Premier B: SKOB Dominance Terrifies Rest of Comp

By William Balme – @balmey21 

Just as a quick sidenote, I’ll be popping into the Premier B hot seat for a couple of weeks as David takes a mid-season trip. If anyone would like to send me information from the games played next weekend, please email me at balmey21@gmail. com. Looking at the Premier B makeup, and past the utter dominance of St Kevins Old Boys this season, the top 4 is evolving into a rather intriguing narrative. With two sides stuck on 8-4, and with a two game buffer over 5th placed Ajax, you could suggest that these sides are simply fighting it out for 3rd place. However, you can’t rule anything out when it comes to St Kevins September form, which is patchy at best. In saying that, it is hard not to look at the SKOB side and be blown away by the brutal way they’ve gone about their footy this year.

St Bedes/Mentone, the scorned A Grade premiership winner less than a decade ago, continued their solid season with a strong win over Mazenod at Central Reserve on Saturday. The Tyquin trio all had a big effect in the last term with the game on the line. At ¾ time, the Tigers sat only 5 points ahead of Mazenod who played a desperate brand of footy in order to get themselves out of the relegation zone. However, the Tigers were too strong in the last, kicking 8 goals to 2 to wrap up a contest that many observers would have shunned for other Saturday activities considering the two varying ladder positions. Tim Doherty kicked 5 in another sublime performance, supported ably by key backman Paul Wintle and the beforementioned Thomas of Tyquin heritage. Mazenod’s disappointing season trudged on with another honourable loss, as Ben Phibbs starred.

Old Brighton faced off with Hampton Rovers in a bayside bonanza at Brighton Beach Oval. Not to cast aspersions, but there were latte cups flowing everywhere and countless Labradors taking strolls amongst the punters. On a windy and miserable afternoon, it was Old Brighton who stayed with the top 4 pack with a convincing 41-point win. Big forward Daniel Anthony slotted 4 on a day where 18.35 was the accumulative score line. The same combined total was kicked in the CollingwoodWest Coast game but to be fair on the Baysiders, they weren’t playing under a roof… It was Dylan Verney and Nick Marston who were the dominant forces down back for the Tonners, too imposing for the Rovers, who were led by a tough performance from Dan Corp.

Condemnation is starting to look like the Caulfield Grammarians’ word of the week after they were smashed by the mid-table Fitzroy boys at Brunswick St Oval. It was a comprehensive second half effort from the ‘Roys, particularly in defence whereupon they kept the Grammarians to just 5 behinds. Caulfield now sit a game behind Parkdale and Mazenod at the bottom of the table and there appears to be little sign of drastic improvement to come. Corbin Stevic received great delivery in his six-goal haul for the Roys, with that support coming from sources such as Rory Angiolella at CHF and Matthew Kyroussis. The wounded Grammarians face Old Melburnians coming off a huge loss to SKOB, and will require far more support Tom Small (who kicked 2 snags) and Jay Neratzoglou, who worked hard, if they are to have any chance of pulling off a major upset and saving their Premier B soul.

I went on Commerce Camp a few years ago with Jake Lew. He dominated the compromised version of ‘Jack in the Pack’ that weekend and he appears to have moved onto bigger and better things with another scintillating 5 goal performance to add to his 39 for the year. Ajax was too strong for the struggling Parkdale Vultures, who have only once been able to score above 100 in a contest this year, illustrating their dearth of scoring power. Ajax on the other hand remains a handful for any side (minus the rambunctious SKOB) on their day, with players of the ilk of Adam Caplan (3 goals at CHF) proving too much for the Vultures. Ajax go into their crucial return fixture with Old Brighton brimming with SKOB – DOMINANCE TERRIFIES REST OF COMP PREMIER B — TIPS IN BOLD Hampton Rovers v St Kevins St Bedes/Mentone v Fitzroy Ajax v Old Brighton Grammarians Parkdale v Mazenod Old Melburnians v Caulfield Grammarians PREMIER B William Balme @balmey21 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2015 5 confidence, particularly in the light of defeating the Tonners during their first clash earlier this season. For the Vultures, U/19s player Ryan Stringer was the highlight on a morale-sapping day for their seniors.

SKOB trucked on against their nearest rival Old Melburnians with one of those wins that just make you shake your head when trying to conceive just how much better this side is than any of their fellow Premier B rivals. They were simply outstanding, with 22 contributors, a fierce cheer squad and a club so full to the brim with desire to bring home a bunch of premierships, they can barely contain their excitement. From the moment the game started the feeling was that this was just a rehash of SKOB’s complete obliteration of St Bedes/Mentone a couple of weeks ago. 6 first quarter goals, an exhibition from Stephen Salopek with 4 goals and a support cast featuring the super talented Phil Edgar and Brad McCann left Old Melburnians breathless. It was only a 3 goal last term from the OMs that kept the margin from going beyond 100 points. Tom Hywood finished with 3 for the shellshocked OMs. Their 86-point victory was a firm warning to the Tigers and the Tonners who sit 3rd and 4th. SKOB mean business this year and they have their eyes firmly set on producing the perfect season. What a performance.

Round 13 Tips

Hampton Rovers v St Kevins

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers v Fitzroy

Ajax v Old Brighton Grammarians

Parkdale v Mazenod

Old Melburnians v Caulfield Grammarians