August 2, 2025
HUMMING ALONG NICELY
Week 15 Report
A Century of the Red & Black
As things transpired, it wasn't a great day for the beach. Things began OK, but finished indifferently. And while there were some great wins, it was hardly a weekend for the ages.
Old Brighton took the points from the top-of-the table clash at BBO when they beat Old Xaverians by 33 points. The Red 'n' Blacks fell to second spot after their first defeat since Round 6.
Kicking to the South Road end, the visitors were in the contest from the opening bounce. They booted the first major at three minutes when Bobby Knott got back on the horse, but the Tonners responded quickly. Hayden Woodhouse kicked truly from an angle, but again Brighton responded. Woodhouse goaled again and the X-Men were looking the stronger. Deep into a time on, an awful fumble after a Xavs retreat saw the Tonners boot their third and they hit the huddle with just two points between them.
A free kick in the opening minute saw Marcus Stavrou pop up a targeted kick that spilled free. Tex Wanganeen picked it up and duly check-sided a six-pointer. But five minutes in, the goal swap continued when the home team slotted again. A minute later, the Tonners doubled up and took the lead for the first time. We had to wait until late in time on for the next major, and again it was the home team. A minute later, they did it again. For the Red ‘n’ Blacks the half-time break couldn’t come quickly enough. The Tonners had dominated the second stanza, and led by 19 points. It might have been more, given the Xavs seeming inability to respond.
In the third, Xavs had their chances early, but couldn’t capitalise. But at ten minutes, a short cross found Wade Brusnahan who played on and snapped it through. But the frustration continued for the Xavs, who continued to miss gettable shots at the scoring end. The Tonners goaled again as they went to time-on. Another miss for the visitors, and another failed foray forward, and then yet another miss. One goal, seven behinds for the term and the X-Men went to chat with a 15 point deficit.
With Old Brighton kicking to the scoring end in the lastterm, the outcome seemed obvious. Xavs backline had played well under pressure and kept the Tonners on a reasonably short rope. The X-Men were getting first hands on the ball at the stoppages but not carrying it away as often as they might have liked. And when they did, they couldn’t kick straight. A turnaround of large proportions was asked for at the huddle and the big crowd awaited the response.
The opening goal, however, went to the Tonners, giving them a lead of an even four goals. At 13 minutes, the visitors pulled one back, and a minute later, they did it again. Half-way through the term and the margin was in to 13 points. The Tonners kicked the next one, and another, and thoughts of an eleventh hour heist vanished as they restarted play in time-on. In the end, Brighton won by 33.
The Brothers Dunne - Tommy and Connor - were staunch defenders, and Bilston-McGillen and Lane the pick of the midfielders, aided by big Al Spralja. Alex Trigar and Tommy Hart had their moments in defence, too, but the forward setup failed to ignite on a ground and against an opposition that can be ungenerous.
The X-Men will lick their wounds and move on to meet Collegians on the Trott next week. Another crack at Old Brighton will have to wait, perhaps at Elsternwick Park in September. Next time!
BEST: Thomas Dunne, Connor Dunne, Alec Spralja, Ben Bilston-McGillen, Campbell Lane, Alex Trigar
GOALS: Hayden Woodhouse 2, Wade Brusnahan , Tex Wanganeen, Charlie Knott, Charlie MacIsaac, Josh Cumberlidge
At Uni Oval, Scotch (62) blew their chance to seal the win and allowed Uni Blues (70) to scamper home. At the Snakepit, St Bernard's (55) lost again, this time to Collegians (91). That result sees both Blues and Colls move ahead of the Snow Dogs, who now are staring relegation in the face. At Dairy Bell, Old Haileybury (80) beat De La (43), to hold on to fourth spot. St Kevin's (94) beat Uni Blacks (81) after the Phoenix had hit the front in time-on.
Coming off two-week stint where goals were as freely available as cocktails on a cruise ship, the Old Xaverians ventured to Brighton Beach knowing that the binge would not continue. In any case, the Red ‘n’ Blacks were hungry for some competition, keen to pit their skills against a team that would push back and test them.
In the first term, though the scoreboard favoured the Claret and Stout, there was a feeling that the challenge was on. The second term proved that, with the Tonners twice snatching the lead before the X-Men jumped back in front just before the long break.
The half-time question for watchers was whether Old Brighton could take this pressure deep into the game. Could the Beach Boys go where few teams had gone before this season and take charge after laying down the gauntlet?
The third stanza went the X-Men’s way, two goals to one, so they went to the lemons with the visitors ahead by just ten points and the game very much still up for grabs.
