William Buck Premier Men’s finals & relegation races heat up

An incredible Saturday of William Buck Premier Men’s action saw three of the bottom four teams win as the relegation and finals races both took another turn.

University Blacks continued their late-season revival, outplaying St Kevin’s at Melbourne Uni Oval to make it three wins on the trot.

Ben Oliver got Blacks off to a flyer with three first-quarter goals as the hosts led by 7 points at the opening change before SKOB hit back with the first three goals of the second term to lead by 4 points after an entertaining first-half in front of a raucous Blacks crowd celebrating multiple premiership reunions.

The teams went goal-for-goal early in the second half before a couple of Blacks goals in time-on put the hosts back in front by 3 points at the last change.

St Kevin’s snatched the lead early in a tight and tense final term before goals to Louis Vescio and Ayui Makieng (after pulling down one of the marks of the year) got the Blacks home for a critical win that keeps them 2 games clear of the drop zone with 2 to play.

SKOB’s second straight loss puts them at risk of missing the double chance after being Top 2 all season.

Dale Bower (Uni Blacks): “Our boys bought great effort again. It’s the third game in a row that we have been able to do it for 4 quarters.

“It was great to play that way in front of so many of our supporters and past players in attendance for premiership reunions and James Green Medal day.”

Anthony Lynch (St Kevin’s): “It was an improved performance on our previous outing although Uni Blacks were fantastic across the entirety of the game.

“We just need to keep working on our consistency in-game, and when we can get back to being a 4 quarter team, we will be ready to challenge the best teams again.”

It’s been a year of firsts for Fitzroy in their inaugural Premier Men’s season and they achieved another when they posted their first back-to-back wins, hanging on for a vital 15-point victory over University Blues that keeps their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

The Roys have been a handful at Brunswick Street all season and so it proved to be once again, with the hosts leading by 2 points after a free-flowing opening term yielded 4 goals apiece.

The second term was all Fitzroy with 4 unanswered goals handing them a 26-point half time lead before the Blues lifted with the first 3 goals of the third quarter that dragged them back within a kick entering time-on.

Fitzroy booted a steadier just before three-quarter time but the Blues surged again, slotting the first 3 goals of the last quarter to hit the front for the first time since late in the opening term as the hosts’ hope of an upset started to fade.

However, nobody told the Royboys, who regained control with 4 of the last 5 goals of the game (including Charlie Faubel’s 4^th) to seal a hard-fought win that lifts them off the bottom of Premier Men’s and still within one game & percentage of St Bernard’s and safety.

Travis Ronaldson (Fitzroy): “A pleasing result for us and another step forward for our group. We started the game off well and had a good first half getting some nice ball inside forward 50m. We were challenged by Blues in the 3rd and early in the last but responded well and finished the game off.

“Anthony Johnson was exceptional in his first senior game in over 10 weeks and busy at ground level. Charlie Faubel was lively up forward and Bill Clayton was influential in the ruck. We are looking forward to a challenging last couple of rounds and the opportunity to test ourselves in two important games.”

Guy Martyn (Uni Blues): “A pretty even game on a lovely Saturday afternoon. The biggest difference between the two sides was our ball use. We had way too many costly, unforced errors which Fitzroy were able to capitalise on. When you gift the opposition 5-6 goals, it’s hard to win.

“Full credit to Fitzroy’s midfield group. I thought their running power and ability to hit the scoreboard was influential on the game.”

Fitzroy’s win kept the pressure on St Bernard’s who delivered their most impressive performance of the season with a comprehensive 43-point win over the 4^th placed Old Xaverians.

Having lost 4 of their previous 5, the bye came at a great time for Steve Alessio’s banged-up team, who rocketed out of the blocks to boot 3 goals in the first 7 minutes and 6 goals to 1 in the opening term, seizing a commanding 31-point lead over a lack-lustre Xavs staring down the barrel of back-to-back defeats.

The visitors sparked to life in the first 15 minutes of the second quarter but failed to capitalise on their opportunities, booting 2.5 before St Bernard’s regained control to kick the next 3 majors. Xavs pulled a couple back late, but still trailed by 3 goals at the half.

3 goals in 5 minutes early in third term saw the Snowdogs 6 goals up before Dan Donati’s line-up hit back with the next 3 to breathe life back into a see-sawing contest.

But the final term was all St Bernard’s. They played high-octane football to kick the first 6 goals of the quarter to blow the game wide open. Darren Colaco finishing with 6 in a best-on-ground performance that ensured the Snowdogs remained a game clear of the drop zone.

