Clutch Carey from the clouds, OGs breach fortress Ivanhoe

Wins for Old Camberwell, Old Carey and Old Geelong in critical Round 16 matchups have ripped apart the bottom half of the top four, with three of the top four teams going into last weekend’s game suffering losses in yet another about-turn in the 2025 Premier B Men’s season.

Old Ivanhoe and Old Trinity are unimpeachable inside the top two, meaning one of those teams will be making the move to top flight for 2026, but how third and fourth end up is anyone’s guess.

With ninth-placed Fitzroy and tenth-placed Hampton sure to be relegated, and the eighth-placed Old Melburnians ruled out of September, here’s how the final fortnight of the season is laid out for the five sides scrapping over two spots. 

THIRD – Caulfield Grammarians: 40 points, 10-6, 101.94%

The Fields have spent the last five Rounds in a row inside the top four, but despite the one-game advantage on the chasing pack Paul Satterley’s men are far from safe. Their percentage is the third worst in Premier B, the worst of the teams jammed in from third down to seventh. They’ve been close-game specialists this year, having won five of six games decided by 12 points or fewer. It’s a particularly interesting stat as the Fields’ season might come down to a Round 18 meeting with Old Trinity, whom they lost to by five points in Round Eight despite having 10 more scoring shots.

TO COME: Hampton (H), Old Trinity (H)

FOURTH – Old Camberwell: 36 points, 9-7, 114.73% 

The Wellers are flying. Neil Connell’s side has won four of its last five games and has only lost to Old Ivanhoe (by eight points in Round 14) and Old Trinity (by 30 points in Round 11) since Round 10. With the best percentage of the finals aspirants, the Wellers have an in-form Liam Thomas (who has kicked back-to-back bags of five) at their disposal. They’ll be tested this weekend by Old Geelong at Como Park.

TO COME: Old Geelong (A), Williamstown CYMS (H)

FIFTH – Old Carey: 36 points, 9-7, 105.84%

What a year for first-year coach Luke Giles, taking Premier C’s reigning premiers right to the final fortnight of the season, at least. Old Carey won’t leave home for the rest of the year and could remedy their poor percentage somewhat with this week’s match against ninth-placed Fitzroy. Not since June have the Panthers ended a weekend inside the four – that could change this weekend.

TO COME: Fitzroy (H), Old Geelong (H)

SIXTH – Old Geelong: 36 points, 9-7, 103.96%

The OGs’ run home from the double-bye has been arguably the toughest of any finals aspirants, but Nick Dixon’s men are well and truly alive after last weekend’s heart-stopping win over Old Ivanhoe. Going into Round 13 the OGs were scheduled to play the then-top three teams in a row (Williamstown CYMS, Old Trinity and Old Ivanhoe), and have taken two wins from that run. In a series of ‘pre-elimination finals’ to finish the year, the hits keep coming with the Wellers and Panthers. 

TO COME: Old Camberwell (H), Old Carey (A)

SEVENTH – Williamstown CYMS: 32 points, 8-8, 112.60%

From third, the CYs have tumbled. They’ve lost their last four games, in an increasingly dramatic and heart-wrenching fashion, conceding the last four goals of the game to lose to the Fields by eight points at home in Round 15, and the last two on the road to Old Carey in the final minutes to lose by three points last weekend.

The CYs haven’t won since before the double-bye. Con Terzoglou’s men need to win both remaining games and hope results fall their way elsewhere to qualify.

TO COME: Old Melburnians (H), Old Camberwell (A)

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Old Carey has leapt into fifth after an astonishing final few minutes at home, resuscitating a game that was dead for all money and stunning Williamstown CYMS.

Well aware the game was a must-win to continue to press a case for finals, Panthers coach Luke Giles felt his side had command of much of the match – and with a ten-point three quarter time lead, the Panthers looked the safer bet.

“We felt like we controlled the game all day, I was really happy with the way we played … we felt like we’d done enough right, (but) their good players, as they do, got a hold of us late in the game”.

