Reward for effort for OMs, Hoers back on top

A third of the way into the 2025 Premier B season, and the thin margins between the sides is the story so far, with the Caulfield Grammarians, Old Melburnians and OGs each jagging important wins across the first truly wintery Saturday of the season.

Paul Satterley’s Fields started the year shakily, 1-3 after a month of play with comprehensive defeats at the hands of Old Carey and Old Ivanhoe to respond from.

‘Satts’ and his side have since evened the ledger, following Round Five’s thrilling win over Old Melburnians with a professional performance at home against Williamstown CYMS, staving off a final term comeback to win by 19 points, 11.16 (82) to 9.9 (63).

“I could not be happier just with how our players (went) about their business,” said Satterley on Sunday evening.

“We’ve probably at times struggled a bit in our midfield. If you look at the stats, the centre clearances in particular have really been costly. I thought we were able to at least halve it, they just weren’t able to get those clean exits – which is something we’ve been doing a lot of work on.”

Ultimately it was the middle quarters that separated the two sides, with eight Fields goals to four from the CYs setting up a 39-point game at the final turn.

“We’ve won every second quarter this year, but our third quarters have not been great. It was only the second third quarter that we’ve won this year,” said Satterley

Expecting the CYs to charge – Con Terzoglou’s men have lost just the one final quarter this year – Satterley’s side was able to turn the game into a dogfight late and hold onto the win, despite conceding 3.3 (21) whilst scoring just the one point in the last.

In just his 13th senior VAFA game, Jack Atkinson – “probably the quickest player I’ve ever coached,” Satterley says – enjoyed a breakout performance, snagging four goals from nine kicks.

Matthew Clarkson (36 disposals, 11 marks and a game-high 171 Premier Data rating points) continued his strong year from half back, Jack Ellwood added a goal to his 30 disposals while veteran Julian Dobosz (27 disposals, 18 hitouts and seven marks) was crucial both in the forward line and in the ruck.

The tag came for dynamic CYs midfielder Jordan Busuttil, who worked hard for his 29 disposals, 24 contested possessions and a goal – the no. 64 was accompanied by a combination of Sam McInerney and Fields skipper Joey McClelland, able to somewhat curtail his influence.

“This is a great opportunity for him to learn how to deal with that – he probably didn’t get that attention in the back half of last year,” said CYs coach Con Terzoglou.

“We’re actually welcoming that, because it gives the opportunity to add another string to his bow.”

For the second week in three, the coach of Williamstown was forced to attempt a comeback from more than 50 point in arrears, lapses across the first three quarters costing the CYs again.

“We’re well aware that there’s a problem, and we’re in the process of trying to work out how to fix it. You don’t want to have to rely on a late start, because eventually you’ll be too far away. That’s what happened against Old Ivanhoe and Caulfield, unfortunately.”

Nathan Brown’s luckless run to begin 2025 looks to be at an end, the Old Melburnians drawing a line beneath a three-game losing skid with a crucial win over an in-form Old Camberwell.

Coming into the contest, the 1-4 Redlegs had won 13 of their 20 quarters, the equal-most in the competition. With three of its losses coming by under a kick, Brown’s side knew it was close enough to compete with an Old Camberwell side coming into the Elsternwick Park clash atop the ladder.

And thankfully for those of the OMs persuasion on Saturday afternoon, once Adam Richardson put his side 21 points clear in the third the margin would not close to beneath 20 points. The eventual 13.12 (90) to 9.7 (61) result knocked the Wellers loose from the top, and saw the Old Melburnians remain in touch with the chasing pack.

“It (the game) was tighter than the score suggested, as obviously Old Camberwell are quality,” Brown said.

The OMs made hay while the sun shone, albeit briefly, early in the game, with Brown feeling as if his team grabbed the early advantage, then held fast as conditions worsened.

“We hit a couple late to seal it, but they came in the last quarter,” he said.

The plaudits of the coach went to Adam Richardson in the forward line, who kicked five goals, while Jack Spargo (28 disposals, 20 clearances and 45 hitouts) and the Nichols brothers, Will and Ned, continued respective superb seasons through the midfield and half-forward.

“Neil has that quality young Camberwell club flying, so we were grateful to finish in front at the end,” Brown said, while paying tribute to Wellers skipper Jimmy Allen, who finished with 23 disposals and a goal in his 150th game for the club.

Old Camberwell coach Neil Connell said his side was lucky to not be six goals down at quarter time after allowing the Redlegs easy shots at goal through unforced errors.

“They have a mature group of players who have previously played Premier footy for a few years. They were cleaner around the contest, and made us pay from turnovers,” Connell said.

From 41 points down at the 10-minute mark of the second term, the Wellers were able to close within 11 points early in the third term, before the OMs kicked four on the trot and created a match-winning buffer.

In captain Will Horsfall’s 100th game for the club, Old Geelong exacted some revenge over Old Trinity after last year’s semi final loss, holding the Ts to four goals after quarter time and completing a stirring comeback win.

The OGs have matched last year’s 4-2 start and are yet to lose a game at Como Park this year – but needed a quarter-time rev-up from coach Nick Dixon after a goalless opening to the match.

