Premier C Men’s Finals picture takes shape after key wins

Premier C Men’s breakaway top four all registered important victories on the weekend, almost guaranteeing the division’s finalists are set, with a month of fixtures still to play. Exact seeding is yet to be finalised, with the three matches in the final four rounds that see these sides play each other, as well as percentage fluctuations from other results, likely to determine the recipients of the coveted double chance.

AJAX did their bid for one of those positions no harm, with a comprehensive 19.13 (127) to 2.7 (19) victory over Parkside. Sweeter still are the returns to fitness and form for some key needle movers at Albert Park, with Jordan Cohen (5 goals), Kane Nissenbaum and Toby Sheezel (3 goals) hitting their straps, after significant layoffs.

The Jackas have used an unprecedented 55 players at the senior level this season, with injury and travel affecting availability.

“It was good to get some game time into those returning bodies,” said coach, Lachlan Buszard.

“Inconsistency in numbers has made the year spasmodic; we’ve been decimated the last six weeks.

“It was pleasing to have ten individual goal scorers and get back to some semblance of our best.”

Back pocket Aaron Bryer received his ninth nod in Buszard’s bests for the year, with his no frills, disciplined approach to the position, drawing his coach’s commendation.

Buszard insists his side is looking forward to gauging where they’re at in the final month of the home and away season, with matches against the top two sides, Parkdale and Beaumaris, bookended by clashes against ‘best of the rest’ sides, in Glen Eira/Old McKinnon, and PEGS.

Parkside find themselves in the relegation places after the loss, with other results going against them, too. Coach Rick Frost praised youngsters Sam Hersom and Hamish Geary for their contributions, while usual suspects Hemi Dietrich, Max Ballassone and Matt Holden were also afforded mentions.

One of the results that has contributed to Parkside’s drift further from safety was Marcellin’s comeback victory over Mazenod. The Eagles held an eight-point advantage at quarter-time, but a brilliant, six-goal quarter from Mazenod gun Hayden Boyce saw Peter Banfield’s side claim the lead at the main break.

An attritional third quarter ensued, with neither side registering a goal, meaning Marcellin had it all to do, down 11, on the road, in the final quarter.

Mitch D’Angelo put the hosts up by 17 with the first goal of the last, before Eagles skipper Matt Capetola provided a steadier for his side. Inaccurate goalkicking threatened to halt Bernie Dineen’s side’s charge to victory, but 4.6 to 1.0 in the last saw Marcellin run out 8.17 (65) to 8.4 (52) winners.

Speaking on his young forward’s purple patch, Nodders coach Peter Banfield said, “It was an amazing quarter of football, complete with big marks. We just couldn’t get the ball to him after half-time.”

The win was crucial for the Bulleen natives, who now sit a win and percentage from the drop zone, while Mazenod’s percentage is the sole reason Parkside occupy ninth, in their stead.

In Keilor Park, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers reeled in a fast-starting PEGS outfit, eventually recording a 15.15 (106) to 12.7 (79) victory. The win sees the gap between the fourth-placed Tigers and fifth-placed Bombers now extended to three wins and more than 20%, with just four rounds to play, hence the assertion that the finalists have been decided.

PEGS coach Rob Kerr instituted a two-pronged approach to quelling the influence of young Tigers star Jack Behnk, after his 11-goal outburst last week. Behnk’s versatility necessitated separate match-ups for his stints in the midfield, and in the forward line.

Both coaches were full of praise for ‘Banger’, post-match.

“I felt it was a two-man job given how busy and active he is,” Kerr said. “I think we managed him well for three quarters, however in the last, his running power came to the fore, which is a great credit to his work ethic, given the long injury lay off he had.”

“I spoke to the group at half-time about giving Banger a chop out,” Tigers coach Brad Berry said. “He was so diligent with his rehab, which means his fitness is high, and in the second half, he worked his way free of attention and had significant impact on the ground.”

The midfield acumen of Ben Murphy, the games of David Goodman, Dan Garside and Zac Calvez down back, and the running power of Patrick Tyquin on a bigger ground also drew Berry’s praise. Jake Ryder continued his rise, halving his midfield duel with the ever-present threat that is PEGS’ Mitch Baker-West.

