June 28, 2025
MATE versus MATE
U23s top Ménages: others win big
A Century of the Red & Black
In windy conditions, an Old Xaverians team that had six changes forced on them crushed a willing but short-handed St Bernard's at Toorak Park. The win, coupled with the loss by Old Brighton, saw the Red 'n' Blacks on top of the table as the VAFA Premier section goes into hibernation for two weeks.
Xavs kicked with the swirling gale blowing towards the High Street end of the park and at five minutes, Sam Ralph goaled after running through the middle and getting on the end of a chain that had been started by Ben Scala.
At eight minutes, Alex Trigar began another progression and the ball moved with speed to Charlie McIsaac, who goaled from 35 on the run. For the second time, Marcus Stavrou had been a significant link.
Three minutes later, Hayden Woodhouse gratefully accepted a short pass from Charlie Holmes and added another six-pointer from forty metres. Then Nick Guiney took a sharp handball from Julian Gangi and smashed it home from the arc.
Late in the term, Bernies went deep again, but again, the X-Men swept away and the string off possessions ended with a narrow miss by Ted Kennedy. The Red ‘n’ Blacks did not allow the clearance, however, and Julian Gangi kicked one straight over the goal umpires’ hat after a series of handballs had sprung him free in the Orrong pocket.
The quarter ended at 35-0. The Pitters two most promising attacks had resulted in 1.1 – not to them, but to the home team.
The visitors got on the board at four minutes after a positive drive forward, which, for once, was not swallowed up by the tight and organised Red ‘n’ Blacks defence.
Eleven minutes in, Xavs cleared again from deep in defence. Stavrou opened it up again and the ball went out to Scala who ran to 45 and booted it home. The Reserves captain was having a day out.
The next three Xavs’ thrusts all failed to produce goals, with the last yielding a Bernard’s goal from the kick-in.
As time-on began, Stavrou pushed the home team forward again. Bernies copped a deliberate and Wade Brusnahan left-footed it through from beside the point post.
The Pitters added a third as the clock ran down and they went in to the sheds with a 51-point deficit. They had narrowly won the quarter, but only on the scoreboard. The X-Men, toiling into the wind, had been served well by Sam Ralph, who took a hanger in the term, Jed Feneley, Scala and the brilliant, bustling, bullocking Stavrou.
Woodhouse goaled to open he third term after Will Goss did some slick work inside a phone box and hit his target lace out. Stavrou was the recipient of a nice pass from Josh Cumberlidge and the 2021 Woodrow Medallist booted it home, probably sealing three votes towards his 2025 haul. Nick Guiney roved a long ball and goaled. At eight minutes, the margin was eight goals. But not for long, as Bernies dragged one back a minute later after a rare centre clearance. Alex Trigar copped a whack, Xavs drove forward and Stavrou hit the woodwork. A minute later, Woodhouse chipped home Xavs’ eleventh. The resulting centre clearance pushed the ball forward. Charlie MacIsaac marked and goaled. The rout was on. Another clearance, and Gangi goaled. Sixteen minutes gone, and Xavs by 61 points.
The X-Men looked to be out-numbering Bernies at every contest and they went forward with happy abandon. MacIsaac hit up fellow Charlie Westcott, who went back and goaled. Gangi snapped one home from a throw-in at 24 minutes, and the visitors looked terminal. Oscar Duncan was rewarded for his tackle and goaled from close range. The home team was out by 80 points as they headed to the lemons.
Bernards missed early in the term, and the Xavs raced it down, only to miss. Next time they went forward, Will Goss, who had used the ball well all day, smashed one home from 60 metres on the run. Charlie Holmes finished nicely after Cumberlidge found him 30 metres out. The visitors went forward at 9 minutes and pulled 6 points closer. Oscar Duncan took a strong grab and kicked superbly from 40 metres, but the Pitters responded to bring the margin back to 88 points as they hit time-on. Cumberlidge took a one-hander, slipped past his opponent, ran inside and hit the Senator on a lead. Kennedy went back and registered Xavs’ 20th major. Again, Bernies responded. Too little, too late, but they added another at 27 minutes just for good measure. The clock expired to leave the Snow Dogs down by 81, and the X-Men on top of the ladder.
It would be easy to wave off this win as merely a thrashing of an out-of-form team, but that would be a mistake. Arguably, the X-Men were missing more frontliners than the Snow Dogs, but there was some extraordinary football played by the home team. There is plenty yet to be played out before the laurels are cut, but Dan Donati's team, however it is composed and structured, looks every inch a serious contender.
BEST: Marcus Stavrou, Jed Feneley, Thomas Dunne, Nick Guiney, Alex Trigar, Charlie Westcott
GOALS: Julian Gangi 3, Hayden Woodhouse 3, Oscar Duncan 2, Nick Guiney 2, Charlie MacIsaac 2, Wade Brusnahan 1, Will Goss 1, Charles Holmes 1, Edward Kennedy 1, Sam Ralph 1, Ben Scala 1, Marcus Stavrou 1, Charlie Westcott 1
Collegians (61) survived a strong last quarter from Scotch (49) to register their first home win in 6 tries. Their victory sees them jump into seventh spot, but just half-a-game off the trapdoor. The Cardinals are a game plus percentage out of the four.
