Old Xaverians claimed their 96th premiership and the Reserves won their 19th, but the Ones failed by just four points to win their 15th LA Adamson Cup after a momentous final term comeback.

RESSIES WIN FIFTH ON END SINCE COVID

A brilliant four quarter onslaught by the Red 'n' Blacks enabled them to reverse their second semi-final loss to Uni Blues and seize the Noel Rundle Cup again. For the sixth time on since returning to the dais in 2019, the year prior to lockdown, the Claret and Stout saluted on Grand Final Day.

It took three quarters to shake the Varsity, despite the X-Men having most of the play. Blues made the most of their opportunities with fast breaks and enjoyed the lead at every change of ends. But Xavs kicked the first two of the final stanza and then Oscar Duncan booted Xavs' third goal of the final term, and the reigning premier hit the front. The big ruckman-forward had put his team in front early in the third before Uni Blues steadied with their last use of the slight breeze to reclaim their ascendancy.

At the lemons, Blues led by two goals and might have fancied their chances, but they would be on the receiving end of a barrage from the second-half specialists. It began early in the last when the X-Men at last found space and the game opened up. Powered by a magnificent turn in the ruck from Ben Moyle, who must have bruised fists after his repeated punching of the pill, driving his team forward, onward to victory.

Sam Bowen got it started, and then Harry Bird began his riotous term with a goal to level the scores. After Duncan's goal, the teams traded behinds and then Bird split the sticks again. Blues goaled to reduce the margin to five points, but then Will Macisaac capped his already brilliant performance with two goals on end to put down the rebellion. In the end, he booted five and collected the medal for BOG, as he had in the Thirds premiership last year.

In a game that had hitherto lacked general precision from the Xavs, the last term brought it all together. The Red 'n' Blacks ran harder, used the ball better and swept to victory courtesy of magic moments.

Hamish MacIsaac, Liam Danielis-Morley and Oliver Britten-Jones did plenty of clever things in decisive moments, breaking the Blues resolve. Billy Egan, Xavier Austin and and skipper Angus Sheedy held things tight, shutting down the Varsity's road to goal in the final stanza.

The victory was great reward for Dan Richardson's team, who dropped two contests to Uni Blues, but were otherwise unscathed, albeit against often patchy opposition. The eye is often fixed on the future as much as it the Reserves result. A number of players in the triumph have tasted senior football with some success, and surely there are others who will get their chance soon enough.

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DREAMS CAME TRUE IN LAST, ALMOST

Old Xaverians fell agonisingly short of premiership glory when they fell to Uni Blues in the steamy cauldron at Elsternwick. The four-point margin seemed highly improbable at three quarter time, when the Red 'n' Blacks were four goals down. That margin would have been far greater had Blues dominance in the third term had been reflected on the scoreboard, but the Varsity's 4.10 to 2.0 in the premiership quarter wasn't enough to finish off the resilient X-Men.

In the final term, Blues added another 1.5, while the Claret and Stout stormed with 5.1 but didn't quite get home, just failing to pull off the heist of the century. Given their spanking in the second semi and their torrid and furious clash in the preliminary final, not to mention Blues ascendancy at the clearances, it was an extraordinary effort. Even the most ardent of Xaverian fans couldn't have expected such a hurculean effort, but the players wearing the red and black hoops demanded it of themselves. The Red 'n' Blacks just kept on coming, and there was plenty of panic on the other side. The third term had gone 35 minutes, but this time the timekeepers weren't as generous. If the final call had gone Xavs' way, they might have pinched it, but it didn't. The roar of disapproval was so loud that no-one behingd the scoreboard goals heard the siren. But they saw the umpire raise his hands, and just like that, hope was gone. Losing a grand final is tough, and it hurt, but I suspect there were fewer tears at the end than there would have been among the faithful had the Xavs pulled off a win after all that.

Coach Dan Donati's mantra all season was about taking the next step. They made more than one step this season, in fact it was a leap. Winning as many games as anyone, winning a final for the first time in a decade, reaching their first grand final at Elsternwick in thirteen seasons. And yet, there is unfinished business, and perhaps the Xavs can take the final step next year. Why not? They almost did it against perhaps the most credentialled VAFA club team in history.

Beating a team that boasted over 750 games at AFL level was never going to be easy. Given that these players had enjoyed injury-free seasons made it a little more difficult. Yet when the heat was on in the last stanza, none of that mattered much. The man that the Red 'n' Blacks couldn't tame was the Varsity tall, Joe Furphy. Twenty years ago, it was Stefan Martin, who rucked old Haileybury to their only Premier title before departing for a 200 game AFL career. Furphy might be about to follow in his footsteps. Whatever his future holds, his performance yesterday was a stunner, giving his team 16 to 3 centre clearances and an advantages at all stoppages of 56 to 30, despite brave efforts from Hayden Woodhouse, Ben Andrews and Ed Delany as well as others who took a turn at getting first hands on the ball.

The overnight stats, if correct, both inform and mislead. The Claret and Stout had 60 more disposals on the afternoon, even winning more possessions, even contested possessions, and took more marks, even contested marks, in what have proved a fatal third term. Blues simply used the ball better, putting the Xavs under enormous pressure with repeated bombs to their twin towers. Life is always easier with two big fellows up front who can take a catch. Xavs, of course were the league leaders in both kicks and handballs. Blues have employed less disposal with the hands, but that is understandable given the way they set up.

In the final term, playing with a derring-do that always produces their best, the X-Men averaged a score every 16.3 disposals. (That was close to their season average.) Prior to that, in the first three quarters, they averaged a score every 24.1 disposals. On the day, Blues had a score every 7.75 disposals. in the third stanza, they reduced that to a staggeringly low 5.36. No matter their inaccuracy in front of the pegs, that is extraordinary efficiency. How does any team combat that? (on the season, Blues, playing ten games on the slow University deck, still mannged 14.76 disposals per score)

Blues scored 23 times from turnovers, though Xavs netted better because they kicked straight, pickig up 62 points from 12 shots.

There were some standout efforts from the Red 'n Blacks yesterday that deserve noting. Oliver Sestan was again a strong presence up forward and in the middle. 'Senior' has been a great addition to the team. Alwyn Davey was silky, as always, despite injuring a shoulder early in the game. Sam Fisher and Marcus Stavrou provided real lift with their classy displays and special moments. Campbell Lane refused to give in and kept driving, while Charlie Westcott was outstanding too, playing an important role and kicking a goal when needed. Charlie MacIsaac, harrassed as always, managed some special moments

But it's all over for another year. in the comig months, all Premier clubs will study their own personnel, their style of play and the tendencies of other teams. That's what they do each year, and we, as watchers, are the benificiaries.

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