September 14, 2026
A Century of the Red & Black
For the first time since 2016, the Red ‘n’ Blacks won a final. And what a final and what a win, the X-Men's third against the Kevins for the season. All hair torn out, all finger nails chewed to the quick, after a second half ebbed and flowed with a fury and finally, when it was done, the Red ‘n’ Blacks were seven points to the good.
Xavs attacked first but it wasn’t until six minutes when they broke their duck with a single flag. Play was largely between the arcs as the teams reacquainted themselves with each other. At seven minutes, Ed Delany won the ball-up 25 metres out and Sam Fisher snapped a goal. At 12 minutes, the X-Men worked it beautifully around the far wing, but Bobby Knott missed for the second time. He redeemed himself a minute later with a gather and sharp handball to Charlie MacIsaac who kicked his first. St Kevin’s replied at 17 minutes after a midfield turnover, a muffed handball that didn’t hit its target. It was the Tricolours’ first ray of sunshine for the day, with Xavs doing everything well other than convert. ‘Senior’ Sestan chipped a beauty from the pocket as they went to time-on. After the Red ‘n’ Blacks held the ball in their forward area without scoring, Kevs went forwarda nd snapped their second. Sam Niklaus repelled the restart and Alwyn Davey found Fisher with a lovely pass. The siren went and the Sandover medallist kicked his second. Xavs by 14 points after a quarter of highs and lows from both teams, but the general feeling was that the X-Men should have been further ahead.
At five minutes in the second stanza, Marcus Stavrou snapped his team’s fifth after Charlie MacIsaac harassed and prevented St Kevin’s from clearing. At 13 minutes, Hayden Woodhouse was blocked at a stoppage. He passed it off to Jack O’Sullivan who played on and slammed it home from 50 metres. At 19 minutes, Kevs missed their third opportunity for the term. Xavs went forward and the electric Day took a bounce and whacked it through from the arc. Twenty-eight points separated them as they entered time-on. Charlie Westcott missed, and a long goal to the Glendaloughians at 24 minutes pulled the margin into 23. At 28 minutes,SKOB goaled again and suddenly, they looked dangerous. It was all Kevs deep into time-on. They’d lifted their work rate and the X-Men looked a little unprepared for their sudden increase in intensity. Xavs by 17 points as they went in for the half-time lectures.
Away they went again, with Xavs attacking but missing. They scrapped for a couple of minutes on the X-Men’s half-forward line, but then Kevs swept it away with speed and purpose. Only some strong defensive work prevented a score, but a stoppage brought an infringement and the Kevs kicked their third without response. Still the pressure came and disposal errors threatened to be costly. Then another big snap from the scoreboard pocket and six points separated them. Not for long. At 12 minutes, another goal and theywere all square, 47 each of two. It appeared as if the fumbling Xavs couldn’t hit a target and the self-assured Kevs couldn’t miss.
Delany goaled from the arc at 14 minutes to put the Red ‘n’ Blacks back in front. They were level again at 17 minutes after Kevs went all the way from deep in defence. The Claret and Stout had some moments but their next two scores were both behinds. In time-on, Kevs hit the post. Xavs missed again. At 26 minutes, St Kevin’s did too. An insane kick into the corridor saw a goal gifted to St Kevin’s, but they blew it and the scores were tied. Still, Xavs’ disposal errors were hurting, and with their opponents applying pressure, it was going to be a tough assignment to find some space. At the lemons, after a dominant quarter from the Skobbers, it was 56 apiece.
