Premier B Men’s Semi-Final Previews

We’ve enjoyed an incredible season of Premier B Men’s action in 2025, with endless twists and turns as the musical chairs for the Top 4 went all the way to the final day of the home & away season.

With the Final 4 now locked and loaded, let’s look ahead to Semi Final weekend:

2^nd SEMI FINAL – OLD IVANHOE vs OLD TRINITY (Saturday 2pm – Preston City Oval)

These two teams have been the benchmarks all season and have been locked in as our top two for a while.

Both went 14-4, with the Hoers claiming the minor premiership by just over 2 per cent, reinforcing just how evenly matched they’ve been all season.

Old Ivanhoe won 7 of their first 8, while the T’s lost in the opening round by a single point (to Old Camberwell) and then peeled off 10 of their next 11, including a 37-point win over Old Ivanhoe in Round 9.

They’ve gone stride for stride in the second half of the season.

Old Trinity kicked a game clear when they defeated the Hoers for the second time in 2025 – a hard-fought 12-point win in Round 17. But Old Ivanhoe reclaimed top spot when they saw off the Rovers in the final round, while the T’s fell to Caulfield Grammarians by 16 points.

Here are the thoughts of our Premier B expert, Paddy Grindlay:

PADDY GRINDLAY’S KEYS TO THE GAME

OLD IVANHOE

• Midfield guns – Patrick Naish & Toby McLean are two of the three players to average at least 35 disposals & 7 uncontested marks in Premier B this season. Naish has racked up nearly 100 more touches than any other player, and if he is allowed unfettered use of his right boot across half back and the wing, it will significantly advance Ivanhoe’s cause.

• Magnificent Murphy – Billy Murphy is a chance to win back-to-back G.T.Moore Medals as League Best & Fairest, which would give him three League B&Fs in a row. He’s #3 for Disposals in the comp, and leads the Hoers’ goalkicking with 28. His running power and burst through stoppage and across half forward has turned games, and could turn this one.

OLD TRINITY

• The Bigs are back – Boston Dowling & the Beasley boys (Hugh & Charlie) have fed back into Donald McDonald’s side & made the T’s spine a daunting prospect. Dowling has enjoyed a Big V-quality season, while Hugh Beasley kicked 43 goals in his 11 games (including multiples in every match). The Hoers’ key position players will need to be at their best.

Paddy’s tip: Old Trinity by 9pts.

Two powerhouse teams. The winner will confirm their ascension to Premier Men’s next season, while the loser will have to take their chances in what promises to be a tricky Preliminary Final.

Who takes the express route to Grand Final Day? Find out from 2pm Saturday at Preston City Oval.

1^st SEMI FINAL – CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS vs OLD CAREY (Sunday 2.20pm – Preston City Oval)

The merry-go-round for third & fourth position was dizzying all year, but once the dust settled, it was the Fields & Panthers left standing.

Caulfield Grammarians worked into their season under new coach Paul Satterley, and after dropping 3 of their first 4 (including a 10-goal loss to Old Carey in Round 4), started to build chemistry and belief.

They would scrape home over OMs by 4 points in Round 5 and go on to win 9 of their next 11, including a 10-point win over the Panthers in Round 14.

Despite this winning run, they entered the final round on the edge to retain their place in the Top 4. But a come-from-behind 16-point win over league-leaders Old Trinity locked in third spot. It’s great form entering September.

Old Carey’s path to the Semi-Finals saw them jump out of the gates to win 3 of their first 4, before riding the win-loss rollercoaster for 8 straight weeks from Rounds 4 to 11.

They found themselves in the middle of the desperate scramble for the Four after losses to Old Ivanhoe, Old Camberwell and Caulfield Grammarians in the month from Rounds 11 to 14. Suddenly they were seventh, a game plus 15 per cent behind the 4^th placed CYs.

But the 2024 Premier C champions dug in and finished strong, with four straight wins lifting them above the scrum with a perfectly-timed snatch of fourth spot.

On a 4-game winning streak and having already survived a couple of virtual Elimination Finals, the Panthers are battle-hardened and full of ‘Why Not Us?’ belief.

PADDY GRINDLAY’S KEYS TO THE GAME

• Carey’s dangerous Small Forwards – The small forward brigade at Luke Giles’ disposal is no secret, but the Panthers will need to be patient and precise with their entries, because of…

• The Great Wall of Caulfield – Caulfield are the Number #1 Intercept Possession team in Prem B this season. Old Carey will need to avoid gun interceptors Oscar Roberts, Charlie Eerhard, Noah Sutherland and Hamish McInerney.

The Fields took 31 intercept marks in their Round 14 win over the Panthers – the most any Premier B team has taken in a match this season. Oscar Roberts took 8 on his own.

If Old Carey are to find their dangerous forwards and kick a winning score, they will first have to navigate their way past Roberts & Co. on their way Inside 50. Otherwise, they will find the Sherrin sailing back over their heads with interest.

Paddy’s tip: Caulfield Grammarians by 16pts.

The Fields enter having won 7 of their past 8. The Panthers have successfully run the elimination gauntlet for the past month. But only one can progress to Preliminary Final Day.

Find out who, streaming LIVE & FREE on VAFA.com.au from 2.15pm Sunday!