Giles speaks of Ayden McCarroll, an Anytime Fitness Rising Star nominee who has flummoxed opposition coaches with his sheer size and marking ability at 209 centimetres tall. McCarroll kicked four goals – all after half time – and took a game-high four contested grabs, “taking over the game” late by Giles’ estimation.

As the clock ticked past 30 minutes in the final quarter, the CYs had kicked the only three goals of the term to take a ten-point lead – and Old Carey, remarkably, would only at that point register its first score of the quarter, a rushed behind to cut the lead to nine.

The CYs, having learned from their heart-breaking defeat to the Fields in Round 15, had succeeded in creating stoppages and holding up the opposition, until, from three deep in a pack, Panther Charlie Grummitt pulled down a contested grab in the goal square. He took his set shot quickly, converted, at the 31-minute mark cutting the lead to three points.

Stoppage after stoppage followed the resumption, the Panthers inching the ball inside 50 – but a hold on CYs defender Lachie Downey gave the visitors back the footy. His relieving, down-the-line kick was snared by the Panthers though and sent to the corridor for Tim Newton, who belted the ball deep inside Old Carey’s 50 with 32 minutes gone.

To that point, Carey’s Charlie Connell-Tobin had only kicked two goals all season. His rove of the pack that formed underneath Newtown’s high ball was textbook. He hared away, swung a right-foot snap goalward, and put the Panthers in front, and into delirium.

“We picked ourselves up off the canvas with probably 90 seconds left. It’s probably a sign of where the club is going that the two players that kicked the winning goals for us were a 19-year-old, Charlie Grummit, and then a 21-year-old, Charlie Connell-Tobin,” said Giles.

“When we’re looking around for people to win the game, we’re looking for our young players. Very excited to see where we’ll be in a couple of years.”

The siren sounded a minute later, Old Carey 11.12 (78) to 11.9 (75) victors, well and truly alive in an absurd run towards September in Premier B.

“There’s half the competition realistically playing for dead rubbers in the last couple of weeks for the year – and we’re in it, and part of the storyline,” said Giles.

Nick Brewin and Trent Warren were terrific behind the footy, Riley Thompson kicked four goals and Bede Waters had 28 disposals to go with 12 clearances – for the CYs, Hamish Tambourine had 29 disposals.

From third a few weeks ago, the CYs have lost four on the trot – and two heartbreakers in a row against fellow finals aspirants. Now a game back from the Wellers, Panthers and OGs in the race for fourth, Con Terzoglou’s side has no option but to pick itself up for the Old Melburnians at the Fearon Reserve.

“We are going to turn up. Irrespective of the situation, we will turn up and give our best effort,” Terzoglou said.

“We are honest in our approach – we recognise that we have lost a number of close ones and have lacked the composure to turn those situations into a positive result. We don’t believe in sandbagging or playing mind games. We are extremely disappointed, but we are going to turn up and have another go this weekend.”

It could be a case of what could’ve been for the CYs – they’re 1-4 in games decided by 12 points or fewer this season.

“We had an approach if the situation arose again and we felt that we tightened up around the stoppage and had the coverage down back,” said Terzoglou of the game’s conclusion.

“Ultimately a couple of small errors allowed Carey to keep us on the back foot. Credit to them, they were persistent and found an avenue to hit the scoreboard.”

In any other week, the Panthers’ comeback would’ve had a mortgage on the weekend’s storyline – but Old Geelong’s toppling of Old Ivanhoe gave it a run for its money.

The OGs handed the Hoers their first loss since Round 9, 13.13 (91) to 13.6 (84), a trademark clutch set shot from the enigmatic Mickey Nicholls putting away the Hoers late at Chelsworth Park after a ripping game of amateur footy.

“I’ve lost count of the amount of times Mickey Nicholls has kicked a goal late to either seal the game, or put us in front,” laughed OGs coach Nick Dixon.

“He’s just incredible when the moment comes – he’s desperate to get the ball in his hands, and he’s a great set shot finisher.”

