Fields and Panthers through to finals, Wellers drop out

The music has stopped after a season-long game of musical chairs in VAFA’s Premier B, and its Caulfield Grammarians and Old Carey with spots inside the top four after a four-team race for third and fourth.

The Fields, coming into Round 18 in third, needed to simply beat or draw with Old Trinity to be sure of their destiny; in fourth, Old Camberwell needed to defeat or tie with Williamstown CYMS to retain its position. Starting in fifth, Old Carey needed a win over Old Geelong combined with an Old Camberwell loss to feature in September; in sixth, Williamstown CYMS needed a win over the Wellers in combination with an Old Geelong upset win over the Panthers.

With Old Trinity and Old Ivanhoe safe inside the top two, and relegation confirmed for Fitzroy and Hampton, here’s how the three key games in Round 18 played out.

Williamstown CYMS held up its part of the bargain, knocking Old Camberwell out of the four and keeping its season momentarily alive.

But, as hopeful CYs fans’ eyes turned to the OGs and the Panthers game, there wasn’t good news. Old Carey won the race for fourth, jagging a place at the finals table with a win over the OGs, the Wellers falling from fourth to sixth as a result.

If not for four losses in a row out of the double-bye – including two heartbreakers in a row against the Fields and Panthers in Rounds 15 and 16 – the CYs likely would be playing finals. One more win would’ve sealed a place in the four, but for Con Terzoglou’s men, it wasn’t to be.

“On Saturday we went in focused on what we could control … the disappointment and suffering for us came three weeks prior, on the back of those losses,” he said.

“While there was a mathematical possibility (of making finals), we knew it wasn’t the right thing to do to hang our hat on that, because that’s not part of our control circle.

“We focused on, ‘can we play against a good opposition that’s in form, and can we execute?’ and we wanted to acknowledge that finishing with a positive ledger is a great step forward from where we were 12 months prior. That was the key message post-game.”

Despite a 32-12 first half inside 50 advantage, the Wellers were able to stymie much of the CYs’ advantage with extra numbers back early when kicking against the breeze – Williamstown leading by eight points at the break despite a sizeable territory advantage.

But with some clearance wins in midfield and shorter, sharper passing, the CYs made hay in the third quarter, kicking six goals to zero as Ayden McCarroll broke the game apart.

The enormous youngster booted four of his five goals in the third term, ripping down four contested grabs in the quarter and at 209 centimetres tall proving nigh on impossible to match up on.

45 points up at three quarter time, the CYs kicked the first three goals of the final term to put paid to the contest, eventually 14.11 (95) to 6.11 (47) victors.

“The goal this year was to change the perception, and that’s not about how others think about us, or see us, but more from an internal perspective – to show the group that we’re capable of a little bit more than what we’ve served in Premier B,” said Terzoglou, reflecting on a 10-8 season.

On the coach’s list for the off-season: game management in close games, sharpening and tweaking the gameplan.

“I’m reasonably comfortable that we’ve shown that the club has a framework that’s capable of being a mid-to-upper Premier B side – and that becomes the new base and standard moving forward.”

Jordan Busuttil rounded out a wonderful year in the Amatuers with 31 disposals and a goal, his Big V running mate Will Bokma had 30, and defender Cullen Hira snagged seven intercept marks.

For Old Camberwell, it’s disappointment after three successive wins had the Wellers in the four and with destiny in their own hands.

“We had four elimination finals and failed to win the last one. A few of our boys were banged up, but we were beaten by a better side on the day, Williamstown beat us in all facets of the game, and I feel they’re unlucky not to be playing finals,” said coach Neil Connell.

“We need to get better in the off-season and go to work on how we can challenge for a finals spot in 2026.”

Jimmy Allen stood out once again with 37 disposals, while Liam Thomas’ two goals took him to 57 for the season, taking out the goal-kicking title by 14 goals from Old Trinity’s Hugh Beasley.

The Wellers’ loss was Old Carey’s gain, the Panthers defeating Old Geelong to secure its first Premier B finals berth since 2018.

It’s a remarkable achievement for Luke Giles, who took the coaching reins from Aaron Bailey this year, leading his team to 11 wins and fourth place on the ladder after taking the premiership and promotion from Premier C in 2024.

Old Carey won its last four games – a last-gasp comeback to beat Williamstown CYMS the highlight – to leap into the finals-playing positions for the first time since Round 10.

Early doors, there were concerns for the Panthers, the OGs jumping to an early three-goal lead and Tim Jones (13 disposals and a goal for the quarter) running hot in midfield.

