Clutch De La Salle as Beaumaris Edge Closer to Top Four

Round 11 of Premier B Men’s had some intense finishes and top goal scorers go big, as the race for the elusive top four heats up.

Beaumaris 11.20 (86) def Williamstown CYMS 12.9 (81)

Beaumaris secured consecutive victories for the first time since the opening fortnight of the season, holding off Williamstown CYMS by five points at Hurlingham Park.

In a see-sawing affair that saw the lead change seven times across the afternoon, James Pepper gave Beaumaris the lead at the 20-minute mark in the final term, with the Sharks holding on to win by five points.

Beaumaris have now improved their record to 5-6 and sit in fifth place, just one win outside the top four, while the CYs remain in last place, but are only a game away from climbing out of the relegation zone.

Sharks coach Josh Bourke praised his side’s ability to get the game on their terms after a slow start.

“They got out of the gates early… It was four goals to one very quickly,” Bourke said.

“Credit to CYs. They were really impressive. They really tested us with some things that they did. If we made mistakes they made us pay.

“We managed to clean things up a bit around the contest and probably had a fair bit of control through the second and third quarters.

“We were just pleased to grind the result and get the win.”

CYs coach Con Terzoglou said there were positives to take away from the game despite falling short on the day.

“It was a great game of football,” Terzoglou said. “It was a fast-moving and hotly-contested game, which was great.

“We moved the ball a lot better this week. We were able to build on that with some good stoppage work.

“But it’s a little bit heartbreaking to fall short when you’re desperate for a win.”

De La Salle 14.12 (96) def Old Carey 12.8 (80)

De La Salle held off a strong challenge from Old Careyto win by 16 points at Waverley Oval and remain entrenched inside the top four.

Despite trailing by 17 points at three-quarter time, the Panthers kicked three goals within the opening five minutes of the final term to close the margin to just five points.

But De La steadied thereafter, kicking clear to eventually produce a strong victory.

Luke Healy was the standout performer on the day for De La, kicking seven goals, while Max Thompson recorded 29 disposals, ten marks and two goals for the Panthers.

Neither team moved on the ladder over the weekend, with De La maintaining the third spot as Old Carey sit in eighth place once again.

Despite the defeat, Panthers coach Luke Giles said that there were still positives to take away from the game.

“I thought we did an outstanding job to hang in the game and put ourselves back in a winning position,” Giles said.

“It was probably won and lost with our ball use and execution, we coughed it up at bad times and they were a little bit cleaner and better all day.

“De La deserved to win, but we certainly went out and gave a good account of ourselves.”

The Panthers will look to return to winning ways after the bye when they host Williamstown CYMS, while De La Salle will travel to face Old Camberwell.

AJAX 14.8 (92) def Old Ivanhoe 8.12 (60)

AJAX maintained their hold on second place in the Premier B Men’s ladder with a comfortable 32-point victory over Old Ivanhoe.

The Jackers kicked five of the first six goals of the game and maintained the Hoers at arm’s length all afternoon.

Jack Hart booted four goals for the hosts, while Ronan McKenzie was tremendous for the Hoers, finishing with 34 disposals and 15 clearances.

The win leaves AJAX still one game clear of De La and Old Camberwell in second place, while Old Ivanhoe remain in the relegation zone, half a game behind Old Carey.

Jackers coach Lachie Buszard expressed tremendous admiration for what his players have achieved so far in 2026.

“I am really proud of the group and where we are at,” Buszard said.

“Coming up a grade is never easy and there is still a long way to go, but our ability to keep showing up over the last few weeks has been brilliant.

“It was good to win two games in a row. Our leaders have been brilliant.”

AJAX will host Old Melburnians when they return from the bye, while Old Ivanhoe will face a visit from ladder leaders Collegians as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.

Old Melburnians 7.7 (49) def by Old Camberwell 12.16 (88)

Old Camberwell continued their climb up the ladder with a comfortable 39-point victory over Old Melburnians.

After an even opening term, the Wellers took control of the game after quarter time, kicking nine of the last 13 goals.

Sam Veitch dominated for the Wellers with 35 disposals, 14 tackles and nine clearances, while Will Dethridge and Nicky Christian combined for 76 disposals for the OMs.

The Wellers improve their record to 5-6 and sit outside the top four by percentage only, while the OMs fall to seventh place on the ladder.

Old Camberwell coach Neil Connell said that although his side missed a number of opportunities to kick a bigger score, they did a lot right through the midfield.

“We just used the ball better and gave ourselves more opportunities,” Connell said.

“We had a real focus to pressure the opposition around the contest. Our defence has been really strong all year.

“The way we got it forward and moved the ball through the midfield and connected with the forwards, working in sync together, was good to see.”

Old Melburnian coach James Byrne said his team were outplayed as the afternoon progressed.

“I thought we started the game really well,” Byrne said. “We worked really well around the ball won our fair share of contested footy.

“But after quarter time we just torched the ball in bad spots. We wasted the ball going inside forward 50 and we really got done in transition.

Collegians 17.8 (110) def Old Geelong 7.5 (47)

Collegians made it 11 wins on the bounce to start 2026, accounting for Old Geelong by 63 points at Harry Trott Oval.

After Old Geelong booted the first goal of the day, the Lions subsequently kicked 10 of the next 11 goals.

The Lions had strong contributors across the board, with Sam Parsons kicking three goals, while Jim Bazzani and Will Johnson collected 35 and 33 disposals, respectively.

Premier B’s leading goalscorer Tom Gorrell managed another two majors for the OGs, while Archie Lazzaro led the way with 31 disposals.

The result means Collegians maintain a four-game gap at the top of the ladder, while Old Geelong fall to seventh place, sitting one game clear of the relegation zone.

Lions coach Jordie McKenzie said he was pleased with how his players dealt with the challenge of an in-form opposition.

“Old Geelong came out with good intensity,” McKenzie said. “(But) we were very much up for the battle, and played a great brand of physical and pressurised football.

“We had a significant lapse in the third quarter which was disappointing, but were able to return to our brand of footy in the last term.”

OGs coach Nick Dixon said his players showed promising signs at times despite the heavy defeat.

“I thought there were efforts where we matched them in the contest,” Dixon said. “It felt like a finals-type intensity.

“We made them work hard for their goals, but just probably couldn’t match their intensity for four quarters.

“I thought it was game on at three-quarter time, but the last quarter was really disappointing.”