
Inaugural VAFA Golf Day a smashing success
A new annual Ammos tradition launched in fine style with the inaugural VAFA Golf Day at the magnificent Kingston Heath on Tuesday. A spectacular sunrise welcomed the full field of
Sheridan Harris
Elsternwick’s fairytale run in Division 3 Men’s has come to a heartbreaking conclusion, going down to Parkside by just four points in a preliminary final thriller at Garvey Oval.
The loss ends an enormous season for the Wickers, who were clearly one of the better Division 3 teams in 2022 after being promoted last year on the back of numerous thumping wins and impeccable form in Division 4. For the Red Devils, the win continues the very form that got them into finals contention, with a now 9-game streak that includes their two finals wins. It really is no wonder they made the top four in the end, after winning their final seven games of the home and away season, despite having won just three to round eleven.
It wasn’t all sunshine for Parkside on Saturday though, as their Division 3 Men’s Reserves lost earlier on in the day by the slimmest of margins, with Emmaus St Leo’s now one step closer in their quest to go back-to-back. Not without their chances, the Red Devils failed to convert their inside 50s into goals, kicking just five behinds in the last half, and weren’t able to capitalise on the abysmal third and final quarters from the Animals in front of goal as they kicked 1.7 to hold onto the lead until the final siren. If you needed proof of the existence of the footy gods, there might be something in that.
All that remains between Emmaus St Leo’s and another Reserves premiership is South Melbourne Districts, and it all ends at Garvey Oval at 11:45am this Saturday. Whether you support either team or not, it’s going to be contest and a half. At least.
But those who stuck around after the reserves game were treated to another spectacle, and those in red and white might still be struggling to get their heart rates down after two extremely close consecutive matches. Both Parkside and Elsternwick got off to relatively good starts, but it was the Red Devils who took the lead early and made sure they kept it. Margins of 27 and 17 at the half-time and three-quarter-time breaks respectively were the signs the game was going to go down to the wire as the Wickers kept the door ajar, just slightly.
But unfortunately for Elsternwick, it just wasn’t to be, with their late rally of 4.3 to 2.2 in the final term not enough to bridge the gap as they heartbreakingly fell at the final hurdle. As a highlight, it was the usual suspects for them inside 50, with Daniel Marchese (7), Matt Ball (3) and David Convery (2) their three goalkickers, with the former justifiably taking top honours as the best player for his side, while the remaining two ended up on the list unsurprisingly.
For Parkside, they shared the load as nine individual goalscorers got on the board to get their team over the line. Jackson Hubbard (2), Simon Mackie (2) and Matthew Holden (2) all kicked multiples, but it was Jack Hamilton (1) who was best on ground.
And so, at 2:30pm on Saturday, Garvey Oval will be a sea of red and white as South Melbourne Districts and Parkside battle it out to be Division 3 Men’s premiers, and also maybe for bragging rights as to who looks better in said colours.
Whether it’s triumph to the Bloods, whose 2022 season run after promotion could end with medallions around their necks, or to the Red Devils, whose tilt at the flag last year was cruelly cut short after the cancellation of the season, all that can be said is it’s going to be a cracker of a game.
A new annual Ammos tradition launched in fine style with the inaugural VAFA Golf Day at the magnificent Kingston Heath on Tuesday. A spectacular sunrise welcomed the full field of
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