May 10, 2025
2025 PRESIDENT'S DINNER
A great night
A Century of the Red & Black
Saturday was an important day and Xaverian teams shone brightly. Check out the great photo galleries from our great photographers Ari Hatzis, Bridget Wilson and Savanna Villis.
Old Xaverians consigned Old Scotch to its second home defeat in eight days when it pounded the Cardinals by 81 points at Camberwell.
For the second week running, Old Xaverians turned an early deficit into an afternoon delight. Two minutes into the second term, Scotch led by 26 points. But at three-quarter time, they trailed by the same margin, having added just 1.3 to their tally, while the X-Men had added 9.8, turning the game on its head.
At the half it was 41 each of two. But the reigning premier added just 4 points beyond the long break, while the rejuvenated X-Men added 85, including a nine-goal final stanza. The home team was missing several familiar faces, some of them on VFL duty. Certainly, they looked flat from early in the third term and with Xavs building a four goal ascendancy into the wind, a revival in the last from Scotch looked improbable. There was no comeback, just collapse, as the Red 'n' Blacks did as they pleased to run away with a big percentage booster.
Stirling Phipps-Parsons nailed six, ripping holes in the Scotch defence, and Charlie MacIsaac kicked another three. The other ten goals were kicked by midfielders. Hayden Woodhouse was outstanding whether in the ruck or around the ground, Jed Fenely, with his strong intercept marking, was the pick of the defenders, while Marcus Stavrou and Sam Fisher won plenty of it, with the latter drifting forward in the last term to cause havoc. Dan Tuddenham was hard at it and wo plenty of contested ball.
There is plenty of improvement left in Dan Donati's team, though this performance was exceptional. If the Red 'n' Blacks can find consistency from week to week, their ceiling is high. Next week’s clash at St Bernard’s will be critical. The Snow Dogs, unbeaten in three road trips, are yet to win at home, and the Red ‘n’ Blacks will be looking to avenge last year’s awful effort at the Snakepit.
BEST: Hayden Woodhouse, Stirling Phipps-Parsons, Jed Feneley, Dan Tuddenham, Marcus Stavrou, Samuel Fisher
GOALS: Stirling Phipps-Parsons 6, Samuel Fisher 3, Charlie MacIsaac 3, Wade Brusnahan 2, Alec Spralja 2, Xavier Austin 1, Tommy McRae 1, Marcus Stavrou 1
ROUND 4
Old Brighton (62) stayed unbeaten and top of the ladder when it straightened up in the final term and hauled in a 13-point deficit, edging St Kevin’s (55).
Uni Blues (66) trailed narrowly at the half but picked it up to beat De La Salle (36).
Old Haileybury (100) controlled things all day at Princes Park, beating Uni Blacks (56).
St Bernard’s (97) defeated Collegians (90) at the Trott in a game that ebbed and flowed all afternoon.
Old Xaverians met Old Scotch in the dew-kicker at Camberwell and were a little slow to begin. This was no surprise – the opposition was the X-Men’s grand final opponent in the past two seasons and contests at this famous old band box have proven tight. Not today.
Neither team kicked a goal in the first term, but the visitors turned the dial to ‘simmer’ in the second, before rolling it up to ‘boil’ after half-time. The Red Men didn’t respond, as the Claret and Stout added six goals in each of the third and fourth stanzas.
Julian Soccio booted four, and Ben Moyle was named best, as the visitors showed no mercy on the Cardinals. The talent at coach Dan Richardson's disposal is abundant, and bodes well for the long campaign.
BEST: Ben Moyle, Connor Dunne, Ben Scala, Liam Danielis-Morley, Hamish MacIsaac, Charlie Westcott
GOALS: Julian Soccio 4, Makuc Mahommed 2, Harry Bird 1, Nicholas Brown 1, Charlie Cranderson 1, Will Golds 1, Charles Holmes 1, Edward Kennedy 1, Charlie Westcott 1, Charlie Whitehead 1
The WOX slammed a short-handed Coburg to take the points at Basil Reserve. It was one-way traffic all afternoon with the visitors not able to score. (Full marks to them for finding sufficient players to allow the game to ho ahead).
The Xavs kicked five goals in each of the first three terms then added six in the final stanza.
Amelie Menegola turned it on with five goals in a BOG performance and she was well-supported by all her teammates Julia McLean and Bella Villani, who kicked four apiece in the goal glut.
