Round 3 produces drama everywhere in Holmesglen U19 Premier Men’s

Round 3 of the Holmesglen U19 Premier Men’s VAFA competition delivered one of the most compelling slates of football so far this season, with multiple close finishes, momentum swings, and a pair of statement results that highlighted the importance of resilience and four-quarter performance.

The headline act of the round came in a thrilling clash between De La Salle and St Kevin’s, with De La edging home by a single point, 74–73, in a game that had everything. St Kevin’s coach Paul Greenham described his side’s first half as “the best football we have played in a very long time – faultless,” as they controlled proceedings early and looked set to put the game beyond reach. However, a missed opportunity to deliver a “killer blow” late in the third quarter proved costly, opening the door for a spirited De La Salle comeback. With the breeze in their favour in the final term, De La capitalised, showing composure under pressure to steal the result. Greenham was gracious in defeat, crediting De La for their persistence and acknowledging the “massive learnings” to come from such a narrow loss.

In another tightly contested encounter, Old Brighton held off a fast-finishing Caulfield outfit to secure a 70–64 victory. Caulfield burst out of the blocks early, kicking the first four goals of the game and setting the tone with their pressure, which coach Cooper Rule noted was “the best it’s been this season.” However, Brighton gradually worked their way back into the contest, with the game evolving into an even battle across four quarters. Despite appearing to have the game under control late, Old Brighton were forced to withstand a late surge, as Caulfield kicked two quick goals to threaten an upset. Brighton coach Travis O’Donohue admitted there was a sense of relief post-match, describing it as a “gritty win against a quality opposition,” while also acknowledging the scare his side received in the dying stages.

Parkdale produced one of the more complete performances of the round, defeating Uni Blues 88–62 in a result that underlined the value of consistency across four quarters. After showing glimpses in previous weeks, Parkdale coach Nick Anderson was pleased to see his side deliver a full-game effort, describing it as a “great team game with everyone playing their role.” Shamus Williams was a standout up forward, finishing with four goals, while Eden Honan had a significant impact through the midfield, hitting the scoreboard and driving momentum. Parkdale’s defensive unit also played a crucial role, with their tall backs intercepting effectively and launching rebound attacks.

For Uni Blues, the story was a familiar one. Coach Steve Boakes highlighted his side’s competitiveness but again pointed to inefficiency as the key issue, stating they were “poor in conversion.” He also noted struggles with accountability, particularly from kick-ins, where Parkdale were able to transition “coast to coast several times” through sharp ball movement and overlap run. Despite the loss, Boakes remains optimistic, suggesting improvement will come as the group continues to build cohesion.

Old Xavs continued their strong form with a hard-fought 64–57 win over Old Scotch in a contest that demanded sustained effort. While detailed insight from Xavier was unavailable, Old Scotch coach Hugo Boreham kept his assessment simple and direct: “Just simply need to be better for longer.” His comments reflect a broader theme across the competition, where sides are able to match it with opponents for periods but are struggling to maintain that level across the entirety of the match. Xavier’s ability to apply consistent pressure and capitalise in key moments ultimately proved the difference.

Beaumaris produced a standout comeback victory, defeating St Bedes/Mentone 65–56 in what was arguably the most impressive turnaround of the round. After being outplayed in the first half, with St Bedes controlling the contest but failing to capitalise fully on the scoreboard, Beaumaris found themselves within striking distance at the main break. Coach Nathan Prosser delivered a clear and urgent message at halftime, calling for a lift in intensity, improved defensive structure, and greater composure.

The response was emphatic. Beaumaris lifted around the contest, began to win more contested ball, and crucially managed to kick four goals into the breeze in the third quarter, shifting momentum and belief. Heading into the final term still trailing by 11 points, the side made key positional and structural adjustments that paid off under pressure. Prosser praised his group’s execution and resilience, describing the win as “a massive result” that reflected weeks of steady improvement. The comeback not only secured the four points but also set a benchmark for the standard Beaumaris aim to maintain moving forward.