May 16, 2026
DASH, FLASH & CRASH
Ones, WOX x 2 win, while some struggle
A Century of the Red & Black
With two derbies on the card, Xavs' wins were never going to total more than nine, but surprising losses to the WOX 2 and U19 Premier teams reduced the return further.
Old Xaverians won their fifth against a plucky St Bernard's at Toorak Park today. The Snow Dogs played a solid brand, but did not have the firepower to go with the Red 'n' Blacks, who forced many turnovers and ensure the game was played in their front half for the overwhelming majority of time.
An early Snow Dog turnover saw Campbell Lane hit Bobby Knott, who goaled from the arc at the High Street end. Charlie MacIsaac slammed one home from close range as Xavs made a quick transition from defence. The Red and Blacks were dominating the territory and the game.
With fourteen minutes gone, any thoughts of an easy day evaporated when Bernards roosted two quick goals in a row. For all their early work, the X-Men led by just a point. MacIsaac wasted a gift from skipper Lane, and Bernard’s went forward with some aerial strength, but their finish was lacking. The home team raced through the corridor but also blew their opportunity. Into time-on, Sam Fisher slotted Xavs’ third from outside the arc, but Bernies scrapped it forward again and responded. On the siren, MacIsaac left-footed home his second and they went for a chat with eight points separating the teams.
The Pups scored first at two minutes, but Jack O’Sullivan showed his class with a quick turn and shot that sailed through. The Snow Dogs turned it over in the middle and Lane showed his class and cool when he chipped to Knott, who found Julian Gangi for a goal at six minutes. The home team had several forays forward but could not split the big sticks. At 15 minutes,another turnover, another Lane gift and big Ed Delany, in ripping form, markedand goaled. Just into time-on, Wade Brusnahan slipped it through from a tight angle and the X-Men had pushed away to a 27-point lead. St Bernard’s pulled one back from close range. Oli Sestan marked and goaled a minute later after the home team had effected another turnover in their back half. The half ended with the Xavs up by 28 points. Lane and Sam Ralph had started brilliantly on the wings, with their run and ball handling proving a real problem for the visitors.Will Goss and Alwyn Davey, along with Tommy Dunne, were prominent in a tight defensive unit.
Fisher kicked his second at five minutes in the third, a nice roost from the arc that went over the goal umpire’s hat. Sestan kicked his second, snapping truly after sharking a loose ball. Brusnahan snapped his second at 12 minutes. Ot of the middle they came again and Oscar Duncan, added to the Big V squad during the week, marked and goaled. Then McIsaac punched through number three from the outer flank. Then Lane, who’d give away more presents that Santa, hit Hayden Woodhouse, He goaled too. Bernies broke the home team’s goal streak at six. King Charlie caressed through his fourth from the arc deep into time-on, and 65 points was the margin as they went to the lemons.
The final term began quietly, but at nine minutes, MacIsaac dobbed his fifth from the arc after taking a nice mark on the lead. A minute later, King Charlie marked again and chipped it to Brusnahan. The Celebrant booted his third. Out of the centre, Guiney found Charlie again. He goaled from outside the arc and kicked his sixth. And another mark and goal - seven, equalling his best against Uni Blues two years ago. The Monarch was on fire and the Claret and Stout was up by 88.
Bernards interrupted the agony with a goal at 16 and another at 21 minutes. Brusnahan booted his fourth as the X-Men cleaned it out from the back arc. Bernard’s kicked their ninth and then some laxity in the Xavs’ defence resulted in their tenth. Knott put it in front of the King, who marked and slid through his eighth. And that was that. It finished with a 74 point win to the X-Men.
Will Goss remained in career-best form, offering plenty of drive from the back half. Tom Hart was effective again among a back six that was for the most part, as tight as a drum.
It was a comprehensive win for Dan Donati's team, who now face a 1 v 2 showdown at Brighton Beach Oval next week. The Red 'n Blacks will be keen to wrest top spot from the Tonners and to win the Dale Tapping Cup for the first time.
Drama everywhere! At Parc des Princes Old Haileybury (102) just failed in their last quarter lunge to topple Blues (103). Meanwhile, at the Uni, Caulfield (106) stunned Uni Blacks (67) to move out of the drop zone. St Kevin's (117) had to fight off a fast-finishing Old Scotch (107) at TH KIng, and the Cards now find themselves in the cellar with Bernards. Down at BBO, Old Brighton (146) starched Old Trinity (70) to stay on top of the pile.
