Congratulations to University Blues on securing their first William Buck Premier Men’s minor premiership since 2019, while Caulfield Grammarians and Old Trinity both survived a nervous final round.
However, Old Haileybury will join St Bernard’s in Premier B next season, further intensifying an already extremely competitive second tier competition.
Let’s take look back at Round 18 of action:
It was a nervous afternoon for Old Trinity as they faced a St Bernard’s team with nothing to lose in a finals-like atmosphere at the Snake Pit.
It was all Snowdogs early as they booted the first 5 goals of the match, threatening to blow the T’s off the park before a critical late goal to Sam Barendregt gave the visitors the chance to steady and catch their breath, reducing their quarter-time deficit to 21 points.
He then added another in the opening minute of the second term to make it a 15-point game, before the Snowdogs kicked away again. Goals to Luke Di Lizio (St Bernard’s) and Charlie Comer (Old Trinity) cancelled each other out, then the Dogs booted the next three majors to power away to a 32-point lead entering time-on in the second term.
And with Old Haileybury 20 points in front at Melbourne Uni, suddenly the T’s chances of surviving in Premier Men’s were under serious threat.
But Trinity, who had dominated territory without reward, finally got some return for effort with 2 vital goals in 90 seconds late in the term, reducing their half-time deficit to a more manageable 19 points.
The evenness of general play continued into the third term, with the Snowdogs winning the footy at the source, while the T’s repeatedly intercept-marked and played their ‘keepings off’ uncontested style.
Neither team could break the other, and the result was an arm wrestle featuring just 4 goals for the term – two apiece, as Christos Manoussakis’ brilliant left-foot snap out of a stoppage at the 25-minute mark tied up the quarter and sending the T’s to the final huddle 19 points down.
With the Bloods within 2 points of the Blacks at three-quarter time, Old Trinity coach Donald McDonald addressed his players for the final time, with the only way their destiny was guaranteed to remain in their own hands was to fight with everything they had for the final 30 minutes of their season and find a way to win.
But St Bernard’s haven’t rolled over all year, and they certainly weren’t about to now. They were playing for pride and to finish their challenging season on a high note.
The first goal of the final quarter felt crucial, particularly given it took 5 minutes to arrive, when Snowdogs spearhead Matthew Watson slotted his 46th major of the season – a fine performance in a wooden-spoon side. His snap goal from 35 metres out after grabbing the ball from the ruck re-established a 25-point lead and turned up the heat on Old Trinity another notch.
How would the 2025 Premier B champions respond? Their hopes of surviving in Premier Men’s were now hanging by a thread.
The answer was swift and emphatic.
Old Trinity won the centre clearance and sent it forward, where a desperate 15 seconds of footy ensued. A quick defensive dump kick pitched in front of Ben Curtain just inside the 50-metre arc and he managed to control the half-volley with his boot, then swoop on the ball and slot the finish in a piece of individual brilliance that reduced the deficit back to 19 points.
Another turnover at Defensive 50 for the Dogs allowed Sam Phillips to pump the ball long to Dom Payman on the goal-line. His conversion made it a 12-point game with 10 minutes gone.
By now, the T’s were dominating contested ball in general play, allowing them to play the game in their own front half. Pressure mounted on the Dogs, and their disposal efficiency plummeted to just 32% by foot, exacerbating their problem.
The tension continued to build, with the next goal taking a further 12 minutes to materialise. Once again, it went Old Trinity’s way, when Luke Teal’s tidy entry kick hit Dom Payman in the left forward pocket. His steady set shot split the middle, and it was a 3-point game at the 21-minute mark.
Hugo McGlashan then put the visitors in front for the first time all afternoon after a superb front-and-centre crumb and classy finish sailed through with 24 minutes gone, sending the travelling Trinity fans into raptures.
However, the Snowdogs still had fight left in them, and when Ben Overman swooped around the back of a ball-up, collected the bouncing ball and launched a bomb from inside the centre square, the Snowdogs were back in front by a point with almost 29 minutes gone.
But there was one last twist remaining in this thriller.
Dom Payman contested a ball-up 30 metres out directly in front of the Trinity goal at the 31-minute mark, and was taken high. He went back from the resultant free kick and, just as he did to win the Round 4 clash between these teams, calmly drilled the goal to put the T’s back in front once again.
The final 80 seconds were desperate, but Old Trinity managed to hang on and secure a memorable win in Donald McDonald’s final game as coach. It was their third victory by a goal or less this season, and their fourth one-kick-or-less game in the past 7 weeks.
Sadly, for St Bernard’s, it was an all-too-familiar refrain – a gallant effort ending with no premiership points. This was the Snowdogs’ fifth loss by a goal or less in 2026. Their 1-5 record in one-kick games ultimately cost them their place in William Buck Premier Men’s in 2027; such is the evenness of this competition.
