T’s triumphant in top-of-the-table tussle

The Premier B ladder continues to tighten, with just two games separating the top six teams.

Old Trinity closed to within 3.14% of top spot after a comprehensive 37-point statement win over Old Ivanhoe at Chelsworth Park.

The Hoers got away to a good start, with the opening couple of goals setting up a 16-point quarter-time lead.

That extended to 22 points with a Tyson Nagel goal before the T’s clicked into gear with 8 of the next 9 scores. Unfortunately for the visitors, they only reaped 2.6 from this period of scoring dominance, before they found their range with two late goals to lead by one straight kick at the major break.

The third term belonged to Donald McDonald’s men, who slammed on 5 unanswered goals to kick away from the ladder leaders.

In the end, Old Trinity booted 11 of the last 13 goals to run out 37-point winners in a performance that will make the rest of the competition sit up and take notice as the T’s draw level at 7-2 with the Hoers at the halfway mark.

Donald McDonald (Old Trinity): “It was a big game for us at this stage of the season and great to be able to stand up, especially after Old Ivanhoe started so strongly.

“I was pleased how we responded to be so competitive for the next three quarters. Hugh Beasley, Lachy Mulcahy, Hugo McGlashan and Kristos Manoussakis really stood up as our leaders.

“We can’t get comfortable as there is such a long way to go in the season, and as results have shown, it is a very tight B-Grade in 2025.”

Jarrod Gieschen (Old Ivanhoe): “We jumped out of the blocks with a decent lead at quarter time and the game looked how we like it to be played. I was pleased that we showed in the first quarter that our best footy is up to it.

“They were able to wrestle the lead back by lifting their intensity around the contest, and quick ball movement into Hugh Beasley, who kicked 4 first half goals. He finished with 6 and is a huge presence for them.

“We had the scoring end in the third quarter, but they found another gear and kicked 5 goals to nothing and that was the difference.

“Trinity is an exceptionally professional team with quality in all parts of the ground, and they showed they are the benchmark in the competition, which was obvious after last year missing the chance to be promoted by a kick – but they’ve got even better.”

Williamstown CYMS won their third on the trot by storming home to defeat Old Camberwell at a windswept Fearon Reserve.

The Wellers made good use of the blustery conditions in the opening term, booting 5.5 to 1.1 to lead by 28 points at the first change.

They then looked to set up a winning position by holding CY’s to just one goal with the breeze in the second term to take a 27-point advantage into the major break.

But the hosts returned the favour in the third, holding a wayward Old Camberwell to a single goal while adding two themselves into the breeze. Even so, the Wellers sat on a 22-point margin at the last change and it would take something special from CY’s to crack the game open in the last.

Enter something special. But it took patience and required Con Terzoglou’s men to hold their nerve early.

A quick goal to Calvyn Vicino provided some immediate hope, but then another 9 minutes ticked off the clock as  the Wellers successfully dug in and fought to protect their 16-point lead.

Will Bokma goaled to reduce the deficit to 9 points, and when Ned Sayers added another 2 minutes later, the hosts had closed to within 2 points and the comeback was well and truly on.

A series of 4 consecutive behinds saw Willy edge in front as the tension continued to build, before goals to Will Smyth at the 25-minute mark and Aamir Fernandes at the 29-minute mark capped a spirited comeback from CY’s, who are well-placed at 6-3 in third position at the halfway mark.

Con Terzoglou (Willy CYMS): “The Wellers were brilliant at clearance work and got hands to it first, which allowed them to control and dish out to their runners. Aerially, they completely dominated in the first half. Their forwards presented well and were rewarded.

“We tightened up our stoppage work and focused on better layers around the ball, so we weren’t collapsing. It slowed them down and the game started to slowly turn as we started to utilise our spread. Bokma and Tambo were brilliant on-ball for us – really competitive defensively and covered us offensively everywhere. Raju went onto the ball and generated run for us also.

“They went two down on the bench, so knowing we have strong last quarters, we fed it to the outside constantly and ran and ran, which paid off.

“There were some decent defensive efforts late from our boys, but we managed to finish with more run and come over the top.

Neil Connell (Old Camberwell): “It’s becoming a trend for us to be in games for a half, then falling away in the third and fourth quarters.

“The challenge for the group is to quickly identify whether its physical or mental why we fall away so badly in second halves.”

For the second time this season, Old Geelong had to fight hard to overcome a resilient Fitzroy, with the Royboys stretching the OGs all the way into the final minutes before the hosts ultimately prevailed at Como Park.

A scoreless opening term was followed by a 5-goal second term in which the OGs ground out a narrow 3-point lead, courtesy of 3 goals to 2.

It was more of the same in the third stanza, with neither team able to crack the game open and a goal apiece the result.

The OGs had the breeze at their back in the final term, yet Fitzroy refused to yield and the game hung in the balance deep into the quarter.

The hosts clung to a 5-point lead entering time-on before Mickey Nicholls’ goal at the 22-minute mark released the pressure valve for the OGs, who then added a further 3 goals in 6 minutes to finally break the gallant Roys, who lost no admirers for their gritty four-quarter performance.

Nick Dixon (Old Geelong): “It was a very scrappy game – definitely not a great spectacle for those watching. The blustery conditions didn’t help either team move the ball. Fitzroy did a good job at stopping us moving it as we would have liked.

“Clearly our last quarter was our best. We were able to have better method moving the ball forward and our front six started to look more dangerous. Jack Sheridan, in his 100th game, really stood up in the last quarter in helping us control the stoppage game, while Jack Nicholls at just 19 years of age kept running all day and was clearly in the best few players on the ground.

