Swinburne University shrugs off disappointing June to win three on the trot in Victorian Amateur Football Association

AFTER struggling during June, Swinburne University looks to be running into form at just the right time of the season, recording a third consecutive win on Saturday.

s11pp203 VAFA Division 4 (prelim final): Swinburne Uni v Eley Park at WA Scammell Reserve, Oakleigh South. Swinburne Uni coach George koumantatakis addresses the team at 1/4time.

After struggling during June, Swinburne University looks to be running into form at just the right time of the season, recording a third consecutive win on Saturday.

Swinburne won just one of three games last month, but hasn’t lost any encounter during July.

In front of their home fans at St James Park, Swinburne took on a UHS-VU side sitting outside the Division 3 top six on percentage.

In a game of shifting momentum, Swinburne coach George Koumantatakis said neither side had control of the game for long.

“They probably jumped out of the blocks a little bit and the game ebbed and flowed throughout the day as each side took control and then lost momentum,” he said. “I think we probably took over in the end by shutting down a few of their key playmakers and didn’t’ allow them to play the game how they had when they controlled the game early.”

In a close game Richard Lugg’s four goals proved crucial as Swinburne won 15.15 (105) to 13.13 (91).

Koumantatakis said the return of key players had been vital to his side’s recent run of good form.

“The last couple of weeks have seen us get a number of resources back including four of our key forwards,” he said. “That has really ­allowed us to kick 100 points-plus in the last two weeks and get some reward for ­effort.”

With a place in the top six now secured, Swinburne’s attention is now on a top two spot as it sits just one game behind the first-placed ­Emmaus St Leos.

Meanwhile in Premier, Mark Passador kicked seven goals in Old Scotch’s win at home over De La Salle, 16.18 (114) to 8.15 (63).

St Kevins suffered a shock loss in Premier B to the bottom placed Old Ivanhoe at home, 13.14 (92) to 11.7 (73).

In Premier C, Old Camberwell was defeated by Marcellin at home, 12.16 (88) to 11.2 (68), ruling out any hopes of a finals berth.

Kew had a big win at the Monash Gryphons in Division 1, 22.12 (144) to 5.6 (36), while St Mary’s Salesian defeated Ivanhoe at home, 16.14 (110) to 9.19 (73).

In Division 4, Hawthorn’s run of dominance continued as it travelled to the second placed West Brunswick and claimed a comfortable win, 13.12 (90) to 6.9 (45).

And Canterbury was too good on the road against Dragons, 12.13 (85) to 8.10 (58).