2025 VAFA Fixture Calendar released
The VAFA has released its fixture calendar for 2025, with all competitions to kick off on Saturday April 5 and play two rounds before the Easter Bye. Four grading rounds
Hugh MacLean
Hampton Rovers are showing that they are serious players in the race for the 2022 Premier C crown. Elsewhere the highly fancied Ormond dropped their second game running, while Old Mentonians came out in front in the southern derby. Here’s what took place…
It was a long day for a young Preston Bullants squad missing a number of their most influential players going down by 123 points. These lads are as game as they come, but on this day they were no match for a Mazenod side looking to frank their finals credentials and send a message to the rest of the competition that they will be a major threat in 2022.
Mazenod were harried into inaccuracy early when the Bullants were at their freshest, kicking seven minor scores in each of the first two quarters, but as the match continued the Nodders became more and more dominant, to the point that they had a tally of 11.19 turning for home.
Preston kicked two of their three goals in the final term, but Mazenod kicked nine of their own to salute in emphatic fashion. Jack Caspersz continued his consistent start with four goals for the third match running, and Tom McKenna also starred for Mazenod. Rory Howard and Matt Maiolo toiled hard all day for Preston.
Old Geelong got their season rolling, taking the four points away from Chelsworth Park with a comfortable 40 point victory. The Geelong boys laid the foundation by kicking the only four goals of the first term and although Old Ivanhoe fought hard to keep the score at a respectable level, they could make no impression on the scoreboard.
Old Ivanhoe could have been closer than 23 points down at half time but a tally of 2.6 didn’t do them any favours. Old Geelong kicked five goals to four in the third term, and then five goals to three in the last to emphasise the point that on their day Old Ivanhoe can match this side, but this one belonged to the Geelong lads.
Christian Hatzis kicked five for Old Geelong with Bailey Austin and Ben Webb excellent. Harrison Reid was Ivanhoe’s only multiple goalkicker with two, with Sam Wilcox also among the best.
Marcellin travelled to E.E. Gunn Reserve and prevailed in a high quality encounter where the margin (21 points) did not tell the story of the evenness of the two teams. From the outset Marcellin showed that they had come to play, consistently being first to the ground balls early on and matching Ormond in the air.
The first quarter was a bit of a stalemate on the scoreboard, with only one goal kicked by each side, and the tightness continued with Marcellin leading by three points at half time and four at the last change.
Marcellin broke it open in the final term, kicking five goals to two as Ormond’s accuracy deserted them in front of goal. Mason Martinez and Jack Mason starred for Ormond but Liam Atherton, Sebastian Beale and Matt Capetola were not to let Marcellin be denied a strong victory.
The slick Hampton Rovers side threw down the gauntlet by putting the previously unbeaten Monash Blues to the sword in a big way on their own patch. The first quarter was an even affair but the Rovers took all their chances, kicking three goals without a blemish to go to the first break nine points to the good.
Hampton broke the game open in the second term, kicking five goals to one to establish a six goal break on which Monash were never able to make an impression. Monash showed the trait that good sides have, not lying down as they kicked seven goals after half time, but Hampton continued to make the most of their chances to add 12.3, winning by 63 points.
Danny Corp kicked six goals for the victors, for whom captain Christian Carnovale led the way brilliantly. James Flett carried the flag for Monash, as did Nick Darling with four goals.
Old Mentonians turned around an early deficit against Parkdale Vultures to score a gutsy eight point win in the southern suburbs battle. It was the Vultures that looked the stronger in the early exchanges, kicking three goals to one in the opening stanza and maintaining a ten point advantage at the long break.
There were only seven goals kicked in a first half where the defences held sway, but Old Mentonians won the game in the third term by kicking six goals to one. That gave them a 21 point break at the home turn and while Parkdale kicked three of the four last quarter goals, they fell eight points short at the final siren.
Angus Grant led the way on the scoreboard for Old Mentonians, with team leaders Josh Gorman, Darcy Brown and Lachlan Mirams standing up when it mattered. Jack Love and Sam Sargeant worked their backsides off for Parkdale, with Liam Purcell kicking three goals.
UHS-VU bye
The VAFA has released its fixture calendar for 2025, with all competitions to kick off on Saturday April 5 and play two rounds before the Easter Bye. Four grading rounds
The VAFA has an exciting position available as Manager – Community & Club Support and is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic person to fill this stimulating and varied role. The successful candidate
2024 was a golden season for the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier competition with so much talent spread across the league, making for a gripping finals series that went all the