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A TOUGH LOSS BUT PLENTY LEFT TO GIVE

Old Xaverians fell to Old Brighton in a windswept second semi-final contest at Elsternwick Park. The Tonners proved the steadier after going behind by 30 points, as they took over the contest and silenced Xavs’ offensive weapons sufficiently to claw their way back.

It looked promising for Matt Handley’s team early. At three minutes, Sam Niklaus opened the scoring with a snap goal. Brighton went forward, missing their first shot but not their second. At eight minutes, however, Charlie Landrigan took a mark, was fouled and converted from the goal square. Max King goaled after some interference off the ball, Chris Gorman kicked truly and Landrigan kicked his second from a fifty-metre penalty. At quarter time, the X-Men led by an even four goals.

That margin lasted just thirty seconds as quick ballmovement from defence saw Will Hangraaf slot is first, a long snap from thearc.

The Tonners, however, had the breeze and ended the Xavs’ five goal skein when they landed their second at seven minutes. Their third came at 18 minutes and the pressure was on. At 21 minutes, the Beach Boys pulled the margin into 9 points, but right on the siren, Hanegraaf bookended the quarterwith his second. At the long break, Xavs by 15 points.

At four minutes in the third, Hanegraaf booted his third when his bomb cleared the back and bounced truly, but a minute later, Old Brighton scraped one through. And, with wind still very much in their faces,they scored the next two. Both teams were hard at the football but the conditionswere making it tough to break clear. Xavs went wide with a couple of snaps and it looked like neither team might score. At 23 minutes, another miss. Another Red ‘n Blacks impressive forward push came up empty. but then an on-the-run Sam Pozzi stopped the ball escaping from the front half and then punted a ripper from the scoreboard pocket that sailed over the goal umpire’s hat. At the lemons, a 17-point lead to the X-Men, handy, but surely not enough.

At four minutes, a Xavs turnover cost a goal as the Beach Boys went through the middle and used the wind. They should have added another at seven minutes, but indecision reprieved the Red ‘n’ Blacks, whose early game domination seemed a forgotten dream.  At ten minutes, Brighton missed again. Xavs pushed forward with purpose but missed too. Benji Dann tackled beautifully and stopped a freight train in the middle of the park, and the X-Men pushed forward for another point. At 17 minutes, the Tonners went forward and goaled. Now they trailed by just five points. Not for long. At 19 minutes, the reigning premier was up by a point. The game was theirs to lose. At 21 minutes, Xavs had a chance, but the awkward shot missed the lot. The Tonners kicked another and ended the contest seven points in front.

Brighton will attempt to make it a three-peat in a couple of weeks’ time, but should Xavs win the prelim against St Kevin's next week, they will be no certainty against a team that knows it has had the Tonners’ measure this season – until today.

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