ANZAC Day football takes centre stage in Round 2 of Premier C Men’s

ANZAC Day Football took centre stage in Round 2 of the Premier C Men’s competition, with Fitzroy, Hampton, and Mazenod continuing their unbeaten run. Let’s dive into the results from one of the most special rounds on the VAFA calendar.

Hampton Rovers 22.14.146 def Ormond 14.7.91

After a long hiatus without a win, Hampton have started 2026 with consecutive victories, winning comprehensively over Ormond by 55 points.

Paul Carrigan’s side made five changes from its Round 1 team, with three injuries and two unavailabilities prompting club debuts to Toby Clarkson and Tom Kyte. Hampton utilised a three-goal breeze in the first quarter, as its midfield got to work winning the ball frequently in the clinches to feed William Crawford up forward.

By quarter-time, Hampton had registered 13 scoring shots to Ormond’s three, leading at the first break by 40 points. In a complete change of momentum, Ormond rattled on four goals heading into half-time courtesy of Trae Thermos, Jackson Hille, Harrison Ross, and James Werbik. Hampton’s quarter-time margin of 40 points dissipated quickly, leaving the home-side with an eight-point margin at half-time.

Carrigan challenged his team to kick four goals against the breeze in the third term and did they do just that. It was an avalanche after half-time, as Hampton picked up where they left off booting 10 goals to Ormond’s one to extend the margin to 59-points at three-quarter time. It was truly an exhibition of goal-kicking by Crawford, who ended up with a handful.

Despite being outscored by Ormond in the final term, the damage had been done with the Rovers running away winners by 55-points at Boss James Reserve.

Zachary Ziesing won the Russell Barnes Medal for best on ground, an award that honours a legend of both teams.

Undefeated Hampton will take on Fitzroy at Boss James, while Ormond will travel to Packer Park to play Glen Eira/Old McKinnon.

Fitzroy 12.8.80 def Parkdale Vultures 6.8.44

Fitzroy led all day to march to a six-goal victory over Parkdale to kick-off ANZAC Round at W.T. Peterson Oval.

The win was set up off the back of a strong-defensive performance, with Will Hodgman shutting down ex-League footballer Mitch Brown to a solitary major. Fitzroy’s transition game was on show across all four quarters, exhibited by Alistair McQuire, who provided some dashing runs and polished ball-use.

Undefeated coach Jack Dalton praised his side’s composure after forcing four changes from Round 1.

“We brought in four boys who hadn’t played senior football before. It was pretty special seeing them playing their role well,” Dalton said.

Parkdale struggled to get any momentum as a result of Fitzroy’s persistent pressure on the ball carrier going inside 50. Vulture’s forward Liam Marshall was able to hit the scoreboard twice, however, lacked support from his forward-line when the game was on the line. A four-goal to two last quarter from the Vulture’s made the scoreboard look a bit more respectable by the final siren.

Vulture’s coach Owen Lalor conceded that Fitzroy defended well and stopped their brand of football.

“We were strong for a 10–15-minute period in the game, but they kept responding,” Lalor said.

Charles Roberts, Josh Winkler, Noah Wright and Jack Hart all put tireless shifts in the first half to essentially put the game to bed at half-time.

Despite the loss, the Vultures still sit in fourth position and will look to rebound when they host Old Peninsula next week. Meanwhile, Fitzroy sitting pretty in first position will take on Hampton Rovers in a mouth-watering fixture.

Marcellin OC 15.12.102 def Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 11.7.73

Marcellin are on the board in season 2026, with a convincing 29-point win over Glen-Eira/Old McKinnon thanks to clinical three-goal hauls from Caleb Barry, and vice-captain Lachlan Rush.

It was a hot start by Marcellin’s Josh Daniel who found space from his direct opponent to open his account in the second-minute mark of the first quarter. This opened the floodgates for Marcellin who motored toward a five-goal first term.

The second term was much the same with Marcellin not holding back to have another productive five goal quarter, while holding the Gryphons goal-less to lead by a game-high 48-point margin.