Christos Manoussakis led the T’s magnificently with 29 disposals, 7 clearances, 10 Inside 50s, 9 Score Involvements and a goal, while Dom Payman once again put the team on his back to lead them to victory with 4 critical goals. Sam Barendregt also had a major part to play in the comeback win, and Hugo McGlashan rounded out his fantastic campaign with another 27-touch performance.
Louis Davidson racked up a season-high 37 disposals, including a mind-blowing 19 in the first quarter!
Ben Overman was best afield for the Snowdogs once again, finishing with 29 disposals, 12 Rebound 50s and that wonderful long-range goal, while Luke Said (16 disposals, 7 clearances and a goal), and Charlie Vague (29 touches, 8 clearances and a goal) were also fantastic for the hosts.
Matthew Watson finished with 3 goals in what is reportedly his final game for the Dogs after giving fine service up forward, booting 81 goals in his 36 matches across the past two seasons.
So, it will be St Bernard’s returning to Premier B after finishing 4-14. They were undefeated premiers when they were last in the second tier in 2023 and will begin 2027 as a warm favourite to challenge for premiership contention once again.
Donald McDonald bids farewell to Old Trinity after a wonderful 4-year tenure that saw him pick the T’s up and dust them off after a disappointing 2022 season that saw them relegated to Premier B after going 3-19.
They posted a 6-12 record in a year of consolidation in 2023 before pushing into the finals in 2024 with a 12-5-1 record, falling just 7 points short of promotion to A-grade after a heartbreaking Preliminary Final loss to De La Salle.
The improvement kept coming in 2025, and their upward trajectory saw them go 14-4 in the home & away season, then win the Premier B flag after grinding out two hard-fought finals victories over Old Ivanhoe and Caulfield.
They started 2026 with a bang, but their depth was stretched, and they hit the wall mid-season before rallying late to survive.
The T’s will begin a fresh chapter under a new coach next season, taking the reins with their team still in A-grade and a playing group that will be much better for the experience as they set their sights on climbing the ladder in 2027.
Old Trinity 12.19 (91)
St Bernard’s 13.8 (86)
GOALS:
OT: Payman 4; Barendregt 2; Ingpen, McGlashan, Curtain, Manoussakis, Comer & Chard 1.
STB: Watson 3; Gilham 2; Vague, Di Lizio, Sauro, B.Overman, Said, Shannon, Ablett & Belci 1.
BEST:
OT: Christos Manoussakis, Dom Payman, Sam Barendregt, Hugo McGlashan, Lachie Mulcahy, Louis Davidson
STB: Ben Overman, Luke Said, Charlie Vague, Zac Overman, Luke Di Lizio, Matthew Foley
Donald McDonald (Old Trinity): “We made many positional changes pre-game because we needed to be able to have more scoring options up forward. It took a while, but we got there!
“St Bernard’s had been in great form, and they were white hot early; however, to our boys’ credit, they fought it out and, against the odds, they won!
“It was pleasing to see players in new positions taking a positive attitude into the game and the team’s ability to never give up has been a constant trait for the past three seasons.
“It’s been great to see our younger brigade in Camiel Bowler, Campbell Dytor, Charlie Comer, Charlie Wenn, and Flynn McNamara stand up when it mattered. They are the future of our club, and to be exposed to A-grade for another year will be so good for their long-term development.
“We were always going to hit a brick wall at some stage because in pre-season we just did not have enough numbers on the track to match the depth of the best Prem A teams. Our Under 19s & Seconds struggled to get numbers at times, but to our club’s credit we never forfeited and always found players willing to wear the green and gold.
“It has been such a great experience for us to play in A-grade. We treasure our place in this division and are so proud of ourselves for staying up!
“With new facilities in 2027, it is an exciting time to be playing for the T Boys!”
Steve Alessio (St Bernard’s): “A really competitive match by both sides. I was happy with the endeavour our boys showed, as has been the case for this back half of the season.
“Old Trinity were just able to stay within striking distance all day. We had a few critical role players unable to finish the game, and those little moments tipped the balance, creating a real closely fought contest in the last quarter.
“As has been the case all season, we were unable to show enough class and poise when required in games and now face the prospect of dusting ourselves off and reloading for a strong showing in B Grade next season.
“The spirit has been strong with this team, and it has actually been enjoyable and rewarding to coach this group of men.
“Congrats to Donald McDonald on his time with Old Trinity, a super guy, which is one of the many special aspects of the VAFA.”
All eyes turned next to Caulfield Grammarians, who, like Old Trinity, could guarantee their own survival if they could find a way to beat Old Brighton at Glen Huntly Park.
The game began at breakneck speed, with Hamish Dick, Ben Pryor and Ollie Goodger booting the opening 3 goals of the game in the first 3 minutes. Not to be outdone, Ollie Wilson responded for Caulfield in the fourth minute of a match setting up to be a 120-goal shootout!