The Hoers were at their efficient best early and led by as many as four goals in the second term before the OGs were able to restrict their efficiency inside 50. 

“While we were down at quarter time, we were still pretty optimistic. We had a lot of the play in our front half, we just couldn’t finish our work and Old Ivanhoe were really clinical,” said Dixon.

“Post-half time, the weather started to change, it was a lot more slippery … which I think suits us pretty well, we’ve won some pretty tough games in the wet this year.”

With star OGs ruckman Jack Sheridan away, Lachie Dunnell stepped up to take on Old Ivanhoe behemoth Alex Mirkov and, by the estimation of his coach, was Old Geelong’s finest due to his repeat efforts and appetite for the contest.

“He was as big of a reason why we won on the weekend (as anyone),” said Dixon.

“His ability to make a contest in there and not let Mirkov just dictate terms all day was incredible.”

The OGs hit the front in the third and went goal-for-goal with the ladder leaders throughout the rest of the second half. Hoer Patrick Naish kicked a goal after a chase-down tackle in front of goal to cut the Old Geelong lead to a point at the 25-minute mark of the last – but the OGs defensive unit was strong under pressure, and Mickey Nicholls sealed a famous win with 32-and-a-half gone.

“There was a lot of relief (at the final siren),” said Dixon. 

“We understand that we’re pretty much playing elimination finals from here on out … I was really pleased with our effort and intensity. The boys really set themselves for this game – we’ve had success out on that ground over a few years.

“We’re not at the end of the fight yet. Every game is a fifty-fifty game, we have to be up. Our great effort will count for nothing if we don’t show up this weekend.”

“Old Geelong were excellent,” said Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Giechen. 

“We knew before the game that they wouldn’t leave anything out on the park, they were playing for survival … (and) when the rain came down, they played the conditions better than us”.

“We were very disappointed to lose the game, there were no excuses … there were a lot of learnings, which is great. To find out at this time of year rather than three-or-four weeks’ time, a few things that we’ll learn from … that being said, it wasn’t like we did anything cute. We were going at Old Geelong as hard as we possibly could, and they were just too good for us”.

Old Camberwell has an argument to be the competition’s most in-form side, turning what shaped as a belter against Caulfield Grammarians into a second-half fizzer, booting eight goals to one after half time on the way to a 12.8 (80) to 6.10 (46) win.

Since the double bye, Neil Connell’s Wellers are 3-1, that loss coming by eight points on the road against Old Ivanhoe. The 34-point win at the weekend arrests the Fields’ momentum, garnered with five wins in a row that’s seen Paul Satterley’s side take hold of third place.

The Fields led by four points at half time, but kicked just four behinds in the third, whilst the Wellers kicked four goals straight, taking a 16-point lead on the final turn for home. Despite an overwhelming Old Camberwell advantage in disposals (+36), the Fields had just two fewer inside 50s (13-11) but let themselves down in front of goal.

But with 14 inside fifties to five, and four goals to one, the Wellers punched the bruise in the final quarter, cruising to their ninth win of the season and critically bleeding the Fields’ percentage, potentially significant in the last fortnight of the home-and-away season.

“The whole year’s been based around each week, trying to improve our game. I think it’s starting to come together now,” said Wellers coach Neil Connell, who is enjoying the benefit of a healthy list that’s developed nicely over the course of his first year in charge.

“I think the boys have got a little bit of confidence now after those wins – that always helps. It’s all coming through at the right time.

“It’s great to be in this position with two games to go. Our destiny is in our own hands, we play sides that are around us. If we deserve to be in the top four, we have to win these games.”

Lachie Harker (37 disposals) and Jimmy Allen (36) were stellar, but Liam Thomas (five goals from 18 disposals) got the nod as Connell’s best. The Fields were without a multiple goalkicker, but Sam McInerney racked up 43 disposals and 26 contested possessions on the inside.

“We thought we were lucky to be in front at half time, as we didn’t play very well,” admitted Fields coach Satterley.  

