on Saturday, and it was Prahran Assumption who chucked their Wayfarers on at Toorak Park. As expected, the going was very tough early as the two great rivals greeted each other with brutal intensity. Facing a strong series of forward thrusts in the second quarter, Prahran held strong down back and countered to hold a 23-point lead at half time. Both sides stagnated in a dour third term with just one goal apiece kicked to see the game alive heading into the last. However, Prahran doubled their efforts in the final quarter to secure a decisive 53-point win. Prahran’s power duo, Josh Hogarth and John Robbins kicked 9 between them and were irrepressible in attack. Bulleen, missing key forward Kristian Cherbakof, lacked the penetration and resolve that saw them dismantle St Mary’s last week. Youngster Liam Ireland impressed with 3 goals and competition powerhouse Paul Florence was once again tireless in their loss.

NOBS/St Pats has quickly taken on the mantle of the division’s enigma, bouncing back from two disappointing losses to manage Whitefriars by 42 points. The game, marred by a terrible leg injury to one of this columnist’s favourites, Aaron Brosolo, was tight in the clinches until NOBS/St Pats kicked away in the final term. Mick O’Donoghue and Nick Holt were crucial in the backline for NOBS/St Pats, staving off a number of Whitefriars’ entries, particularly in the second term. For Whitefriars, it was another case of a decent effort resulting in a last quarter fizzle. Alex Marcello continued his terrific form and Dan ‘Yogi (picnic baskets) Bear’ Hogan provided fierce resistance in the midfield. I think when you start creating nicknames for your own fictional nicknames you’ve got to acknowledge you’ve got a problem…

It was a case of leaving too much to the old firm as Old Geelong pushed up to the 3^rd on the ladder with plenty of upside in their 72-point trouncing of the winless Yarra Valley. After a strong start, Yarra Valley floundered from quarter time on, kicking just 4 goals to 13 from that point on. Jack McMeel, firming as recruit of the year, kicked 4 as he danced around opponents like a drunken white boy hearing Beyoncé’s ‘Partition’ for the first time. He was ably supported by Old Geelong’s impressive core of midfielders, starring Colby O’Brien and Rupert Kemp, sounding like a new generation OC cast. As previously mentioned, Yarra Valley’s list, ravaged by retirement and a competitive area, is too reliant on premiership heroes, James Amos, Ryan Pollard and Stephen Donald. They face Old Mentonians in another tough clash away this week.

Ferndale Park hosted one of the most anticipated clashes of Division 1 in season 2015 thus far as Ormond made the trip to Glen Iris to take on St Mary’s Salesian. With so much to play for and Mal Michael an interested onlooker, Ormond took charge immediately and never let up their immense pressure as they confirmed they are the side to beat this season. Robert Chisholm was simply dominant at full forward for the Monders, kicking 6 to half time before gingerly leaving the field with an ankle injury. The most ominous feature of the clash was the ease of which they replaced the big fella, as Sam Perry kicked 4 and young debutant Matt Perry kicking 3. Their size and skill reduced the often flamboyant and quick St Mary’s Salesian to honest triers. Nick Baum was once again strong in defence for the Saints, and Luke Dykes played his best game for the club. Valuable lessons will be learnt after facing the best in the competition.

Kew remained in touch with Ormond with a 66-point win against Old Mentonians. The game was in the balance at ¾ time with the game 20 points in Kew’s favour after a couple of late goals. However, even in the wake of Old Mentonians extraordinary comeback against Prahran the week before, the Kew juggernaut blew a gale over Victoria Park with a brutal last term. Robert Maibaum kicked 10 for the Bears in a storied performance, however it was a win that started in defence with Cochrane, Henderson and Leeds subduing a dangerous forward line of Mills, Gledhill and Rossi. Darcy Spencer’s 60-metre bomb from the centre square put a postage stamp on a solid day’s work. For Old Mentonians, Luke Hull was the stand out in the midfield and up forward and Comrey Edgeworth was tough to beat in the air, taking a number of strong grabs on the wing.

Willie Bee’s Clive Waterhouse MOTR

Toorak Park will host a crucial clash for Prahran Assumption; searching to avoid the abyss that 1-4 will leave them in. Burning questions from Clive Waterhouse HQ are whether Rob Chisholm will recover from his ankle injury. Two Blues’ ruckman Michael Radywonik will be in huge doubt after a sickening marking contest left him immobile for a number of scary moments. And as for big Mal… whispers are the big truck is oiling the engine to debut. What a time to be alive.

Ormond by 10 points.

NOBS/St Pats v Old Geelong

Bulleen Templestowe v Kew

Prahran Assumption v Ormond

Old Mentonians v Yarra Valley

Whitefriars v St Mary’s Salesian