Old Brighton through to decider as Uni Blues reverse 2024 elimination final result

Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Men’s was at its prolific best on Saturday as the opening weekend of finals kicked off in emphatic fashion.

Old Brighton booked its ticket into the grand final for consecutive season after defeating minor premiers St Kevin’s.

However, it didn’t come without the requirement of resilience as SKOB kicked off the final well and truly on their terms.

St Kevin’s’ Fred Noble nailed two of the opening four for the green, blue and gold but the Tonners remained composed, leading by seven at quarter-time, and when Noble kicked his second early in the next term, Old Brighton didn’t flinch to make a response.

Deemed their “best quarter for the year” by coach Travis O’Donohue, Old Brighton clicked into gear defensively and offensively, nailing five goals in the term while restricting St Kevin’s to just one.

It opened up a 32-point halftime margin that supporters were not prepared to see coming, given the pair of clubs’ thrilling encounters during the home and away season.

“We spoke pre-game about wanting to bring high pressure and we managed to execute that really well, causing front half turnovers that we were able to capitalise on,” O’Donohue said.

In the second half, the intensity was raised a notch at Elsternwick Park, but Old Brighton had its eyes set firmly on placing one hand on the premiership cup.

The goals between both sides were split in the third term, with the margin unmoving, requiring a herculean effort by Paut Greenham’s boys to get over the line.

SKOB would kick the opening two of the last quarter, but as Old Brighton did all day, they responded and continued to hold a 32-point lead until the final siren, 13.8 (86) to 8.6 (54).

The league’s leading goalkicker Lucas May was held goalless by a high-pressure Tonners defence, with O’Donohue lauding his back six’s work.

“They were outstanding all day,” he said.

“It made life really hard for St Kevin’s’ key forwards.”

The win means Old Brighton advance to a grand final from a semi-final win against the opponent that defeated them in 2024, albeit the Tonners will have its sights set on a second straight flag rather than reversing history.

University Blues will be rapt with its result as it defeated Old Scotch under lights at Elsternwick Park to return serve to the club that defeated them in an elimination semi-final last year.

In 2024, Scotch defeated the Blues by 15 points, and with the exact same ladder positions it appeared to be deja vu.

It was largely inaccuracy that kept Old Scotch alive in the contest through the first half, as University kicked four goals but 11 behinds, while the Cardinals’ 50 per cent strike rate in front of the sticks had them trailing by 14 at the main break.

Uni Blues coach Steve Boakes conceded the score sheet had him concerned given Scotch’s ability to win games from behind, but it was fear for nothing – the twilight game at Elsternwick Oval suited the Blues’ dash and dare with slick foot skills, and while the conversion rate was out of whack, University had enough entries and scores that it was unproblematic.

The third quarter was when the Blues ripped the contest away from the Cardinals, kicking four goals to one to extend their lead to 32 points.

In a similar scenario to the SKOBS and Old Brighton clash, the Blues and Cardinals matched each other around the contest in the last, with the margin dipping slightly to 31 as the final siren sounded, 7.10 (52) to 11.17 (83)-

Blue Donovan Shier was strong up forward with four majors, as was counterpart Sam de Steiger.

Beakes commended his side and coaching staff for trusting the game plan, choosing to back in the club’s talent instead of tagging Old Scotch’s superstars.

“We aren’t a tagging side, and we trusted our structures to limit opportunities for Scotch’s midfield to supply their talent forward group,” Boakes said.

“Our backs stood tall when they were under pressure.”

As attention turns to a blockbuster preliminary final against St Kevin’s, Beakes knows it won’t be a one size fits all approach for his squad.

“We will have a different approach to next week’s match versus St Kevin’s,” he said.

“The group are keen to give it our best shot.”

The Blues have defeated St Kevin’s just over a fortnight ago in round 17 in a gripping seven-point win, but SKOBS comfortably got the job done in Round 12.

For the Blues, the scenario remains the same – win or go home.

And for St Kevin’s, they’ll have to complete the hard route to premiership glory.

But after finishing runner-up to Old Brighton in 2024, who took the path they currently face, there’ll be belief in the group that the ship can be turned around.