The OGs, unable to play finals, had the retiring Will Sloss to play for and have themselves enjoyed a quality season under Nick Dixon, only recently accounting for Old Ivanhoe on the road.

But those concerns were allayed in the second term as the Panthers piled on seven goals to nil, flipped a 17-point deficit to a 27-point advantage and dominated the Premier Data stats sheet, controlling the ball and taking significant advantages over the course of the quarter in disposals (96-72), inside 50s (20-8) and marks (26-18).

The OGs charged in the third, kicking five goals to three to cut the lead to 15 at the final break, but Old Carey held firm in the last, holding the OGs to just a single scoring shot and locking in fourth with a 14.11 (95) to 11.6 (72) victory.

“Anyone at that game would attest to (that being) our best performance of the year by a mile. You never want to limp into fourth and bow out in the first final … but when you go out and dish that up, it’s really exciting,” said coach Giles on Monday.

“I’m of the belief that this type of footy can beat anyone in the top four at the moment … I said to the boys after the game, ‘if we’re going to dish that up, then let’s go have a crack at it.’”

The coach spoke glowingly of the atmosphere in Bulleen, his side urged on throughout the afternoon by one of the loudest Carey crowds Giles has ever heard. 

“I’ve never seen so many Carey people down at the game,” said Giles.

“There was such a buzz all day. Every time we kicked a goal – I hadn’t heard it (the crowd) that loud in a long, long time, probably since my time (playing) at the club.

“Most parents were in the rooms; most supporters were in the rooms (after the game) … we were just so rapt. We did allow ourselves time to sit in it a little bit and appreciate what we’ve been able to do. It’s unusual for a team to come up a division, win 11 games, and lock itself into a final.

“I think it’s important that we take a minute and actually enjoy it, sit with it, give each other a pat on the back – and then get to work.”

Old Carey’s Luke Kelvie quality home-and-away season finished with a season-best haul of 39 disposals (coming at an impressive 82% efficiency), while Daniel Clarke equalled his season-best tally of goals with four – including a truly remarkable snap from deep in the forward pocket in the second term which is sure to enter the goal-of-the-year conversation.

Tim Jones of Old Geelong finished with 38 disposals, 15 clearances and a goal, finishing his year in tight on a high note.

The Panthers are booked for September – they’ll play third-placed Caulfield Grammarians in the first semi-final this Sunday afternoon at Preston City Oval.

“When you just slot into fourth at the last minute, you’d be stupid to start talking about premierships or any of that,” said Giles.

“We’ve got to get the next week right, make it two really good sessions, and go to work on where we went wrong last time, we played them.”

Giles pointed to poor forward entries that fed Caulfield Grammarians’ intercept defenders as an area of improvement from their 10-point loss to the Fields back in Round 14

“We won’t be using the game earlier in the season (Round Four’s 60-point win) as any sort of measure for this weekend.”

“I’m not worried about putting that out there, I think it’s no secret. We’re a small forward line and we need the ball to come in really sharp and with a bit of purpose about it.”

With wins to the Panthers and CYs, the lowest Caulfield Grammarians could fall to on the ladder was fourth in a later-starting game against Old Trinity. Their finals place secure, Paul Satterley’s team went into September at a gallop, handing the Ts just their fourth loss of the season.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for the Fields, who on the last Saturday of the 2024 home-and-away season survived relegation to Premier C by defeating Old Camberwell, sending the Beaumaris Sharks down instead in Guy McKenna’s last game as coach.

This time around, it was a win that locked up third on the ladder and knocked the Ts out of first spot, 10.16 (76) to 8.12 (60). In ten games decided by 20 points or fewer this year, the Fields are 8-2 – a stat that Satterley says, “sums up the group.”

Caulfield had to do it from behind though – seven points down at the final break, albeit with the wind at their backs for the final term.

“We were hell-bent on playing a particular way and being really compliant. It felt like it took forever to kick the goals we needed, kicking the bulk of those five in the latter part of the quarter (and) we missed some absolute sitters,” said Satterley.

The Fields kicked 4.9 – the Ts, 1.4. Jack Ellwood, Sam McInerney and Matt Clarkson found plenty of the footy in the last term as the Fields dominated disposals (+41 in the quarter), inside 50s (+14) and clearances (+6). With goals in time-on coming from Will Edwards, Will Vesely and Ollie Lowe, the Fields grabbed the lead at the 21-minute mark and held onto a 16-point win.

Satterley’s looking forward to a battle with Old Carey, whom the Fields have split the points with in 2025.

“Two similar sides – they like to get the footy moving pretty quick, as do we,” Satterley said.

