October 13, 2024
HIGHS AND LOWS
Week 5 Wrap
A Century of the Red & Black
Finals were most definitely in the air as the Red ‘n’ Blacks gathered at Toorak Park for their final home clash.
OLDXAVS.com, then in its first year, provided the details.
14 Aug '03
The final home outing this Saturday sees the Xavs defend their perfect record at home against Haileybury.
The significance of the thus-far perfect home record is not lost on the Titans of the Terraces, most of whom can't recall a similar feat by an Old Xavs senior team.
Maintaining the clean slate against the Bloods will not be easy. The visitors warmed up for the finals with a wire-to-wire victory over St Bernards at Elsternwick last Saturday and will be looking to repeat their victory over the Red 'n' Blacks at the Badlands in R8.
Club CEO Kevin O’Shaughnessy has admitted that the Xavs game plan that day was perhaps flawed. “Our pre-game strategy of wearing out the Corrigans, by kicking the ball to them at every available opportunity, whilst brilliantly executed was, probably, in hindsight, not the way to go.”
The magnitude of the home ground advantage is the source of some argument amongst the Magi of the Mound. Some argue that the ground does not suit the Old Xavs style of play. Others have argued that it does.
To be sure, the Xavs have played some inspired football there this winter and there have also been moments of mediocrity - though not enough to blemish the blotter. Their strength has to been being able to find a little bit extra in all conditions against most teams.
The form of the current four, which are likely the final four, is fascinating. St. Bernards are averaging over 20 goals a game, but have recorded losses to the other three premiership contenders in the second round; Old Scotch have notched- eight wins on the trot, including the scalps of its top 3 rivals; Old Haileybury has beaten every side in the competition; and Old Xavs in second spot, but yet to beat Old Scotch or Haileybury.
Where will it begin and end? The answer is a pineapple. “Not knowing, cannot say” as The Great Ho Tung said.
Coach Sholly would like to clinch second spot this week and he will find no argument among the Xavs faithful.
The 2s play a similarly important game and can replace Haileybury in the four should they get up. The Bloods appear to be slipping a notch, perhaps because their depth is being tested by a lack of U19 and 3rds teams.
……..
First up, the lunch. The Year 12 boys from Xavier gathered, as did the 1978 premiership team, to celebrate their success 25 years before.
16 Aug '03
The Lux Pavilion was packed for the final lunch of the season, which featured both a tribute to the APS premiers Xavier College First XVIII and a reunion of the 1978 C Section premiership team coached by Jack Batten. The skipper of that side John Noonan addressed the gathering amid strains of the ancient Old Xavs spiritual "Ole John Noonan, he keeps on rucking" emanating from the tables at the back of the room.
Guests at the lunch included Xavier Principal Chris McCabe and members of his staff, and Madge Sanders, widow of John Sanders who was President of the club in 1978. It was great to see so many convene to talk of glories past. The Year 12 men had some divided loyalties, as their teammate Dan Rush was on the ground making his debut in the 2s.
17 Aug '03
The Xavs hosted Haileybury at Toorak Park yesterday and set them packing in the final term to complete a perfect home score of 8 wins from 8 attempts.
The clash was expected to be an arm-wrestle and for three quarters, it was. Haileybury kicked nearly three goals clear in the 3rd quarter, but the Xavs stormed home as they unleashed the run on a bewildered Bloods lineup to lead by 28 points before the visitors walked in with three uncontested consolation goals.
The Killer Bees, this time Beetham, Biddlecombe and Brushfield, and a fast leading Orlando who proved too much for the boys from the Badlands, who must now fend off a late challenge from Trinity for fourth spot.
With OMs tossing St Bernards, the Red 'n' Blacks have moved into top spot, though the minor premiership has never been an ambition at Toorak Park.
OMs, of course, are locked in a mortal struggle with SKOB to remain in A Section, which bodes well for a big clash at the Junction.
The 2s and U19s assured themselves of a final four engagement by thumping their opponents yesterday.
Our intrepid analyst Chris Vernuccio was at the 'Rak:
Old Xaverians’ 111-point win over St. Bernard’s may have set the wheels in motion for an assault for a top two finish but their win over Old Haileybury may have set themselves up for a successful finals campaign.
The Xavs' 10-point win ensures they will finish in the top two confirming a double chance and in the process, with St. Bernard’s shock loss to Old Melburnians, end Round 17 a ladder leader.
“We needed to win, we were desperate to win. To seal second spot means we can now, whilst we’re not getting complacent, but we know for a fact we are playing in the second semi-final so we can train accordingly,” said Old Xaverians coach Michael Sholly after the game.
Thanks to the brilliance of Cadyn Beetham and Damien Orlando after the main interval, the Xavs turned a half-time deficit into their 13th win of the season.
