‘Golden point’ boosts Ts, Four points separates third from eighth

Jack Jenkins’ golden point has kept Old Trinity neck-and-neck with Old Ivanhoe in the race for top spot in Premier B football on a critical day for the competition, with eight of the ten teams jockeying for four finals-playing positions.

At a sun-soaked Daley Oval on Saturday afternoon, Williamstown CYMS was desperate to atone for an early-season defeat at the hands of Old Trinity; the Ts out to shore up Round Nine’s stirring win over Old Ivanhoe.

“Reading between the lines, they were really keen for this game,” Ts coach Donald McDonald said of the CYs.

“They wanted to prove themselves on a big ground, we beat them well earlier in the year. I think they really prepared themselves well – they’re a good side.”

It was the CYs that made the early running, kicking 4.6 to 3.0 in the first term and leading by ten points at the main break, the dynamic Will Smyth having kicked four of his side’s seven first-half goals.

However, a third-quarter leg injury to Smyth from which he did not return was a critical point of proceedings, the Ts ahead by the final break and pushing hard.

The fourth was tight and tense. Scores were locked at 69 points apiece as ball-up after ball-up took place on the broadcast side as the clock ticked down towards zero, neither team able to break loose from the wing until a big James Heath tackle set free Jenkins and the tireless Christos Manoussakis, who combined to surge the ball forward by hand for the Ts.

Tom Wenn’s intelligent tap-on unleashed Jenkins loose inside fifty, his third involvement in the chain seeing him fire away from left half-forward, missing to the near side but critically breaking the deadlock. The final siren sounded seconds after a point was signalled by the goal umpire, handing the Ts an extraordinary 10.10 (70) to 9.15 (69) victory.

“After last week’s game (against Old Ivanhoe) – it was such a big win – it’s hard to play at that intensity all the time,” said Ts coach Donald McDonald

“It was one of those scenarios where the momentum swung a little bit, and we fought our way into it. We’ve won enough games where we can compete with these teams.

“To have guys like Hugo McGlashan, Christos Manousakis, Hugh Beasley and Lachie Mulcahy (has been important). We haven’t had Alex Emery all year, haven’t had Ed Weatherson. Harry Thompson might come back, we don’t know yet. There’s been some significant players out. It is what it is, every side’s in the same boat.”

The match served as a meeting between first-year Ts player Oskar Manton and his former club, Manton playing his second senior game of the season after a torrid time with injury and illness over the last seven months.

“Initially (Manton) tore his quad in his first training session with us, just before Christmas. That took a long time (to recover from), it was a significant tear,” explained McDonald.

“Then he contracted COVID, and it affected his lungs … he had to take a lot of time off, it took a long time to get himself right.”

“He’s played with all those boys since they were juniors, so he would’ve been a bit toey … he’s still trying to find his feet,” said McDonald.

For CYs coach Con Terzoglou, the frustration of a one-point loss from the final kick of the day didn’t dull the positives. In Round Two, Williamstown fell away over the course of the game, particularly in the last term in what’s still their poorest finish to a game this year; this time around, they put together four quarters of good football that pleased the coach.

“We’re pretty comfortable with how the day played out,” said Terzoglou.

“(We) wish we got the four points – I wouldn’t say we’re happy about it – but there’s a lot we can take from it.”

It was a learning experience also for Big V squad member Will Bokma, with a Ts tag an acknowledgement for his strong recent form.

“We were rapt that Donald (McDonald) put a tag on ‘Bok’ this week. We just feel that’s the next part of his development, to understand he can’t just run around and do what he wants,” said Terzoglou.

With the win, Old Trinity had the chance of leapfrogging Old Ivanhoe, which needed to hand the Caulfield Grammarians their first loss of the season at Glen Huntly Park to remain on top of the ladder.

With a four-goals-to-one final term the Hoers saluted, following up a third term into the breeze in which they held up the Fields’ scoring, 9.13 (67) to 6.11 (47) victors to keep a hold on top spot.

