2026 VAFA William Buck Premier Men’s GRAND FINAL PREVIEW – University Blues vs Old Xaverians

For only the third time, University Blues and Old Xaverians will face off in a top-flight Grand Final, which is somewhat remarkable given that both clubs have existed since the 1920s.

Old Xavs won the previous two A-grade deciders between the clubs, in 1995 and 2005.

This year, they were the two standout teams across the entire season, and one of them will cap an outstanding campaign with a piece of precious silverware.

University Blues will be hunting their FIFTH top-flight title in their 15^th Grand Final:

The Blues have been pacesetters all season, and just four quarters of intense, high-pressure football (and Xavs) stand between them and ultimate glory:

Old Xaverians are aiming to rekindle past glories.

It took Xavs until 1981 to win their first top-flight premiership, but didn’t they make up for it after that, winning 14 flags in the next 33 years, including an historic run through the 1990s.

The Red & Black boast a powerful line-up right across the field, with a potent attack and a miserly defence supported by a deep, talented midfield unit:

THE TALE OF THE TAPE

Here’s a look at how the two teams match up:

KEYS TO THE GAME

UNIVERSITY BLUES would love a repeat of what they served up to Xavs in the Second Semi Final, when they were able to pin them in their back half and generate repeat Forward 50 entries for themselves.

They will need to be vigilant around stoppage, as no team has been as effective at moving the ball from inside congestion out into open space as Xavs this season. If you allow them to break clear and release their runners, they can score on you quickly and heavily.

Xavs also love to possess the ball and average a whopping 377 Disposals per game (#1 in the comp). Last week, St Kevin’s restricted them to just 60 in the third term, and Matt Smith will have studied that tape closely. (Mind you, so will Dan Donati have!)

The Blues cannot allow Xavs to control the ball and string meaningful possession chains together. They’ll need to press up and be in their faces to force turnovers and win the ball back, as they did so effectively in the Second Semi.

How Xavs adjust will be fascinating and critical to the overall outcome of the contest.

OLD XAVERIANS want the same thing the Blues – a FRONT HALF GAME – but this time around, in THEIR favour. How do they orchestrate it?

Dan Donati will have analysed the Second Semi relentlessly and will have been working intensively on Xavs’ ball movement, particularly from their own Defensive 50.

They were hopelessly pinned in their back half a fortnight ago and will have learned plenty about what DOESN’T work against the Blues, who have a fleet of experienced players smartly positioned behind the ball in a defensive wall across the middle of the ground.

It’s a wall the Xavs struggled to go through or get over in the Second Semi, so it might be better to try going AROUND it. Their home ground at Toorak Park is small and tight by comparison to the expanses of Revo Fitness Park, so expect Xavs to spread and switch a lot more this time around.

They need to stretch the Blues’ defensive zone to pick holes in it. Long bombs down the line do not work against the likes of Taylor Duryea, Brad Ebert and Cam O’Shea, who will park themselves in the perfect position to fill their boots. They must avoid the Blues’ interceptors whenever possible.

Instead, Xavs will need to focus on retaining possessions by changing angles. Find the short 45-degree kick to an open teammate. Quick switches to open space. Overlap run from behind that carves through the corridor and kicks over the defensive wall to space out the back for the likes of Alwyn Davey to get to work in.

The prospect of pushing spearheads Charlie Macisaac and Ed Delany up the ground, leaving Davey one-on-one deep is enough to worry any defender. His speed, agility, smarts and finishing skills could become an enormous X-factor if he gets off the chain.

2026 MEETINGS

RD 5:     OLD XAVS 15.10 (100) d. UNI BLUES 9.16 (70) by 30pts at Melbourne University

Xavs seized early premiership favouritism after their superior finishing secured them the 4 points at Melbourne Uni.

Campbell Lane was on a heater early, racking up 26 touches to half time, and ultimately finished with 47 disposals (18 contested) and 12 clearances.

Both teams finished with the same scoring shots, but it was Xavs’ strikepower that was the difference, as they hauled in 14 Marks Inside 50 to 5, despite the Blues finishing with 2 more Inside 50s.

Charlie Macisaac and Oscar Duncan finished with 4 goals apiece as Xavs kicked a game clear of the Blues in the race for the Top 2.

Old Xaverians            15.10 (100)

University Blues         9.16 (70)              

GOALS:                 

OX:          Duncan & Macisaac 4;  O’Sullivan & Woodhouse 2; Brusnahan, Delany & Knott 1.

UB:          Grimley, Stewart, Townson & Curran 2; C.Furphy 1.

