Jake Morris
Our second round of Premier B football for 2019 is in the books and just three teams remain undefeated after an exciting weekend of action. Old Scotch, Caulfield Grammarians and the University Blacks all continued their perfect start to the year with convincing victories. Beaumaris notched their first win of the year, while Old Haileyburians outlasted a pesky Vultures outfit to claim their first victory in 2019.
Following a resounding triumph in Round 1, Caulfield Grammarians showed little sign of slowing down as they put the St Bedes/Mentone Tigers to the sword by way of 74-points. Despite Jack Wallace booting four majors, the final score arguably flattered the Tigers, as the Fields’ inaccuracy (14.22) in-front of goal saved this from being one of the bigger blowouts so far this year. Declan Reilly was named BOG, but a strong team performance across the ground highlighted a fantastic outing for the Fields’. For the Tigers, a strong third quarter saw them boot four majors, but the rugged Fields’ back-six limited them to just five behinds for the other three terms. Michael Barnes was adjudged his sides’ best in an otherwise disappointing day for the Tigers.
Like the Fields, the University Blacks backed up their strong outing in Round 1 with a comfortable 73-point victory over Fitzroy. The Blacks led from start to finish, piling on scoreboard pressure and using their class to secure their second victory of the year. Daniel Mccullough, Joel Ernest and John Roysmith all kicked three while Thomas Swift was awarded best afield as his side amounted 10 individual goal-scorers in the siren-to-siren performance. Following up their 26-goal haul in Round 1 with another 18 in Round 2 suggests the Blacks are going to be a perennial force in front of the big sticks in 2019. For the Roys, Sean Laidlaw was his sides’ only multiple goal-kicker while Ted Clayton was named their best.
Beaumaris have moved into the top four after a comprehensive 53-point victory over the Monash Blues at Frearson Oval. Trailing by 11 points at half time, the Sharks used a barrage of goals in the second half to sink the Blues, piling on 12 majors to just two in a clinical performance. ‘Bluey’ McKenna and his coaching staff certainly corrected a lot of the inaccuracy in-front of goal which arguably cost them the game in Round 1. Callum Linehan was adjudged best on, while Christopher Grigoriadis bagged five majors to help secure the come-from-behind victory. For the Blues, second half defensive issues are becoming a growing concern. Conceding 14 majors in Round 1 and 12 in Round 2 is costing them games, and will undoubtedly be a focus coming back from the Easter break.
In what was arguably our most exciting match of Round 2, Old Haileybury took down Parkdale Vultures by just two-points in a grandstand finish at Princes Park Caulfield. A 13-point three-quarter time advantage for the Bloods was almost squandered as the Vultures controlled most of the final term, but scoreboard inaccuracy cost Parkdale the golden opportunity to take the lead and claim their first win on the year, allowing the Bloods to hold on and notch their first victory. Durras Seccull kicked four while Samuel Loewe booted three for the Old Haileyburians, while Dylan Glascott kicked three and was named best for Parkdale. Two even sides that will be fighting for a finals position, and we cannot wait till they lock horns again in Round 12.
Fighting for their spot back in William Buck Premier, Old Scotch have now made it two-from-two and done it scary fashion, knocking over Old Geelong by 124 points at Como Park. The Cards ran rampart from the bounce, with Jack Hurley and crew dominating throughout the midfield, limiting the OGs forward entries, while also converting with ease when they went forward themselves. Aidan Franetic had himself a day out with six goals while Dylan Gilbert had a bag of five, leading the Cards to the biggest scoring total of the year so far. Mickey Nicholls was named BOG for the OGs in a tough afternoon that Nick Bourke and his men will look rectify as they welcome a hungry Parkdale outfit this weekend.
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