William Buck Premier Men’s – Round 11 Preview

With the finals and relegation races still wide open, some fascinating games headline Round 11 of William Buck Premier Men’s, as teams at both ends of the ladder look to improve their position before the bye.

Here’s a closer look:

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UNIVERSITY BLACKS vs OLD BRIGHTON (Saturday 2pm – Melbourne Uni; Kommunity TV)

The last encounter between these teams saw the Blacks break Old Brighton’s remarkable 20-game winning streak at Brighton Beach Oval in Round 4.

It was a timely reminder that, on their day, the Blacks can trouble anyone, anywhere.

However, consistency has been their biggest challenge in 2026, especially on the defensive end. They sit at 3-7, with all 3 of their wins coming when they restrict their opposition to 11 goals or less. That’s the magic number, considering they’ve kicked 10-12 goals themselves in their last 7 starts.

The ‘Tullamarine Flu’ hits most VAFA clubs hard at this time of the season, as players go overseas for some northern hemisphere rest and relaxation, especially in a World Cup year. It tends to hit Old Brighton more than most, and they will enter this weekend without 15 of their top 30 players.

Coach Marcel Bruin doesn’t use it as an excuse. He readily accepts that it’s a reality for most clubs and that his team just has to hang in and work their way through this challenging period, as they do most years.

But the other reality is that the Tonners have dropped 3 of their last 4 without many of those first-choice players, and they remain vulnerable until they return after the bye.

So, can the Blacks pounce on this opportunity to kick a game clear of the drop zone?

The numbers above suggest they have two options: boost their scoring to relieve pressure on their defence, and/or find a way to restrict Old Brighton to fewer than 12 goals.

They held them to 11 goals in their 2-point win earlier in the season, and to 9 when they defeated them at Melbourne Uni in Round 9 last year. But when the Tonners got off the chain in Round 1 last season, they kicked 20 goals and demolished the Blacks by 96 points.

Old Brighton is ranked #4 in Attack this season, averaging just under 14 goals per game. But in the past month, the goals have dried up – 9 goals vs Xavs (loss), 10 goals vs Blues (loss), 12 goals vs SKOB (win), 9 goals vs Caulfield (loss).

Archi Manton and Joey Campigli could be the key. If they play, the Tonners’ attack instantly looks much more dangerous. Both are genuine match-winners – Archi has 16 goals from just 3 games, and Joey has 7 from his 2 starts. The attention they draw makes others around them immediately more threatening.

Despite losing 4 of their last 5, the Blacks are playing some decent footy, and all four of those losses are against the top teams in the competition (Caulfield, SKOB, Xavs, and Blues). They pushed Xavs, then beat Scotch, and just fell short of the Blues in last week’s Derby.

However, honourable losses ultimately get you nowhere in the race to play finals or avoiding relegation, so the time is now for the Blacks to start becoming upwardly mobile, particularly given they face Caulfield, SKOB, and Xavs again in the run home.

There’s no better time to take on the Tonners than during the depths of Tulla Flu season. But Marcel’s men will be just as eager to secure the 4 points on offer and keep—or extend—their one-game buffer inside the Top 4 heading into the bye.

It’s a huge game, and you can watch it LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Kommunity TV from 1.55pm Saturday!

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OLD SCOTCH vs OLD HAILEYBURY (Saturday 2pm – Camberwell; VAFA.com.au)

Another match that will directly impact the relegation race pits the other two 3-7 teams head-to-head at Camberwell, as the Cardinals host the Bloods in the quintessential (yet mathematically inaccurate) ‘8 point game.’

After losing 6 of their first 7, the Cardinals will enter with the superior recent form line, having won 2 of their last 3 to once again threaten a late-season charge into September.

They have missed so many of their VFL-listed players throughout the season, but at this time of the year, they see the playing field levelled a little as other clubs lose front-line players to sunnier pastures abroad.

Last week, we spoke of their need to win more contested ball. Their intercept and uncontested marking capabilities are elite, so the missing piece is to win more 50-50 contests, given they’ve ranked last in Ground Ball Gets throughout the season.

The Snowdogs edged them slightly around the contest last week, but they used those other strengths to find a way to come from behind and snatch the 4 points in a must-win game. Now they face that same challenge again this week, against the team that has won more Hard Gets than anyone this season.