“It’s a tricky ground to play on, but (Caulfield) play it exceptionally well,” said Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen.

“The first half, both into the wind and with the wind, you could tell they had a distinct game plan and style they wanted to play, and they executed it really well. We probably didn’t adapt to the conditions as much as I would’ve liked.”

By Gieschen’s own admission the third term was ”scrappy,” but into the wind the Hoers matched the Fields’ two goals with two of their own, heading into the final term with the breeze and a one-point advantage.

Billy Murphy and Rohan McKenzie went bang-bang in the opening two-and-a-half minutes of the final quarter for the Hoers, establishing a 13-point advantage that Caulfield was unable to make inroads upon.

“Definitely a hard-fought win. Caulfield fought all day. We’ll take the four points and move on.”

Luke Scuderi, having shrugged off an interrupted pre-season, kicked four goals after some impressive Reserves form and strong presence on the track

“It felt like after the loss against Old Trinity, we needed his energy around the group,” said Gieschen.

“He’s such a barometer for us when he’s up and going.”

Patrick Naish explored every inch of Glen Huntly Park on his way to 39 disposals, 12 marks and 11 inside 50s, Toby McLean gathered 37 disposals and stingy duo Elliott Nicoll and Jack Harper kept the Fields’ key forwards to a quiet afternoon.

“I was very proud of how our club showed up on the weekend, we really did compete super hard against (Old) Ivanhoe and continue to show significant improvement in key areas,” said Fields coach Paul Satterley.

“A bit of class from Naish and Murphy late in the game was the difference.”

Hamish McInerney was “outstanding” and well supported by his brother Sam, while Jack Ellwood, Matt Clarkson, Noah Sutherland and Jono Moren found plenty of the footy.

Another challenge looms this week for the Hoers: Old Carey away. Earlier in the year, it took a spirited comeback to put paid to the Panthers, and Gieschen is expecting a similar challenge in the reverse fixture.

“In this comp, you can’t really refer to the last time you played a team – especially this time of year … they had a great win against Old Geelong and played their ground really well. We’re really looking forward to going there and playing on the bigger ground.”

“I think it’s going to be a really exciting game of footy. We both play pretty bold styles.”

Old Carey’s victory over Old Geelong at Como Park sees the Panthers climb into the top four on percentage, Luke Giles’ team now with a 2.5% hold on fourth – fittingly, over the OGs in fifth.

A seven-goal first quarter set the tone for the Panthers, who were out to respond from a disappointing fade-out against the OMs the previous weekend.

“We were really disappointed with the way we finished last week (against Old Melburnians), we thought we really lowered our colours,” said Luke Giles.

“To start that way and be somewhere close to our best, play one down for most of the game and manage to hold on late was really pleasing.”

The win was soured by the early exit of 22-year-old forward Connor Ogilvie, who was helped off the ground by a pair of trainers after his leg was trapped awkwardly in a tackle. Giles confirmed that sadly, Ogilvie suffered a broken leg.

“Although we did start really well and probably faded off, it was probably a product of being one down from early in the game,” he said.

It was a nervous finish for the Panthers, who had a 29-point lead at three-quarter time but kicked just one goal to the OGs’ four in the last. Things got particularly tense on the Carey bench as a Nick Dixon goal sailed through at the 22-minute mark, putting the home side within five points.

But through Nick Brewin’s third goal of the day, the Panthers held fast, 15.9 (99) to 13.10 (88) victors in what could be a key result in the formation of the final four.

“Any time that you dominate a game of footy and then you’re trying to hang on late, you can definitely over-correct by trying to save the game too much,” said Giles of the last quarter.

“The message from myself at three quarter time was ‘let’s continue to be aggressive and take ground, but let’s have a few parameters on where we take ground’ … the rules around saving the game aren’t as simple as what people think”.

Isaac Ellwood (28 disposals) and Bede Waters (25 disposals and a goal) led the ball-winners for Carey, while Lachy Godden joined Brewin on three majors.