Uni Blues (99) inflicted more pain on De La Salle (45) but still face a tough six weeks after the break to survive in Premier Section.
After trailing at the lemons by 11 points, St Kevin’s (85) hung seven last quarter goals on Old Brighton (58) to win the day at TH King.
Uni Blacks (65) trailed Old Haileybury (98) under the spires on Sunday. The Bloods are Xavs' next opponent in 20 days time.
The Reserves had a 34 point win over St Bernard’s in windy conditions at Toorak Park, ensuring they stayed well clear of all comers at the top of the table. The visitors never conceded, though they did struggle to keep the pace in the first half.
After the long break, the Bernies shaded the reigning premier, winning both the third and final terms, which is not the usual MO for the Red ‘n’ Blacks, who like to tease, torture and then, finally, crush. The goalkicking from the home team was poor (2.9 after the half) and this kept the game alive longer than most had supposed, though the Snow Dogs added just 4.8 themselves in a scrappy second half.
Angus Sheedy captained the team in his 100th game as brother Will debuted for the Twos. The Red ‘n’ Blacks had some dangerous forwards. Oliver Britten-Jones was lively, booting three and in the best for the second week running and Matt Exell added a pair of six-pointers to add to his consistent output. The more experienced on-ball pair, Ben Moyle and Jeromy Lucas, proved more than capable at the stoppages, while Makuc Mahommed, Ricky Wood and Billy Egan all did plenty.
Down the road, lowly De La Salle knocked off fourth-placed Uni Blues, and down the highway, SKOB torched Old Brighton.
BEST: Ben Moyle, Jeromy Lucas, Oliver Britten-Jones, William Egan, Makuc Mahommed, Ricky Wood
GOALS: Oliver Britten-Jones 3, Harry Bird 2, Matt Exell 2, Sam Asdagi 1, Hugo Barry 1, Tom Bourne 1, Bailey Whelan 1
The WOX were short of numbers and couldn't find the sticks, going down to the Old Yarra Cobras in their R12 clash.
BEST: Alessandra Libertone, Emily Callinan, Molly McCarthy, Olivia Benston, Tess McCarthy, India Harries
In a determined and meritorious team performance, the short-handed Red 'n' Blacks came from 40 points down at the half to fall short by just 13 points against a strong Old Scotch team.
BEST: Patrick Kenny, Xavier Austin, Max King, Ted Hansen, Charles Anderson, Henry Lasscock
GOALS: Xavier Austin 2, Alby Hewitt 2, Max King 2, William Allen 1, Lachlan Ash - Grimm 1, Gerard Forrest 1, Lachlan Mallett 1
The Red 'n' Blacks trailed by just two points at the lemons, but couldn't hold the Lions in the final stanza.
BEST: William McNamara, Will Maxa, Tom Croft, Henry Nicholls, Blake Nixon, James Nania
GOALS: Will Maxa 3, MaxPhillips 2, Sebastian Dowling 1, Harrison Exell 1
The Premier Thirds conceded little space and less limelight as they beat St Bernard's by 122 points at Stradbroke Park. Twelve Xavs kicked a goal, with Connor Spears slotting six and Tommy Davine five.
BEST: Oliver Tehan, Fred Visentini, Connor Spears, Will Stevens, Ed Dalton, Tom Davine
GOALS: Connor Spears 6, Tom Davine 5, Xavier McIntyre 3, Ed Dalton 2, Charles Ralph 2, Joe Corser 1, Tom Curtain 1, William Exell 1, Tom Mantesso 1, Tom Paul 1, Stefan Stangherlin 1, Will Stevens 1
The Green Hose accounted for St Kevin's in a low scoring affair at Toorak Park. Ed Ralph was accorded BOG honours and Nick Harries slotted a hat-trick in the victory.
BEST: Edward Ralph, Joshua Nelson, William Bryce, Charles Connors, Eythan Chiodo, Tiernan O'Brien
GOALS: Nicholas Harries 3, Tom McCarthy 2, Tiernan O'Brien 2, William Bryce 1, Matt Perrett 1
The Menages had a competitive third term against Old Brighton, but were otherwise held in check by the Brach Boys, who cruised to a 55 point win.
BEST: Edison Ponari, Louis Denton, Kieran Ellis, Will Mantesso, Will Honan, Ryan Cunningham
GOALS: Kieran Ellis 2, Will Honan 1, John Kenny 1. Will Mantesso 1, Luke Pirrie 1
The Xavs proved too sttrong for Old Trinity on the Daley, running out winners by 40 points.
BEST: Sam Noonan, Charlie Hummerston, Will Troy, Samuel Casserly, Harrison Hosking, William McCormack
GOALS: William McCormack 2, Will Stevens 2, Oliver Tehan 2, Luke McCarthy 1, Sam Noonan 1, Oscar Smart 1, Stefan Stangherlin 1, Will Troy 1
The top-ranked Xavs dropped just their second game of the year, going down to Old Carey by 70 points.
SCORES
BEST: Max Murphy, Sam Landrigan, Sebastian Dalton, Nicky Tyrrell, Patrick Hoy, Luke Fares
GOALS: Chris Crisostomos 1, Sebastian Dalton 1, Luke Fares 1, Ned Lyons 1, William McCormack 1
