Each week you try and find that point of difference to out gun your opponent.   This week we had a few reasons to come out firing with the old rivalry between the Xavs and Scotch.

Every player had something to prove against the old foe and for some reason playing Scotch always brings the best out of the boys.  The other reason, was one of Xavs favourite sons played a big milestone game for the club.

Andrew Oswald booted up for the 200th time, a feat many have done, but not as well as this man.  Ossie has contributed not only on the field with multiple premierships in Under 19's, Reserves and Seniors but more so off the field with his club comes first attitude, as well as galvanising many groups of players in 13 seasons.  Well done Ossie, you are a well respected and admired clubman of this amazing football fraternity.

So it was fitting that after we let Scotch kick the first two goals of the game that Big Oz easily out marked his opponent to post the first major of the day.  From there, goals were coming thick and thin including a few more from the home side.  Nine goals in the first quarter between the two combatants was surely a sign of a high scoring game and a test for the boys in black.  Pasceri and O'Meara were everywhere including the Stean brothers, in particular the older who took an amazing finger tipper running with the flight and goaled accordingly. 

Coming into the second quarter, we asked for some composure and smart football.  This we got with some hard running from the other brothers, Tyson and Dustin Lloyd.  Plenty of forward entries with 10 scoring shots to 2 and the momentum very much in our favour.  James Ulbrick really showed his worth helping out veteran David Sapuppo in the ruck as well as down forward with a few 1%ers and a couple of crucial tackles.  Matt Walsh, Stu Skidmore and Liam Ginnivan all ran themselves hard in the middle and were ably helped out by Chris Santalucia and the brothers Lloyd. 

At the half we again asked for something from the boys and they started to flex their muscles with a four goal burst.  But Scotch came back and scored a few cheap ones prior to the break.  The backline in Higgins, Larkins, Glen, M.Skidmore, Huw and Jack Davies were outstanding all day.  Matt Skidmore in particular showing his diversity playing off half back and looking very comfortable.  Nick Dimattina was pushed forward and given the task of nullifying Scotch's wingman and produced some quality football from that point on and for the rest of the half.   David Sapuppo was starting to get used to the muddy centre and as time went on, his best was yet to come!

Three quarter time and we held a three goal lead kicking with a slight breeze.  Again we asked for some muscle to be flexed and also think about the big man Ossie's 200th and how much it meant to all of us.

As mentioned earlier big Supps started to erupt like the Volcano in Eyjafjallajoekull, Iceland and it was some of the most pure ruckwork seen in many a year.  Tyson Lloyd and Liam Ginnivan who even with only one eye, was able to read the big man and moved the ball forward without being pressed by the Scotch lads.  Pasceri was dangerous with 3 final quarter goals, Santalucia chimed in with what can only be described as an reverse torpedo, whilst the other Italian stallion in Sapuppo got onto the score board as well.  Nine goals to zip was a tremendous effort and showed that playing 4 quarters of football is a requirement each and every week to be successful.

A really gritty win regardless of the score and something we should take into this week against Old Melburnians.

Well done again to Andrew Oswald, a fantastic way to celebrate your milestone game as well as the Scotch boys for staying out.