Upset, upset, upset, upset, Fields

By Christian Burgess – Premier C Scribe

An unbelievable weekend in Premier C football. All four teams that are fighting off relegation all celebrated victories against teams far ahead of them on the ladder. Clubs aiming to escape relegation showed more fight than any others over the weekend. With the top four now officially settled for September, the bottom five teams will do all they can to remain in Premier C for 2017.

The old fashioned rivalry draws crowds to any game, and the Kew v Ormond battle lived up to all expectations. Due to the history of these two sides, there didn’t need to be finals aspirations on the line or relegation chances lingering for it to be as ferocious as the contest often is. It was a fierce and physical contest right from the start with both clubs making their presence felt. Neither side could find some momentum to break away to a lead, but it was Ormond who did find a slight upper hand, leading by a single goal at quarter time. The second quarter saw the scoring slow. Kew only managed two scoring shots to Ormond’s five, but both sides only converting one goal each. Innacurate shots for goal from both teams diminished their chances of extending a lead, with only seven points in favour of Ormond, separating the two at three quarter time. Both sides began to hit the scoreboard in the last term, with 17 scoring shots combined. But it was the bigger bodies of Ormond that made in impact in the final quarter escaping to a 22 point victory. Young gun and VAFA Grill’d Rising Star nominee, Luke Gogis continued his stellar season with another best on ground performance, showing his maturity, standing up at times of test. Robert Chisholm kicked a bag of five in a big performance whilst Robert Maibaum kicked three for the Bears. Ormond will need to win their final two battles and rely heavily on positions 6-9 to fail at the back end of the season. In recent weeks, the Bears have lost their chance at a finals run and now find themselves in a position with relegation a possibility. Of the bottom five teams, they are best placed, and will need to beat both Williamstown CYMS and Marcellin to ensure they remain in Premier C.

It was a fantastic battle between two of our elite sides of the competition, giving us a taste of what September has to come. Many who weren’t at the game may have thought that the scores weren’t loading correctly in the first quarter, when checking for updates, however it is true that Caulfield had 17 scoring shots to Peninsula’s zero. But, the pIrates bounced back with a seven goal to two second quarter, entering the main break 22 points down. The Fields capatilised in the third term, using the breeze to extend their lead to beyond six goals. Both sides averaged five goals per quarter when kicking with the breeze, but the Pirates would require seven and to keep the Fields goalless in the last. The Pirates ticked one of those boxes, keeping the Fields scoreless in the last quarter but only managed five goals and five behinds falling six points short of the Fields in a gallant final term. William Barker was instrumental to the Fields victory, kicking four majors in a best on ground display. Brett Brisbane kicked his first goal for the season and finished with three for the day. Shaun Payze was brilliant in his 350th game for the Pirates, kicking three goals and was influential to the Pirates final quarter run.

Old Camberwell are doing all they can to avoid relegation, including a spectacular defeat of fourth placed Old Ivanhoe, which now has the Wellers sitting 7th, with their percentage the only restriction from them moving to 6th. From the first bounce, the Hoes made an impact, capatilising on their forward 50 entries and restricting the Wellers influence on the scoreboard. The Wellers kicked 10 behinds, before they kicked their first goal of the game which was late in the second term. At hal time, the Hoes were well in control with a 5 goal lead. Nick Reeves-Smyth was exciting in the first half, giving the Hoes plenty of run and flare, kicking two exciting goals. Unsure what was said at half time, behind the closed doors of the Wellers inner sanctum, but it worked. The Wellers kicked 35 points in the third quarter to the Hoes six points, flexing their muscles around each and every contest and winning majority of the contested footy. Surprisingly, the Wellers had equal scoring shots to the Hoes in the first half, despite their deficit, but were far more effective on the scoreboard in the second half, kicking nine goals to the Hoes two. At round 12, Old Camberwell almost looked certain of facing relegation, sitting on the bottom of the ladder, before winning four games on the trot, moving to 7th.

Marcellin were in control all day ahead of Williamstown CYMS. Marcellin had hit a purple patch of form, having not lost since round 13 (Pirates) and were eager to continue their run of success to avoid relegation. Marcellin kept the Cy’s goalless in the first quarter jumping to a 20 point lead. Ash Viney’s strength around contests was inspiring, as he led Marcellin into the half time break with a 14 point buffer. The margin was too difficult for the CY’s to bridge for the remainder of the game, with Viney and Daniel Cullinan combining for six goals, whilst Russell Ackerly was the only multiple goal scorer for the Cy’s. Marcellin will face an out of form mazenod next week in an attempt to keep their winning streak alive.

It was a round of upsets, but the Krushers stole the show beating 2nd placed Mazenod last Saturday. The Krushers had to fight back an 8 point quarter time deficit before gaining the lead and never looking back. The Krushers five goal second term was more than enough hope as they went into the main break with a seven point lead. The Nodders only managed four more goals in the second half to the Krushers seven, in a thrilling 30 point upset. The twin towers for the Krushers proved too difficult to stop, with Trevor Bromley kicking five goals and Aaron Cloke kicking 3. Due to the bottom four sides all winning in round 16, the Krushers remain in 9th position only two points behind Marcellin.

Tips

Ormond v Oakleigh

Williamstown CYMS v Kew

Caulfield v Old Ivanhoe

Marcellin v Mazenod

Peninsula v Old Camberwell