On paper, these two teams look evenly matched:

• DISPOSALS:                                   OS #10 vs OH #9
• DISPOSAL EFFICIENCY:            OS #9 vs OH #10
• CONTESTED POSSESSIONS:     OS #8 vs OH #7
• CLEARANCES:                              OS #8 vs OH #7
• LOOSE GETS:                                OS #10 vs OH #9

But there are also some glaring differences:

• TACKLES:                                       OS #9 vs OH #3
• HARD GETS:                                   OS #9 vs OH #2
• REBOUND EXIT SUCCESS:         OS 9 vs OH #5
• CONTESTED MARKS:                  OS #6 vs OH #10
• INTERCEPT MARKS:                    OS #1 vs OH #9
• UNCONTESTED MARKS:             OS #2 vs OH #8

KEY NUMBERS to consider:

• These are the two lowest-ranking possession teams in the comp, with the lowest disposal efficiency. So, it’s going to be about QUALITY MORE THAN QUANTITY. Which team seizes their opportunities when it matters most?

• HARD GETS (when there’s a 50-50 ground ball to be won) typically favour the Bloods. Can they pounce on those & bust out of the congestion to get things moving their way?

• The Cards should CONTROL THE AIR with CONTESTED, UNCONTESTED & INTERCEPT MARKS.

So, this may become a GROUND vs AIR BATTLE. The Bloods may have the edge on the deck, while the Cards control the skies. Who exploits their advantage better while negating their opponent’s strength?

We know that if the Cardinals are allowed to intercept and spread from half-back, their uncontested possession chains can be devastating, so Guy Martyn’s troops will need to be careful with their ball use heading forward, to avoid getting cracked open on the counter.

It promises to be a fascinating tactical battle, with huge repercussions in the race to avoid relegation and keep in touch with the Top 4.

Enjoy this clash LIVE & FREE on VAFA TV from 1.55pm Saturday!

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CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS vs OLD XAVERIANS (Sat 2pm – Glen Huntly Park; KTV & VAFA TV)

Seven weeks ago, this was a David versus Goliath clash, with Caulfield stone motherless last and Xavs equal top and rocketing towards premiership favouritism. They duly destroyed the Fields by 99 points in Toorak Park.

And while the Red & Black are still very much the team to beat in 2026, it’s the rapid rise of the Fields that has suddenly transformed this return clash into must-see TV.

Having lost 4 of their first 5 games, Paul Satterley’s young team has turned their campaign on its head with 4 wins from their last 5 starts (which would have been 5 straight, but for a 1-point loss to the Bloods on the very last kick of the day).

Now they get to test themselves against the competition benchmark once again.

Old Xaverians have won 8 straight and display no obvious weaknesses in any area of the ground. So, how do the Fields attack this challenge?

The only team to defeat Xavs this season was Old Trinity in Round 2, when they dominated Clearances and Loose Gets, muscling up on the inside, then also pouncing on spillages out into space. The T’s were particularly dominant out of the middle, winning 15 Centre Clearances to 6. But they only twice from those for 1.1.

The real damage was done via capitalising on Xavs’ turnovers. They kicked 11 of their 13 goals from pressuring Xavs’ into turnovers and then punishing them the other way.

The T’s weren’t too cute that day either. Their Kick Efficiency was just 55%, so it more about surging the ball forward than trying to lace out teammates when under pressure or cramped for room. ‘Just get it forward’ was the mantra and the T’s ended up with 68 Inside 50s to 37 as a result. The sheer weight of supply ultimately won them the game.

As all good teams do, Xavs went to school on that loss, and no-one has been able to replicate that success against them since.

Xavs sit 4^th for Clearances, while Caulfield are 9^th, so those numbers suggest that the league-leaders will be getting plenty of first possession.

The Fields must find a way to turn that into rushed dump kicks out of congestion rather than lace-out passes to a deadly Xavs attack featuring the likes of Charlie Macisaac (41 goals), Wade Brusnahan (17), Ed Delany (14) and Jack O’Sullivan (11).

If they can muddy up Xavs’ delivery out of stoppage generally, but particularly when heading inside 50, their defenders are a better chance of getting a fist in or intercepting it themselves.

Xavs sit second for Inside 50s (averaging 52), however Caulfield sit third (on 51). So, getting the ball forward hasn’t been a problem for the Fields. The numbers suggest they should be able to generate supply. Their challenge then becomes cracking the #1 Defence in the competition, with Xavs conceding an average of just 9 goals per game.