Finally, some defence arrived at the ground, and it took a further 7 minutes for the next major, as Archie Loughnan’s mark and goal steadied the ship for the Fields after the Tonners’ early flurry.
The two teams continued to exchange goals in an entertaining, free-flowing opening quarter before the reigning champs booted the final three majors of the term to kick 23 points clear at the first break. The contest was even, but Caulfield’s ball use was letting them down, going at just 52% by foot, compared to 66% for the Tonners.
The Fields came up with the opening 2 goals of the second quarter to close within 12 points, before 2 goals in a minute to Archie Manton and Luke Travers saw the Tonners bolt clear once more.
Time-on continued the flow of goals, with both sides adding a couple more. All in all, it was an 18-goal opening half that kept the scorers busy, but Caulfield’s hopes of surviving in Premier Men’s were starting to look a little shaky as they trailed by 25 points at the major break.
But as we’ve said all season, the Fields’ shining quality has been their resilience. Coach Paul Satterley drummed that into them from pre-season, and he has rarely had cause to question his side’s endeavour, irrespective of the eventual win-loss column.
Any team facing Caulfield Grammarians in 2027 should expect to be in a four-quarter struggle against an enemy that will never give up.
Sure enough, they found a way to hang in after half time. They needed to get their uncontested game going, and finally managed to, somewhat lessening the damage from Brighton’s in-close superiority.
The key was the Fields’ ball use, as their Kick Efficiency shot up to 74%, allowing them to retain possession by avoiding the Tonners’ interceptors. In fact, it was Caulfield doing the intercepting, taking 8 Intercept Marks to 1 for the term, as they kicked the first 3 goals of the quarter to make it a one-kick game midway through the term.
Luke Travers and Connor Cooke each added a further goal for their respective team, and they headed to the last change with Brighton 8 points up.
The early stages of the final term saw a series of behinds added, before a major 11-point swing occurred 10 minutes in. Archi Manton’s set shot drifted right for a minor score, and the Fields capitalised with a crisp coast-to-coast play that ended with Dylan Ting crumbing the pack and waltzing into an open goal to make it a 1-point game.
Caulfield then hit the front for the first time all afternoon when VAFA Rising Star contender Ollie Wilson marked and goaled. His fifth goal gave the Fields a 4-point lead with 13 minutes gone, as the Caulfield faithful, by now aware that their place in Premier Men’s next season was secured, urged their team on to claim a big scalp to finish their season on a high.
Ben Pryor restored Old Brighton’s lead with his second of the afternoon to make it a 1-point game with 18 minutes gone, before Luke Travers gave the Tonners the buffer they were searching for when his forward pressure was rewarded with a free kick. His set shot from the left forward pocket sailed through to give the reigning premiers an 8-point advantage with 23 minutes played.
There was time for Caulfield to surge again, but they only came up with a couple of behinds, allowing Old Brighton to hang on in an entertaining 7-point struggle that sees them head into their September flag defence having won 5 of their last 6.
Ben Pryor was excellent for the Tonners, finishing with 18 disposals, 7 Inside 50s and a couple of vital goals, while Luca Macnab (21 touches, 5 tackles, 5 clearances), and Archi Manton (21 disposals, 12 marks and 2 goals) were also targeted for praise. Unsurprisingly, Harry Hill and Tom Burnell both stuffed the stats sheet, collecting 29 touches apiece – Hill with 17 contested and 10 clearances.
Fortunately for the Fields, this narrow defeat wouldn’t cost them their position in William Buck Premier Men’s next season, sparking enormous relief amongst the Caulfield faithful, who have seen their young side fight bravely through an avalanche of unavailability, and dig deep into their Under 19 Premier pool.
The enormous upside is that a number of those youngsters proved themselves well capable at the top level, and will be pressing their case to cement a regular spot in the team early in 2027.
Ollie Lowe is such an important piece of this Caulfield puzzle, and he shone once again with 31 touches and 2 goals, while Connor Cooke impressed in just his second senior game of the season, with 20 possessions, 5 clearances and 2 goals. Usual suspects Pat Fairlie, Archie Loughnan and Hamish McInerney were in the thick of things as always.
So, it’s a week off for Old Brighton to rest up and prepare for a First Semi Final showdown against St Kevin’s, while Caulfield Grammarians will head into the off-season content with having survived their first season back in Premier Men’s, and enormously confident that the foundation they’ve built this year will hold them in good stead for 2027.
Old Brighton 14.14 (98)
Caulfield Grammarians 13.13 (91)
GOALS:
OB: Travers 3; Dick, Pryor & Manton 2; Burnell, F.Flockart, F.Campigli, Agg & Goodger 1.
CG: Wilson 5; Lowe & Cooke 2; Loughnan, Ting, Gibb & Will 1.
