August 23, 2025
2025 PREMIERSHIP REUNION LUNCH
Heroes of 1995 and 2005 remember
A Century of the Red & Black
Three games. Wins to the Seniors and U19s as the Ressies fall for the first time this year.
In conditions marred only temporarily by a damp Toorak Park centre square, Old Xaverians destroyed Uni Blues by 74 points. Wearing black armbands to mark the passing of former President David Burnes, and with the heroes of 1995 and 2005 watching from on-high, the X-Men gradually got on top and then lowered the boom.
The teams swapped minor scores early, with Xavs looking a little more threatening despite kicking into the slight breeze. At ten minutes, the home team goaled as Charlie MacIsaac received a free kick after an off-the-ball incident.
Denis Symeopoulos booted the Red ‘n’ Blacks’ second at 20 minutes as Tex Wanganeen reported to the Xavs’ M.A.S.H. unit. King Charlie then doubled up with the X-Men’s third. From the restart, Hayden Woodhouse atoned for an early miss and the Claret and Stout led by 25 points. But the Blues kicked the last two of the term to finish the stronger.
Hamish MacIsaac took a courageous intercept mark in the opening minute of the second, and duly slapped it through from the arc. Woodhouse nailed his second after Bobby Knott presented him with a slick handpass, but the Blues went forward and kicked the next two. Charlie MacIsaac out-bodied his opponent twice in a minute, and hammered home the second chance after missing the first. Blues goaled again after a comedy of errors. Xavs led by 15 as they entered time-on. Two forays forward went wide, but Wanganeeen, back on the ground, found Woodhouse who kicked his third. Hamish MacIsaac intercepted at the back of the square, ran through the mud and then received a nice handball. He slotted his second of the term. Some Knott magic was rewarded with a goal to Stirling Phipps Parsons, but Blues got one late when the Xavs’ defence failed to clear.
For much of the first half of the third term, the teams shared possessions in the midfield. At 14 minutes, Phipps Parsons added another for the X-Men after catching a high cross from MacIsaac C. Into time-on, and Blues sneaked their first for their second turn with the breeze. At the lemons, Xavs were up 31 points but down one man, with Wanganeen done for the day.
From the first bounce of the final stanza, Xavs went forward and missed. Blues took it end to end, but lost it just metres out. The X-Men immediately ran it all the way down and Charlie Westcott slipped it through. Then Ben Bilston-McGillen picked off a pass and booted it home from the arc. Westcott took a strong goal square grab in traffic, and booted his second at 5 minutes. Blues went forward with a free kick but the salvo was picked off. A chain of handballs and them a footpass to Wade "The Celebrator" Brusnahan, who booted the home team’s fourth in seven minutes. A minute later, Charlie Holmes bombed one, and the Red ‘n Blacks, in very much of a hurry, led by 62. The visitors responded at 12 minutes.
Then out of the middle, Woodhouse found Ed Delany, who became the X-Men’s tenth goal scorer with a long, straight set shot. Will Goss kicked another from the goalsquare, but the dust-up that preceded the strike was costly, with a melee fine sure to add to the cost of a new guernsey for Sammy Hansen. The midfielder soldiered on, partially dressed. Forward they went and Phipps Parsons slotted another. The Claret and Stout were totally dominating the front half, picking up possessions at will. Somehow, Blues went forward and goaled as they entered time on. Delany snapped truly to push it to 73 points. Someone upstairs celebrating the 2005 A Section premiership noted that Bobby Knott had the opportunity to make it 79 points, which was famously the margin in Blues' favour at Toorak Park in Round 18 of that year. But but he hit the post. Strangely, this proved to be the second-closest contest of the round.
It was an outstanding performance from the Red 'n' Blacks, particularly when kicking to the Malvern Road end. Their hard running enabled them to attack in waves, and their handball and aerial superiority cut swathes through the visitors' defence. The Blues succumbed in the end, and while leaving without the points, secured another chance in Premier next season when other results fell their way.
BEST: Sam Hansen, Ben Bilston-McGillen, Thomas Hart, Hayden Woodhouse, Jed Feneley, Oscar Duncan
GOALS: Stirling Phipps-Parsons 3, Hayden Woodhouse 3, Ed Delany 2, Charlie MacIsaac 2, Hamish MacIsaac 2, Denis Symeopoulos 2, Charlie Westcott 2, Ben Bilston-McGillen 1, Wade Brusnahan 1, Will Goss 1, Charles Holmes 1
St Bernard's (141) caned Old Haileybury (58), St Kevin's (146) smashed De La Salle (44), Collegians (60) fell to Old Brighton (83) after going toe to toe into the final term and Scotch (124) obliterated Uni Blacks (29).
Here's the washup: Xavs clinched a top two finish. Blacks won't play finals. Blues are safe in Premier. Old Scotch might as they can displace Old Haileybury if they beat them at Haileybury Keysborough next week. With Collegians playing winless De La Salle, St Bernard's will likely need to beat SKOB at the Snakepit to hold on. They did it last year.
For the first time this season, the Reserves tasted defeat. Old rival Uni Blues came in, and while it was the home team who began more brightly, the Varsity systematically cut them down to take the points. It was a comfortable win to the visitors in the end. Was this the loss the Ressies had to have? We will see in the coming weeks, when a rematch with the Blues seems quite possible.
BEST: Ben Scala, Harry Bird, Harrison Bell, Matt Exell, Hugh Basset, Ben Moyle
GOALS: Jeromy Lucas 2, Harrison Bell 1, Harry Bird 1, Jack Boyd 1, Matt Exell 1, Edward Kennedy 1, Julian Soccio 1
The Red 'n' Blacks led early, but as the game wore on, it looked increasingly likely that their advantage would not last. It didn't. Level at the lemons, the Claret and Stout nonetheless came home the stronger to win comfortably.
Xavier Austin scored a hat-trick and was BOG in the win. As has been their wont most weeks, Tommy Trist and Ted Hansen were again among the best. Charlie Landrigan produced three fine goals in the victory.
Next week, the U19s finish with a clash with Old Scotch, and a win would be well cherished.
BEST: Xavier Austin, Tommy Trist, Patrick Kenny, Charlie Landrigan, Ted Hansen, Ned Rogers
GOALS: Xavier Austin 3, Charlie Landrigan 3, Ned Rogers 2, Tommy Trist 2, Charles Anderson 1, AlbyHewitt 1, Max King 1, Gus Levinge 1, Lachlan Mallett 1, Harry Warfe 1