Xavs began the game in dominant fashion, dominating play around the midfield and half-forward as they slotted the first three goals of the game, the pick of them coming at the 15-minute mark. Oswald’s tap from the boundary throw-in forward of centre wing hitting the chest of Tim Ockleshaw who snapped the ball on his left boot to half-forward. Scott Mollard grassed a difficult mark but John Pasceri was perfectly placed in front of the pack to crumb then steady on his left to put through the Xavs' second goal.
Old Haileybury hit back in the time-on period, with Jeremy Bourke getting his sides’ first goal at the 23rd minute mark and was later followed up with two more by David Mason and Kejna.
Haileybury continued with their momentum in the second term, hitting the front through Mark Corrigan.
Corrigan and Captain Matthew Armstrong were instrumental in Old Haileybury getting out to a two-goal lead in this often tight but entertaining match.
Old Haileybury looked as if they would be the first visitor to win at Toorak Park this season, until the home team hit their straps with a five-goal third quarter to go to the final break one-point in front.
Beetham found more of the ball, but more importantly, started to hit targets on more occasions. Beetham changed his sides’ fortunes from the centre clearances as Haileybury had the early control.
Orlando was again used as the game-breaker down forward with five second-half goals, his fifth midway through the final term extending the Xavs lead 22 points.
OLD XAVERIANS 3.3 6.6 11.7 16.12 (108)
OLD HAILEYBURY 3.1 7.3 11.6 15.8 (98)
Goals: Orlando 5 Mollard 2 Dillon 2 Beetham 2 Oswald Pasceri Johnston Ockleshaw McDonnell.
Best: Beetham Orlando Biddlecombe Brushfield Scanlan Johnston.
OLD XAVERIANS 4.3 9.9 12.14 15.20 (110)
OLD HAILEYBURY 0.3 1.4 3.5 5.6 (36)
Goals: Jones 3 Maher 2 Walsh 2 Woodruff 2 Rush 2 Rennex Bowen Hawkins Howard.
Best: Woodruff Walsh Howard Hawkins Rennex Rush.
17 Aug '03
With challengers coming from everywhere trying to steal 4th place, an under-siege Old Xavs team played their last home game at McHale Stadium against the third-placed Scotch.
Scotch had been in terrific form and was full of confidence - so full of confidence that many of them were spotted at 1:30pm in civvies pontificating about past glories.
Once the ball was bounced they had a rude shock. A terrific first quarter saw Xavs kick 5.4 while Scotch was still wondering what had hit them - not troubling the scorer at all. Andy Nadinic and Josh Agius were getting plenty of the ball out of the centre - relishing the Cam Purss ruck clinic he was putting on for the benefit of his opponent.
Scotch has three players on the leading goal kicking ladder - Beaurepaire, Snaddon and Thompson - and while Thompson didn't play the others didn't get near it. Xavs defence was superbly led by Oliver Gidley and the skipper Michael Scanlan who returned to his favourite CHB (after some Friday night pestering of the coach via SMS).
Pat Purcell, however, was simply sensational in the back pocket, doing all the things a coach loves, such as smothering and tackling without any regard for his own safety. Up forward DVC Andy "Angry" Armstrong was causing headaches for the opposition while Matt O'Hanlon snuck under everyone's guard and was a real live wire - finishing the game with three goals including one from the "impossible angle" on the boundary line.
(In fact, I think it's fair to say O'Hanlon was closer to the second row of the Bob Rose stand than the actual field of play - still a damn good kick though!)
Sammy Freer has re-invented himself on the wing and he did a superb job on the VFL listed player Dick, both nullifying his opponent and getting plenty of it himself. Playing four quarters of good football has proved a difficult task for the team this year but the guys were determined to go on with the match and showed the Candy Coats no mercy.
Josh Agius was lively, ending the match with four goals, James Ryan was good at CHF and really the whole team simply was superb with not a poor player amongst the list. A pleasing aspect was that Nick Serafini was classy and solid as usual, but wasn't the lone hand and didn't have to dominate to get us over the line.
OLD XAVERIANS 5.4 11.8 14.14 17.21 (123)
OLD SCOTCH 0.0 0.2 1.2 2.4 (16)
Goals - Armstrong 4, Agius 4, O'Hanlon 3, Corcoran 2, James Ryan, Andy Ryan, Serafini, Purcell 1
Best - Purcell, Scanlan, Freer, O'Hanlon, Agius, Armstrong, J.Ryan
17 Aug '03
The Big Hawaiian is undefeated, untied in his first year as coach. All the hard training pays big dividends. Mad Monday has begun and will continue until the Crocs Plate.
OLD XAVERIANS 6.1 12.5 14.7 19.13 (127)
PRAHRAN 3.2 4.2 7.4 9.5 (59)
Goals: Davies 3 Rourke 3 L Hardwick 2 Perry 2 Fitzgerald 2 Erskine Curnow Ockleshaw J Hardwick Bond P George Jones.
Best: Erskine Hall Perry Poulis Jones Rathgeber.
