T’s, Polidoros too strong for Snow Dogs in William Buck Grand Final rematch

Old Melburnians improved their win/loss record to 2-1 after they defeated Old Carey by 77 points at Carey Sports Complex. Led by Mitch Wilkins and Justin De Steiger, OMs kept the Panthers to just three majors for the day, while sending through 14 of their own from 31 scoring shots. Tim Marshall was the main recipient up forward with four goals for the fourth-placed OMs, while young star, Sam Cust, continues to dominate for the winless Panthers. From the three sides yet to register four points in William Buck Premier, the Panthers sit lowest on the ladder due to their percentage of 40.07.

The Uni Derby lived up to expectation again this year, as the Blues held off a fast-finishing Blacks for a 14-point win at University Oval. A five-goal to two opening term set the scene for the remainder of the match as the Blues kept their opponents at an arm’s length at each break in play. Three late goals gave the Blacks a small window of opportunity but the Blues were too strong in the clutches with Jeremy Mugavin standing tall as the best on ground. Patrick Hayes doubled his goal tally from last week with four, while Adam Pitt continued his red-hot form to commence the year as the Blacks’ best. The Blues remain in second place on the ladder behind Old Trinity, four spots ahead of the sixth-placed Blacks.

A five-goal display from Alex Polidoros helped Old Trinity to their third-consecutive win as they ran over St Bernard’s by 32 points in their William Buck Grand Final rematch. A nine-goal to four opening half was enough as the T’s exacted the smallest amount of revenge from the last day of the 2015 VAFA season. Ed Weatherson added to his impressive goal kicking tally this year, snagging three in another stand out performance. The Snow Dogs remain winless so far in 2016, with Zac O’Halloran refusing to give up at any stage. Andrew Kyriacopolous did his Woodrow Medal hopes no harm with another stand out performance alongside Callum Pohl.

Old Xaverians reignited their rivalry with St Kevin’s in strong fashion with a 40-point win at TH King Oval. Leading by 13 points with one quarter to play, the Xavs piled on five goals to one in a dominant final term. The one-two punch of Brendan Goss and Matt Handley was on show for the Xavs as both men recorded four goals each. Louis Denton was named best on ground, while Matt Murphy starred for SKOB in his second game for the year. The Xavs sit fifth on the William Buck Premier ladder at 2-1, while SKOB are eighth and still searching for their first win of the season.

De La Salle put the disappointment of losing 2009 Woodrow medallist, Matt Fieldsend, for an extended period aside as they defeated Collegians by 34 points at Waverley Oval.  Leading by 38 points after a seven-goal to one first term, De La were challenged by the Lions as they came hard in the second with eight goals of their own. Six goals to two in the second half proved the difference as Sam Pickett registered five majors and increased his 2016 tally to 10 from three games. Tom Humphrey continued his stunning form for De La, while Sam Hibbins stood tall for the Lions.