BEST:
OB: Ben Pryor, Luca Macnab, Archi Manton, Jordan Segar, Thomas Burnell, Hamish Dick
CG: Ollie Lowe, Connor Cooke, Patrick Fairlie, Archie Loughnan, Hamish McInerney, Ollie Wilson
Marcel Bruin (Old Brighton): “It was a cracking game of ammo footy. We started really well, particularly around stoppage, and created good opportunities up forward.
“Caulfield worked into the game really well, using speed and counterattack really effectively, and it was good back-and-forth to half time.
“Caulfield did a great job through the third quarter, getting on top of contest, and were able to finish a lot of their work with quick entries. Satts’ ability to create advantage with numbers was telling.
“I was really pleased that we were able to score against the momentum in the last quarter to pull ahead and grind the game out in our favour.
“Ben Prior was terrific at half forward and through the wings. Luca Macnab, Jordy Segar and Tom Burnell have been outstanding all year. Archi Manton and Hamish Dick worked hard in front of the footy against a strong, team-oriented Caulfield defence.
“We’re looking forward to the finals opportunity we’ve worked hard for in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Paul Satterley (Caulfield): “Brighton piled on 3 goals in the first 3 minutes of the game before we even touched the footy. The scoreboard would suggest we fought back well for the remainder of the contest. We had some opportunities late in the game that we didn’t convert and gave up too many costly turnovers throughout the game.
“Our club has shown some grit, and again we fought it out to the end. We had the benefit of knowing our fate going into the last quarter, so it made for some pretty free-flowing footy for both sides. I was pleased to get within 7 points of a quality side and a club we have enormous respect for.
“Ollie Lowe showcased why he is a star at VFL level and was terrific for us. Conor Cooke, who has only managed 2 senior games this year due to injury, was excellent. Patty Fairlie was again outstanding in the midfield. Ollie Wilson kicking 5 goals has great versatility, and Hamish McInerney finished the season well.
“We are thrilled as a club to stay in A-grade, and our group will need to improve over summer. Both fitness and skill execution will be a huge focus.
“Due to a mix of injuries, concussions and overseas trips, we had 56 players represent our Senior side this season, with only Charlie Eerhard playing every game. To be a contender week in, week out, we need consistency of players getting up each week, building better connection and resilience.
“Pleasingly, I’ve seen our club improve enormously on and off the field, and I’m proud of all the hard work people have contributed. We look forward to 2027.”
The most pivotal game of the afternoon was at Melbourne Uni as Old Haileybury fought for survival against University Blacks.
The Bloods needed to win to put pressure on Old Trinity and Caulfield. Should either of those teams then fall, Old Haileybury would leapfrog them out of the drop zone.
All in attendance therefore expected the Bloods to come rocketing out of the gates, and, sure enough, the visitors booted the opening three goals of the game. The first two came in the initial 6 minutes, with Ethan Hardeman converting his mark at the top of the goalsquare, before livewire Andreas Stefanakis capitalised on a 50-metre penalty two minutes later.
The third took a little longer, but James Blight’s classy turn and goal on the run from the arc handed the Bloods the only 3 goals of the opening stanza, and they headed to the first huddle full of confidence and with a 20-point advantage as Trinity and Caulfield fans shifted awkwardly as they checked the VAFA app’s Around the Ground scores.
Old Haileybury were dominating territory (35 Inside 50s to just 14 in the first half), and doing all the scoring. Unfortunately for Guy Martyn’s team, they weren’t taking full toll on the scoreboard. The Bloods generated 13 scores to just 3 in the opening half, but their inaccurate finishing (3.10) saw them head to the major break with a 20-point lead that could have been more than double that.
Uni Blacks had dominated stoppages in the first half, but they needed to tidy up their ball use. That adjustment came in the third term and made a world of difference, as the Blacks converted clearances into territory, and then scores.
They landed the first 4 goals of the quarter to hit the front for the first time since the opening minutes, and suddenly it was the Bloods needing a steadier, which was duly delivered by Stefanakis at the 27-minute mark to make it a 3-point game at the last break, and set the scene for a tense final quarter.
The Blacks struck first when Charlie Connell-Tobin had the poise to find Jack Cassidy, who went back and goaled to make it a 10-point lead.
But the Bloods were never going to quit that easily. Stefanakis slotted a banana from the right forward pocket boundary a minute later, and when Lachie Riley met the moment to steer his set shot through, Old Haileybury were back in front at the 7-minute mark.
The game continued to pick up speed, and now it was the Blacks’ turn to make their move. Max Gray and Tom St Clair booted back-to-back goals within two-and-a-half minutes to open up a 10-point lead, and when Matthew Grocott marked and goaled from the arc, it was a 16-point margin entering time-on as the Bloods’ hopes began to fade.
