May 9, 2026
BIG WINS, TOUGH LOSSES
Red 'n' Blacks take it up a gear
A Century of the Red & Black
A great win for the Ones, a shock loss for the Twos and three of our five Thirds teams, and both U19 teams go down. Kudos to the WOX for another two big wins.
As always, you'll find some great match galleries Ari Hatzis and Bridget Wilson here
Old Xaverians withstood some early pressure and territorial dominance from Uni Blues to take the chocolates at Parkville today. The visitors looked out of sorts early, and did not have a possession ahead of centre until 11 minutes into the first term. The visitors' first goal didn’t come until 15 minutes when Bobby Knott kicked truly on the run after a nice chain had developed from deep in defence.
The chain gang got to work again and twice went forward with purpose towards the Swanston Street end. The first shot was hurried and missed the lot, but the second split the middle, courtesy of Charlie MacIsaac. At 24 minutes, the X-Men swept forward with speed and precision, but MacIsaac missed his second. Xavs were rolling but it was Blues who kicked the goal to take a seven-point lead 25 minutes. And the home team goaled again from a failed switch that was doomed from the outset. The Swamp Hens led by 14 points with 29 minutes gone. At 32 minutes, on the siren, Blues missed from a free kick on the arc.
Xavs attacked with purpose and Campbell Lane found MacIsaac on the lead. He dobbed his second with less than a minute gone. King Charlie had already had four shots. At eight minutes, down the Pavvy wing they came again. A perfectly weighted kick from Lane fell directly in Wade Brusnahan’s path and he volleyed it home.
Blues attacked for the fifth time and another fifty-fifty call resulted in a Blues goal after four misses. Fourteen minutes in, Blues led by 11, but the X-Men had a purple patch in the middle of the term and Oscar Duncan marked and goaled at 18 minutes. Blues squandered another shot as they entered time-on. A clever foray forward saw Oli Sestan do some fine work and find Duncan in the goal square. The big fella’s shot tied it at 38. At 25 minutes, Alwyn Davey, hitherto in everything, picked off a Blues attack and swept forward. Jack O’Sullivan was on the end of another handball chain and he banged it home from distance. The visitors were up by six. Another Blues miss saw the Red ‘n’ Blacks lurch forward with patience. MacIsaac marked on the wing, put it up for O’Sullivan who marked, but did not kick, superbly. At the long break, the Claret and Stout by six points.
Two minutes into the third, Hayden Woodhouse plucked an intercept and kicked truly. Two goals up. The visitors had total control in the middle of the park. They drove again, MacIsaac marked, aired it out and Ed Delany took a big grab, which he converted for the X-Men’s fifth in a row. Eighteen points up! Sammy Hansen, a man born to tackle, and to take a tackle, caught an opponent cold, but did not convert after a 50 metre penalty put him close. Blues had a period of ascendancy but could not convert. Xavs should have added another after some Delany magic, but a shot went wide. The Swamp Hens went forward for a goal from a free kick as lemon time approached. Duncan marked again and booted his third and the visitors would have had another had the umpire not penalised a clever Sestan move. The home team went straight down for a goal and the margin was in to 12 points. Delany took another hanger and King Charlie took another strong mark, but the books were closed on the third stanza.
Coaches nearly always tell their charges that getting the first goal in the final term is a must, though no-one keeps stats to measure the truth in that claim. In any case, Blues goaled in 14 seconds of the opening toss-up in the last term. At three minutes, the home team had the chance to even the ledger, but it went wide. Then, for nine minutes, both defences covered without conceding.
It was Duncan who re-broke the ice, roving to a MacIsaac leap and goaling. Then O’Sullivan took a handball from Delany at full stretch and kicked the perfect drop punt. Xavs by 17 points. A Blues goal two minutes later received a prompt response when the visitors took it from the restart into MacIsaac’s hungry hands. He slotted it from 25 metres. And Blues didn’t fire another shot until the final siren, while the X-Men added further goals to Woodhouse and MacIsaac.
This was Xavs’ fourth win on end under the spires against Blues, and easily their best. While the Varsity had some statistical advantages,the Red ‘n Blacks used the ball far better. What cannot be measured accurately is the quickness of their hands and the space they found in the clinches.
