A Trinity and Camberwell draw complicates chaotic finish

The second draw of the Premier B season has created even more uncertainty at the top of the table as six teams grapple for a spot in September.

Coming into Round 15 on nine wins apiece, Old Trinity and Old Camberwell couldn’t be separated at Chelsworth Park, the Ts hauling back a 37-point margin to escape with two points, 12.15 (87) to 14.3 (87).

“It’s pleasing to see we get 37 points down, and the players and coaches don’t panic, they stuck to the formula we’ve worked on,” said Old Trinity coach Donald McDonald.

“Even though we didn’t win, (the players) gave themselves a chance to win.”

The Wellers’ excellent defensive structure and clean transition of the football from the contest to the outside saw the visitors make the early running, with Ben Hart, Jimmy Allen and “lightning” wingman Caleb Finlayson among Old Camberwell coach Anson Brownless’ best players.

But the likes of Hugh Beasley and Dom Payman stood literally and figuratively tall down the stretch, the Ts doing enough to split the points.

“They came late, but geez they came hard. We were lucky to hold on, I thought,” said Brownless.

In securing two points, the Wellers remain neck-deep in a desperate dash for the finals – a remarkable feat for Brownless’ side, which has completed a stunning rise from Division 1 to Premier B since 2022.

“We weren’t sure we were going to be competitive against these sides,” Brownless said.

“Now we’re coming up against sides that are really well trained and really fit for the year.”

Ahead for the Wellers is a challenging two-game home stand: first the red-hot De La Salle, then the Old Haileyburians at Gordon Barnard Reserve.

 “We’ll know in a couple of weeks where we’re at – we’ve been competitive against these top sides, we just can’t do it for four quarters.”

With Old Ivanhoe’s heavy defeat at the hands of De La Salle, both the Ts and Wellers are half-a-game ahead of the Hoers in fourth and fifth respectively, with a percentage advantage of 13.51 giving Donald McDonald’s team the spot in the four.

“We were a bit down and out last year, eighth on the ladder, it was a really tough year,” McDonald said of the Ts, who were 6-12 last year and finished 2023 with four successive losses.

This year, Old Trinity has enjoyed its most successful season at senior level since 2018, a fourth-place finish with a 10-7-1 record in William Buck Premier and a preliminary final appearance against the eventual premiers, St Kevin’s.

“Full credit to everyone for really rallying, what we’ve been able to do is put ourselves into a position where we can push hard for the four,” McDonald said.

“We’re just rapt that our season’s relevant, we’ve got something to play for.”

Old Trinity host Caulfield Grammarians next week at Daley Oval, before rounding out the home-and-away season with visits to Williamstown CYMS and Beaumaris.

De La Salle’s sixth consecutive victory was its most comprehensive of this season, Nick Hyland’s team sending a tremor through the competition with a 91-point drubbing of Old Ivanhoe to continue its pursuit of first spot on the ladder.

De La Salle, the competition’s highest-scoring team, brought up the ton for the fifth time this season, romping away to a 22.17 (149) to 8.10 (58) victory.

Midfielder Fraser Cameron was remarkable, booting five goals in his time resting forward from nine shots on goal

“He’s had his injury issues throughout the season, it’s been a bit of a frustrating year so far,” said his coach Nick Hyland.

“He can do it in the air, he can do it at ground level.”

De La’s run comes with an average margin of 56.5 points – the lowest winning margin, a 26-point defeat of the Bloods in Round 14.

But thanks to the Bloods’ Round 13 draw with the CYs, De La can’t use its ladder-leading percentage of 149.35% to snatch top spot from Old Haileybury, half a game ahead.

The competition is tight enough that De La’s position in the four isn’t necessarily unimpeachable – Old Camberwell, fifth on the ladder, is just six points behind.

“We’re still not even guaranteed a finals spot yet. Two of our last three are against teams that we’ve lost to, and the other is against a team we beat by a point,” said Hyland, with the Wellers, SBMT, and then Old Geelong ahead.

“The fire is still burning, we know we’re not safe and we’re definitely not complacent.”

Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen would be glad for some reinforcements, and will be quick to move on from a blemish on an otherwise encouraging season in Premier B – its first in the division since 2014.

“We’re not even worried about outcomes for the rest of the year now…we have been really hard at the footy and good on the inside, that’ll be our focus,” Giechen said.

A meeting with the in-form Williamstown CYMS looms this week at Chelsworth Park – not exactly a happy hunting ground for the Hoers, who are 2-5 at home this year.

“No doubt (the CYs) will come to play with their season on the line as far as relegation (goes),” said Gieschen.