Try as they might, they couldn’t find the response, and when Grocott booted his fourth at the 25-minute mark, Bloods’ hearts sank as their dream of survival slipped away.
There was but one last thing for Uni Blacks to do. Get the ball to their much-loved champion Joel Ernest in his final game.
He came storming out to mark on his chest as the seconds ticked down, but was well inside the centre square – a good 55-60 metres from goal.
Nonetheless, he immediately signalled to the umpire that he was planning to have a shot and retreated all the way back adjacent to the centre circle to begin the final run-up of his superb 169-game career for the Blacks as the crowd yelled for him to unleash a torpedo punt.
The siren sounded as he launched into his last kick in the VAFA – a booming drop punt that sailed long and straight, sending the Blacks’ faithful into delirium as Bloods’ fans felt the pain and disappointment of coming so close to survival but just falling short, after missing the Premier Men’s finals in similar fashion last year.
In the end, it was Uni Blacks farewelling Ernest and departing coach Dale Bower in style with a gritty, hard-fought 28-point win that was much closer than that all afternoon.
The Blacks finish season 2026 in fifth position, with an 8-10 record. Dale led them to 7th, 7th, 6th and 5th in his four seasons coaching them in the top tier, after leading them to the 2022 Premier B minor premiership and seeing them elevated to Premier Men’s after losing just one game for the season (the Grand Final).
If every coach’s objective is to leave their club in a better position than when they arrived, then Dale Bower has achieved his objective. The Blacks have gone from Premier B contenders that had fallen in consecutive Preliminary Finals to being a genuine A-grade contender that finished 2026 as the ‘best of the rest.’
Harrison Kelly was best afield in Dale’s final game, finishing with 34 disposals, while Jack Cassidy’s 19 and 2 goals also drew praise from the coaching staff. Ben Stephenson has been a fine contributor for Blacks this season, and finished his campaign with 22 touches and a goal.
Harry Broderick has comfortably established himself amongst elite company in the VAFA season, rounding out his year with another 35 disposals, 6 clearances and a goal, while Sam Conway, who will surely feature prominently in the Woodrow Medal count, gathered another 25 touches, 53 hit-outs and 9 clearances.
Brede Seccull has been consistently excellent for Old Haileybury this season, and his 26 disposals and 15 tackles will surely draw another handy haul of Best & Fairest votes. Andreas Stefanakis is always a welcome inclusion for the Bloods when not on VFL duties, and he was typically dangerous, finishing with 3 goals.
Fellow VFL players Jasper Russell (31 disposals), Hugo Nosiara (30) and Olli Hotton (29) racked up the touches all afternoon, as the Bloods bid farewell to the top flight.
They will be determined to make it a short stay in Premier B, and look well equipped to contend for immediate elevation if they can keep their current group together – and keep them healthy, which proved a huge challenge this year as a wave of crippling injuries derailed their season.
They finished with a 5-13 record, just two points shy of survival, and look to have all the necessary weapons to build towards another Premier B finals series and potential promotion again next year.
University Blacks 12.11 (83)
Old Haileybury 7.13 (55)
GOALS:
UB: Grocott 4; Cassidy 2; Ernest, St.Clair, Gray, Broderick, Stephenson & Skipper 1.
OH: A.Stefanakis 3; Blight, Riley, Hardeman & Antonis 1.
BEST:
UB: Harrison Kelly, Jack Cassidy, Ben Stephenson, Sam Conway, Kane Loftus, Joel Ernest
OH: Brede Seccull, Andreas Stefanakis, James Connell, Lachlan Riley, Durras Seccull, Max Sievers
Dale Bower (Uni Blacks): “Old Haileybury outplayed us in the first half, and we were lucky to still be in the game.
“Our second half was reminiscent of performances against Scotch and Trinity.
“It was great to send off club legend Joel Ernest with a win after he kicked a 65-metre goal after the siren to put a full stop on a great Blacks career.”
Guy Martyn (Old Haileybury): “A pretty frustrating game, particularly the first half. We went into half-time at 3.10 to 1.2 and had 21 more inside 50s and 10 more scoring shots, so we were very dominant but just didn’t capitalise. We probably should have put the game away in that first half, and ultimately our inability to convert those opportunities really hurt us.
“To Uni Blacks’ credit, they came out after half-time and lifted their pressure. We didn’t handle it well enough, turned the ball over in some costly areas, and they made us pay. Scores were level at three-quarter time, and we were still in front around the 10-minute mark of the last, so we certainly had our chances.
“In a way, it was probably indicative of our year. We’ve had periods where we’ve played some really good footy and had momentum but haven’t consistently made the most of our opportunities. On the flip side, when opposition sides have had their momentum, we haven’t been able to limit the damage, and Uni Blacks were able to convert their chances on Saturday.
