VAFA 2018: Old Xaverians edge De La Salle in thrilling Premier Division clash

THE VAFA Premier season has been an outstanding one and, on Saturday, the Old Xaverians against De La Salle clash at Toorak Park was no different.

This year’s Premier season has been an outstanding one and, on Saturday, the Old Xaverians v De La Salle clash at Toorak Park was no different.

In a game of twists and turns, Xavs took a three-point lead to half time before De La Salle took control in the third quarter and went to orange time with a 21-point advantage.

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But, in the last stanza, Old Xaverians slammed on four unanswered goals to remain in the hunt for finals with a dramatic 7.11 (53) to 6.11 (47) win.

With De La Salle now out of finals calculations and just one game above relegation territory, coach Paul Satterley was kicking himself after one that got away.

“I am disappointed for sure,” he said. “It was great conditions up to the last quarter and it was tight and tough.

“We seemed to open them up in the third quarter and played some great footy and then the rain and hail came and we stopped.

Matthew Margin of Old Xaverians gets a handball away.

“We like to spread the ball and play in space and when the weather changed, the game did as well and Old Xavs were just better in those conditions.

“We lost it with 90 seconds to go. It was one of the last kicks of the day that beat us. Scores were level and there was a ruck infringement in front of goal, they got a free kick and that was the end of that.

“Credit to them though they are a good side that like to surge it forward and in the last quarter it was perfect for them.”

With the evenness of this year’s competition, both teams eyed a finals berth while still wary of the relegation zone.

Best for Old Xaverians were Danny Noonan, Jason Holmes and Clay Johnstone while, for De La Salle, Ant Forato and Tom Humphrey both played well.

Also in Premier, St Kevin’s had a 22-point win over Old Scotch, 12.10 (82) to 8.12 (60), while in Premier C, Old Geelong was always too strong for St Mary’s Salesian, winning 22.13 (145) to 3.5 (23).

In Division 1, top-of-the-table Hampton Rovers got the points in a tight affair against Prahran Assumption, 6.14 (50) to 6.5 (41), while in Division 2, MHSOB outlasted Powerhouse 15.7 (97) to 8.17 (65).