REPLAY: St Ignatius’ powers over top of Zavier High School in AFL NSW/ACT Senior Boys State Final

St Ignatius’ College Riverview has come home with a wet sail to deny Xavier High School, Albury in a thrilling conclusion to the AFL NSW/ACT Senior Boys State Final. WATCH THE REPLAY

St Ignatius’ College Riverview finished with a five-goal flurrish to claim a 7.6 (48) to 4.3 (27) defeat of Xaiver High School in the AFL NSW/ACT Senior Boys State Final at Gungahlin.

A back-and-forth struggle early was broken up with a pair of behinds from Albury, before Riverview put the foot down in a big way.

In the final five minutes they were able to add goals to Toby Ryan and Nate Tucker, who was able to find space in the contest, snap and score to help them to a 14-2 lead at the first break.

The second quarter was all about Harry Barber. The Xavier High School goal-sneak used his crumbing skills to pounce on a loose ball and kick their first goal.

Then he was the recipient of a lovely handball from Josh Murphy to kick his second in quick succession, helping to tie the scores at 15-all at halftime.

Just as we looked poised to have a goalless third quarter, Murphy stepped up to great a great mark and slotted the set shot with ease to put Albury in front once again.

Moments later it was Murphy again who came up clutch, outrunning his man to kick his second goal of the morning to give his school an imposing 11-point lead coming into the fourth.

St Ignatius needed to lift and they did early as Will Morahan took advantage of some scrappy play to cut the margin back to just four.

In the blink of an eye they had the lead after Toby Ryan forced a holding the ball call and was able to nail the subsequent free kick.

By the time Henry Meaney marked and goaled the advantage of Riverview was pushed out to eight points with a tick over six minutes to play.

Josh McMeekin and Riley Burgess helped to make it five goals for the quarter and seal a dominant win.

PREVIEW

It will be a good, old-fashioned city v country stoush when the two best Aussie rules schoolboys teams in the state lock horns in the AFL NSW/ACT Senior Boys State Final.

For the second time in three years, St Ignatius’ Riverview will be the standard-bearer for Sydney.

Back in 2022, they faced Erindale College. This time they must defeat Albury’s Xavier High School to be crowned state champions.

Catch all the action LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 11.30am at Gungahlin in the ACT.

The two schools have taken different paths into the decider.

Xavier High School has built its reputation on defence and being able to grind teams down before pulling away.

In their three round games, they conceded no more than 14 points, and restricted Kildare Catholic College to just 13 in the grand final of the Senior Schools State Finals in a 21-point victory.

That ability to restrict opposition will be tested to its limits against a Riverview side who knows how to attack.

St Ignatius Riverview are the independent schools champions. Pic: Narelle Spangher.

St Ignatius’ experienced the heartbreak of going so close last year, being defeated in the grand final of the Boys Independent Schools competition.

This year they were able to go one better to book their spot in the final courtesy of a hard-

fought defeat of Knox Grammar in the decider.

Both sides were on their game, but Riverview was able to pull out enough stops to claim a 7.8 (50) to 5.6 (36) victory.

Zach Duane was ruled best on ground in the fixture, with the East Sydney Bulldogs talent playing a key role.

Both St Ignatius’ and Xavier High School have helped to provide AFL talent into the top flight.

163-game veteran Josh Bruce and Sydney Swans premiership player Leo Barry are the most notable to come through Riverview, while Geelong’s Connor O’Sullivan studied at Albury.

Originally published as REPLAY: St Ignatius’ powers over top of Zavier High School in AFL NSW/ACT Senior Boys State Final