BEST:                      

OX:          Jack O’Sullivan, Alwyn Davey, Thomas Hart, Campbell Lane, Alex Trigar, Oscar Duncan

UB:          Jeremy Goddard, Martin Gleeson, James Curran, Taylor Duryea, Jack Robinson, Charlie Furphy

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RD 12:                   UNI BLUES 16.12 (108) d. OLD XAVS 10.9 (69) by 39pts at Toorak Park

The Blues snapped Xavs’ 9-game winning streak with a strong defensive performance that saw them open up a 34-point half-time lead, based largely on their intercept game, which continually turned Xavs back.

The game opened up early in the last quarter, with 6 goals in 11 minutes. But unfortunately for Xavs, it went goal-for-goal and the Blues had all the necessary answers to keep them at arm’s length as they ultimately posted a 39-point win – Old Xavs’ largest loss since Round 6 of 2025.

Xavs were denied possession – just 335 disposals, well below their league-leading average of 379, as they lost the Contested Possession and Ground Ball differential for the first time since Round 5 to the Blues.

Ben Townson bobbed up to the be the star of the show for the Blues with 5 goals, well supported by James Stewart & Sam Grimley with 2 apiece. Jack Hayter continued his excellent form, finishing with 22 disposals (15 contested), 11 tackles, 5 clearances and a goal. Jeremy Goddard worked tirelessly all afternoon to collect 15 disposals, 10 tackles, 7 clearances and a goal.

Woodrow Medallist Sam Fisher delivered a typically effective performance for Xavs, racking up 34 disposals (20 contested), with an incredible 16 clearances and 3 goals. Tommy McRae and Campbell Lane collected 26 apiece.

University Blues        16.12 (108)

Old Xaverians            10.9 (69)              

GOALS:                 

UB:          Townson 5; Stewart, Lord & Grimley 2; Gleeson, Goddard, Hayter, Akoch & Cotter 1.

OX:          Fisher 3; C.Macisaac 2; Hansen, Lane, Gangi, Stavrou & W.Macisaac 1.

BEST:                      

UB:          Ben Townson, Jeremy Goddard, Jack O’Sullivan, Taylor Duryea, Martin Gleeson, Trent Cossar

OX:          Sam Fisher, Alwyn Davey, Thomas Dunne, Hayden Woodhouse, Charlie Westcott, Marcus Stavrou

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2^nd SEMI FINAL:    UNI BLUES 15.12 (102) d. OLD XAVS 7.9 (51) by 51pts at Revo Fitness Park

It was an emphatic statement from University Blues, who muscled their way into the 2026 William Buck Premier Men’s Grand Final with a 51-point win, also holding Old Xavs to their lowest score since Round 2 of 2025.

The Blues led by 5 points at the first change, then made their move in the second term, closing the exits on Xavs and pinning them in defence to lead by 29 points at the major break.

A couple of goals late in the third term extended their deficit to 42 at the final change, before the Blues snuffed out any hopes of a dramatic final quarter comeback on their way to a comprehensive 51-point win.

It was the Blues’ largest victory over Xavs since Round 13, 2019, and it’s the first time since that 63-point demolition that they’ve posted back-to-back wins over the Red & Black, who had defeated them on 8 straight occasions before the Blues snapped that streak in Round 12 this year.

Stewart finished with 4 goals and Grimley 3, while veterans Marty Gleeson, Taylor Duryea and Brad Ebert do what elite, experienced players do in big finals – they maintain composure and structure, make the right decisions at the key times, and execute accordingly.

University Blues             15.12 (102)

Old Xaverians                 7.9 (51)

GOALS:               

UB:         Stewart 4; Grimley 3; Curran 2; Ebert, Lord, Hill, Cotter, Townson & Bain 1.

OX:         C.Macisaac 2; Knott, Delany, Westcott, Phipps-Parsons & Sestan 1.

BEST:                    

UB:         Marty Gleeson, Taylor Duryea, Brad Ebert, Joe Furphy, Jeremy Goddard, Tom Hill

OX:         Hayden Woodhouse, Alex Trigar, Thomas Dunne, Ollie Sestan, Sam Hansen, Ed Delany

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WILLIAM BUCK PREMIER MEN’S GRAND FINAL –

Friday September 25 – 2.30pm (Revo Fitness Park/Elsternwick Park)

University Blues vs Old Xaverians

LIVE coverage from 2pm Friday on VAFA.com.au & KTV, with our award-winning SEN Match of the Day radio coverage on VAFA.com.au & the SEN app!

If you’re coming to the game, BRING YOUR HEADPHONES and enjoy our call of the action LIVE with NO DELAY on the SEN app.