Newcomers AJAX stun Old Ivanhoe in Prem B Men’s boilover

The big story out of Men’s Premier B action came out of Chelmsworth Park at the weekend, where newly promoted AJAX stunned last season’s Old Ivanhoe by 57 points in a major early-season boilover.

Having been promoted to Premier B off the back of a famous September run last year, AJAX went in as underdogs against an Old Ivanhoe side that went 14-4 in the home-and-away season last year, but stunned their more fancied opponents, keeping them goalless in the first term to open up a 21-point lead at the first break.

But the Jackers only built from there, winning every quarter to eventually secure a famous win on the road, the final score 18.11.119 to 9.8.62.

Most of the damage was caused by AJAX’s forwards, with several players showing they are more than capable of regularly hitting the scoreboard in 2026. Jordan Cohen led the way with four majors, while Max Herzel and Justin Vogel also combined for three goals each. Sacha Levine and Jethro Gunn had no trouble finding the football for the Jackers, collecting 27 and 26 disposals respectively.

For the Hoers, Trent McManus and Will Hanlon kicked two goals each as the only multiple goalkickers for their side, while Isac Dugdale led allcomers with a game-high 33 disposals.

AJAX will look to build on their opening day win when they travel to face Old Melburnians this weekend, while Old Ivanhoe will once again play host, this time to Old Camberwell.

Lachlan Buszard, AJAX Coach: 

“From our point of view, it was a really pleasing effort. We had five first-gamers and six teenagers playing in their first year out of school. I think we won the midfield battle, and that was the key for us. If we can get our clearances and contests right, at the weekend it proved important for us. If you can do that, you give yourself half a chance to win the game.

“(We were) really pleased with our defensive efforts, winning every quarter was really pleasing for us. Jordan Choen kicked four from the forward pocket, but we had 10 goal scorers. Charlie Efron was also good off half-back, and Jake Wrobel was really good around the ground for us.”

Xavier Naish, Old Ivanhoe Coach: 

“Full credit to AJAX. They’re a strong side who were strong around the ball and well-structured behind it. They played a game plan that was tough and their forwards were damaging when they got it down there. 

“The contest work is where we fell away. We tried a few new things and had patches where we went well. Trent McManus was huge. He stood up in key moments, and Jasper Hopkins battled hard all day in the ruck. But there are lots of positives and lots to come from the young players.”

The other newly promoted side in Beaumaris also saluted in its return to Premier B, pulling off an impressive 26-point victory away to Old Melburnians.

It was a triumphant return to Premier B for the Sharks, who secured last year’s Premier C title off the back of a stunning 17-match unbeaten streak en route to the Premiership. 

The Sharks got off to a hot start, piling on seven goals in the opening term to take a 33-point lead into the first break, before the OM’s responded in kind with a four-goal-to-one second term, trimming the deficit to just 13 points at the main break.

From there, the Sharks steadied, slowly building on their lead over the course of the second half to eventually secure a 13.17.95 to 10.9.69 victory.

Jai Florent was the star for the Sharks, kicking 5.1 to go with his 21 disposals, while Julian Galbally was unstoppable in the ruck, winning 35 hitouts, while his 14 clearances were also a clear game-high (no one else managed more than seven).

Jeremy A’Beckett led the way for the OMs with three majors, while Lachie Haysman and Ned Nichols were the most productive ball-winners, collecting 33 and 31 disposals respectively.

Beaumaris will look to build on this win next week as they return to Trevor Barker Beach Oval to host Old Geelong, while Old Melburnians will play host to last year’s Minor Premiers in Old Ivanhoe.

Josh Bourke, Beaumaris Coach:

“We’re very pleased with the result. They’re long pre-seasons and no matter what’s been done, you head in with trepidations, so we’re most pleased. I certainly was concerned with losing some experience and how we stand up in the contest, but I thought our contest stuff was very good.”

James Byrne, Old Melburnians Coach:

“We started very slowly, which was the disappointing part. It allowed them to get the jump on us. We’re implementing a new game plan, so we know that things will fluctuate, but they attacked us really well. They outnumbered us well at contests, and they beat us at the contest, plain and simple. We got going eventually, but used up a lot of tickets to get back into the game.”

In the battle of the two teams who came down from Premier Men’s last season, it was Collegians who emerged victorious in front of their home fans at Harry Trott Oval, as they began their climb back into the VAFA’s Premier Division with a 27-point victory over De La Salle.

Touted as one of the favourites to be promoted back into Premier Men’s this year, the Lions rarely had things go all their own way during the match, despite leading for the entire game. Heading into three-quarter-time with just a five-point lead, a five-goal-to-two final term eventually broke De La’s resistance.

Alexander Lukic proved his worth as the Lions’ main target up forward, kicking four goals, while former Hawthorn recruit Sam Frost also proved his worth up forward, taking eight marks and kicking three goals from 12 disposals. Jim Bazzani led the way through the midfield with a game-high 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions and 12 clearances — all game-highs. Max Pinchbeck also led by example in the midfield, laying 12 tackles for the match.

Debutant Nicholas Leontaritis was the only multiple goalscorer for De La with three majors, but the overall possession numbers were quite low for the visitors, with Fraser Cameron’s 18 touches leading the way. However, Ryan O’Meara was superb in the air, finishing with six intercept marks and four contested marks over the course of the game.