BEST: Amelie Menegola, Mel Clarke, Bella Villani, Julia McLean, Amy Benifer, Anabelle Gangi
GOALS: Amelie Menegola 5, Julia McLean 4, Bella Villani 4, Anabelle Gangi 2, Emily Callinan 1, Mel Clarke, c 1,Alessandra Libertone 1, Amelia Mauri 1, Sienna McLeish 1, Josie Stevens 1
Xavs tamed the Tigers after they had jumped to a five goal lead in the first term. A responsive second term and then a resilient and fighting second half saw the young X-Men hold out their opponent at Brindisi Street.
BEST: Ted Hansen, Tommy Trist, Mitchell Loughnan, Reuben Shale, Miles Regan, Gerard Forrest
GOALS: Ned Betts 2, Charlie Landrigan 2, Reuben Shale 2, Harry Warfe 2, James Godde 1, Alby Hewitt 1, Charlie Hummerston 1, Mitchell Loughnan 1
BEST: Francis Bailey, Ethan Brown, Brooklyn Russell, Ned Rogers, William Allen, Harrison Exell
GOALS: Harrison Exell, Patrick Kennedy, Joe Lee-Conway, William McNamara, James Nania, Fergus Pick
The Premier Thirds, led by Tom Gorman and Harro Bell, who kicked eight, slam-dunked St Bernard's at the Snakepit.
The small power-forward was one of eleven goalkickers for the X-Men, who led from the outset and increased their margins quarter-by-quarter.
Matt Bourke's team is flying and he has plenty of players pushing for higher honours.
Already a game plus massive percentage ahead of second spot, the team can be saisfied with the opening month, but must realise there is a long way to go.
BEST: Thomas Gorman, Harrison Bell, William Wrigley, Tom Mantesso, Tom Bourne, Will Stevens
GOALS: Harrison Bell 8, Will MacIsaac 3, Tom Bourne 2, Jez Alexeyeff 1, Jack Hansen 1 Tom Mantesso 1, Dan McCarthy 1, Atticus Scally 1, Will Stevens 1, Oliver Tehan 1, Bailey Whelan 1
After a slow start, the Green Hose hit their straps and put Old Geelong to the sword at Como Park.
The Reptiles had plenty of good players, with Sean Stanley and Jack Lowe leading the way. The availability of so many natural and regular goalscorers gives this team great balance that will be difficult to upset.
BEST: Sean Stanley, Jack Lowe, Matt Perrett, Alex Eden Lachowicz, Josh Lyon, Samuel Stynes
GOALS: Josh Lyon 4, Matt Perrett 4, Nicholas Harries 2, Adam MacIsaac 2, Seamus O'Shannassy 2,Samuel Stynes 2, Pat Frawley 1, Ed MacIsaac 1, Tiernan O'Brien 1, Michael Speakman 1
The Menages torched Hampton Rovers to win their fourth. Rory Calvert was the pick of the bunch for the victors. He is having quite a season thus far. Xavs lead this comp, clear by a game and healthy percentage ahead of AJAX.
BEST: Rory Calvert, Thomas Beaton, Will Mantesso, Kieran Ellis, Murray Francis
GOALS:
Ned Lyons was best and Frankie O'Callaghan booted seven as the 23s dominated MHSOB at South Yarra. It was a brilliant performance from the Red 'n' Blacks, who had seven multiple goalscorers and another nine who drew twin calicos once.
BEST: Ned Lyons, Stefan Stangherlin, Luca Santalucia, Tom Regan, Francis O’Callaghan, Tom Egan
GOALS: Francis O’Callaghan 7, Ned Lyons 5, Joshua Hynes 2, Edward Pick 2, Sam Purcell 2, Tom Regan 2, Tishan Warnakulasuriya 2, Louis Burke 1, Samuel Casserly 1, Joe Corser 1, Xavier McIntyre 1, Luca Santalucia 1, Jack Shirley 1, Stefan Stangherlin 1, Luke Telford 1, Will Troy 1
Seb Dowling was best and Jimmy McCarthy snagged six as the Xavs rolled over Parkside. The X-Men sit atop the table with a massive percentage and might be in line this week for a promotion to a higher section.
BEST: Sebastian Dowling, Aaron Ivak, Nicky Tyrrell, Eddie Paul, James McCarthy, Ashton Evans
GOALS: James McCarthy 6, Aaron Ivak 4, Hugo Wyman 3, Ashton Evans 2, Ethan Browne 1, Archie Connors 1, James Crawford 1, James Daly 1, Sebastian Dowling 1
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