A half-time bake by coach Brett Dunne stirred his into motion after a slow first half. Ben Reid, Tim Dobson, Tom Williamson and Bobby Tang capitalized their opportunities in front of goal to cut Marcellin’s lead to single digits mid-way through the premiership quarter. However, Marcellin pulled away again as they did in the first half to ease the third term jitters.

Gryphons’ coach Brett Dunne identified a first-half issue that ultimately decided the game.

“They (Marcellin) made better decisions with the ball,” Dunne said, as his side struggled to keep up with Marcellin’s ball use and speed in the first half.

Dunne also praised the efforts of his young-ruck Lachlan Mirams.

“He was hard at it all day, for a 22-year-old developing ruckman” Dunne said. 

A much more competitive second half from the Gryphons meant Marcellin could not score as freely, leaving the final margin 29 points.

Seventh placed Marcellin will turn their attention toward St Bedes/Mentone in the away fixture. Glen Eira/Old McKinnon will play their first home match of the season against Ormond at Packer Park.

Mazenod OC 16.15.111 def Old Peninsula 11.10.76

Mazenod have recorded an emphatic 35-point victory over Old Peninsula after trailing by 11-points at quarter-time.

Old Peninsula came out of the pre-match huddle with great intent, ramming home the first two goals of the game in quick succession. Late goals to George Fletcher and William Chowder ensured last year’s Division 1 premiers led by a handy 11-point margin at the quarter time siren.  

However, Mazenod left no stone unturned in the second quarter, putting on a goal-kicking clinic with six unanswered goals to hit the front by 28-points at half time. The momentum was well and truly in favor of the visitors at the main change.

Mazenod piled on the pressure and the pain (literally), with the home side left with a heavily undermanned interchange.

“We had no bench for the second half again,” Old Peninsula coach Brendan Dunne said.

However, he praised the high-spirited attitude of his men in the second half.

“I was very proud of the ways the boys fought until the end with a little comeback into the wind.”

Shaun Lovell enjoyed his time up forward for Mazenod, booting three goals, while Harry Boxshall, Patrick Klonis and Oliver Mangoni all chipped in with two apiece. This was representative of an even spread of individual goal-kickers.

For Old Peninsula, Luca Tonner, Nelson Forrest, Hamish McLeod and Kurt Thiele held their own to help Old Peninsula double their score in an admirable defeat.

“Full credit to Maz, they played a great four quarters and have started the year well with two wins,” Dunne said.

The high-flying Mazenod take on PEGS in next week’s fixture, while Old Peninsula play Parkdale in the other Saturday afternoon fixture.

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers 7.19.61 def PEGS 6.8.44

St Bedes/Mentone have edged out PEGS in a low-scoring thriller at PEGS Playing Fields, to notch up their first victory of the season.

Only two majors were converted in the first quarter, with both side’s defensive units picking off inside 50 entries with ease.

PEGS coach Rob Kerr acknowledged a three-goal breeze which his side failed to capitalize upon in the first term.

“St Bedes restricted our scoring in the first quarter when had a three-goal breeze. We didn’t use the ball well going forward which resulted in several intercept marks,” Kerr said.

The game opened up in the second term with the Tigers getting a run-on with a four-goal to two quarter. PEGS’ Blake Roach stopped the rot briefly to cut the margin to 12-points in time-on in the second term before St Bedes struck back immediately.

St Bedes coach Joel McKee was very pleased with the way his side was able to withstand PEGS’ challenge.

“We felt we had most of the play throughout the day but just couldn’t execute in front of goal,” McKee said. 

The Tigers continued to blow chances in front of goal, to keep PEGS within striking distance at the three-quarter time siren.

Despite misfiring at goal, McKee praised his side’s ball movement which kept PEGS at bay in the final quarter.

“Besides missing easy shots, we were really pleased with how we defended and how we moved the ball,” McKee said.

A late Riley Simmons major in the final term drew the margin back to 14-points, however, time ran out for PEGS to mount a late fourth quarter comeback.

The Tigers’ victory leaves both teams with a 1-1 record at the end of Round 2. PEGS will play third placed Mazenod, while St Bedes/Mentone take on Marcellin.