“Normally I’m pretty calm – more of a player’s coach, (I) stay pretty relaxed,” said Dixon of his quarter time address.

“It was a really physical, willing game … (so) I had to lean into the emotion a little bit more, being ‘Horse’s’ 100th as well. A few of the boys came up to me afterwards and said, ‘geez mate, that’s as big of a spray as we’ve copped from you in three years.’”

From the first minute of the second term, the response was evident to Dixon. The OGs cut a 26-point margin down to five points by half time, and hit the front inside the first three minutes of the third.

A tight and tense final quarter would play out in fading light at Como Park. It took until the 17-minute mark for the first goal of the term, the Ts’ Jack Hindson prodding one through from the line, before Hugh Beasley at the 25-minute mark snapped through his fourth goal to put Old Trinity ahead.

In late moments that will live on forever at Como Park, Connor Dixon took a contested mark and cleaved the centremost uprights from a set shot at the 29-minute mark to put the OGs back in front, before the Ts’ Tom Ferrier just missed a rushed shot at goal at the other end a few minutes later.

The game had ticked well past 34 minutes when Mickey Nicholls hauled down a grab inside 50, to the delight of the blue-and-white at Como Park.

He converted from directly in front, was duly mobbed by his teammates, the siren sounding before the ball returned to the middle to signal a 9.11 (65) to 8.9 (57) win.

Dixon was effusive in his praise for Horsfall, who with ruckman Jack Sheridan has been instrumental in lifting the OGs to a finals-calibre team in Premier B.

“He’s completely changed the trajectory of this group,” Dixon said.

“In every sense of the word, he’s a captain. Everyone loves him, respects him – he’s as brave and as tough as they come … he’d never ask someone to do something he’d never do himself”.

“He’s driven this club to where it is now.”

Sheridan was, figuratively and literally, enormous in the ruck. Approaching his own 100-game milestone, the big man had 16 disposals, nine clearances, nine tackles and an astonishing 83 hitouts – his third consecutive 60-hitout weekend.

“We have great respect for Old Geelong, you can see clearly they are going to be right in the mix for this year’s premiership in B grade as they have genuine depth and quality,” said Ts coach Donald McDonald.

“After quarter time they adapted so much better to the conditions and won a game that was a very tough encounter. To our boys’ credit, we really persisted and were not that far away.”

With the Wellers losing at Elsternwick Park and the Ts falling to the OGs, Old Ivanhoe had the chance to snatch back top spot on the ladder, which the club held through Rounds Three and Four.

The Hoers made the best of the wet conditions at Chelsworth Park, increasing their lead at every break against Fitzroy to run out comfortable 49-point winners, 14.13 (97) to 7.6 (48).

It was an Old Ivanhoe side looking to return to its strengths after falling away “not only last week, but over the last couple of weeks,” according to coach Gieschen.

Expecting wet weather, Gieschen had prepared his side across the week for the conditions.

“We used the example of Collingwood on ANZAC Day – they were the first team that was able to adapt (to the wet),” explained Gieschen.

“When we got to the ground, it was actually dry. It looked like it would be a good day for footy – but we knew at some point the rain would come.”

Welcoming back Toby McLean from injury and busy forward-midfielder Rohan McKenzie was integral to Jarrod Gieschen’s success against a Fitzroy team that has improved its form, after starting 2025 with four losses.

107 disposals won between McLean (37), Patrick Naish (36 and two goals) and Billy Murphy (34 and three goals) stood out on the Premier Data statsheet, while McKenzie, returning from some time at the Northern Bullants, was supreme in the wet with 27 disposals and three goals.

The Roys were held to their lowest score of the season to date, kicking just two goals up to half time – and despite a third-quarter surge were ultimately outclassed in the 49-point defeat.

“I thought we came to play and had some really good periods, we just weren’t good enough for long enough,” said Fitzroy coach Travis Ronaldson.

“In the wet conditions Old Ivanhoe’s big names were cleaner with the footy and that was really the difference in the end.”

Old Carey continued its seamless adaptation to Premier B football in the final game of the weekend, breaking away from the Hampton Rovers after quarter time and winning by 71 points at home.

The Panthers led by a point at the first break after both teams kicked three first quarter goals, but booted 11 goals to one after that, particularly dominant in a 56-2 second half to run out 14.17 (101) to 4.6 (30) winners.

It’s now three wins from four games for Luke Giles’ team – that loss coming by just the one point at Daley Oval in Round Five – with a two-week road trip ahead to come in games against Williamstown CYMS and Fitzroy.

Bede Waters (32 disposals), Jack Alexander (26 disposals and two goals) and Lachy Godden (17 disposals and four goals) stood out for the Panthers, while former Kangaroo Will Walker kicked three goals in his second game of the year for Hampton.

The Rovers host the Old Melburnians this Saturday while the Panthers travel to the Fearon Reserve to take on the CYs.

Fitzroy hosts Old Trinity, Caulfield Grammarians host Old Camberwell, while all eyes will be drawn to Old Geelong and Old Ivanhoe at Como Park in a game that promises to shape the balance of power in the top four.