“In the second half, Codge (Neil Connell) had his lads playing a hungrier brand of footy and they were really impressive.”  

“Our lads have been up for a number of weeks so a lapse in form is not the end of the world, we look forward to regrouping for Hampton next week.”

Old Trinity was the only side that went into Round 16 in the top four to come away with a win, four-goal hauls for Dom Payman and Ed Chard standouts in a 17.10 (112) to 7.8 (50) defeat of Fitzroy.

A goal for Payman in the first minute set the tone as the Ts burst to a 40-point quarter time lead, incrementally increasing the advantage at each break to ultimately take a 62-point win and lock in a top two spot.

“You wouldn’t say it (top two) was a goal – the goal was just to try and get back into finals, (we) always knew the competition was going to be super tight,” reflected coach Donald McDonald, who led the Ts to a preliminary final in 2024.

Tom Wenn was excellent with 40 disposals and 14 clearances, while Louis Davidson complimented his 36 disposals with two goals. 

Returning from injury, Dom Payman adds a late-season narrative to the Ts’ premiership hopes, with last year’s team of the year full forward able to qualify for finals provided he can “stay on his feet” over these last few weeks.

“We had to be really careful with his minutes these last two weeks, a bit of minimal game time. He’s such a competitor, Dom, and because he’s one of the boys (who played) Under 19s … the experience for him at Coburg’s been terrific,” said McDonald.

Charlie Beasley had a run in the Reserves and is pressing for a return, while on Hugh Beasley, it’s a return either this week or next – “we’ll just have to see,” says McDonald.

It’s an early look at the Hoers this week for McDonald and his coaching group – the Ts and the Hoers will play off twice in three weeks, first in Round 17 and then in the second semi-final – but the coach won’t hold anything back.

“We’ve just got to keep playing the footy we’re playing; you don’t want to lose any momentum.”

Despite a dominant day for Laird Ramshaw (45 disposals and a goal) and a manful effort from Max Ellis and Taylor Strachan, the Roys weren’t able to stymie the flow of the Ts, said their coach, Travis Ronaldson.

“We ran into a slick Old Trinity outfit who jumped out of the gates and played some impressive footy early. We managed to slow the game down in the second quarter and make it more of an arm wrestle but couldn’t make any inroads on the scoreboard. 

“Again the effort from our young group was exceptional and it was a good learning experience for us.” 

Finally, the Hampton Rovers got exceptionally close to their first win of the season against the Old Melburnians but were outrun late, going down by 20 points at Elsternwick Park.

The OMs took a two-point lead into the final term in what had been a close contest and fell behind in the first seven minutes but leapt into gear and kicked six goals in a row, ultimately securing a 16.10 (106) to 13.8 (86) victory.

It’s the OMs’ first win since Round 11 over the OGs – it’s been a tricky year for returning coach Nathan Brown, with injury and unavailability limiting the output of his senior side.

“Hampton were excellent, so well played by Marty and the club – fighting right to the end for a win,” said Brown.

“Our boys were scratchy at times (and) under the pump from Hampton – but they were excellent in the last quarter with none on the bench. It was a great fight to get our first win for a long time.

“A couple of weeks to go, we’ll keep looking at lads in different positions … ramping into next year, win, lose or draw, which was the case on Saturday.”

Debutants Will Dixon and Sam Cannock were “excellent,” Will Nichols was typically industrious with 32 disposals and 11 clearances while Jeremy A’Beckett kicked four goals.

Rover Josh McPherson was a constant threat up front and punted seven goals from ten kicks – prior to the game, he hadn’t kicked more than two in a match all season.

He was ably assisted by Christian Carnovale, Lachie Costello and Owen Bater.

The Rovers will play Caulfield away while the OMs travel to the Fearon Reserve for a meeting with Williamstown CYMS.

Elsewhere, Old Carey host Fitzroy, a Semi Final preview is on the cards between Old Ivanhoe and Old Trinity, and the OGs play the Wellers in a critical game for the makeup of the top four.