Old Xavs may look back at this loss as a costly one. Instead of seizing the chance to kick a game clear in fourth, they must dust themselves off and regroup to face the Top 2 teams in the final 2 rounds with no margin for error & last year’s champions breathing down their necks.

Steve Alessio (St Bernard’s): “Today was a great reward for effort. We have been threatening to play a good game for a while but have been patchy at best. Today was a more consistent performance across all four quarters which was pleasing.

“We were able to sustain the pressure which I think shows a growing maturity in our team.

“The run home is tight and the great thing about Premier VAFA footy is that you can’t take any game for granted, so we will need to be switched on for our last 2 games.”

Dan Donati (Old Xavs): “Full credit to St Bernard’s who played a really well-balanced game. Their pressure and efficiency when it mattered was the difference.

“Obviously a disappointing outing for us. Similar tale to the last game – we had opportunities we didn’t take, and weren’t able to apply the pressure when it mattered. No excuses, we need to find a way to respond.”

Xavs’ stumble opened the door for Collegians to jump a game clear in fourth, but they were never in the game against a red-hot Old Brighton at Harry Trott.

The league-leaders asserted their authority from the outset with 4 goals in the opening 10 minutes, piling on 12 scoring shots to 1 to snatch a 31-point quarter-time lead which could have been significantly more but for kicking 5.7.

The second term brought more of the same – the Tonners in complete control, piling on a mind-blowing 22 shots to 2 by half-time to have all but put the game to bed with a commanding 55-point lead against a Lions outfit that just couldn’t get anything going.

Credit to Collegians, who actually won the second half 8.3 to 5.11 – impressive youngster Dylan Thomas with 3 final-quarter goals to give him 4 for the match. But it was largely one-way traffic – Sam Collins booting 6 and Will Lewis returning from a hamstring injury to kick 3 as the Tonners wrapped one hand around the minor premiership in fine style.

Marcel Bruin (Old Brighton): “First half was back to what we’ve come to expect from the group in terms of pressure and then ball movement. Would have been great to capitalise a little more but we were really pleased we were getting the process right.

“When Collegians got speed on the ball, particularly from HB, they were very difficult to defend, got good looks and were effective kicking for goal, playing out the game strongly.”

Jordie McKenzie (Collegians): “Our first half, in particular, was really disappointing, in which we weren’t able to bring the intent that we had been for the last few weeks.

“Brighton showed why they are ladder leaders. They were very strong in the contest and dominated clearances all day.

“Josh Walker gave us some drive from defence in the second half, and Dyl Thomas continued his good form with 4 goals and a hand in a couple of others.

“Our season is well and truly alive, and we look forward to a strong response this week vs Scotch.”

The only team that can dethrone Old Brighton from top spot is Old Scotch, who leapt into second spot – but only after an almighty scare from a plucky Old Melburnians at Elsternwick Park.

OMs started like a team fighting for its survival, shocking the Cardinals with a blistering 6 goal to 3 opening quarter, providing another reminder of their ability to challenge even the best teams when the game is on their terms.

But the biggest hurdle for Paul Satterley’s team this season has been to maintain control for long enough and, sure enough, Old Scotch rallied in the second term, booting 4 goals to close within 3 points at the long break.

The Cardinals peppered early in the third for little reward, doing enough to open a 10-point lead at the last change, before OMs had their chances early in the final term.

Unfortunately for the hosts, they couldn’t find the middle, kicking 1.4 before Old Scotch sealed the deal with the final 4 goals to post their ninth consecutive win and leapfrog SKOB into second spot.

Fitzroy’s win sent OMs to the bottom of the table, a game-and-a-half from safety. They’ll need to win their last two, which remains entirely possible given they face the unpredictable Uni Blues, then the team they’re trying to overhaul – St Bernards – in what could be a final-round relegation blockbuster.

Mark Gnatt (Old Scotch): “Another solid performance by the boys this week. OMs brought a high level of pressure from the outset and were the better team in the first quarter.

“We then started to get our own game going and it was the 3rd quarter when we were able to get the momentum back our way and this set up the win.

“The work rate of Harry Stubbings was elite and his drive through the midfield was pivotal.”

Paul Satterley (OMs): “We got off to a great start with & felt like we competed hard the entire game. Scotch was able to control the tempo in the third which was telling in the end. We had our chances in the last quarter to draw close, but just couldn’t finish off around goal.

“Really pleased with Jack Spargo, Spencer Anderson and we found another quality lad in debutant Chris Long.”