This weekend, Collegians will travel to Fearon Reserve to face Williamstown CYMS, while De La Salle will host Old Camberwell.

Jordie McKenzie, Collegians Coach:

“It was a hard-fought and pleasing win against a hard-working De La Salle outfit. We started the first three quarters well, but let ourselves down late in those quarters, especially with multiple poor defensive 50 stoppages.

“The game was in the balance at three-quarter time, and it was very pleasing to see our best quarter of footy produced, led by the midfield. Leaders Nick Canny, Campbell Walker and Jim Bazzani were very consistent throughout the day. Alexander Lukic and Sam Frost were a handful for opposition backs.”

Nick Hyland, De La Salle Coach:

“It was a high standard of footy for Round 1. Both teams had momentum at times. Credit to Jordie and his team, they were a bit more consistent for longer. It felt like a real game of momentum. I was happy with how we fought back after a slow start.

“One of the big highlights was our ability to fight back when we went behind. It showed a great deal of resilience and fight. Fraser Cameron — in first game as captain — led the way around the ground both ways. He was really solid. Ryan O’Meara behind the ball was also really good. Nick Leontariitis hit the scoreboard on debut, and he got into good positions.”

Old Geelong made a very impressive start to 2026 as it pulled off a strong 17-point win on the road against Old Camberwell.

The contest was an arm-wrestle for much of the afternoon, particularly early, with just one goal scored in the first term and with neither side holding a lead in excess of 11 points at any stage in the first three quarters. 

With scores level at three-quarter time, it took until time-on in the final term for the game to finally break open, with two Old Geelong goals kicked just 75 seconds apart eventually proving the difference between the two sides.

Tom Gorrell and Connor Dixon led the way in front of goal for the OG’s, kicking three goals each, but it was the two Matthew’s — Harvey and Bird — that were the dominant forces all day, collecting 41 and 37 disposals respectively, with Harvey also recording 11 clearances and a goal.

James Allen was an imposing figure in the clinches all day, recording 20 contested possessions from his 27 disposals overall, while Josh Holding kicked two goals to go with his 24 disposals.

Both sides face trips on the road this week, with Old Geelong travelling to face Beaumaris, while Old Camberwell will be pitted against De La Salle.

Neil Connell, Old Camberwell Coach:

“It’s always a challenge in Round 1 because you don’t have much info on the opposition, and they’ve recruited a lot of new players. We started really well, but couldn’t kick a goal. We had our opportunities to get off to a real flyer, but our goalkicking was wayward, and they took their chances.

“We also lost a couple of players to injury, but I was very proud of the way the boys fought it out. The guys just really hung in there. All of them at some point had an impact.”

Nick Dixon, Old Geelong Coach:

“Both sides looked a bit scratchy — you could tell it was Round 1 for both sides. I think there’s a lot of improvement in us, but it was positive to get the result.

“They did well to take some of our strengths away from us. When we got it out of the middle, we moved the ball pretty well. Our midfield and forwards stood up in key moments. Matt Harvey did a power of work all day. Tom Gorrell and Connor Dixon were good up forward for us, too.

“It’s going to take time to build continuity playing in our system, but we’re really lucky to have played nine debutants and have a few boys returning to the club. A lot of those boys haven’t played together before. It showed, but there were still a lot of great signs.”

Rounding out the opening weekend of the season was a score fest at Fearon Reserve, albeit an inaccurate one, as Williamstown CYMS kick-started the year with a 50-point win over Old Carey in a match that featured a staggering 66 scores.

With a combined score of 20.46 kicked across the course of the game, it was Williamstown that ultimately made the most of their opportunities, eventually going to claim a 14.24.108 to 6.22.58 victory.

Despite the profligacy in front of goal, it was a day where both attacks were on top, with the 66 scores being recorded from just 109 inside-50s combined. Harrison Miller made a strong case for best-on-ground honours, booting 4.7 to go with his 22 disposals, while Will Smyth chipped in with three majors. Kesh Raju led the way for the CYs with 33 touches and a goal.

But the real big numbers were produced in the Panthers’ engine room. Luke Kelvie led the way with a stunning 45-disposal performance, while Sam Nehme racked up 35 touches of his own. Darcy Munro kicked 3.2 up forward for the visitors. 

Con Terzoglou, Williamstown CYMS Coach:

“It’s Round 1, so let’s just say we’re happy! From a pure football perspective, I was happy with a few areas. We got on the scoreboard early. Carey did well in the second term to come back at us, and we did well to hold them off. They managed 20 i50s for just six scores (in the second quarter), so we were probably fortunate to have not conceded more than what we actually did. There was definitely a scoring end, so it was tricky. It was a little bit challenging for both sides.”

Luke Giles, Old Carey Coach:

“We were beaten in all aspects of the game. We never looked like winning it. We finished the day with an understanding that there is a clear gap between the two sides.

“Main areas where we let ourselves down was our back-half to front-half connection, so we need to find a way to fix that really quickly. Part of its execution, but part of is our running patterns in front of the ball and what our forwards are doing when we’re looking to build with our ball movement in our back half.

“It’s certainly not all doom and gloom, but it’s a reality check round one, so we’ve got a lot of work to do.”