After two minutes, some great work from Niklaus was not adequately rewarded, but the X-Men were back in front. Another rushed behind after a promising thrust forward fell short. Kevs went end-to-end for a goal. Five minutes gone and SKOB was in front for the first time. Sestan marked and goaled at six minutes and the X-Men led again. By ten minutes, they were square again. Campbell Lane snapped, but missed at 11 minutes. Kevs went forward, Xavs brought it back with a chain of handballs and a Lane set-up for Davey, who goaled again. Fourteen minutes gone, the X-Men by 7 points. Again, not for long. Another SKOB goal brought back to a solitary behind. And that’s how they were as they hit time-on. At 23 minutes, more Davey class, a brilliant gather and an inch-perfect pass to Bobby Knott, who punted it through from 25. X-Men by 7 points. And then, at 26 minutes, a stunner, after a brilliant spoil from Nick Guiney gave King Charlie the chance from the arc. He took it and the crowd went berserk. But at 31 minutes, another SKOB goal. Six points the difference. And at 32 minutes, another one to tie it up. Xavs edged forward. A long MacIsaac kick was marked by Sestan. Bang. 34 minutes gone. Xavs won the clearance and MacIsaac marked in the pocket. Siren.
In a game of exceptional quality, there were highlights from almost every player on the ground. Hayden Woodhouse received the nod as BOG, and he had a big day, battling with the competition's premier ruckman Billy Coates. Nick Guiney returned to his dashing best off the half-back line, while Senior Sestan showed plenty of energy up forward and in the middle. Campbell Lane was prolific, Stirling Phipps-Parsons and Alwyn Davey spark-plugs that kept on firing.
The stats show that SKOB won the clearances, and turned it over fewer times, but Xavs won the scoreboard battle from these sources. The Red 'n' Blacks out-tackled and out-pressured their opponents and in the end, that proved decisive.
So Xavs go through and will meet Uni Blues in next week's grand final. The clubs have met three times on the big dance floor. In 1938, Xavs won their first ever premiership when they beat Blues to take the C Section (Premier C) flag. In 1995, Barry Richardson's team stepped off on a run of six titles in a row when they clubbed Blues. Ten years later, after losing to Blues in R18 by over 70 points, the Xaverians, dubbed the Predators by Coach Richardson, who had returned for a second stint, defeated the heavily-favoured Varsity in a very tight contest.
A warm and windy afternoon was forecast and that’s what greeted the teams as they played off for the right to challenge Uni Blues in the big one next week.
Old Xaverians opened their preliminary afternoon kicking to the scoreboard end, with the breeze pushing the ball to the other pocket atthat same end. Kye Walford kicked Xavs first in an instant reply to Brighton’s opener five minutes in. The Red ‘n’ Blacks missed their next two opportunities.The scoring dried up until at 19 minutes, the Tonners lodged their second to retake the lead. That narrow advantage was wiped out when the X-Men’s second major came just before the first change.
But the Tonners twice drew twin calicos in the opening minutes of the second stanza and the minor premier was back on its heels. That set the tone for the quarter. The Redlegs scored another two, but Xavs answered both of those to keep the rope reasonably tight. Still, the Beach Boys had kicked six straight in the Elsternwick chop, and that in itself is a rare feat. Old Brighton led by ten points at the half.
The Beach Boys finally missed one with their first try in the third and Will MacIsaac goaled again to bring the X-Men within a goal. Xavs added another mid-term to re-take the lead. A slew of minor scores edged the lead out to five points, but two unanswered goal for the Red ‘n’ Blacks put them out by 16 points at the lemons.
The predicted wind change hadn’t arrived when the final term began, but it certainly turned to the south during the term, which didn't hurt the reigning premier. Old Brighton kicked the first goal of the term and they were back in the game. Xavs missed their first shot, but Will MacIsaac kicked truly again and the lead was a game-high 17 points. Ten minutes gone and thex-Men put another one wide, but their advantage ticked to an even three goals. At sixteen minutes, the X-Men went out by 23 points and as they hit time-on, the reigning premier went out by 29 points, with W MacIsaac again splitting the tall uprights. Harry Bird got on the board at 19 minutes and that just about punched the Red ‘n Blacks‘ entry ticket to another title defence. They weren’t done yet: another goal extended their skein to 27 points unanswered. And that’s where they stayed. In the end, the X-Men by 44.