The X-Men opened the better in the final term, pushing their lead out to 17 points with four minutes gone. Mid-term, the Tonners had three pings, but each drew the single calico. But at 19 minutes, they goaled and pulled the deficit into eight points.
The X Men hadn’t scored for a quarter of an hour, and plenty were thinking that a steadying six-pointer might be handy. At 21 minutes, it came, and as the clock ran out, the X-Men managed another to win by 20 points. It was the Xavs’ lowest score of the year, their second lowest winning margin, but a four-quarter contest that any doctor would have ordered.
BEST: Jack Kennedy, Charlie Whitehead, Charles Holmes, Ben Scala, Makuc Mahommed, Matt Exell
GOALS: Matt Exell 2, Bailey Whelan 2, Harrison Bell 1, Ed Delany 1, Charles Holmes 1, Edward Kennedy 1, Jeromy Lucas 1, Hayden Troiani 1
Another tough one for the WOX, as they fell to Port Melbourne at Basil Reserve. The Chargers jumped out early and by half-time had amassed a score that made it difficult for the Red 'n' Blacks to catch.
BEST: Alessandra Libertone, Hannah Ryan, India Harries, Ella Neuwirth, Mel Clarke, Anabelle Gangi
GOALS: Chloe Bonnett, Amelie Menegola
Highly ranked Old Brighton clipped the Red 'n' Blacks by 40 points at Stradbroke Park. Tommy 'Terrific' Trist continued his brilliant late-season form, and there were some other solid performances, but the Tonners were too good.
BEST: Tommy Trist, Matthew Sheehan, Ted Hansen, Alby Hewitt, Lucas Bremner, Xavier Austin
GOALS: Ted Hansen 2, Miles Regan 1, Tom Scalzo 1
BEST: James Nania, Gus Levinge, Sebastian Schmitt, Nick Ross, Nick Johns, Patrick Kennedy
GOALS: Not Available
The Premier Thirds powered home to beat Old Scotch at Camberwell in their R17 clash. Will Stevens was best afield and Will Exell booted three to power the Red 'n Blacks after they had trailed at half-time.
NEXT WEEK: Second Semi-Final v Crocs or AJAX
BEST: Will Stevens, Jack Hansen, Atticus Scally, Tom Lowe, William Exell, Tom Bourne
GOALS: William Exell 3, Tom Bates 2, Tom Bourne 2, Sam Asdagi 1, Hugo Barry 1, Tom Curtain 1, Atticus Scally 1
The Green Hose fell to AJAX last Wednesday ahead of their R16 bye today. AJAX play St Bernard's tomorrow and a win wil see them steal second spot and tip the Crocs to third.
NEXT WEEEK: 1st semi-final v St Bernard's
BEST: Ed MacIsaac, Alex Eden Lachowicz, Charles Connors, Tiernan O'Brien, Eythan Chiodo, Tom McCarthy
GOALS: Alex Eden Lachowicz 5, Callum Abrahams 2, Alistair Barr 1, Eythan Chiodo 1, Josh Lyon 1, Tom McCarthy 1, Edward Ralph 1
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The derby to finish the season might have provided the Ménages' a chance for them to slip into second spot behind the OX U23s, but Old Trinity yesterday locked up its double chance with a win over SKOB, whom the Triangles will pay in the cut-throat first semi.
Today's game at Xavier was a dress rehearsal for both teams, with the U23s getting the chocolates. As is now customary, there was plenty of magic from Frankie O'Callaghan for the 23s and Will Mantesso for the Ménages. Both will be important players in the weeks ahead.
BEST: Will Mantesso, Xavier Romanin-Green, Nick Nunan, Kieran Ellis, Harry Mccarthy, Louis Denton
GOALS: Will Mantesso 5, Ky Lowrey 2, Cooper McLean 1
BEST: Joshua Hynes, Joshua Camilleri, Samuel Casserly, Edward Logan, Connor Briscoe, Oliver Sheehan
GOALS: Francis O’Callaghan 5, Oliver Sheehan 2, Will Troy 2, Connor Briscoe 1, Joshua Hynes 1, Stefan Stangherlin 1
The U23 Twos finished their home and away commitment with a runaway win over Old Camberwell. Eddie Paul led the charge with four goals, while Luke 'Tram' Fares was named best of a good bunch.
NEXT WEEK: Second semi-final v Fitzroy
BEST: Luke Fares, Harry West, James McCarthy, Sam Landrigan, Will Beattie, Finnegan Kuner
GOALS: Eddie Paul 4, James McCarthy 3, Angus McCormack 2, Will Beattie 1, Archie Connors 1, Patrick Gilmour 1, Jackson Gomezel 1, Patrick Hoy 1, Conor O'Brien 1, Harry West 1
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