Williamstown CYMS are out of the relegation zone for the first time since Round 2, winning a critical game against Beaumaris and in turn plunges the Caulfield Grammarians into ninth spot.

The CYs have won two of their last three games – the other result being a draw against Old Haileybury – and are wedged between the Sharks (seventh, 20 points) and Fielders (ninth, 16 points).

It was a comprehensive win, too – the CYs holding a ten-goal lead at the three quarter time break and able to cruise somewhat to a 16.13 (109) to 8.7 (55) victory.

“It was a very complete performance from us – this was where everything came together,” said CYs coach Con Terzoglou, his side able to dominate possession and territory after an opening to the match described as “Russian roulette,” such was the frequency of turnovers committed by both sides.

But the CYs soon gained ascendancy, enjoying a eight-goals-to-one run from the nine-minute mark of the first term to half time.

The Sharks were once again troubled by talented CYs forward Archi Manton, who after seven goals against Beaumaris in Round 6 punted five last weekend, four before half time.

“They’ve been more aware of their ladder position – we’ve had some conversations, but maybe we’ve been slightly naive at times,” said Sharks coach Josh Bourke.

Jordan Busuttil was magnificent with 30 disposals, 21 contested possessions and 16 clearances, while half-forwards Will Bokma and Harry Miller were adept at creating turnovers.

“They’ve just got that little bit more depth than us as far as their older group (goes),” Bourke said.

“They were really mature in the way they played the game.”

Luka and Petar Pecer were again bright spots for the Sharks, while Riley Virtue continued a stellar season.

The CYs have developed their contested game nicely this season, but have been able to add real outside flair and scoring power in recent weeks – and it’s a big part of their late-season form.

“We want to take this now and test it against Old Ivanhoe and Old Trinity,” said Terzoglou.

“We quickly pivoted to getting one from the last three, and ideally we don’t have to wait until St Bede’s / Mentone (in Round 18)…I’m absolutely pumped for the next two weeks.”

Caulfield Grammarians started solidly against Old Haileybury but weren’t able to go with the ladder leaders at Glenhuntly Oval, sliding into the relegation zone with a 11.20 (86) to 6.6 (42) defeat.

While the Bloods didn’t kick too well in front of goal, they were much improved from Round 14’s loss to De La, where ill discipline cost Daniel Ward’s men in the first half.

“The main culprit that hurt us against De La was our discipline and our ability to win at the contest…that’s something that we pride ourselves on. I thought (we were) back to getting closer to our standards, which was good,” Ward said.

Ward described his side’s recent run – one win, one draw, one loss over the last three weeks – as being similar to that of the Sydney Swans in the AFL, the Bloods in both competitions needing to find some late-season form going into finals despite an extended period of dominance atop the ladder.

“We’ve got a selection squeeze coming, some key players to return over the next week or two,” Ward said.

“With the last three games (against Old Geelong, Old Camberwell and Old Ivanhoe), all those sides are in contention…all three of those offer great competition for our guys ahead of finals.”

Fielders coach Guy McKenna has been integrating some returning players back into the senior side over recent weeks, and was impressed with their ability to hang with the ladder-leaders.

“To finish five goals shy of one of the hot favourites at this time of year, considering personnel and the conditioning of some of the lads,was encouraging,” he said.

McKenna’s team will need to win at least one more game this season if it wishes to avoid relegation, with a tricky run home ahead of Old Trinity, Old Ivanhoe and Old Camberwell.

“We played a quarter of decent, finals-type footy against a side that’s going to play finals in the first quarter – (we want to) keep going from that,” said McKenna.

Finally, Old Geelong bounced back from a Round 14 loss to the Ts against St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, kicking 11 goals to two across the middle quarters to win 18.13 (121) to 7.8 (50) at Brindisi Street.

With scores tied at quarter time, the OGs bolted clear with five goals in thirteen minutes in the second quarter, spreading the load across 12 different goal kickers – led by Tim Breadmore and Connor Dixon with three goals apiece.

Nathan Brown’s unit has spent five weeks in the top four, but faces a difficult run home, with Old Haileybury, Beaumaris and De La Salle ahead.

This weekend’s clash with the Bloods is a chance to rectify Round 7’s loss, where Brown’s men led at every break up to three-quarter-time, after which the Old Haileyburians came storming home to win by 12 points.

“Enormous respect to Wardy and his crew…(last time) we got a good lead but they owned us for three quarters,” Brown said.

“All we can do is control our preparation.”

Jake Harding and Jake Ryder continued their impressive seasons for the Tigers, while Jack Ferraro kicked two goals.