“Obviously, it’s really disappointing to go down to B Grade, particularly knowing one more win would have kept us up. But once we’ve had some time to reflect, there are definitely some silver linings. We’ve got an extremely young list, and our depth has been tested at A Grade level, so this gives us an opportunity to build that depth and get a lot of senior footy into our younger players.
“Collegians are probably a good blueprint for what we’d like to do — use the year to develop, play some good, enjoyable footy, build the group and hopefully earn our way back into A Grade for 2028. But we know there are no guarantees.
“Retaining our current group and our young players will be really important, as will continuing to bring players through from the school. The challenge now is to make sure B Grade is a one-year stay.”
To the two-way battle for top spot now, and Old Xaverians needed to get past Old Scotch and then hope that Uni Blues stumbled in order for them to land their first minor premiership since 2013.
But it was the Cards with the picture-perfect start – a centre clearance from the opening siren, delivery to Will Clark on the lead, and a tidy set shot for the first major of the afternoon just 50 seconds in.
They added a second when promising debutante Dylan Lang, who booted 26 goals in just five Holmesglen Under 19 Premier appearances to earn his senior debut, threw his boot at an errant Xavs handball and volleyed a brilliant goal from mid-air 12 minutes in. 17 year old Lang, currently studying Year 12 at Scotch College, shapes as a player to watch in 2027.
Despite having considerably more possession (132 Disposals to 83 in the opening term), it took Xavs 16 minutes to convert that into a goal, when a spillage fell Charlie Macisaac’s way, and he snapped a handy goal – his 60th of the season.
Gun recruit Alwyn Davey added another 90 seconds later to level the scores, before the Cardinals reclaimed the ascendancy with the only two goals of time-on to take a 12-point lead into the first break, courtesy of their superior efficiency, which saw them have 49 fewer disposals but generate 19 Inside 50s to 10.
Scotch’s lead kicked out to 3 goals when Lang booted his second of the afternoon to start the second term, as Scotch started to control contested footy. But in this quarter, Xavs scored against the flow, and they kicked 3 of the next 4 goals to close within 9 points as the Cards squandered numerous opportunities to break clear.
Angus Jones kept the hosts at arm’s length with a lead, mark and goal 24 minutes in, before Hayden Woodhouse had the final say of the first half, adding a goal to keep Xavs’ deficit at 10 points at the major break.
There was very little between the teams in the third term, with Xavs dominating clearances (courtesy of 19 Hit-Outs to 3 from Alec Spralja) but Scotch’s intercept game holding up and repeatedly turning the Red & Black around.
Around goal, suddenly neither team could miss, with 6 consecutive goals added in a 13-minute period of shootout footy that saw each team boot 3 majors and cancel each other out.
Dylan Lang once again showed his composure to boot his fourth goal from 40 metres out after the siren, giving the visitors a handy 17-point lead at the last change.
Given the tight struggle unfolding over at TH King Oval, the minor premiership remained up for grabs as Xavs received their address from Dan Donati.
It obviously worked, with Sam Ralph goaling from a set shot in the opening minute to make it an 11-point margin, and when Charlie Macisaac received front-on contact on the goal-line 6 minutes later, the margin shrunk within a kick.
A precise build-up from half-back ended up with a brilliant Wade Brusnahan goal from the right forward pocket, as Xavs regained the lead for the first time since midway through the term. Old Scotch’s 3-goal advantage had evaporated in less than 10 minutes.
Charlie Westcott added another just 90 seconds to provide Xavs with a buffer as their midfield finally took control, dominating disputed ball and owning possession as Old Scotch’s disposal started to wilt under the relentless pressure.
When Wade Brusnahan got on the end of a coast-to-coast foray to boot his second for the quarter (and third of the day), Xavs led by 14 points entering time-on and the game looked all but over.
Credit, however, to Old Scotch, who despite having nothing but pride to play for, refused to yield to their old rival, hitting back with 2 goals in a minute against the flow of play to reignite the contest.
First, it was a mark and goal to Harry Robenstone from 40 metres out after Robbie Beckworth broke to the outside, received a handball and delivered it long to his forward’s benefit.
The ball returned to the centre, and Scotch surged it forward again when Beckworth pounced upon an advantage call and thumped it long to Will Clark. The big man turned and soccered it through from point blank range and suddenly it was a 2-point game once again, with just 22 minutes gone.
The next 8-and-a-half minutes were tight and tense as the game hung in the balance, with neither team able to score.
Finally, the sealer came 31 minutes into the last term when Tex Wanganeen sliced a set shot off the side of his boot into the right forward pocket. Ed Delany pulled down the pack mark, and went back with poise and calm to slot the winner.
In the end, it was Old Xaverians grinding out a hard-fought 8-point win in a high-quality, high-intensity game that may serve as the ideal preparation for the upcoming finals series.
