Hey Old Scotch, anything you can do, we can do better

The opening month of William Buck Premier footy has concluded with the top five sides starting to pull away from the bottom five sides, showing a clear divide on the ladder. 

Collegians walked into the weekend using the saying ‘anything Scotch can do, we can do better!’ Walking off Princes Park against Old Haileybury winners by 110 points. 

10 different goalkickers had a hand in the victory, vice-captain Dave Mirra led the way with five majors. Old Haileybury had no answers for the momentum of the Lions who grew their percentage a staggering 44% inside the two hours of play. 

Round 17, 2019 was the last time Collegians won a game beyond 100 points. It was the clubs highest score since Round 11, 2018.

Dylan Thomas came into the side at the expense of the opening round rising star Teigan Otter, he kicked a goal, and was named in Jared Rivers best side. 

As everything went right for Collegians, nothing seemed to work for Daniel Ward’s men, no matter how hard they tried. Coming off the high of last weeks victory, they crashed to earth with a thud. 

They’ll be keen to put this behind them, and immediately look to Old Scotch in Round 5. 

The Cardinals have opened the window further. Sending Old Melburnians to their fourth straight loss to start the season. 

Four changes on Thursday night, a further three changes this morning with illness. It didn’t stop Mark Gnatt’s men from excelling in the conditions at Elsternwick Park. 

A 6-point quarter time lead, extended to 28 points at half-time. James Tarrant continues to kick goals, adding three to his tally. Doug Lawrence, the full-back turned centre half-forward on the back of losing Tyler Sellers and Ryan Valentine from last week’s team. 

Old Melburnians have undergone wholesale changes. Round 4’s side has 10 players who’ve played less than 10 senior games, and they’re finding a new way to play together. Ben Harding, Ed Nichols and Will Richards can hold their heads up, all three fought valiantly for the afternoon. 

The club returns to the Harry Trott Oval next week, a venue that holds great memories in recent times, however Collegians are completely different to how they were on that fateful Friday night in 2022. 

The reigning Premiers, St Kevin’s keep on keeping on. A 65-point win against University Blacks. It was a clinical, professional, typical St Kevin’s performance. 

Apart from three goals in the second term, Blacks were held to just one goal across the other three quarters. 

Shaun Kennedy has found his kicking boots, inspired by his beloved Magpies. For the second week in a row he has kicked four goals, all of them in the first-half. 

Supporting Kennedy, Harry Wardlaw (4 goals), and young star Jack Darmody had a hand in producing another matchwinning performance. 

Will Coates, Luke Winter and Cal Matheson were pivotal in the midfield. University Blacks were without co-captain Josh Steadman who didn’t come up after his eye injury last week. 

Regular performers Lachie Knight, and Campbell Moorfield did their Big V aspirations no harm as well as Joel Ernest and full-forward Nick Hey. 

Uni Blacks will see next week’s home game against Caulfield Grammarians as a golden opportunity, while St Kevin’s head to Elsternwick Park to tackle the Old Xaverians. 

Speaking of the red and black mafia. They walked off Melbourne Uni Oval retaining the Carmody Cup over University Blues. 

A 7-point lead at half-time was extended to 35 at three quarter time, holding the Blues scoreless, Xav’s were able to kick four goals and put the game beyond doubt.

Following up his rising star nomination, Oscar Duncan was terrific in the ruck against Ayce Cordy. Dennis Symeopoulos was very good all day and Jed Fennelly was great on Sam Grimley. 

After losing in the opening round, Xav’s have regrouped to be 3-1 after the first month. Uni Blues are 2-2, Guy Martyn has got some questions he needs answering. 

Two games at home has seen the Blues net just nine goals. Inaccuracy is proving to be an unwanted trend at the moment. The challengers don’t get any easier as they head to Brighton Beach Oval to face off against last year’s Grand Finalists next Saturday. 

Old Brighton have moved to 4-0, just like St Kevin’s. It’s been a flawless opening month from the win-loss column. 

The club has moved into life under Dan Donati with relative ease, they’re aware the challenges will come but for now they’re making every post a winner.

Today was a slog in tough conditions, just off the beach which makes it an unwanted venue for travelling sides, just the way the Tonners like it. 

Michael Karayannis opened the scoring with a Pele like soccer off the ground. From there, they didn’t look back, holding Caulfield Grammarians to two goals for the afternoon. One of those coming in the opening quarter. 

Max Lohan was best for the Tonners intercepting across and providing run off half back. 

Ingo Dammersmith did a great job on the last line of defence for the Fields. Like Uni Blacks, they’ll look to next week as a golden opportunity to get a win on the board in 2023.

Photo: Bruce Tobin; Collegians FC