“We had a really good battle only four weeks ago. They’ve got some real class in (Mitch) Wooffindin and (Isaac) Ellwood – we probably match up well with them, as they would be thinking they match up well with us.

Old Trinity won’t take the minor premiership but are set for a second semi-final meeting with Old Ivanhoe this Saturday afternoon at Preston City Oval.

“A very tough game against Caulfield, who are really coming into some great form over the past few weeks,” said Ts coach Donald McDonald.

“It was disappointing to lose however to their credit we probably needed to make better use of our first quarter use of the breeze and did not capitalise.”

Harry Thompson (28 disposals, 39 hitouts) worked with Boston Dowling (21 disposals, 22 hitouts and a goal) in the ruck, while Hugh Beasley kicked a pair of majors.

“We have earned the right over the course of the season to finish top two in both seniors and reserves. So now we have an opportunity to play for a spot in a Grand Final which is very exciting but will be a great challenge for us to achieve,” said McDonald.

Old Ivanhoe, survived an almighty scare against the Hampton Rovers at Boss James Reserve, holding on late to secure the minor premiership with a five-point win.

The Rovers head down to Premier C without a win in Premier B but can be proud of their Round 18 effort, an admirable 7.17 (59) to 8.6 (54) defeat to a team that has the chance to win its way through to William Buck Premier this weekend.

“Our twos had won by 100 points, and you kind of think, based on the season that they (Hampton) have had and what we did last time, that we just had to turn up to get the result – but they had a different idea, they really came to play,” said Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen.

“Credit to them, the way they defended the ground. We weren’t able to convert.”

Hampton had the wind in the final term and, with Old Ivanhoe leading by five points with sore bodies on the bench, the unthinkable was all of a sudden possible.

But the Hoers dug deep, controlling the game in the final moments and securing a hard-fought win to secure top spot.

Key Hoers Alex Mirkov, Billy Murphy and Toby McLean took the weekend to prepare for September, Gieschen and his team handing larger roles to the likes of Archie Franklin and Ryder Mantello in their stead, the younger players warming up for finals nicely.

Remarkably, the Hoers’ inside 50 count matched their total score – 59 apiece – as Patrick Naish (40 disposals), Archie Franklin (a season-high 39 disposals and 11 clearances) and Nicholas Reeves-Smyth (30 disposals and a season-high 16 marks) found plenty of the footy.

The Hoers will have to do something they haven’t done this year if they’re to be first to lock in a Grand Final spot: beat Old Trinity

“They’ve had a great preparation and have beaten us twice throughout the year. It appears that their players are all coming back at the right time,” said Gieschen.

“We don’t mind being underdogs, we did that in 2023. It’ll be two great teams going at each other.”

Zach Ziesling wound up his excellent year for the Rovers with 25 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 30 hitouts, nine clearances and a goal while Joel Melnjak had 32 disposals and 17 rebound 50s.

Finally, Travis Ronaldson’s stint as Fitzroy coach ended on a high note, the Roys notching their third win of season 2025 over Old Melburnians at Brunswick Street Oval.

A six-goal-to-one third term did the trick for Fitzroy, as the Ramshaw brothers Heath (42 disposals) and Laird (31 disposals) put on a show for the home crowd, the 11.11 (77) to 4.9 (33) victory giving the Roys a positive to finish on after a difficult 2025 season.

“It was great to finish the year with a win in what were very tough conditions for footy. The first half was a real arm wrestle, but we managed to hit the scoreboard in the third quarter to have a buffer at the last break,” said Ronaldson.

“The boys really rolled up the sleeves and did the hard work. I am glad they got rewarded for their efforts. They have been a great group to work with and I am looking forward to seeing what this young squad can achieve in the future.”

The Roys have blooded 18 senior debutants in 2025 and have used 49 players in the seniors – Ronaldson expects the red, blue and gold to emerge stronger after this period of transition.

For the OMs and Nathan Brown, it’s been a season of almosts – from 6-5 and a place in the top four after Round 11, to 7-11 and eighth after Round 18. Injury and unavailability have plagued Brown and his Redlegs, who will be sure to respond in 2026.

In his farewell game for the OMs, stalwart Jackson Paine kicked a couple of goals, and Thomas Spargo had 30 disposals to go with nine marks.

Old Ivanhoe and Old Trinity play off for a spot in the Grand Final from 2:00pm this Saturday afternoon at Preston City Oval – the loser will play the winner of the second semi final between Caulfield Grammarians and Old Carey, taking place at 2:20pm on Sunday, also at Preston City Oval.