Who stays up? Mazenod’s statement leaves Parkside vulnerable

The race for the final position of safety in Premier C will head into the final week of the home and away season.

Mazenod did their chances of staying up no harm, climbing out of the bottom two on percentage, after piling the pain onto Prahran. Peter Banfield’s men registered a ten-goal final quarter to inflate the margin, running out 19.6 (120) to 4.9 (33), in the second-last game of Banfield’s tenure.

Hayden Boyce rocketed to the top of the division’s goalkicking table on the back of his nine goals, with Banfield highlighting his performance, and that of his leaders, after the match.

“It was an awesome win from us. Hayden Boyce: his nine goals need to be talked about. Jack Sullivan and Damien Byrne – outstanding games. Matt Fewings is just a great captain,” he said.

It’s been a difficult season for the Nodders, with this result, and the step towards safety that it represents, reward for effort. Mazenod head to Gerry Green Reserve next week, with a mammoth challenge against the likely minor premiers awaiting. Banfield insists his side will have a ‘real crack’ at causing what would be a monumental upset.

It’s been a torrid year for Prahran. The reigning Division 1 premiers have battled an injury crisis, and lapses in games, to find themselves winless, with a meagre percentage of less than 50. Their last opportunity to salvage some pride and seize a victory in Premier C will come in Bulleen, where a resurgent Marcellin awaits.

At the end of a see-sawing affair, the Eagles were 15.14 (104) to 13.10 (88) victors over PEGS. On the familiar expanses of their home deck, Marcellin were made to work for the result. Down 20 points late in the first quarter, Bernie Dineen’s men rallied, finding themselves 25 points to the good, ten minutes into the last quarter, when Josh Daniel kicked his seventh major of the contest.

PEGS would kick the next three, reducing the margin to just eight as time-on approached, before schoolboy Josh Kol kicked the sealer. Fellow schoolboys James Stapleton and Patrick Curtain, small defenders, also had some great moments.

Dineen glowed in his praise of Daniel after the match. “I almost could’ve kissed him,” he joked. “He took some clutch contested marks, has serious agility for a big man, and just always seems to know what the game requires. He plays like ‘Tex’ Walker – great skills on both sides of his body, by hand and by foot, and was the standout on the day.”

“We’re trying to indoctrinate a little bit about what a winning culture looks like, in our training, planning, and game day behaviours. There was a real maturity in the group to respond after a strong start from the opposition. I felt we controlled large parts of the second half, and steadied again after PEGS came hard late,” Dineen added.

Marcellin leaders Adam Tomaro, Paddy Howe, Matt Capetola and Elliot Atwell also drew Dineen’s praise in the victory, which represents the first time Marcellin have won back-to-back games this season.

A genuine goal of the year contender from James McArdle was the highlight of the contest. Early in the second quarter, McArdle gathered the ball in the back pocket and carved up Bray Oval on a scintillating run, before coolly slotting the finish.

After the match, PEGS coach Rob Kerr was forthright in his assessment of his side’s performance.

“Unfortunately, we turned the ball over way too much by both hand and foot across the whole game. Marcellin got out to around 20 points with early scores in the last quarter, before the move of Max Philpot to an attacking halfback role started to pay dividends. We clearly had the momentum, but as time was running out, a couple of risky kicks missed, and Marcellin punished accordingly.”

“Ade Antikola had a really strong game in the ruck to continue his strong year, Philpot was very good, and Barake was the best of our forwards,” he added.

Marcellin have plenty to play for this week; a victory would mean winning five of their final seven matches, and would ensure a positive winning ratio at home, for the first time since Covid. PEGS will host AJAX in their final match of the season, looking to cause an upset over the finalists.

An eight goal third term from Beaumaris condemned AJAX to their third loss in five matches. Worryingly, all three of these defeats have come at the hands of AJAX’s fellow finalists.

Speaking after the 15.16 (106) to 4.11 (35) defeat, Jackas coach Lachlan Buszard labelled the Sharks the premiership favourites.

“They simply have too much talent and hence work harder for longer,” he said. “Tom O’Rourke’s running power is the best I’ve seen in the comp for his size, and he was very impressive. Their mids just bat too deep,” he added.

Beaumaris coach Josh Bourke was similarly impressed by his charges, after the match.

“We’ve got a real embarrassment of riches at times — we’re aware how lucky we are to have 4 to 5 VFL listed players playing with us,” he said.

“Our fitness continues to be a strength, and we have good confidence in our ability to run games out.

“Their (AJAX’s) pressure early was outstanding, and really put us on the back foot. We adjusted really well and started to give a better account of ourselves. Our defenders were outstanding, and (skipper Callum) Linehan led from the front,” he said.

The Sharks boast a healthy list as finals approach, and look primed to attack September, with a view to be promoted to the division from whence they came.

In the other finals preview of Round 17, Parkdale Vultures overturned a halftime deficit to defeat St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, 13.13 (91) to 7.11 (53).  The Vultures held a slender three-quarter time advantage, but a seven goal to one final quarter proved the difference.

Vultures midfielder Matthew Emmanouil made it 14 bests nominations from 17 appearances this year – outright most in the division, while Darcy Fountain and Jake Ryder headlined Brad Berry’s selections.

Parkdale can secure the minor premiership with a victory over Mazenod next week, but should they slip up, and Beaumaris handle business against Glen Eira/Old McKinnon, the Sharks will claim that honour, on percentage.

Glen Eira/Old McKinnon registered a comfortable home victory over Parkside, in Carnegie. The Devils led at halftime, but 50-10 in the Gryphons favour after the main break consigned Rick Frost’s men to their thirteenth loss of the campaign.

Lachlan Mirams and Nick Mavropoulos continued brilliant seasons for Guy Martyn’s Gryphons, while Matt Holden was again Rick Frost’s best afield.

The Devils must steal an unlikely victory over the Tigers next week, and pray Mazenod does not do something similar against the Vultures, to stay in Premier C. The two sides have won four games each, but Mazenod’s percentage is significantly healthier than Parkside’s.