Plot twist: The Premier B story takes a turn

Alisha Min

Round 16 is in the books, and we have just two weekends remaining for the home & away season in 2018. Many subplots to the Premier B story arose from the week gone by, including:

• Monash Blues’ jump from 10^th to 8^th, their first semblance of security (i.e. out of the relegation zone) in this competition all year.
• Old Carey’s sixth consecutive win to now sit on equal points with St Bernard’s (1^st), over a fraught Beaumaris who cling precariously to their finals berth.
• University Blacks’ (3^rd) affirmation of their finals credentials with a round-high beating of Parkdale Vultures by 86 points.

Subplots aside, it is hard to overlook the potentially impending Cinderella story that is Caulfield Grammarians stealing the fourth and final spot for September action. Though it might’ve seemed a mere fantasy that the Fields could make a finals appearance in the Round 13 evaluation of each team’s five-game run home, they now loom just one game, and 4.16%, behind a 4^th placed Beaumaris outfit where complacency during this crucial chapter could see them fall.

PREVIEW

Monash Blues will play host to St Bernard’s, fresh off their second loss of the season, on Saturday afternoon at the confines of Frearson Oval. Last time they played, all the way back in Round 1, St Bernard’s proved their valour via a conclusive 16-goal victory at their Snake Pit. On that occasion, the Snow Dogs had nine goal contributors throughout the match, including a bag of five from the biggest Premier B goalkicking fiend, Chad Jones, while Nick Petering was the only goal scorer from the Blues to get more than one. Though the Blues are undeniably in better form now, winning three of their last five which effectively lifted them out of the bottom two for the first time, the Snow Dogs will be rampant in pushing top spot out of the Panther’s reach, and lining them up for Jones who sits 13 goals away from an uber impressive 100-goal season.

In a game of utmost importance, Ajax (9^th) will be looking to break their five-game losing streak by returning the favour to Parkdale Vultures (7^th). Staring down the barrel of relegation if they can’t reconnect with the winner’s circle, the Jackas will need to put up a rousing performance for coach Mark Williams to get the job done here. When they last met in Round 7, it was a second half fade by the Jackas which allowed the Vultures to take the winning four points, though Jake Lew (4) and Justin Berkowitz were impressive. Liam Marshall (6), who was named best, Nathan Papatsanis (4) and in-form skipper Charlie Dillon (3) were the game winners for the Vultures in that instance, and will look to  do the same here.

The shoe is primed for Caulfield Grammarians to fulfil the Premier B Cinderella story, and the first step to snatch 4^th place is to record a win over Mazenod at Glenhuntly oval this week. When these two teams battled it out in Round 7, the Nodders succumbed to a 60-point deficit at the hands of the Fields thanks to the standout efforts of Sam Dorevitch, Alexander Lowe (3), Jordan Stewart (2), Keegan Stewart (2) and Ryan Harris (2). In what has been a tough season for Mazenod, who have slumped to 10^th following their sixth-straight loss in Round 16, they’ll take this opportunity to throw a spanner in the works for the finals-hungry Fields.

Previous perceptions might’ve viewed the Beaumaris (4^th) v Uni Blacks (3^rd) match-up this weekend as a final preview, and it could still eventuate to that fact, but it could also be one of the final nails in the Sharks coffin should the Blacks repeat their 33-point win from Round 5. On that occasion, Beaumaris hosted the then ladder-leaders at Shark Park, and it was a tight-scoring affair in the opening terms (40 points apiece at halftime) before the Blacks asserted their dominance up forward through John Vrodos (3) and Lachlan Huntington (5). The Sharks will need a consolidated team effort here, led by players like Anthony Carroll, Lewis Diggins and Matthew Petering, to cause the upset.

Old Haileyburians competitive form will be well and truly tested this weekend when they host the minor premier hopefuls, Old Carey, at their home in Princess Park. When they last met in Round 6,  Old Carey pounced on Old Haileyburians from the get go at Carey Sport Complex in Bulleen. For the Panthers, a four goal to one opening term, backed up by a five goal to one point second term, all but sealed the game’s fate. Big V Squad members Kristian Jaksch (6) and Henry Schade were at their dependable best for the Panthers on that occasion, while Peter Gleadhill, Nicholas Garratt and Samuel Loewe (1) were listed as the Bloods best. Old Carey would be again confident this weekend, but Old Haileybury could cause havoc in front of their home crowd if the Panthers aren’t adequately prepared.