June 20, 2026
R9 THIRDS REPORT
23s slip, others win
A Century of the Red & Black
An avenging afternoon for the Ones and a great win by the U19 Premier team were the highlights.
Old Xaverians avenged their Round 2 defeat when they beat Old Trinity by 47 points on the Daley.
The Greens opened at a furious pace, looking to surprise the Red ‘n’ Blacks as they had done on Anzac Day. They scored with three goals to none in the first 14 minutes, but fully roused the visitors, who had looked promising from the outset but had failed to trouble the scorers. Once the X-Men acclimatised to a field they had not seen since their game in 2022, which was called at half-time because of lightning, the home ship hit still waters. However, it took another 10 minutes before Al Spralja nailed the X-Men’s first. Old Trinity, fighting for their season, led by a baker's dozen at the first change.
Xavs were first to score when Oli Sestan landed one at six minutes and the table-toppers went forward from the restart. Charlie MacIsaac booted the X-Men’s first and tied the scores. The combatants exchanged single calicos. As they touched 11 minutes, Ed Delany goaled and the visitors led for the first time for the afternoon.
Half-way through the term, the Ts kicked their fourth and recaptured the lead, but MacIsaac kicked his second and so did Spralja and the X-Men led by 11 as they hit time-on. King Charlie and Alwyn Davey extended that again deep into time on as the X-Men raised their half-century. As they trudged to unfamiliar sheds, the Red ‘n’ Blacks showed the way by 22 points, courtesy of another seven-goal quarter.
Charlie Holmes climbed aboard the goal train at 2 minutes into the third term, and at seven minutes, MacIsaac registered his fourth. Trinity goaled again at 11 minutes,but in nearly an hour of football, the Green Machine had added 2.3 while theiropponents had scored 9.3. As they hit time-on, Oli Sestan kicked his second to stretch the advantage to a hitherto high 37 points as time-on commenced and then Wade Brusnahan came in for his slice of the cake and pushed it to 44 points as they finished the quarter.
It was the Ts who took over in the opening minutes of the final stanza with a shot that missed and then one that hit. A fightback? A minute and a bit later, Delany goaled and shut down that notion. In fact, there was no scoring from either team until Trinity kicked its seventh at 18 minutes, but Davey replied with his second slot. Brusnahan rejoined the celebration at 24 minutes and the Xavs has doubled the Greens’ score. After that, the action fell away, as Xavs banked another win. Trinity is currently playing its home games under sub-optimal conditions, but they will gaze at their new pavilion currently under construction and know that a new area of homefield power is just around the corner.
Dan Donati will be happy for his team to turn at 8-1 and at the same time, get a game into his co-captain Marcus Stavrou. The dual Woodrow and four-time Bowen Ralph Medallist will take some time to hit top form, but he at least, on his way. The coach will be delighted too with the career-best form of Ed Delany and Sam Ralph. The former rucked, went forward, went back, marked, kicked goals and in general, enjoyed himself. The latter's relentless running and linkages are proving big weapons across the ground. Co-skipper Campbell Lane was back after a fortnight away recovering from leather poisoning and it looks as if he hasn't lost any touch. Jack O'Sullivan is proving an important man in the middle. He and Oli Sestan, as well as the clever Alwyn Davey, have added some real class to the lineup this year. Sam Fisher looked infinitely better for the run, with some deft touches, while Bobby Knott and Sam Hansen continued to do what they do so well, hustle, bustle, disturb and destroy.
In defence, it was another strong showing from the defenders, particularly as the Claret and Stout were missing four of their very good ones. Depth is a blessing, and the Xaverians, for now, are blessed. Let's see how they take this fortune to the next fortnight, back-to-back Caulfield appearances at Haileybury and then the Fields. This is a team that will not be counting chickens before they hatch in late September.
Uni Blues (90) had nine goals from James Stewart as they romped over St Bernard's (47) at the Snakepit. Haileybury (79) stormed home at the death courtesy of two goals to Durras Seccull (one with the day's last kick) to beat an inaccurate Caulfield (78). Old Brighton (83) had four goals from Archi Manton and put away St Kevin's (63) at TH King. Uni Blacks (78) led by Big V rep Campbell Moorfield put away Old Scotch (50)
Blues move into second spot and Brighton kicks up again over St Kevin's. There are two more rounds before the single week bye on 11 July.
Old Xaverians beat lowly-placed Old Trinity by 96 points at Marles, taking the initiative early and never letting it slip.
Will Bowen turned in another best on ground performance and the twin towers Oscar Duncan and Will MacIsaac each snagged a Michelle in the big win. Ollie Britten-Jones and Charlie Cranderson were strong performers and Tex Wanganeen lit up the Green defence with three nice goals. Xavier Austin, who spent time playing in defence showed maturity and skill all afternoon.
The Red 'n Blacks were never in trouble and built a handy lead by quarter rime. By the half, they were six goals up and then they edged the volume up a little after the long break to close it out 94 points in front.
Strong winds and a strong Williamstown CYMS lineup put paid to Old Xaverians' chances early in the piece. Three first quarter goals had the WOX on the back foot early, and while the Red 'n' Blacks got on the board in the second term, it merely provoked the home team to keep at it. It was a significant loss for the women, tempered somewhat by the knowledge that Fearon Reserve is one of the VAFA's toughest grounds to visit.
Anabelle Gangi was best for the WOX and booted one of the team's two goals.
A win over Parkside next week is critical to ward off the challenges for the WOX position in the four.
Mazenod beat the WOX 2s at Basil Reserve in a game where the home team never quite hit full steam. The visitors scored early and kicked away as the game went on to take the points comfortably.
A win next week over Melbourne Uni will put the WOX back in the top four.
The Red 'n Blacks toppled Old Brighton from the apex of the ladder when they beat them by a point at Stradbroke Park.
Next week, an eight-point game against tradiotional rival De La Salle, who are level with the X-Men on five wins.
Collegians were too strong for Old Xaverians on Harry Trott, winning by four goals. The X-Men fell away in the second term but recovered some in the third stanza to be just 13 points down at the lemons. But then the Lions roared and then seized fourth position from the X-Men.
The Red n' Blacks have a good shot to wrest it back next weekshould they beat bottom-ranked Kew.
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