In the absence of leaders Campbell Lane and Sam Fisher, Marcus Stavrou (27 disposals and 5 clearances), Nick Guiney (25 and 11 Rebounds), Ollie Sestan (24 and 7 Inside 50s), Sam Ralph and Alwyn Davey (both 23 and a goal) all had productive afternoons, while Sam Hansen was highlighted by coach Dan Donati for his hard-working 20 touches and 6 clearances.
Defender Will Goss continued his incredible season, finishing with a game-high 42 disposals and 16 Rebound 50s.
VAFA Rising Star contender Harry Dixon was best afield for the Cardinals, while Jack Brown, Angus Symons, Charlie Cormack and Hugo Bromell all stood out as well.
Debutant Dylan Lang finished with 4 goals in an auspicious debut that will have Cards fans excited about what he can add to the team in 2027, particularly if paired with fellow debutant Matthew Mayes, who booted 3 in his first senior outing after graduating from the Under 19s and Reserves programs over the past 5 seasons.
Old Scotch’s campaign drew to a close with a 7-11 record, finishing sixth and missing the finals for the first time since 2022, while Old Xavs would now await the final result at TH King to see whether they could snatch the minor premiership from Uni Blues.
Old Xaverians 15.7 (97)
Old Scotch 13.10 (88)
GOALS:
OX: C.Macisaac & Brusnahan 3; Westcott & Woodhouse 2; Delany, Ralph, Davey, Sestan & Wanganeen 1.
OS: Lang 4; Robenstone & Mayes 3; Clark 2; Jones 1.
BEST:
OX: Sam Hansen, Oliver Sestan, Nick Guiney, Alwyn Davey, Will Goss, Marcus Stavrou
OS: Harry Dixon, Jack Brown, Dylan Lang, Angus Symons, Charlie Cormack, Hugo Bromell
Dan Donati (Old Xavs): “A really solid Round 18 contest against Old Scotch. They deserved their halftime lead, and at times threatened to pull away.
“To my boys’ credit, we hung in there and in the last quarter managed to play some good footy to end the season with a win.
“Whilst the result itself wasn’t a massive focus going in, it was a great hit out for what’s to come. Old Scotch were fantastic in the contest, applied pressure all day, and forced us to dig in to get the result. It’s all we could really ask for to help prepare us for the weeks ahead.”
Mark Gnatt (Old Scotch): “We were really proud of the way our boys took it up to Xavs. It was a really good contest and some great passages of play from both teams. When Xavs execute their trigger handball game, they are hard to stop and will be a tough team to beat in the finals series.
“We unveiled our 19th and 20th debutants for the season – Matt Mayes and Dylan Lang. Maysey has come through our Under 19 program the last few seasons and has overcome a shoulder reconstruction in the past year. He kicked 3 goals in a solid debut. And Dylan is 17 years old and a current Year 12 student at Scotch College. He was brilliant, kicking 4 goals and winning some crucial contests to set up his teammates as well. He will be one to watch in the upcoming Under 19 finals series.
“Overall, we have played 50 players in the senior team with 20 debutants among them. The majority of these players are 20 years or younger, so we have regenerated our list on the run and set ourselves up nicely to keep building in 2027.”
So, it was left to University Blues to secure their first minor premiership since 2019 if they could overcome St Kevin’s at TH King – easier said than done at a venue where the Blues have saluted just once from their last 7 visits since 2017.
It was first visiting fourth, and it felt like a Qualifying Final early, with very little easy possession as both teams applied September-like pressure. Jack Darmody kicked the opening goal for SKOB less than 2 minutes in, and that was the only goal until Sam Grimley responded 25 minutes later!
It was just 1.1 apiece as they headed to the first break, with just 13 Inside 50s to 8 (in favour of the Blues) a fair indication of the intense hand-to-hand combat between the arcs.
The second quarter was much the same, with St Kevin’s getting on top in contested footy, winning 50 Contested Possessions to 25, including 15 Clearances to 8. They parlayed this advantage into the first 3 goals of the quarter, skipping out to a 17-point lead at the 14-minute mark.
But the Blues’ intercept game kept them in the contest, as they continually repelled SKOB and sent it back the other way. In the end, they compiled 15 Inside 50s to 7 and generated two goals of their own in time-on to reduce their deficit to just 5 points at the major break.
For the second time in three quarters, it was Jack Darmody opening the scoring when he nailed his set shot from 40 metres out 3 minutes in.
However, it was the Blues now seizing control of the game from the inside as they turned the contested battle in their favour. Their tackling pressure was also becoming a factor, as they laid 27 Tackles to 17 for the term, despite also having 24 more Disposals.
This combination of first possession and ferocious tackling held SKOB to just 66 touches for the term, as the Blues booted 3 of the last 4 goals to go 9 points up at the final change, and move back to the top of the live ladder.