Dan Richardson’s team welcomed St Bernard’s, hoping to return to the winners’ circle after a listless performance and defeat by Uni Blues in Round 5.
Goals to Liam Danielis-Morley, Will MacIsaac and Bailey Whelan in the first term signalled some life, but they were merely a response to the Snow Dogs scoring the first two. As time ran out, the visitors nailed their third and they trailed by just a point at the first huddle.
The Xavs’ ruckman/defender/forward Ben Moyle kicked the Red ‘n’ Blacks’ fourth inside 90 seconds, and Charlie Westcott, a sight for sore eyes on his return from an early season injury, added another inside three minutes. Whelan added his second five minutes later and the Claret and Stout kicked out to a 21-point lead. As they hit halfway in the second stanza, Josh Cumberlidge kicked truly. The Snow Dogs hit back at 14 minutes, but MacIsaac notched his seconda nd Tex Wanganeen booted Xavs’ ninth with a bit over a minute to play. The half-time scoreline showed the X-Men 34 points to the good.
The teams swapped minor scores early in the third, and then at nine minutes, the Senator strode into the chamber, kicked his first and the X-Men were away again. MacIsaac kicked his third, but the Pitters replied, and then at 13 minutes, Whelan had the goal umpire draw twin calicos to signal his hat trick. MacIsaac took pole position four minutes later when he kicked his fourth, but the Pups went forward from the restart to get their sixth. In the final minute of the term, MacIsaac secured a Michelle and Cumberlidge kicked his second. At the lemons, the home team by 58 and threatened to add to the margin.
The Snow Dogs had other ideas, and kicked the first major ofthe final chapter, and when the X-Men failed to reply, they added another with just five minutes played. Bernies loaded up again with 14 minutes gone, and again at 18 minutes. Xavs had stopped to a crawl in the final term but edgedjust over the 100 point mark with a couple of missed shots. They kicked their 16th (Will MacIsaac's sixth) right on the final siren to win by 41, comfortable but not as convincing as the Red ‘n Blacks might have liked.
Hamish MacIsaac was best on ground, and he had plenty of teammates providing solid support. Xavs remain in second with Uni Blacks staying unbeaten with a winning goal against Caulfield Grammarians with 17 seconds left on the clock.
Three goals from Lia Siniakov and a best on ground performance from Mel Clarke saw the WOX home against Old Yarra Cobras.
The WOX had double the shots at goal and the inaccuracy prevented only a bigger percentage haul, but still allowed them to sit in fourth place.
The Xavs at (3-3) face Port Melbourne (4-2) next week.
Milla Siniakov was best and Charli Wapshott kicked two but the Red 'n' Blacks fell to lowly Canterbury in an early morning Round 6 clash. The loss leaves the WOX in second place, and they face a telling clash with Brunswick next week. This is a very even competition, and it seems that only short numbers are putting a ceiling on this young team's possibilities.
Old Xaverians dropped a critical game to underdog Beaumaris and fell to 3-3 on the young season.
Four goals from Ben Chester and a great game from Jake Somers (who booted three) saw the young Xavs over-run the Essendonians in the second half. It was a great team effort from the Red 'n Blacks, who weathered the early challenge from the Bombers to kick eleven goals to four after the main break to tilt the game their way.
The reigning Premier Thirds defeated the Crocodiles in an early morning Toorak Park yesterday. Max Quin booted three for the victors and Ed Ralph two for the Green Hose, whose second term cost them dearly. The two Xavs teams sit atop the ladder at 5-1, sharing that perch with Uni Blues.
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The Triangles kicked straighter than the wild U23s, but the young fellows had the better of their derby contest at Stradbroke Park. The winners are in second spot, level on premiership points with two other teams, while the Ménages are in seventh in a very competitive section at 3-3. Next week, the U23s meet top-ranked Uni Blacks, while the Triangles meet mid-table De La Salle.
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Despite not leading at any of the breaks, the Red 'n' Blacks came home better to take the points in the twilight at Toorak Park.
It was an important win against the third-placed OMs, and the reward is fourth spot. Next week, a clash with Fitzroy, who are level on points with the T-Birds but are second with a stronger percentage.