Bottom-aged Sandringham Dragons prospect Keanu Nadji made his senior debut for the Tigers, and did not look lost against the bigger bodies. Berry had the youngster’s economics teacher break the news of his senior debut at school during the week – a thoughtful gesture that reflects the club’s culture.

“We were very happy with his debut,” Berry said. “He was able to impact; he stepped up to the level.”

Kerr lamented the absence of defensive stalwart Oscar Bales, after his side ‘struggled to hold up against the growing supply’, late in the second quarter.

“In the second half, I felt they outnumbered us at the contest, and we couldn’t contain the next phase once they won possession. We battled, but they had the edge in class, which reflects in the ladder as it now stands,” he finished.

League-leaders the Parkdale Vultures also blooded a youngster on the weekend, with 16-year-old Darcy Kelson, an ‘opportunistic, speedy forward’, bagging two on debut for Owen Lalor’s side, in their 15.13 (103) to 6.9 (45) victory over Glen Eira/Old McKinnon.

Fellow forward Mitch Brown had himself a day out contributing 7.3 (45), and moving freely, in ominous signs for those responsible for subduing him come finals.

“We led all day – it was a good solid win,” Lalor said. “I was happy with the way we moved the ball in the first half, and really liked the way the boys took the first option – that was a focus heading into the game.”

“There are still areas to improve, like our inside-50 entries. Our last kick can be too shallow, or we take the wrong option, so decision making and skill execution remain a focus.”

Darcy Brown had a very strong game on the wing, with Lalor well pleased by his consistent season.

Guy Martyn said his side were ‘looking forward to playing arguably the best team in C – grade’, on a ground more expansive than the Gryphons’ Packer Park home.

“It was an opportunity to see what parts of our game are competitive against the best sides, and where our deficiencies are. I felt throughout the game, we were good at most aspects of the game, just not at the same time,” he said.

“For a team that plays and trains on a very small ground, it was a good learning experience for our guys to see the ball movement of Parkdale on the bigger ground, and just how hard you have to work to protect the ground.”

The first year Gryphons coach lamented some missed opportunities up forward, that would’ve reduced the margin, as well as late changes, and early injuries.

“Jack Carey was rock solid down back. Lachlan Mirams continued to battle in the ruck after having our usual second ruckman pull out with sickness, and his replacement did his groin five minutes into the game. Nick Mavropoulos fought hard after receiving some attention from the opposition early in the game,” he said.

The talent-laden Beaumaris rattled off an eleventh consecutive victory, disposing of Prahran, 12.16 (88) to 3.1 (19), at home. It would require the kind of sporting miracle that movies are made of for the Two Blues to feature in Premier C again next season, needing to win their final four fixtures, while those above them go winless, while Beaumaris boast the division’s best percentage, by some margin.

A Prahran game plan centred on pressure at the coal face, and repeated stoppages frustrated a raucous Banksia Reserve, who no doubt expected their beloved Sharks to punish a side whose fortunes diametrically oppose their own.

“Credit to Prahran,” said Josh Bourke, Beaumaris’ coach. “They did a really good job of slowing down the game, and taking away our ball movement…We need to learn to work through that better. Sides, as we try to do, will take things away from us, and our adjustments need to be better.”

Sandringham Dragons prospect Julian Galbally, an AFL draft hopeful, pleased Bourke on debut for the club, while Damien Johns and Charlie Wilce continued their strong form, in the backline. The VFL-listed Tom O’Rourke also drew Bourke’s praise for the campaign he’s stringing together.

“We’re really pleased with him. He’s a beast of an athlete and is putting together a super season,” Bourke said.

The Sharks, like their fellow finalists, will look to fine-tune their game as finals near, and hope the scourge of injury does not afflict them too readily.

The top four will all be heavy favourites this week, as Beaumaris head to Marcellin, Parkdale to Prahran and AJAX to Glen Eira/Old McKinnon, while St Bedes/Mentone Tigers will welcome Mazenod. Rounding out Round 15 action, PEGS head to Pitcher Park to play Parkside.