Tonners tie T’s in thriller as Blues down Xavs

Old Brighton and Old Trinity broke ground as they played out the first draw of the 2019 William Buck Premier season. After kicking five goals to three in the opening term, the Tonners led at every break and entered the fourth term 18 points ahead. Goals to Austin Hodge, Harry Tinney and Alex Polidoros gave the T’s the lead 20 minutes into the fourth before Harry Hill pounced at the top of the goal square and reclaimed the lead for the Tonners. It was a hard-fought final few minutes but neither side could find the goals and will ultimately share the premiership points. Will Lewis was unstoppable in the first three terms and kicked six goals for the Tonners, while skipper Hill had 26 disposals and kicked thee majors. Polidoros booted four, including a goal of the year contender in the fourth, and Tinney proved a handful up forward with three goals, 15 disposals and seven marks.

University Blues handed Old Xaverians their first loss of the season with a 35-point victory at Uni Oval. The Blues trailed by seven points at quarter time but exploded with eight goals to one in a match-winning second term. Tom Quinn delivered his best game of the season with three goals from 24 touches, while Cam O’Shea had 22. Chris Margin was best afield for the Xavs with 24 possessions and a goal alongside Matt Merlo’s 23 disposals and nine tackles. Despite the loss, Xavs remain on top of the ladder, 7.4% above the second-placed Blues.

Collegians claimed their third win from their past four games, defeating St Bernard’s by 58 points at Harry Trott Oval. Five unanswered goals in the opening term set the scene for the Lions before kicking another 13 goals to nine thereafter. Jim Bazzani starred in a BOG display with 27 disposals and two goals for the Lions, while Taylor Hunt led all comers with 29. Alex McLeod was a standout for the Snow Dogs with four goals as they now fall to sixth spot on the ladder after three consecutive losses. The Lions move into fifth.

St Kevin’s OB pieced together their most complete performance of the season with a 98-point victory over Old Carey at Carey Sports Complex. SKOB pounced with seven goals to two in the first quarter and conceded just another five for the game while piling on 15 of their own. Jarrad Waite was sensational with 6.4 from nine marks and Lachie Sullivan returned with 27 and three goals alongside Luke Andrews’ 26 and three. Marc Lock, who has been Carey’s best player over the past three weeks, took his game to another level with a game-high 40 disposals and 10 clearances. SKOB now move into third spot on the ladder, while the Panthers sit ninth.

Old Melburnians won their first home game of the season, running out 43-point winners over De La Salle at Elsternwick Park. OMs delivered the knockout punch early with seven goals to one in the first term as scoring evened out seven goals apiece thereafter. Tom Paule’s 25 disposals, eight clearances and one goal led the charge for OMs while Gus Borthwick had another 22 and kick a goal himself. Not for the first time this season, Hugh Nicholson was the leading disposal-winner for De La with 26. OMs move into fourth spot on the ladder, five above De La.