AIC AFL footy latest: Ashgrove trimph with 45-17 victory over Laurie’s

AIC AFL footy latest: Marist Ashgrove, St Laurence’s and Villanova are in a premiership deadlock after a Friday night blockbuster clash between heavyweight rivals. Report, pics and round wrap here.

AIC AFL seniors match between Ambrose Treacy College and St Peters Lutheran College (Maroon top) Friday 10th February 2023 Picture David Clark

Marist Ashgrove, St Laurence’s and Villanova are in a premiership deadlock after a Friday night blockbuster clash between heavyweight rivals.

Round 5 was capped off with Ashgrove and St Laurence’s butting horns and it was Ashgrove who came out on top, keeping their premiership dreams alive.

Here’s how the tussle unfolded:

REPORT:

Marist College Ashgrove put together four extraordinary quarters of football on Friday, capturing a dominant 45-17 victory over rivals St Laurence’s College at Coorparoo AFC.

Not only was it an impressive display of a well- drilled side hungry for a result, but it was a performance which kept their premiership hopes alive.

With Villanova having beaten Ashgrove, and Laurie’s having beaten Villa, it was a must for Ashgrove to come out on top. And in a tough test of patience, firepower and teamwork, they passed with flying colours, coming away 28-point winners.

Ashgrove manager Mick Travers said it was top notch.

“The first three quarters they held their discipline. They played their game of football and that’s what the coaches have been saying all season. They did that very well.

“They held it together in the end. It was pretty heated out there.

“I think it was their brand of football. It’s how we practise and what we plan to do. When we do, the results speak for themselves. When it got messy we stuck to it. We are excited to work on our discipline in moments like those.

“George Wood, Jackson and Thomas Williams were incredible. We were very strong in the centre backing up all the work. And the boys down the back didn’t give them an inch.”

George’s twin brother Munroe scored, as did Jackson. Joining them was James Milner and Jack Thompson among others.

“I think it was a well rounded team effort,” Travers said after a stunning victory.

The boys from Fraser’s road came out firing, catching the Laurie’s boys off guard. In no time, they were ahead 22-2, courtesy of some spectacular individual plays and magical marks.

Only one quarter into the clash, the Black and Gold striped Laurie’s boys found themselves having to claw their way back. Fast forward to the second and, the chances of that were diminishing, with Ashgrove storming away with it.

So much so, they headed to the half time break up 36-3.

A 33 point deficit only a miracle could erase.

Laurie’s did a great job making a dent in their opponents lead, with Ben Morison lighting the fire with a long distance goal.

His teammates followed suit with their efforts adding much needed points to the board, giving us a game at 38-17 with a quarter to play.

It would have been closer had Ashgrove’s Oliver Lister and Harry Thompson not come up with two crucial cover tackles, which ignited an eruption from the swarm.

But, the fourth quarter wasn’t unlike the first with the Marist Brothers suffocating Laurie’s with their gutsy defence, allowing them no chance at making a comeback.

The final whistle blew with Ashgrove up 45-17. Within their First XVIII, Ned Rosenbrock’s menacing presence provided the edge. Outside the First XVIII, the calming and informative presence of 2019 Old Boy and then Sportsman of the Year Andrae Mackay made things a whole lot easier.

Laurie’s head of sport Sam Wiltshire said Ashgrove deserved the win,“they were harder at it.”

“Our second half was a better indication for us.

“Year 10 Ben Morison and Tyan Prindable were great.

“Tyan started playing his role. He worked hard offensively and defensively. In the first half we were trying to fix things, the second half we played our normal game and he did that best.

Morison, Year 10, “was responsible for bringing us back into the contest,” Wiltshire said.

“Wyatt Greenaway had ticker too.”

EARLIER

Marist College Ashgrove claimed the Cmaeron-Andrews Cup clash after a hard fought win over Padua College, while several Year 10 students shone in AIC AFL footy.

Sebastian Bailey (Villanova), Nat Rowcliff (Padua) and St Laurence’s pair Taine Millan and Charlie Taylor all took steps forwards in their school footy careers. More on those boys below.

HOW THE CAMERON-ANDREWS CLASH UNFOLDED

Ashgrove First XVIII afl footy boys after last week’s win over Padua College.

One of the big games of the round was the Marist v Iona showdown, won by Ashgrove 3-7-25 to 2-3-15.

“Marist were full of confidence coming off their narrow win against Padua College, Iona would have to be on their A game in order to knock off the physical outfit of Marist College Ashgrove,’’ predicted coach Anthony Bannerman.

“With a strong wind down one end of the field, it was a low scoring game, with Ashgrove’s control slightly superior.

“We had chances, but they were able to effectively use their spare man back to nullify any late opportunities’’

RELATED LINKS

HOW ROUND 2 UNFOLDED, INCLUDING LAURIE’S v VILLA CLASSIC

AIC FIRST XI CRICKET LATEST - MORE CENTURIES CELEBRATED

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The Ashgrove swarm after beating Padua College last week, before fronting Iona just two days later and coming away victorious.