“We looked a bit scrappy coming off the bye and need to sharpen up this week. However, I was really impressed with Fitzroy’s pressure and ability to challenge our defence. They put themselves in a winning position late in the last quarter and definitely think they will be a hard challenge for any side in the second half of the year.”

Travis Ronaldson (Fitzroy): “I was really proud of the performance of the group. We went down to Como with a clear plan and, to a man, the boys were excellent in their commitment to executing our plan, playing their roles and working hard for each other. Their effort and intent were outstanding, and we gave ourselves an opportunity to take the points.

“In the end we probably didn’t use the ball well enough going inside 50 and therefore weren’t able to capitalise when we had the run of play.

“Max Ellis was outstanding down back while Darcy Lowrie and Noah Wright both provided plenty of run and rebound.

“We are looking forward to our trip to Elsternwick Park this coming Saturday.”

Caulfield Grammarians collected another critical 4 points by overpowering a plucky Hampton Rovers at Boss James Reserve.

The Rovers started brightly with the wind at their backs to pepper the goals early and post 7 of the first 9 scores of the game. But unfortunately, they failed to fully capitalise and a couple of late Fielder goals saw the visitors nudge in front at the first break.

Paul Satterley’s men then powered away with the breeze, booting the first 5 goals of the second term to open up a 36-point lead. But credit to the Rovers, who dug in and responded with the final 2 goals of the first half to reduce their deficit to a more manageable 26 points.

It was vital that the hosts capitalised with the breeze in the third quarter, but they were unable to find a major until time-on. They added 2 goals to 1 late but headed to the final change trailing by 23 points and with the breeze in their face in the last term.

However, the Rovers defied the conditions and slotted the first two goals of the quarter in quick succession to give their fans a glimmer of hope, before the Grammarians settled to post the next 8 scores (3.5) and ultimately secure a hard-earned 34-point win – their fourth in their past five starts as they continue to turn their season around.

Paul Satterley (Caulfield Grammarians): “Pasky (Marty Pask) did a great job with his lads – a spirited effort for the entire game & they just never gave in, especially in the final quarter when kicking against a strong wind.

“We were pleased to get the 4 points. We value every win given how tough & tight the B Grade competition is proving to be.

“Having depth at this time of year is vital for clubs to get through the toughest winter period, and whoever can capitalise on opposition vulnerability is going to have a huge advantage at the pointy end of the season.”

Marty Pask (Hampton Rovers): “We are starting to see some positive signs from a young group understanding what is required to play consistently at this level of football.

“We have faced many challenges this season, and our return to B-Grade hasn’t come with the momentum we gained from last year’s C Grade performances.

“But, through adversity comes the emergence of players we see as future Senior players at our club – Seddon (17), Bater (18) and Jensen Muir (20) are examples of players getting opportunities and proving to be strong performers.

“We are fielding teams that, whilst inexperienced, will see us host a very strong and capable list in future seasons.”

The final game of the weekend saw Old Melburnians prove once again that their best is good enough to trouble the top teams as they comfortably rolled the third-placed Old Carey at Carey.

OMs seized the initiative from the outset, booting 4.6 to 0.3 in the opening term, then followed that up with another 2 unanswered second-quarter majors to lead the goalless Panthers by 35 points at the major break.

The game transformed into a free-flowing shootout in the third quarter, with both teams kicking 5 apiece in a thoroughly entertaining goal-for-goal contest.

The Panthers did all the early scoring in the final term, closing to within 21 points midway through the term before 3 goals in 4 minutes effectively put the game to bed – OMs with a vital 37-point win that keeps them within striking distance of the Top 4 at the halfway mark.

Nathan Brown (OMs): “It was a tighter game than the score suggests. We took our opportunities early and they missed some. Then it got tight again in the last quarter as they charged home to get within 3 goals before we settled for a great away win.

“Pleased to have had 4 debutants – Facey, Dale, Hines & Williams – from our Unders team. We had three returns from injury and all 22 lads contributed. It’s such a good comp – there is no easy game, so if you don’t come to play, you’ll get touched up.”

Luke Giles (Old Carey): “Disappointing day for us. We just felt completely suffocated by the way they defended the ground early on. We couldn’t get any of our offence away because they were so switched on off the ball. It was a really good lesson for our boys on what it looks like to be switched on defensively. They certainly didn’t look like a side on three wins. Credit to them, I was really impressed.

“I thought we just got away with our win against Fitzroy before the bye, given the way we played for the first 3 quarters, then yesterday we were off again, and we got what we deserved. It’s obvious right now there is a gap between us and the best sides, so it’s just about bridging that over the next little while.

“We are really positive with the development of this group and the way we have stabilised out of C-Grade. All three of our VAFA Big V Under 19 squad were clearly our three best players – McCarthy, Grummit and Quinn Mackay. These boys are the nucleus of our side for the next 10 years, so it’s great to see the influence they are having so early.”

Round 10 will be headlined by a couple of Top 5 clashes – Willy CYMS have the chance to draw level with Old Trinity at 7-3, while Old Carey can jump up into the Top 4 if they can account for Old Geelong.

Plus, Caulfield Grammarians face a crunch game in their bid to climb up into the finals mix as they host the league leaders at Glen Huntly Park.

VAFA PREMIER B MEN’S – ROUND 10

SATURDAY JUNE 21 – 2pm:

Old Trinity                        vs             Williamstown CYMS

Old Geelong                     vs             Old Carey                               

Caulfield Grammarians   vs             Old Ivanhoe         

Old Melburnians              vs             Fitzroy

Old Camberwell               vs             Hampton Rovers

Watch matches on-demand on VAFATV