“Really disappointing day for us,” said Old Geelong coach Nick Dixon.

“We weren’t able to play at the required level for long enough. In particular, the start of the game was poor. Us coaches and players have to get better, as every week is a challenge in this very even competition.

“Credit to Luke and his players. They played a great brand of footy and were able to make us pay heavily when we weren’t switched on defensively.”

Mickey Nicholls (five goals from 15 disposals) and Jimmy Adams (25 disposals and nine clearances) were two of Dixon’s best in the loss.

With an early-season defeat at the hands of a surging Old Ivanhoe side still present in the mind, Giles is focused on his team’s ability to sustain a high level of play against the ladder-leaders this weekend, with a simple metric of measurement.

“We’re just looking for an improvement in how long we can go with them for,” he said.

“We felt like us at our best and Old Ivanhoe at their best are in some ways comparable – it’s for other people to decide what the gap is there.”

Old Melburnians find themselves in good form as we look to Round 11, taking their fourth win from five matches by defeating Fitzroy at Elsternwick Park, 14.13 (97) to 7.10 (52).

With a very healthy percentage, the OMs could rocket into third come next Saturday, having recovered from a 1-4 start to life in Premier B back under the tutelage of Nathan Brown.

“It’s such an even competition – I think I might’ve even said last week that if you don’t rock up ready to go, you’ll get beaten,” said Brown.

“Had Fitzroy taken their opportunities early, we would’ve been chasing from quarter time. They’re only going to get better – I think they’re ninth at the minute, they’re going to beat some teams in the back half of the year.”

Fitzroy kicked 3.8 with the Elsternwick Park breeze over the course of the game, frustrating coach Travis Ronaldson despite some good play.

“We had some good patches of play but didn’t finish off our good work and that didn’t allow us to put any scoreboard pressure on OMs,” Ronaldson said.

Athletic OMs defender Spencer Anderson, having recently returned from injury, had an entertaining battle with Fitzroy full-forward Dane Harvey, Will Nichols racked up another 28 disposals and added two goals, while dynamo Sam Laube was terrific with five goals from his 19 disposals.

“He gets matched up heavily every week and he’s just so consistent,” said Brown of Laube.

“He’s a really dynamic little player – he’s got great aerial (ability), he’s got great speed, he’s got great forward craft. I can see why he’s always in the representative squads.”

Harrison Grace (34 disposals and a goal) and Miles Nelson (19 disposals) were two of Ronaldson’s best, with the Roys to return to Brunswick Street Oval this weekend. 

Old Camberwell had a tricky time against a plucky Hampton Rovers team still waiting for its first win of the season, breaking free in the second half to win 12.15 (87) to 8.8 (56) at Gordon Barnard Reserve.

James Allen was exceptional in the centre of the ground and recorded an astonishing stat-line: 43 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 18 clearances and 205 Premier Data ranking points, managing a 77% disposal efficiency rate to boot.

Not to be outdone, Chris Perkins of the Rovers racked up 40 disposals of his own, also accounting for 13 clearances and a goal in his sixth game of the season with 34 disposals or more.

Caleb Finlayson (five goals) and Liam Thomas (four goals) booted two thirds of the Wellers’ goals between them in a competitive and high-pressure game.

“We spoke before the game about both teams not being the same teams as the Round Two clash. Hampton has been really competitive and we needed to be up for the contest,” said Wellers coach Neil Connell.

“Pleased we had 15 scoring shots in the second half, that was a focus area coming into the game.”

Next week the Wellers take on the Ts at the Daley Oval while the Rovers host Williamstown CYMS at Boss James Reserve.

Old Carey’s battle with Old Ivanhoe and Old Geelong’s meeting with the Old Melburnians will be must-follow matches, while the Caulfield Grammarians will need to be at their best when they head to Brunswick Street Oval to take on Fitzroy.

Remarkably, just four points separates third-placed Williamstown CYMS from eight-placed Caulfield Grammarians in what’s been a thrilling, unpredictable ten weeks of football.