Some Roy magic and the incredible Fields

Jake Morris

Leaving arguably their best performance of the year till last, Fitzroy have saved their season and return to Premier B for 2020 with a thrilling 11-point win over Beaumaris at Banksia Reserve. Sunny Brazier’s four first quarter majors pushed the Roys out to a 39-point quarter time advantage, before fighting off a Sharks fightback to grab their sixth win of the year to move from ninth to seventh. Despite the shock loss at home, the inaccurate Sharks (6.14) still finish the year in fourth, setting up a clash with University Blacks next weekend.

In what amounted to be their largest total score on record and largest winning margin on record, Caulfield Grammarians ended their home & away season with a dominant 171-point win over Old Geelong at Glenhuntly Reserve, sending the OGs back to Premier C in the process. Led by league-leading goal kicker Julian Dobosz with seven, 15 different Fields’ players got on the scoresheet to send one almighty message to Scotch as they face off next weekend. Due to the margin of defeat, the OGs percentage dropped 6%, enough to fall behind Parkdale and into ninth spot on the table.

As Beaumaris advance, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers are the unlucky side to miss the four as they ran out of legs in the final term against Old Scotch to go down by 34 points at Brindisi Street Oval. Andrew Padbury kicked five for the Cards who finish the year with 16 wins, setting up a massive clash with Caulfield next weekend. The Tigers see their 2019 Premier B campaign end with nine wins and a fifth placed finish, fuelling what is sure to be a hungry outfit for 2020.

A 7.6 to 3.2 final term from the University Blacks has seen them storm home to a closer than expected 13-point win over Parkdale Vultures at Gerry Green Reserve. Trailing for most of the afternoon, the Blacks final quarter fightback against a side battling to avoid relegation will hold them in good stead as they advance to a clash with the Sharks next week. Despite the loss, the Vultures efforts sees them survive the relegation cull and return to Premier B in 2020.

Much like Fitzroy, Old Haileybury chose a great afternoon to produce their best four-quarters of play for the year as they downed Monash Blues by 69 points at Princes Park to survive and return to Premier B next year. Despite a slow start, the Bloods held the Blues to just three goals after quarter time, while piling on 17 to cruise to victory. The loss means the Blues fall to Premier C next year, but we will no doubt see them return as the young side grows.