October 13, 2024
HIGHS AND LOWS
Week 5 Wrap
A Century of the Red & Black
Harry Sleeman starred in defence and skipper Ash Sorrenti worked his way to a BOG Medal as the Old Xaverians completed their year with a well-deserved premiership at HQ today.
Old Melburnians were slow out of the blocks, and Xavs looked the better team early. Hitting in hard and driving the ball forward, they developed an ascendancy everywhere but the scoreboard. The Dark Blues did well to hold the minor premier to two majors, each of them close-range shots from Josh “Tooka” Hanger and David Nash.
In the second stanza, the light breeze favoured the Melburnians, but with the Red ‘n’ Blacks resolute in defence, the round was adjudged a draw and the X-Men went to the sheds leading by 14 points after Vince Crisafi somehow fisted the ball on to his own chest between the posts and then slammed it through.
After the break, the Claret and Stout attacked with regularity but kicked atrociously. The Dark Blues capitalised on a turn-over and scored their second goal of the day. Before the ball returned to the middle, they were accorded another shot, which they gleefully nailed to bring the scores within a goal.
With the wind favouring the OMs in the last, the lemon-time huddle was not bursting with over-confidence. Team Manager Kevin Halpin paced nervously, but coach Tom McClusky re-assured his charges that all was well.
His words did the trick, as his team attacked down the pavilion side and through the corridor. Matt Peric slotted one from a mark and soon thereafter Michael “Zulu” Cain bent one through from the pocket. Five minutes elapsed without response, and then Jim Morrison shut the doors with two bombs that split the centre.
Nash booted his second and Hanger finished it off with his second too, a nice bit of symmetry to conclude a great victory. The large crowd cheered to the last, appreciating the show, but understanding the close bonds that tied this team together.
Last season, they exited early after the VAFA inexplicably changed the format of the finals to the Menages’ disadvantage. This season, no such disappointment. With coach and captain generous with their praise of opponents, umpires and their own team, they hoisted the cup for the sixth time in the storied history of the Menages.
The gang that couldn’t shoot straight - they’d booted 10.28 in their first seven quarters of finals football - got it right when it really counted.
Old Xaverians 2.2-14 3.5-23 3.11-29 9.16-70
Old Melburnians 0.1-1 1.3-9 3.5-23 3.6-24
Goal Kickers: J. Hanger 2, J. Morrison 2, D. Nash 2, M. Peric, M. Cain, V. Crisafi
Best Players: H. Sleeman, M. Speakman, J. Morrison, A. Sorrenti, L. O''Sullivan, J. McElhinney
Old Xaverians won the Premier Reserves title at Elsternwick Park today, putting the sword to Old Melburnians with a twelve goals-to-two second half. After the teams shadow-boxed for the first term and a half, the Red ‘n’ Blacks found freedom in the spaces and tore the Dark Blues to pieces with their run and smart ball use.
Melburnians had sidled out to lead in the second stanza and there was the belief in their camp that this game would go as did last year’s decider - and the three subsequent contests too. But the X-Men were having none of that.
The defence shut down the dangerous OMs, stopping them cold in their tracks, and providing a big springboard for the Red ‘n’ Black offensive. Around the ball, the hard work of Jack Hewitt and Jordan Troiani began to pay dividends. Sam Ralph ran the perimeter like a racehorse back on the track after a spell in the paddock. James Dalbosco controlled matters across half-back, and Joe Tobin, Nick McCann and Luke Barry, the men behind him, mopped up any spillages.
Chris Prowse, strong around the ground and upfront, had a field day, as did his brother Nick, whose hands were stronger than super glue after the long break. Mitch Parker played the opportunist role to perfection, while Ed Lachal just kept leaping at a bigger opponent in the clinches, and winning more than his fair share.
If Nick Pepperells’ team had played better this year, no-one could remember it. After their second semi-final defeat, the coach had told them that he didn’t mind playing in the preliminary final. For a while last week, he might have regretted those sentiments, but not today, when his team played to its potential.
Tristan Parker, the skipper, who has battled bravely against injury all season, slotted a goal in the last term and was subsequently mobbed by all his teammates. Tritter might well have played his final game in the colours, but it is to be hoped his leadership will not be lost. Others might retire too if the post-match whispers were close to the mark. Still others will be hoping to play in the 2:00 pm game a year from now
Today, however, they were a band that played all the instruments and played them in tune to secure the Reserves’ 14th and the club’s 79th premiership.
Old Melburnians 2.0-12 5.1-31 6.1-37 6.1-37
Old Xaverians 1.3-9 5.6-36 11.11-77 17.12-114
Goalkickers: N. Prowse 6, M. Parker 3, C. Prowse 2, M. Douglas 2, J. Troiani, B. Goss, J. Hewitt, T. Parker
Best Players: C. Prowse, N. Prowse, S. Ralph, J. Dalbosco, M. Parker, E. Lachal
