De La, Blues safe from relegation, SKOB claim minor premiership

University Blues and De La Salle saved their seasons and avoided relegation with Round 18 victories against Old Scotch and St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, respectively. The fallout means Scotch will join the Tigers in Premier B next season.

The Blues were able to edge out the Cardinals in the fourth term, running out 10-point winners at Uni Oval. They led by as much as 31 points during the third quarter until the Cardinals booted the final three goals of the term; including, a Gene Van Den Broek set shot after the siren to bring the margin to just seven points. Kieran Harper top-scored with three goals for the Blues and nailed a sealer in the fourth, while Tom Quinn, Ayce Cordy and Ross Young stood up when the game was there to be won. Van Den Broek finished the game with three majors for the Cardinals while Jack Bull was a standout. Such has been the even nature of our competition this season, the Blues finished fifth on the ladder after jumping two spots. The Cardinals will reload in Premier B after finishing ninth with six wins.

De La entered this week’s game without having registered a win against the Tigers at Brindisi this decade. However, the game was ultimately put to bed by quarter time after De La kicked six goals to one before another two straight in the second gave them a 48-point half time lead. Eight goals to three extended the winning margin to 85 with 37 scoring shots to 12. Lachlan Walker and Tom Humphrey were phenomenal for De La, while Brodie McLaughlin kicked five goals for the second time against the Tigers this season. Dan Garside and Michael Barnes led the charge for the Tigers, and it was great to see James Tyquin kick a goal in his final game for the club. De La rose three spots, from ninth to sixth, following the win.

St Kevin’s OB claimed the minor premiership for the second year in a row as they defeated Old Melburnians by 83 points at TH King Oval. Six unanswered goals in the opening term commenced SKOB’s dominant performance, with Billy Kanakis cementing his goal kicking award with six for the day and taking his tally to 53. Callum Matheson was best afield as Nick Wood and Michael Di Natale both returned to the side. Josh Freezer ended his season with another standout display for OM’s, while Stuart Watson kicked two goals.

Old Trinity will enter next week’s finals brimming with confidence after they defeated Collegians by three goals at Harry Trott Oval. Trailing by 14 points at three quarter time, the T’s exploded with five unanswered goals in the final term. Alex Polidoros backed up his three majors from last week with a season-high five-goal haul, while Sam Joyce booted four. Viv Michie and George Burbury led the way for the Lions, who lose top spot to SKOB following the loss. They’ll meet SKOB in next week’s second semi while the T’s face off with eh Tonners in the elimination final.

Six goals to two in the final term helped Old Brighton to a 19-point victory over Old Xaverians at Toorak Park. Nicholas Pavlou re-entered the senior side with a BOG performance for the Tonners, while Anthony Zimmerman starred with four goals. Matthew Handley booted four of his own in his 250^th match for the Xavs alongside a standout performance from Jason Holmes in the ruck. Xavs finish the year in seventh spot on the ladder, while the Tonners ready themselves for next week’s elimination final against the T’s.