Marist College Ashgrove coach Matt Beattie said his side confronted a “very determined, well drilled Iona team’’, but his team’s intensity and pressure across the clash got them home despite some wayward kicking in the first three quarters.

“A fantastic last quarter saw us finish the game off well, with a contender for mark of the year by Flynn Cleary.

“Munroe Wood and Isaac Roach continue to improve and in the absence of our captains, we were superbly led by Cody O’May and Ned Rosenbrock.’’

Beattit said goal kicking would be “top of the list at training this week’’ in the lead up to the big Ashgrove v St Laurence’s clash.

In the Villanova’s v St Peters clash, Villa’s the 10A captain Sebastian Bailey made his debut in the Open AFL team.

The AIC AFL footy season is going like a train.

“Sebastian played mainly through the midfield and managed a lot of touches with many effective disposals,’’ said coach Brian Pascoe.

“When he drifted forward a coat of paint cost him his first goal as a set shot glanced the goalpost.’’

He said it was a great occasion when Daniel White, in his third year in the team, scored his first goal.

“Daniel usually plays either in the backline or as centre, and was able to drift forward and kick two goals in the last quarter against St Peters,’’ Pascoe said.

Villanova players.

He said Larry Clark and Tom Audet were effective in their follower role through the midfield while Jackson Dalrymple, in his second game for Villanova’s Open team, played his role on the half forward flank very effectively.

“The good choices in his ball disposal led to a number of goals,’’ Pascoe said.

Ambrose Treacy College and St Peters Lutheran College

Padua College coach Tom Giuliano said Lachlan Chambers, Nat Rowcliff and Hayden Hall shone in his team’s desperately close loss to Ashgrove, 5-4-34 to 4-6-30.

“Lachlan Chambers played an extremely selfless game at centre-half forward,’’ Giuliano said. “Lachy consistently created contests for our team and got the ball to ground if he didn’t mark the ball.

“His work rate up and down the ground was also very noticeable.’’

Rowcliffe, a Year 10 student, played on the wing and put his body on the line all day

“Not only did Nate win a lot of his own footy, but his outside run and spread created lots of opportunities for us to go inside 50 and had lots of scoring opportunities,’’ Giuliano praised.

Giuliano said Padua’s best on ground was Hayden Hall.

“Again, he played a great game in the midfield and was pivotal in getting the ball in our forward-line,’’ Giuliano said.

Lining up for Villa's winning kick earlier in the season.

“Down by two goals in the last two minutes, Hayden kicked a clutch goal with a ferocious headwind that got us back in the game.

“Then down by a goal with 30 seconds left, Hayden had the final shot of the game. “Unfortunately, his kick got smothered by the man on the mark. With this being said, Hayden put the team on his shoulders and got us back into the game. Without him, we wouldn’t have had those scoring opportunities. ‘’

He said Padua “simply never gave up and nearly won the game within the dying moments’’.

“Credit must be given to Ashgrove who have many quality players and played a solid game,’’ Giuliano said.

Laurie's boys love a win.

St Laurence’s College claimed a 16:10:106 to St Edmund’s College, with Eddies’ effort earning praise from St Laurie’s coach Sam Wiltshire.

“SEC fought hard right until the end,’’ he said.

Wiltshire said rugby convert, Ben Davis, continued his good form up forward, and the trio of Riley Clarke, Cooper Mataia and Tyan Prindale all worked tirelessly in the engine room.

“It was also fantastic to see some of the next generation in the all black 1sts XVIII colours, with Taine Millan and Charlie Taylor from year 10 making their debut,’’ Wiltshire said.

“Both boys hit the scoreboard and are ones to watch in the years to come.

“The undefeated SLC 1sts XVIII will be looking to continue the win streak against an inform Marist team this Friday night, which promises to be one of the games of the round’’.

St Edmund’s College coach Michael Podolak said entering the clash against an undefeated Laurie’s confidence was not high. “But to the boys credit they battled hard for the entirety of the match,’’ Podolak said.

Half time huddles with Villanova.

He said after St Laurence’s kicked with the wind in the first quarter, his side adopted a more man on man approach in the second half.

“A big injury to Robert Brown meant a reshuffle of key positions along with boys playing in unfamiliar territory. Tafito stepped up and proved a handful for the Laurie’s midfielders,’’ Podolak said.

“Conrad was ever explosive looking to run the ball while Brock Taylor and Martyn Leonard made it difficult for the Laurie’s forwards in defence.’’

He said into the final quarter, Eddie’s spirit didn’t die “and although the game was gone they did everything they could to gain a major before the final siren’’.

Ambrose Treacy College AFL Coordinator and Firsts coach Mick Keys said it was again a tale of two halves in its clash against Padua.

“ATC started strongly with early conversions and centre clearances - the key difference between the two sides,’’ he said.

This led to the Warriors having a handy five goal lead at the half time break.

“Then unexpectedly the Warriors took their foot off the accelerator and gave up easy goals through poor on field discipline to go down by one point on the siren.

“It was a disappointing finish to a positive start with the final score being 42-41 to St Patrick’s College.

The best players were Jack Harrison, Aidan Brennan, Reagan Andriske and Jarvis Warr.’’