De La secure double chance & the Wellers find form – Premier B Men’s Round 17 Review

AJAX 8.7 (55) def by De La Salle 13.13 (91)

De La Salle have all but secured the double-chance in this year’s Premier B Men’s Finals Series with an impressive 36-point win away to AJAX on Saturday.

Holding a lead of just three points early into the final term, De La booted the last five goals of the game to eventually pull away from the hosts.

The win moves De La into outright second spot by a game and percentage ahead of the chasing pack, all but securing the double chance and a place in the Second Semi Final alongside Collegians.

Despite falling to sixth place on the ladder, the Jackers are still in the finals race, but they will need to defeat Collegians this weekend and hope other results go their way.

De La coach Nick Hyland said that he was pleased with his side’s ability to overcome the challenge posed by AJAX.

“We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to qualify for finals,” Hyland said.

“We didn’t have the game on our terms early. They controlled the first term and di exactly what we thought they would do.

“But we’re really pleased with the way we handled the momentum, fought back and how we were able to pull away.”

Jackers coach Lachie Buszard said the opposition were better over the course of the day.

“De La were just too good when it counted,” Buszard said.

“We were outplayed, outrun, outhunted and out-skilled when it mattered. Well done to Nick and his team.

“On a positive note, we know what we need to do to get better and have learnt a lot about ourselves and the competition.”

Old Geelong 10.14 (74) def by 13.10 (88)

Old Camberwell moved one step closer to finals qualification at the weekend, ending Old Geelong’s season with a hard-fought 14-point win at Como Park.

Leading by just three points heading into time-on in the final term, the visitors held their nerve, kicking the last two goals of the game.

The win keeps the Wellers inside the top four heading into the last round, and they can guarantee themselves a place in September if they manage a result against Beaumaris, while the loss mathematically rules the OGs out of the running.

Liam Thomas maintained his strong form in front of goal with another three goals, taking his tally to 47 for the campaign.

Wellers coach Neil Connell said it was a win his side were made to work for.

“We had to work hard for the result,” Connell said. “Old Geelong had plenty of possession and were able to generate inside-50s.

“But our ability to win the contest, particularly around the stoppage, gave us the platform to control the game and ultimately get the result.

OGs coach Nick Dixon said the result reflected how his side has performed all year.

“It was a tale of our season,” Dixon said.

“Credit to Old Camberwell. They were more consistent with their contest and how they spread the ground, and they made us pay when we had our lapses.

“We still had some good moments, but we weren’t able to do it for long enough.”

Beaumaris 11.19 (85) def Old Carey 11.11 (77)

Beaumaris kept their finals hopes well and truly alive on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat Old Carey by eight points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

Having kicked just five goals to three-quarter time, the Sharks piled on six majors in the final term to come away with the win.

The win moves Beaumaris up to fifth on the ladder and leaves their destiny in their own hands; they will play finals if they defeat Old Camberwell this weekend.

The loss for the Panthers rules them out of the running for finals, as they now sit two games behind with one to play.

Sharks coach Josh Bourke said it was the team’s defensive efforts that paved the way to securing the win.

“We defended really well the whole game,” Bourke said. “We pressured them really well, but they kept taking their opportunities.

“It was a case at three-quarter-time where the messaging was just stay the course. We were creating a lot of opportunities and knew it would turn for us.

“We did a very good job at making it hard for ourselves, but we’re really pleased to come away with the win.”

Panthers coach Luke Giles said his side were second-best and only Beaumaris’ inaccuracy kept them in the game.

“We were probably well-beaten,” Giles said. “They just couldn’t convert and kept us in it.

“Things started to swing our way a bit in the third quarter, but we just weren’t good enough.

“It probably felt more like a three or four goal loss, particularly when you let a side have that many scores.”

Williamstown CYMS 13.11 (89) def Old Ivanhoe 12.14 (86)

A goal on the siren from Nathan Malkourn has given Williamstown CYMS a thrilling three-point win over Old Ivanhoe.

After marking the ball on the wing with only seconds remaining, the umpire awarded a 50-metre penalty to Malkourn with several Hoers defenders still in the protected zone.

Malkourn converted from close range as the siren sounded, handing the CYs the victory.

Despite the win, Williamstown’s relegation to Premier C remains all but confirmed for 2027, while Old Ivanhoe are now guaranteed to finish the season in last place.

CYs coach Con Terzoglou said both teams held sway at various times across the afternoon.

“It was a very open game of football,” Terzoglou said. “Both sides were looking to attack and score. We were definitely trying to get more speed on the ball.

“It was ebbing and flowing. There were times when we got on top and built a tempo. But then they’d get on top and bring it back.

“It was a great feeling at the time to get the win, particularly as it was our last game at home for the year.”

Hoers coach Xavier Naish said it was a difficult defeat to take under the circumstances.

“It was heartbreaking to be honest,” Naish said. “To go down with the last kick of the game, (but) credit to them.

“I thought it was a really good game. It was a testament to both teams who really cracked in both defensively and offensively.

“We did a lot right and had ourselves in a winnable position, so to go down by a kick pretty much on the siren is devastating.”

Old Melburnians 4.7 (31) def Collegians 20.13 (133)

Collegians moved to within one game of completing a perfect home-and-away season after a massive 102-point win over Old Melburnians on Saturday.

The Lions, as they’ve done for most of the season, started the game strongly, kicking seven goals to one in the opening term.

Collegians have the opportunity to complete an unbeaten home-and-away campaign if they can defeat AJAX at home this weekend.

Meanwhile, despite the heavy loss, the OMs destiny remains in their own hands, and they will play finals if they can secure a result against Williamstown CYMS this weekend.

Old Melburnian coach James Byrne praised his opponents, but noted that there were still positives to take away from the match despite the final score.

“Collegians are very well-drilled and disciplined,” Byrne said.

“They executed very well, and they back their defenders to win the contest, which allows them to make quick decisions.

“The positive that we can take away from it is that we’ve got a young group that got to see what a high-standard team looks like.

“There’s an education tool that comes from it.”