Hard-fought wins help top 4 build buffer in Premier B

David Chalmers – @DAChalmers81

The top four have opened up a nice little cushion after Round 10 Premier B action. Ajax skipped two games clear of the chasing pack with their win over Parkdale, while Peninsula grabbed a victory over Fitzroy, meaning there are only two games between fifth and 10th. While the top three continued winning, none of them had it easy, with Old Scotch winning by two goals, St Bernards up by just seven points at the last break and Old Brighton had to come from 28 points down before overrunning Monash by a solitary point.

Ajax were looking to consolidate their spot in the top four when they took on Parkdale. The Vultures were without spearhead Matthew Boland but welcomed back Jason Bristow (one goal, in best) and Charlie Dillon (two goals). Ajax were missing Asher Burstin but Josh Ludski (one goal, in best) returned.    After an even first term, the Vultures started better in the second, adding 2.2 thanks to goals from Alex Derzekos and Josh Green in the opening 20 minutes before the Jackas had even got on the board. Ajax fought back with four goals in the last eight minutes, with contributions from Ashley Kalb, Josh Ludski, Brandon Joel and Dean Rotenberg, extending their lead at halftime. Five goals to one in the last term gave the Jackas a comfortable win and a two game cushion in fourth spot.

Fitzroy and Peninsula looked to regroup after copping big losses from two of the top teams the previous week. The Roys started better, opening up a 20-point halftime lead. After conceding 15 goals against Old Scotch in the third term last week, the Roys would have been determined to make amends. However, the Pirates came out after the main break and made their intentions clear, kicking the first 5.1 of the quarter, with goals from Stefan Barbour (3), Alex Marshall and Tory Taylor. Nino Lazzaro and Will Fenton finally got a couple back for Fitzroy, but the Pirates quickly responded through Sam Harrison and James Fletcher. Rory Angiolella had a free kick and converted on the siren, bringing the margin back to seven points. The Pirates were good enough to hold on in the last, giving them their second win of the season.

Old Brighton went through the first half of the season undefeated, despite being seriously challenged over the past month. Monash’s last six weeks have been a rollercoaster, with their formline reading LWLWLW. Both sides had significant inclusions, with the Tonners bringing back leading goalkicker Alex Mastromanno, and the Blues welcomed back Maddison Hardiman as well as Andre Headberry for his first game of the season. Monash led at every change, and by three-quarter time had opened a handy 28-point buffer. Mastromanno and Andrew Young both kicked behinds for their respective sides early on before Old Brighton gradually kicked into gear, putting five goals on the board in the space of 15 minutes to take an unlikely lead. Nick Coroneos, Pat Liston, Thomas King and Mastromanno all contributed. Nick Petering got on a lead and took a mark, and incredibly, his missed set shot with seven minutes to go would be the last score of the game, with the Tonners holding on for a one-point win.

Both Mazenod and St Bernard’s headed into their clash coming off wins, albeit in vastly different styles: Mazenod overcame OId Carey by a solitary goal, while the Snowdogs did it comfortably over Peninsula. The Nodders were without coach Ben Phibbs, Liam Welsford and first-gamer Goy Lok (four goals on debut) but Chris Campbell came in and filled the void nicely, kicking a couple and being named in the best in his first game of the season. Adam Bentick was missing for St Bernards, but Thomas Madden and Jacob Bevanda both contributed well on returning to the side. St Bernards had the better of the first half, but the Nodders fought back well in the third. Thomas Odrowaz missed an early opportunity, but the Snowdogs kick-in came right back and Brad Kovac took advantage, putting the Nodders on the board first. Jack McNamara, Chris Hughes and Charlie Vague then scored for St Bernards in quick succession, giving them a handy buffer. The Nodders were playing some great footy, but the Snowdogs half-back line was managing to stand firm. Rees Thomas, Michael Chamberlain and Corey Martino all kicked behinds before Peter Rozanitis took a mark on a lead and scored again for the Nodders. Kovac and Nick Thomas added two more Mazenod goals, bringing them within seven points at three-quarter time. Six goals to two in the last gave St Bernards a comfortable win, but the Nodders certainly made them earn it.

With Max Van Den Broek (nine) and Jono Daggian (six) returning to the Old Scotch side and combining for 15 goals last week, it’s fair to say that would have occupied the minds of the Old Carey brains trust in the lead up to their Round 10 clash. The Panthers came agonizingly close to their third win of the season, pipped by a single goal by Mazenod in Round 9. The Cardinals got the early jump with a five-goal first term, and managed to double that in the second thanks to goals from Andrew Jelbart, James Sansom, Jack Bull and Daggian. The halftime scoreline was a worrying sight for Panthers supporters: 10.10 to 3.1, twenty scoring shots to four. To their credit, Old Carey came out and committed themselves well in the third, thanks largely to three goals from vice-captain Sam Cust. George Curnow, Wil Nichols and Daniel Clarke also scored majors to give the Panthers their highest quarter score for the season and bring them back within four goals at the final break. A three-goal-to-one final term brought Old Carey within two goals at the final siren.