But St Kevin’s weren’t going down without a fight, and the contested battle swung yet again as the hosts took control on the inside. The ever-dangerous Jack Behnk took a mark and goaled 2 minutes in to close within 3 points.
However, SKOB’s 55% Kick Efficiency was preventing them from generating quality supply for their forwards, while the Blues were punishing them the other way. The league-leaders slammed on 3 goals in 3 minutes to finally crack a tight game open, as they pulled away to a 23-point lead at the 10-minute mark.
They then managed to close the game down again, with neither team scoring for the next 10 minutes until Billy Bryan kept SKOB’s faint comeback hopes alive with a brilliant boundary line snap from the right forward pocket to make it a 17-point game entering time-on.
The next goal was the critical one, but unfortunately for SKOB, it went the Blues’ way when James Curran marked and goaled from the top of the goalsquare. Ted Bain added another to confirm the result, before Doug Kerr pulled a consolation goal back for the hosts.
But it was University Blues sealing their first minor premiership since 2019 with a professional 25-point win that saw them do what they had to do, when they had to do it.
Veteran half-back Cam O’Shea was voted best afield for the Blues, finishing with 19 disposals and 8 marks, while Archie Lord (17 touches, 8 tackles and a goal), Sam Grimley (2 goals), Will Furphy (23 disposals, 5 Inside 50s and a goal) also received a nod from the coaching panel.
Liam Gunson and Andrew Mathieson led St Kevin’s ball-winners with 34 and 28 disposals respectively, while Jack Andriske was singled out for his selfless team performance for SKOB, finishing with a game-high 9 One-Percenters. Coach Anthony Lynch also praised Angus Hart’s work down back, Jack Darmody’s 3 goals, and Billy Bryan’s 2.
Matt Smith’s men finish their home-and-away campaign with a 15-3 record, 5.7% clear of Old Xavs, and a full 3 games plus 24% clear of the third-placed St Kevin’s.
Next up, they will face Old Xavs in a blockbuster Second Semi for a spot in the Grand Final, while SKOB finish at 12-6 and will face Old Brighton in the cut-throat First Semi.
University Blues 12.9 (81)
St Kevin’s 9.2 (56)
GOALS:
UB: Curran 3; Grimley & T.Bain 2; Irving, Lord, Cotter, Townson & W.Furphy 1.
STK: Darmody 3; Bryan, Behnk & Kerr 2.
BEST:
UB: Cam O’Shea, Archie Lord, Sam Grimley, Will Furphy, Jeremy Goddard, Ted Bain
STK: Jack Andriske, Angus Hart, Jack Darmody, Billy Bryan, Archie Dollman, Callum Jones
Matt Smith (Uni Blues): “It was as close to a finals feel as you’ll get, and the contest was there to match. Early on, it was a real arm wrestle, where both sides had their moments.
“We were getting enough forward entries, but SKOB were turning it over and very dangerous moving it out of their D50 to generate scoring opportunities of their own.
“In the second half, our workrate lifted around the contest, and our forwards started to bring some real pressure. We managed to stop their ball movement from D50, and started putting more scoreboard pressure on.
“It was great to watch two genuinely good rucks in Furphy and Coates go head-to-head all day, and Ted Bain was good once again in just his second game of senior footy.
“It was a physically taxing game, so we’ll look to recover and freshen up as we prepare for our first final in a fortnight.”
Anthony Lynch (St Kevin’s): “Saturday was the perfect last hit-out pre-finals as we came up against the ladder leaders.
“It was a finals-like intensity, particularly in the first half, and credit to Blues, whose ability to execute better created some scoreboard separation.
“I couldn’t question our boys’ effort and intent; we just need to tidy up a few parts of our game, and we now have two weeks
to do that.
“I’m incredibly proud of our group and club as we enter our eighth consecutive finals campaign, which in arguably the most even local competition is a great effort. But make no mistake. We aren’t satisfied just making finals; we are there to win them.”
William Buck Premier Men’s will have a PRE-FINALS BYE this coming weekend, ahead of Semi Final weekend:
WILLIAM BUCK PREMIER MEN’S – SEMI FINALS
Saturday, September 12 – 2.30pm:
1st SEMI FINAL: St Kevin’s vs Old Brighton (Trevor Barker Beach Oval)
2nd SEMI FINAL: University Blues vs Old Xaverians (Revo Fitness Park – Elsternwick Park)
The first week of finals for Division 1 Men’s is complete, with one game proving to be a tough defensive battle and another week where Preston Bullants show why they
The VAFA is delighted to announce the Club Connect Club of the Month winner for July is University Blacks Football Club, recognised for their outstanding commitment to community engagement, inclusion, participation
Stay up-to-date with the biggest moments of every round with our weekly Socials Wrap. Old Trinity have won one of the most thrilling matches of the William Buck Premier Men’s
