Gutsy effort by St Kevins topples St Bedes Mentone

UNDEFEATED St Kevins is a step closer to completing a perfect Victorian Amateur Football Association season after its semi final victory over St Bedes.

VAFA Premier B Semi Finals: St Kevins v St Bedes Mentone Tigers at Sportscover Arena, Elstenwick. St Kevins No 6 Steven Salopek tackles St Bedes Mentone Tigers No.12 Tom Tyquin. Picture: Sarah Matray

ST KEVINS defeated its decade-long September demons with a 16-point win in the second Premier B semi-final against St Bedes-Mentone at Sportscover Arena on Saturday.

The monkey was torn off its back in what co-coach Jon Edgar said was a courageous victory.

“It was a gutsy effort by our blokes. We were down to no interchange in the last quarter and just ground it out,” Edgar said.

“St Bedes were very good I thought but we just found a way to get through.

“In past years we would’ve lost that game easily but our blokes found a way to grind it out and that’s what we’ve done all year.”

St Bedes kicked the opening two goals of the game before St Kevins started to take control. The Tigers trailed by 14 points at the final interval and hit the front 13 minutes into the fourth quarter.

Michael Barnes of St Bedes Mentone gets a bump from Liam Carroll of St Kevins as he takes a mark. Picture: Sarah Matray

But Skobs’ Philip Edgar immediately replied to snuff the comeback and captain Andrew Lynch booted the winner soon after.

Gerard Glesson topped St Kevins’ goal tally with four goals while Jason Salopek played his best game of the season. Benjamin Dowd displayed serious speed before coming off with a shoulder injury.

And focal forward Stephen Gilham proved his stature with three majors in a best-on-ground performance. St Kevins sealed its spot in Premier for 2016 and plays in the grand final in two weeks.

Tiger watchers now turn to the preliminary final match-up against Old Melburnians.

It was a split series when the two met in the home-and-away season.

The OM’s held on by a solidary point in the first outing at Junction Oval while the Tigers won the return game at Brindisi St by 30 points.

“Next game we become the hunted,” Dwyer said.

“OMs have nothing to lose as they aren’t expected to win.

“We’ve got to be as good as we were today (against St Kevins) to give ourselves a chance.”

The winner moves up to Premier next year and will play against St Kevins in the grand final.

Premier B: Old Brighton Grammarians v Old Melburnians

Old Brighton Grammarians faded out of the 2015 premiership race with a rough 36-point loss in Saturday’s semi-final against Old Melburnians at Trevor Barker Oval.

In a game that could be considered a home final for Brighton, the Tonners were firmly in the contest up until the second half.

Brighton kicked three goals past the OMs in the first quarter to lead by eight points but ascendancy began to slip in the second, trailing by 10 points at the major break.

The Bayside locals toppled further in the second half and Melbourne capitalised, booting seven-goals-to-two in the last two quarters.

Michael Karayannis was the only multiple goal kicker in the loss with two.

Key forwards Daniel Anthony and Charlie King had quiet days kicking one major between them.

Thomas Mariani, Dylan Verney and Lachlan Nicholls featured in the Tonner’s best to complete sterling seasons. Thomas Fisher was Brighton’s top player after a month’s absence.

Old Melburnians’ Alexander Armstrong was a nuisance for Old Brighton’s defenders with none able to curb his influence. He finished with six goals and best-on-ground honours.

Premier C: Old Haileyburians v Old Ivanhoe

Old Haileyburians stormed through to the Premier C preliminary final, surpassing Old Ivanhoe by 95 points in the semi-final at Casey Fields on Sunday.

With a six-goal breeze favouring one end it was the Bloods who capitalised and battered the Hoes.

Ivanhoe kicked with the conditions in the first and third quarter but despite the advantage Haileybury suppressed any scoreboard impact.

The Hoes managed two goals for the game.

“I knew we were going to be really hard to beat but I was blown away by our performance in the first 30 minutes, I thought we were outstanding,” Old Haileybury coach Daniel Hughes said.

“Our pressure and intensity was amazing.”

However it was Haileybury’s 12 goals with the breeze that squashed Ivanhoe’s finals campaign.

“The scoreboard was a true reflection of the game. Our performance was dominant,” he said.

Youngster Lachlan Treverton was commanding in the ruck for the winners.

Full forward Nathan Waite booted three goals and Jordan Donnelly ran freely on the wing, finishing with three majors.

Veteran Brett Voss continues to shine in the midfield and up forward kicking two goals.

Chris Povey stood out down back for the Bloods with exceptional ball use and setting up plays further afield.

Old Haileybury plays Marcellin in the preliminary final as the minor premiers lost to Monash Blues on Saturday.

The Eagles have beaten the Bloods comfortably twice this season but Hughes and his players are under no illusion of the feat required to win.

Division 1: Old Geelong v Ormond

A second-half collapse saw Old Geelong get bundled out of the Division 1 finals, falling 14 points short against Ormond in the preliminary final. The combination of key injuries and an inaccurate 2.9 in the second half cost the OG’s a grand final berth.

“It’s disappointing, we were very confident going in,” Old Geelong coach Jon Knight said. “I thought we were the better team on the day we just couldn’t put them away. It’s pretty hard to win a final when you don’t kick straight.”

Old Geelong led by 11 points at the main break before Ormond rallied. Captain Andy Leahy and Jason Barry didn’t return to the field after halftime. Jack McMeel was a standout up forward in the defeat with four goals, as was Joshua Hoevenaars in the ruck. Rupert Kemp and Carl Joyce also served OG’s well.