Lions Roar to a Magnificent Four

The William Buck Premier ladder is fascinating whichever way you look at it. After the weekend shakedown, St Kevin’s came back a peg with Old Melburnians and Old Brighton. Collegians have roared into finals contention over the last month with Old Xaverians holding them at bay. Old Scotch have done it again over University Blues as the footy restarted after the double bye. 

There was a different vibe around the Uni Main on Saturday afternoon for the RSN Carnival Match of the Day. A passionate Guy Martyn was ready for action and for his team of cohorts to respond to the off-field findings. While, as Brian Waldron said on For the Love of the Game, the least likeliest of teams they would have wanted to come up against was Old Scotch. 

The Cardinals made them second guess themselves with possession in hand. Nothing was made to look easy or flowing for Blues. Mark Gnatt pointed out the inclusion of Ryan Valentine (3) and Alex Lukic to the forward line would make the Blues defenders accountable, and they did just that. Tom Ansell fought valiantly in the ruck against Ayce Cordy while on debut Tom Furphy kicked 2-majors in the space of two minutes to rub salt into the wounds. 

Sam Grimley (3) and Ayce Cordy (2) led from the front for Uni but like the season opener, when the final siren sounded on Saturday, they found themselves behind. They’ve got 5 days to lick their wounds and respond when they face Old Melburnians on Saturday at Elsternwick Park. 

Collegians will head to Camberwell Sports Park to face the Cardinals in Round 12. Full of steam. Full of run. Full of confidence. Seeing off the ladder leaders St Kevin’s at Harry Trott by 30 points. 

It turned out to be an inaccurate day in front of the sticks for both sides with a combined 11.30.96 kicked. St Kevin’s managed 3.15.33 for the day. The third term alone netted 1.10 in front of goal. In that third quarter it was all St Kevin’s as they kept the Lions scoreless to go into the final change 2-points behind but it was a Purple haze in the final term kicking 4.10 to shut the doors on their arch-nemesis. 

Dave Mirra (3), Kenny Ong (2), and Josh Watson have been regulars in Jared Rivers best players this year. It’s no surprise that in their last four victories, Mirra has kicked 10 goals across those games. Playing a true captain’s role and each member of the team walking a little taller. 

St Kevin’s will welcome Old Trinity to T H King in Round 12. They have an 18% gap on Old Melburnians in second spot, that could lengthen if the get hold of the T’s once Plugger Lynch gets hold of their goalkicking yips from the weekend. 

Old Trinity opened the game against Old Melburnians in fine form considering the conditions. Kicking the only 2-goals for the term, keeping OM’s goalless. Unfortunately, they were the only two majors they would kick for the day as the men in Navy Blue kicked 10.12 to 0.9 after quarter time. 

Amazingly the game was still well and truly alive after 3 quarter time with Paul Satterley’s men holding a 4-point lead before storming home with 7-final quarter goals and shut the gates on any thoughts the T’s had on a late comeback.

Jackson Paine was named the best player on the ground, supported by Daniel Coffield and Josh Freezer down in defence. For Trinity, Charlie Beasley didn’t allow any of the OM’s forward to get off the chain and kick a bag of goals. 

Old Xaverians did everything they had to do against St Bernard’s at Toorak Park to record a 76 point win. The 24% gap they had on Collegians in fifth spot, has now expanded to 30% which is as good as a couple of extra wins should both of these sides continue on the trajectory they’re going. 

Xavier Richards has continued his incredible run of kicking goals in every game he has played for Xav’s, another bag of four on the weekend takes his season tally to 24 from six games. The opposition’s best defender stands him every week and he still finds a way to goal. 

6-goals to one in the opening half set up the day for the red and black. 7-goals to 1 after half-time sealed the deal in dishing out more pain for St Bernard’s. 

The Snowdogs head home to the Snakepit this weekend to face Caulfield Grammarians while the win for Xav’s sets up a classic encounter against Old Brighton at Brighton Beach Oval. 

Old Brighton and Caulfield Grammarians locked themselves into the tightest battle of the weekend with the Tonners reigning supreme by 8-points. Trailing at quarter time by that very margin they were able to hold the Fields to two goals for the rest of the day, adding five goals themselves. 

Brighton ruckman Andy Doyle (2) was big in the middle, around stoppages and in front of goal when they needed him to be, while Will Lewis was named best afield. 

Caulfield called upon Matt Buntine, Sam McInerney and Dane Crognale (2) to get them over the line but it was to no avail, falling short. Plenty of missed chances during the third term will leave Punchy Williams asking ‘what if’ kicking 1.9 to 0.1 in the Premiership term.