VAFA Round 3: Reigning grand finalists remain unbeaten, Old Scotch’s statement win, Fitzroy, Old Trinity, Mazenod win tug of wars
Nail biting wins were the theme of VAFA footy on the weekend with the senior club of newly announced AFL CEO scoring one of the biggest wins of the round. Read more.
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The third weekend of the VAFA season was stacked with seesawing matches.
Notably, the reigning grand finalists from last season in the Premier Men’s and Women’s competitions - St Kevin’s, Old Brighton and Kew - remain as the only unbeaten teams in the top tier competitions.
And in the Premier Men’s, as a bonus to his announcement as the AFL’s new CEO, Andrew Dillon’s senior club, Old Xaverians, powered to a percentage boosting 11-goal win over Caulfield Grammarians.
A number of other clubs also picked up bigs wins while some sides edged over the line.
See the major winners from VAFA Round 3 here.
PREMIER MEN’S
Reigning premier St Kevin’s powered out to a 21 point lead at quarter time against a winless Old Melburnians, which they extended to 46 points at three-quarter time before coming out 40-point victors at Elsternwick Park on Saturday.
It was an impressive third-straight win for SKOB, 18.10 (118) to 12.6 (78), which keeps them undefeated alongside last year’s grand finalist Old Brighton in the Premier competition.
Wallis brothers, Mitch and Josh were influential for SKOB with three and two goals respectively as well as being named in the best players.
Nicholas Sing, Josh Tynan and Luke Winter were also among the top performers for SKOB while forward Shaun Kennedy booted four goals.
For OM’s, Benjamin Harding, Edward Michelmore and Will Dethridge were named in the best players.
Ben Haysman and Charles Dowling kicked seven goals between them and were also in the best players for the OM’s.
OM’s remain winless alongside University Blacks and Caulfield Grammarians after Round 3 this season.
In other results, Old Scotch piled on seven and 10-goal quarters to record a thumping 103-point win over University Blues at Camberwell Sports Ground on Saturday.
Cardinals coach Mark Gnatt said he was surprised by his side’s demolition of the Blues.
“Obviously it was pretty unexpected to be honest,” he said.
“Blues are a very good footy side so we certainly came in expecting a tight contest.
“I think even though the result blew out in the end, the third quarter, it was a bit of an arm wrestle and I think the Blues still had a chance there.
“We were able to really work through that period against them and then we got some benefit late in the quarter with a few goals which probably tipped the momentum back our way.
“Obviously a pleasing result but we certainly had some moments that were pretty tough out there for us.”
Tom Blenheim scored a bag of five goals in the Cardinals’ 24.11 (155) to 7.10 (52) win, while James Tarrant, Tyler Sellers and Angus Symons all kicked four.
Charlie Cormack was named best afield for the Cardinals alongside Blenheim and Tom Ansell in their second win of the season.
Gnatt said he was impressed with the performances of Blenheim and Cormack.
“Both those boys played really important roles for us across half forward,” he said.
“The Blues have got some really strong half back players, Gleeson, O‘Shea, those types are really strong so Cormack and Blenheim definitely played their roles there.
“But probably the one who really stood out was big Tom Ansell in the ruck, he was able to nullify Ayce Cordy who is obviously a really good footballer himself.
“Tom was fantastic for us and he really set the game up for us.
“And then probably back in defence, Hugh Longbottom and Jordan Clarke, they really led the way down in the backline and gave us some really strong structure back there that set us up nicely as well.
“Overall, a really good team performance but certainly a few stand outs in each of the lines.”
Blues halfback Martin Gleeson was the best on ground for the visitors along with Eddy Ziebarth and Charlie Furphy.
At Harry Trott Oval, visitors Old Brighton maintained a lead at every break in the game to defeat Collegians by 10 points on Saturday and go 3-0 to start the season.
In the first meet between the two sides since last year’s preliminary final, which the Tonners won by 26 points, the Lions kept challenging their opposition but ended up falling short, 12.9 (81) to 14.7 (91).
Inaccuracy in front of goal proved to be the difference as the Tonners held on over the Lions who managed to cut the margin from 24 points at half time to 16 at three-quarter time.
James Hope was a standout for the Tonners with a bag of five goals while Campbell Tweedie was named the best afield.
Lions forward David Mirra was the best in his side’s first loss of the season with four goals.