Jack O’Sullivan tore sheds in the Blues defence, Oscar Duncan made the most of his opportunities and Charlie MacIsaac was lethal. Alwyn Davey played a very assured role behind the ball, aiding a strong defence ledby Tommy Hart and Alex Trigar. Campbell Lane had a mere 47 touches and ran forward and back relentlessly. Ed ‘Air’ Delany had some telling touches and showed continued solid form.
While Blues matched the X-Men in shots for goal, and the score remained close, the result never seemed in doubt after Xavs evened it up early in time-on of the second stanza. They were never headed again and won it going away in what was a very professional performance.
So for the X-Men, it is back home to meet St Bernard’s, who willb e looking to make extract some rewards from their form, which has been better than their results suggest.
Old Scotch (62) pushed Old Brighton (80) at Camberwell but never had the upper hand.
Old Trinity (76) beat Old Haileybury (51) on the Daley Oval expanse.
Caulfield(64) had an improved showing against St Kevin's (98), while St Bernard's (60) couldn't muster the firepower to get over Uni Blacks (85).
NEXT WEEK : R6
Old Brighton v Old Trinity
Old Haileybury v Uni Blues
St Kevin's v Old Scotch
Uni Blacks v Caulfield
Old Xaverians v St Bernard's
Old Xaverians led by a point at Uni Oval after a low-scoring first term, and that was the end of the good news for the day. In pleasant conditions, Blues edged clear and though their margin was always small enough to be erased when the Claret and Stout turned on the after-burners, the reigning premier didn't.
The visitors did win the final term, but find themselves a game behind Uni Blacks, who remain unbeaten, and fighting for space with three other teams with just one loss.
Old Xaverians beat Glen Eira/Old McKinnon at Packer Park despite some inaccurate kicking for goal. Vice-captain and veteran Amy Benifer showed the way with a BOG performance and Chiara Chiarelli twice goaled to ensure the win, which sees them one game outside the four. Significantly, the team's three losses have been to teams above them, and none of these has been, by any standards, a crushing defeat. (The margins have been 2, 13 and 1 point).
Next week, the WOX meet Old Yarra Cobras, who are 1-4.
The Bonnett sisters booted five goals between them as the Xavs rean riot in the opening term to establish an unassailable lead. Daisy Bonnett kicked three goals in that term, while Chloe was named best afield in a strong team performance.
The WOX are just half a game from top spot and enjoy a massive percentage advantage that should do them well against other contenders. Next week, a clash with Canterbury, who are (1-4).
The U19s fell to St Kevin's, who built a handy lead in the second term at TH KIng. The young Red 'n' Blacks fought back in the third term, but the Glendloughians steadied in the last quarter to protct and slightly up their advantage.
Next week, the fifth-placed Xavs travel to Beaumaris, who are 1-4 on the season.
Old Camberwell, reshuffled into U19 North 2 this week, surprised Old Xaverians for their first win. James O'Brien kicked five for the Xavs and Max Lightbody was again in excellent form, but the Red 'n Blacks weren't up to the rejuvenated Wellers.
Next week, a tussle with PEGS, who like the Xavs, are 2-3.
Sam Bowen was best, Sam Asdagi and Eddie Paul booted four apiece as the Red 'n' Blacks proved too strong for the Tricolours. The Xavs welcomed Makuc Mahommed and Harry Warfe back for their first games of the year. Next week, the big derby with the Crocs, who are hitherto unbeaten.
Jon Merlo booted eight and was best as the Reptiles raced away from Olld Scotch. Next week, the 1 v 2 clash with the OX Thirds.
A unhappy day for the Red 'n' Blacks as a lack of firepower saw them fall to the Bellers by 32 points. Ollie Tehan was best, but De La surprised. Next week, it's the derby with the Ménages.
Old Brighton kept out the Ménages to register a narrow win at BBO. It was a low scoring affair and the result was in doubt until late, theough Brighton had led at each change. Next up, the derby with the U23s.
St Kevin's ran out big winners at TH King when they beat the Old Xavs by 64 points in their R5 contest. It was the Kevins' second win of the season and they remain behind the X-Men, who are fourth, but meet second-placed OMs next week.
