Injury carnage at Elsternwick Park for Old Melburnians

It was a day to forget for Old Melburnians, not only going down convincingly to Old Xaverians but on an injury front. On the scoreboard, the day started poorly for the home side trailing by 34 points at quarter time. Old Xav’s wouldn’t allow them room with the footy to get the game on their terms. In the second term, as they attempted to mount a comeback, Nick De Steiger (left leg), Gus Borthwick (left knee) both went down and out of the game. Jonathon Grimwade (shoulder) in the third quarter followed suit. And, Tom Baker (hamstring) joined him on the bench in the final term.

We aren’t sure of the extent of these injuries, but for the sake of all four men, and the Old Melburnians there’s nothing too severe in them all and they’re ready for the must win clash next weekend against Old Brighton. The winner will play finals, for the loser it’s season over.

Old Xaverians started the day in fifth spot have climbed to third as part of the 46 point win. Set up by Julian Soccio (4) in the first quarter with three goals. Ben Bilston-McGillen put in a late charge for a rising star nomination with two majors in the third term. Perhaps the only blemish came from Xavier Richards who hit the post from the top of the goal square, but it mattered little on the margin. Aaron VanDen Berg finished the game on the bench but will be right to tackle Uni Blues next week. Should Collegians lose in Round 18, and Xav’s win, second spot is there for the taking.

St Kevin’s have claimed the minor premiership in a demolition of Old Brighton at T H King. A tough opening half with six goals combined being kicked. Five of them the way of the home side. It was after half-time where they stretched the Tonners with a further 11 goals, while only conceding four. Phil Edgar (3) is keeping his season average of three goals a game in tact. Paddy Kerr (2) has moved up to 40 goals for the season.

While at EP it was Bilston-McGillen making a charge for a RS nomination. Ben Mansfield also staked his climb to be considered by the Rising Star committee this week after a near perfect performance in a best on ground display. As well as his fellow young gun Luke Winter through the SKOB midfield. This side is as impressive as any St Kevin’s side that has claimed Premierships in recent years. They may not have the standout player of Billy Kanakis, of Mitch Brown, of Nick Wood. But what they do have is a 22-man system that doesn’t need a sole player to dominate for them to win. They are humming with one home and away round to go.

Old Brighton are looking like they’re just going to get to the finish line this year. Injuries to key personnel, players travelling and going away. Two wins from their last five matches (against St Bernard’s, and Old Trinity). What has Greg Hutchison got left in his bag of tricks for their last ditch effort this weekend to see September against OM’s?

Collegians are second on the table. You are reading that correctly. Nine wins in a row. St Bernard’s were no match for the purple army who got motoring early and didn’t look back yesterday. Dave Mirra backed up his bag of five last week with another four. He takes his season tally to 40. Ed Greene also added four goals to his name. Combined, the two of them have kicked 70 goals for the season. The best one-two punch in William Buck Premier as it starts. How comforting that must feel for Jared Rivers to have those twin-towers in the forward line.

It’s little to no surprise that Viv Michie and Kenny Ong had their fare share of the footy through the midfield. Nor is it that the best named defender in the Collegians line up is Sam Sofrinidis. He may have a spot on the half back flank in the 2022 Team of the Year.

The percentage climbed another six points for the Lions. With Old Trinity in the final round, they can’t afford to rest up other Old Xaverians will take second spot. It’s all systems go in the final round.

University Blues are safe from relegation. They’ll see William Buck Premier in 2023 after dismantling Caulfield Grammarians by 71 points at Melbourne Uni. Smarting after last weeks heartbreaking loss, a seven goal blitz in the second quarter put the game to bed before half time. Even without Sam Grimley they scored heavily as Marc James (5) and Tom Quinn (3) led the charge in the forward line.

Taking them over 12 months to kicked 100+ points in a game. And after kicking just a solitary goal against St Kevins. Blues have kicked 49 goals in three weeks and playing the footy we thought we’d see from them throughout the year. It’s been a year they’d rather forget at Melbourne Uni, but wouldn’t they love to come to Toorak Park on Saturday and spoil the party for Old Xaverians who are charging towards September.

It’s happened again. Old Scotch were challenged heavily by Old Trinity in the first half. While inaccuracy was the theme of the day in the opening two quarters with both sides kicking 5.18.48 combined. The third term belonged to the youthful exuberance momentum moving Cardinals. Nine goals to two. A 6-point half time deficit turned to a 36 point three quarter time lead.

Mark Gnatt throwing the magnets around, Doug Lawrence was last credited with a goal in 2018 playing in the QAFL for Sherwood Districts. He’s spent the year kicking out from full back trying to stop goals in the VAFA and the VFL. Yesterday he found three majors himself in the ultimate swingman role. Among the best were the senior brigade of the Cardinals – Andy Jelbart, Brodie Easton, Will Clark, Lachie Byrne-Jones. One round remaining for the Cardinals. They’ve ticked a lot of boxes in 2022. Perhaps the last one for Gnatt will be a small piece of redemption for the 2019 B-Grade Grand Final when they face the Fields to end the year.