Late lapse hurts Old Scotch as Old Trinity storms home in VAFA Premier clash
At home against Old Scotch on Saturday, things looked ominous for Old Trinity as it trailed by 19 points midway through the third term.
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Belief is a powerful attribute in football.
And, it’s a trait that the newly promoted Old Trinity possesses in spades.
At home against Old Scotch on Saturday, things looked ominous as Old Trinity trailed by 19 points midway through the third term having conceded the last four goals.
It would have been forgiven for locking down the game with a defensive mindset in an attempt to halt Old Scotch’s run.
Instead it did the exact opposite as its confidence and belief came to the fore.
“Things were looking a little grim in the third quarter, they had all the momentum,” Old Trinity assistant-coach Lucien-Deane Johns said. “The message was not to slow the game down but to take it on and not be too defensive.
“We started moving the ball really quickly and managed to kick a few goals by three-quarter time, it was important that we didn’t go into our shell.”
Old Trinity had the deficit back to one point at the final break and, midway through the last quarter, it had kicked six consecutive goals to end the Old Scotch challenge.
In his first year, young wingman Anthony Scott was named Old Trinity’s best while Ed Weatherson’s four goals proved crucial in the 13.10 (88) to 12.6 (78) win.
The win is Old Trinity’s fifth for the season, and is its third win by less than two goals, as it continues to press its credentials as a premiership contender.
Old Trinity’s win sets up a fascinating clash against top-ranked University Blacks at Melbourne University Oval this week.
“We’re in a really fortunate position to be five and one so it’s a really exciting opportunity to be having a crack at the top side, away, knowing that we can throw the kitchen sink at them,” Johns said.
Lapses, like Saturday’s, have hurt Old Scotch this season
In a Round 2 clash against St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, Scotch held a 32-point advantage at three-quarter time before losing by four points.
And, in its 16-point loss to league-leader University Blacks, Old Scotch surrendered six first-term goals, which proved too much of a deficit to recover from.
Old Scotch co-coach Stuart Powell said it was an issue that may not have an easy fix.
“We were competitive for large periods of the game but, again, we just conceded a flurry of goals in the third term and early in the fourth,” he said.
“Our fitness is quite good but our mental application and skill errors are certainly having an effect.
“It can’t be put down to one aspect of our game because it’s happening in different situations and in different times of the game.”
Despite the lapses, Old Scotch has been more than competitive this season and sits in a respectable fifth position on the Premier division ladder after six rounds.
Elsewhere, St Kevins was comfortably beaten by Old Carey in Premier B, 26.4 (160) to 11.15 (81).
Six final-quarter goals were not enough for Old Camberwell against the Parkdale Vultures in Premier C, losing 16.9 (105) to 15.11 (101).
In Division 2, St Mary’s Salesian defeated Ivanhoe, 17.13 (115) to 11.13 (79) at Ivanhoe Park while, at Victoria Park, Kew 24.25 (169) thumped the Monash Gryphons 3.5 (23).
Swinburne University fell from the top of the Division 3 ladder following its loss to UHS-VU, 11.13 (79) to 8.4 (52).
In Division 4, Canterbury beat Dragons 21.12 (138) to 15.8 (98), while Hawthorn continued its dominance, defeating the Manningham Cobras 19.15 (129) to 8.5 (53).
Marcellin remains at the top of the Premier C ladder following its hefty defeat of Banyule, 26.17 (173) to 7.8 (50).
In Division 1 action this week, a five-goal final term helped Whitefriars to its third win of the season, defeating Bulleen-Templestowe 12.9 (81) to 8.7 (55).
And, the Manningham Cobras were no match for the undefeated Hawthorn losing, 19.15 (129) to 8.5 (53).
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