At University Oval, reigning Premier B champions Old Haileybury made light work of a highly anticipated grand final rematch, scoring 10 goals to three in the second half to win by 58 points.
Bloods new recruit Corey Rich booted four goals and was best on ground while Durras Seccull also kicked four and was among the top performers in the 18.12 (120) to 9.8 (62) win.
The impressive victory was the Bloods first of the season.
In another one-sided game, Old Xaverians smashed the Fields by the second biggest margin of the round (66 points) away from home at Glen Huntly Oval on Saturday.
Jordan Kelly was best afield alongside Denis Symeopoulos who also kicked two goals in the 17.20 (122) to 8.8 (56) win.
It was the second win of the season for the senior club of newly announced AFL CEO Andrew Dillon who played in six A-grade premierships for Xavs between 1989 and 2005.
Dillon is also a life member of the club and was assistant coach in 2011 and 2012.
He represented the VAFA on two occasions as well.
PREMIER WOMEN’S
Last year’s grand finalist Kew and St Kevin’s won nail biters in Round 3 of the VAFA to keep their unbeaten runs alive in 2023.
The Bears came from behind to record a 13-point win over Collegians to go on top of the Premier Women’s ladder at Victoria Park in Kew on Saturday.
The 3.8 (26) to 2.1 (13) victory was highlighted by dominant second and third quarters from the Bears who put on 20 points to seven to go to a nine-point lead after being down by four points at quarter time.
Amelia Dawborn kicked a goal and was among the best players for the Bears alongside Lucy Aitken and Chloe Leighton.
It was the Bears’ third win of the season, putting them in a strong position at 3-0.
Reigning premier St Kevin’s also produced a pleasing two-goal win over newly inducted VAFA side Coburg to remain unbeaten this season.
The 7.3 (45) to 5.3 (33) win for Skevs was electrified by some accurate goalkicking from Molly Simpson (three goals) and Catherine Stanton (two goals) who had major influence in the game.
It was a four goal to two second half which was the difference in the encounter with Skevs breaking seven points ahead of the Lions at three-quarter time after being up by just two points at the main break.
Two goals to one in the final term sealed the deal for Stevs on their Righetti Oval home turf.
Bree Doyle was judged best afield for Stevs while Sarah Betts and Emily Condon were also top contributors.
For the Lions, it was Lauren Collis and skipper Amy Duguid who were named among the best players.
In other results, West Brunswick defeated Old Xaverians by 46 points away from home.
Caulfield Grammarians also recorded a win away from home, defeating Fitzroy by 31 points.
Old Scotch also won on the road claiming the four points over Melbourne University in a 41-point victory.
Premier B Men’s
The B-grade round was highlighted by nail-biting wins from Fitzroy and Old Trinity.
Fitzroy scraped over the line by a point in a tug-of-war match against Old Geelong which saw margins move barely beyond a goal for the entire clash at Como Park on Saturday.
The Roys had one-point advantages at half-time and three-quarter time after being down by two points at the first break.
Play was dominated by the Roys in the third term with eight to three scoring shots in their favour, but they weren’t able to add onto their one-point half-time lead.
In the final term, the quarter was levelled again with both sides adding 19 points onto their respective totals, leading to a thrilling victory, 10.7 (67) to 9.14 (68), for the Roys.
Nino Lazzaro was named best afield for the victors with Jack Mckay also contributing with three goals.
The victory for the Roys has them on top of the ladder and off to a 3-0 start alongside St Bernards.
For OGs, it was their second loss of the season.
In another exciting match, a six-goal performance from Myles Scott led Old Trinity to a five-point win over Monash Blues at Daley Oval on Saturday.
The 9.12 (66) to 9.7 (61) win was the T’s second win of the season after three games.
Scott was named best on ground for his bag of six goals which accounted for more than half of his team’s goals.
PREMIER C MEN’S
Mazenod edged ahead in a tight second half to clinch a four-point win over Ormond at E.E. Gunn Reserve on Saturday.
After gaining a 25-point lead at half time, the Nodders were hit with a strong comeback from the Monders who kicked straight to level the scores at three-quarter time.
But the Nodders powered home in the final term with a nine to five scoring shot advantage to win the clash, 15.7 (97) to 14.9 (93), away from home.
Jack Caspersz booted a bag of five goals and was among the best players for the Nodders while teammate Shaun Lovell was named best on for his three-goal performance.
It was the Nodders’ second win of the season while the Monders go 1-1 after two games and a bye.
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