VAFA Round 1: SKOB win reigning-premiers clash, Melbourne Uni spoil Lions’ entrance, hot start for PEGS, De La Salle
The opening round of the VAFA was filled with surprises. See the biggest winners from the rainy weekend here.
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The opening round of the VAFA featured some intriguing results.
Following a deep dive in the club-by-club season previews featuring Premier A, Premier B and Premier C Men’s competitions, some results may have played out as many might have predicted.
See the most notable wins from the first weekend of the amateur season here.
PREMIER MEN’S
VAFA reigning premiers, St Kevin’s, held on by a point to defeat newly promoted Old Haileybury at Princes Park on Saturday.
In a wet and scrappy affair, SKOB escaped a final quarter boilover from the Bloods to win the season opener, 7.12 (54) to 7.11 (53), away from home.
SKOB led at every break in the game but were kept goalless in the final term as the Bloods piled on 15 points to try and come away victors.
SKOB captain Sam Critchley said it was a nerve racking finish to the game.
“It was pretty tense,” he said
“There was lots of stoppages, the ball was sort of in our forward half.
“We just managed to keep it in there and killed the clock.
“There was a moment where an umpire got knocked over so it added about two minutes on so it was all sort of happening in the end.
“We were just keeping our fingers crossed for that siren to sound.”
The final siren sounded with the ball in the forward pocket of SKOB.
Critchley said the Bloods had come back into the match once the rain fell and the game turned into a scrap.
SKOB maintained a two-goal lead in every break in the game to three-quarter time.
The final quarter saw SKOB kick four behinds while the Bloods kicked two goals and three behinds.
Critchley credited the players in the midfield for holding up in the contest.
“I think there was a fair few guys around the contest (who were good) with there being a lot of stoppages in the wet,” he said.
“We didn't get much clean ball.
“Luke inside was really strong.
“I thought Angus Hart played really well in the ruck being a young ruckman.
Critchley also compliment Matheson and Wardlaw for their performances.
Callum Matheson, Harry Wardlaw and Luke Winter were named among the best players for SKOB while Mitch Wallis hit the scoreboard in his first game for the club.
For the Bloods, Corey Rich, Nick Gooda and Nathan Dowsett were among the best players.
In other results, University Blues skipper Ayce Cordy booted three goals to lead his side over the line against Old Melburnians, claiming the win by 18 points after being eight-points down at half time.
Collegians proved too good over Old Xaverians defeating them by 17 points. The Lions led Xavs at every break in the encounter.
Old Scotch thumped Caulfield Grammarians by 61 points away from home at Glen Huntly Oval.
And last year’s grand finalists Old Brighton defeated newly promoted University Blacks by 34 points at Melbourne University Oval.
PREMIER WOMEN’S
It was a thrilling encounter for the first VAFA KommunityTV streamed match of the season.
Melbourne University held on to win by three points over Coburg after conceding three scoring shots to one in the final term at University Oval.
The Lions claimed the first break in the game to lead by seven points at quarter time.
But it was Melbourne Uni thereafter who led by single-digit margins at the next two breaks and ultimately came away victors, 5.4 (34) to 4.7 (31).
Eloise O‘Connor, Brooke Randall and Georgina Gough were among the best players for Melbourne Uni.
Dacia Abela, Lauren Collis and Morgan Mcnally were among the top performers for the Lions.
Lions forward Mia D‘Agostino was the leading individual goalkicker in the season-opening match with two.
PREMIER B MEN’S
A De La Salle seven goal to nil second half powered them over the line against Old Trinity by 48 points at Waverley Oval on Saturday.
De La’s Trent Shannon booted six goals to help give his side the upper hand in the second half after they led by just seven points at the first two breaks.
Recently demoted Premier side, Old Trinity, remained in the game at three-quarter time despite trailing by 18 points.
De La continued their surge in the final term however, with the home side ultimately winning, 12.15 (87) to 5.9 (39).
De La coach Nick Hyland said the win was a great reward for effort.
“There’s always a lot of unknowns coming into round 1, so it was pleasing to see us execute what we’ve trained over the pre-season under game intensity,” he said.
“The game was played in very wet, slippery conditions so I was very happy with how we adapted to the conditions and made necessary adjustments to our game plan.”
Trent Shannon, Will McKinnon and Tom Stanton were among the best players for De La.
PREMIER C MEN’S
PEGS claimed a big 52-point win over Mazenod at PEGS Sporting Fields on Saturday to kick start their campaign in Premier C in fine fashion after earning promotion last year.
After a 14 a-piece first quarter, the Bombers kept the Nodders, who finished third last season, to 16 points for the rest of the game as the home side piled on another 68 points to win, 12.10 (82) to 4.6 (30).
Brett Hannah, Scott Whillas, Alec Binns were among the best players for the Bombers.
Jamieson Jarvis, Thomas Saggio, Jack Fenner, Jordan Erougian and Riley Simmons kicked two goals each.
For the Nodders, Shaun Lovell, Matthew Fewings and Jack Sullivan were among the best players.
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