The Fields are #5 in Attack, averaging 11 goals per game. They don’t have a Charlie Macisaac type focal point to build around, so they’ve largely scored by committee most weeks, with Jackson Wallace (14 goals), Eddie Gibb (10), Tom Williams (9), Jack Ellwood (8), Will Vesely & Archie Loughnan (7) all doing their bit.

The key will be taking their chances. The Fields are LAST for Goal Accuracy this season and have kicked more behinds than goals in 5 of their 10 matches. It cost them victory against Old Haileybury a fortnight ago, when they finished with 9 more scoring shots but lost the game.

The young Fields fear no one. Last week, they walked into Fortress Brighton and left with the points for the first time in 15 years. Now they must lean on that same bravery, grit and resilience to hang in against the best side in the league.

It promises to be a revealing clash! Catch it LIVE on VAFA.com.au from 1.55pm Saturday, and as Part 2 of our KOMMUNITY TV DOUBLE-HEADER, which also features the Fields-Xavs Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Match of the Round from 11.35am!

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ST BERNARD’S vs ST KEVIN’S (Saturday 2pm – Snake Pit; SEN app & VAFA.com.au)

If it’s strike power you want, then St Kevin’s is the team for you right now.

SKOB have topped the ton in 4 of their last 5 starts, and in their past 5 wins have generated a whopping 28, 32, 29, 42 and 47 scoring shots off the back of an avalanche of forward supply to a potent attack stacked with match-winners such as Sam Tucker (28 goals), Jacob Koschitzke & Doug Kerr (19), and Jack Behnk (17 from 5 games).

Koschitzke is the one to watch. The former AFL Hawk and Tiger booted 8 goals against the T’s last week, including 5 in the final quarter as SKOB ran riot. He has worked into his season, learnt the system, got familiar with his teammates and the competition, and is starting to show his elite talent that could light Premier Men’s up in the run to September.

And alongside fellow match-winners such as Tucker and Behnk, you can’t afford to double or triple-team any of them. So, if the supply is plentiful and of good quality, best of luck stopping them from kicking a winning score.

This needs to be the focus for the Snowdogs – choke up supply further up the ground and always ensure pressure on the SKOB ballcarriers. Just as we suggested for Caulfield, St Bernard’s need to minimise the quality delivery inside 50 to give their defenders a chance to compete.

St Kevin’s are #2 for Disposal, but the Snowdogs like to control the footy as well – they’re currently #3.

However, the effectiveness of their respective ball movement systems is starkly reflected by the Inside 50 count and Scores attached to those disposal numbers: – SKOB turn their #2 Disposal into the MOST Inside 50s and MOST Points Scored in the comp, while the Dogs are #3 Disposal, but #9 Inside 50s and LAST for Points Scored.

No team finds a teammate when delivering the ball Inside 50 more than SKOB. St Bernard’s are #8 in that same category.

The bottom line is that when SKOB have the footy, they get it forward and punish you, while the next step for Steve Alessio’s team is to find ways to get better rewards for their efforts in possessing the ball around the ground.

If they can get it in to the likes of Matthew Watson (20 goals), Luke Di Lizio (10 goals), Lachie Papley & Dan Gilham (9 apiece), they can kick winning scores, but they just need more opportunities to do so.

But that won’t come easy this week.

SKOB are #1 Clearances and will be keen to assert an inside dominance, so the Dogs need to turn this game into a dogfight (don’t pardon the pun) as they do so often at the Snake Pit. Get down and dirty, make it a scrap where every ball needs to be fought for tooth and nail. No easy clean takeaways for SKOB to go from inside to outside.

These two teams take the fewest marks in the comp, so we could expect the game to be reasonably contested and in constant motion rather than the kick-mark style other sides play.

The Dogs have gun ball-winners of their own, with Dylan Gwynne, Mitch Hughes, Harry Schumann, Ben Overman and Luke Said all seeing plenty of the Sherrin this season. Can they exact more punishment from their possessions by carving through SKOB’s defensive zone with incisive disposals that move the ball quickly into dangerous positions, where the Dogs’ forwards can get one-on-one contests?

Can they then set up behind the footy and frustrate SKOB’s ball movement the other way? Turn stoppages into scraps, and prevent creators such as Xavier Duke, Andrew Mathieson and Billy Coates from providing their forwards with quality supply?

No visiting team enjoys the trip to the Snake Pit. The last time SKOB visited, albeit without 13 regulars, the Dogs rolled over the top of them in the second half of the final round last season. It ensured St Bernards’ survival in Premier Men’s, and, who knows, if they can find a way again this weekend, it might go a long way towards ensuring their survival in 2026 as well.

Tune in to our award-winning SEN Match of the Day coverage from 1.45pm Saturday, and if you’re heading to the game, take your headphones and enjoy our call of the game LIVE & WITHOUT DELAY via SEN Stadium on the SEN app!

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OLD TRINITY vs UNIVERSITY BLUES (Saturday 2pm – Daley Oval)

The final game of the round will see two teams with very different form lines clash at Bulleen.

The Blues are flying, riding a 5-game winning streak that sees them sitting outright second, a game clear of SKOB & the Tonners. Ranked 3^rd in Attack and 2^nd in Defence, they are well settled at both ends, with a midfield group providing plenty of assistance in both directions.

Their five straight victories have been a healthy combination of tight games that they’ve had to grind out (1pt win over the Bloods, 19pts over Old Brighton and 14pts over the Blacks last week), and more comfortable wins that have boosted their percentage (65pts over Old Scotch and 43pts over St Bernard’s).

We understandably focus on their attacking set-up, given James Stewart (43 goals), Sam Grimley (28), Ben Townson (16), James Curran (11) and Charlie Cotter (10) are all enjoying productive seasons, and are well capable of getting the Blues out of a jam or cracking a game open with quick goals.

But credit also goes to their defensive unit, which has only conceded 100pts twice this season (100pts in their Round 6 loss to Xavs, then 102pts in their 1pt win over the Bloods). In the month since, they’ve locked down hard, conceding just 31 goals in 4 games.

Tellingly, they’ve conceded a total of just 1 goal in their last 4 opening quarters, holding the Cards, Dogs and Blacks goalless in the first quarter to establish handy early leads.

This is particularly significant this week, given Old Trinity enters low on confidence and form after five straight losses by an average margin of 59 points, including a 115-point defeat at the hands of SKOB last week.

The T’s have been slow starters in recent times, booting just 5 first-quarter goals in their last 4 matches, including a scoreless opening term against the Fields.

So, if they can get out of the blocks and strike a few early blows (or at least limit the Blues in the other direction), they can regain some confidence and settle themselves into the contest.

And the contest will be key. The T’s are last in the comp for Contested Possessions and Clearances, but do win their fair share of ball around the edges, ranked #3 for Ground Balls and Loose Gets (undisputed ground balls).

So, if they can apply sufficient pressure on the Blues on the inside, they can force the ball to spill clear rather than the Blues whipping it away and spreading from the congestion cleanly. And given the Blues rank #9 for hitting a target when exiting clearances, this is entirely possible.

Then it’s up to the T’s to pounce on that loose ball and get it moving their way. They generally use the ball very well (#2 Disposal Efficiency and #1 Hitting Targets when Exiting D50), and they’ll be keen to avoid kicking to contests, given the Blues should have the aerial edge (#2 for Contested Marks).

Will the T’s look to play the ‘keepings off’ brand they’ve utilised at times this season? Win the ball, then share it around via uncontested marks, rather than put it back into contest? If so, they need to keep taking territory to create scoring opportunities of their own. Otherwise, they’re just delaying the inevitable in the other direction.

The Blues play an efficient style that focuses on territory more than possession, as evidenced by them being #8 for Disposal but #4 Inside 50. They have the strike power up forward and understandably look to get it in there to them as quickly as possible.

It’s backs-to-the-wall time for Old Trinity. The season has ‘gotten big’ on them in a hurry, and if they can dig in here and pull off one of the upsets of the season, it would instantly change their trajectory and make the upcoming bye a lot whole more enjoyable and refreshing.

Find out Saturday from 2pm at Daley Oval.

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WILLIAM BUCK PREMIER MEN’S – ROUND 11

SATURDAY JULY 4 – 2pm:

St Bernard’s                    vs             St Kevin’s            SEN – 1.45pm

Caulfield Grammarians   vs             Old Xaverians     VAFA TV & KTV – 1.50pm

University Blacks            vs             Old Brighton        KTV – 1.55pm

Old Scotch                       vs             Old Haileybury    VAFA TV – 1.55pm

Old Trinity                       vs             University Blues