VAFA squares the ledger with 82-point blitz of Vic Country at Frankston

The Victorian Amateur Football Association regained state football ascendancy when it smashed Vic Country by 82 points in their interleague clash at Frankston Oval on Saturday.

The VAFA boys celebrate after the final siren. Picture: David Smith

The     Victorian Amateur Football Association regained state football ascendancy when it smashed Vic Country by 82 points in their interleague clash at Frankston Oval on Saturday.

The 24.8 (152) to 10.10 (70) demolition evened the ledger at eight-apiece in clashes between the two proud football bodies.

A strong wind blowing off the bay pushed most of the scoring to one end, 28 of 34 goals for the match, and it was the Ammos who took full toll with the breeze at their backs, kicking nine goals in the second term and 10 in the last to engineer the whitewash.

But VAFA coach Stuart Powell didn’t think it was the gale it may have appeared to be on the scoreboard. Rather, from his standpoint, his side dominated with slick ball movement and a committed team approach

“It was a strong enough breeze, but we thought it was two to three goals at most,” Powell said. “But kicking three goals into the breeze in the first quarter, we were really competitive around the stoppages, and that set us up.

“We were really rapt because the players had only had four training sessions together and all the players really gelled –which I was most pleased with.”

Sam Critchley wrapped up the game with a spectacular mark. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Over the years the VAFA, better than most competitions, has been able to get the very best players pulling on the jumper. This was again the case in 2017

“It was a big year for us – the 125th year of the competition – and we really set ourselves this year,” Powell said.

Old Melburnians’ Al Armstrong bagged seven goals while Sam Hibbins (Collegians) kicked four majors in support.

A 10-goal final quarter barrage ensured the largest winning margin in matches between the two.

But it was left to St Kevin’s Sam Critchley to provide the ultimate exclamation mark on the win when he climbed on his opponent’s shoulders for a spectacular grab and then kicked the final goal of the game with less than a minute remaining.

While Armstrong’s seven goals was the statistical highlight, the VAFA had no shortage of winners including Anthony Lynch, Josh Freezer, Thomas Paule, Vivian ­Michie and Jason Tutt.

VAFA v Vic Country

Frankston Oval (Saturday, July 8)

Seniors

Vic Country 4.4 4.6 9.10 10.10 (70)

VAFA 3.2 12.4 14.6 24.8 (152)

Vic Country (Goals): S. Stroobants 4, J. Davenport 2, B. Dobson, B. Graham, C. Ryan, C. Moreland (Best): J. Davenport, B. Graham, S. Stroobants, J. Spina, J. Symes, S. MacLeod

VAFA (Goals): A. Armstrong 7, S. Milne 3, S. Hibbins 3, S. Critchley 3, C. Cassidy 2, T. Jok 2, G. Burbury 2, T. Humphrey, T. Paule (Best): A. Lynch, J. Freezer, T. Paule, V. Michie, A. Armstrong, J. Tutt

Under-19s

Vic Country 3.4 5.8 8.13 9.13 (67)

VAFA 1.2 3.6 5.8 9.9 (63)

Vic Country (Goals): L. Smith 2, J. Kelly 2, J. McLachlan, M. La Fontaine, J. McMahon, H. Coulton, R. Turnbull. (Best): Players: S. Downie, J. Blood, S. Mannagh, R. Turnbull, J. Kelly, N. Carlon

VAFA (Goals): A. Mastromanno 5, T. Short 2, X. Morgan, T. Cameron. (Best): T. Cameron, T. Short, S. Michael, C. Carnovale, M. Williams, A. Mastromanno

VAFA skipper George Burbury marks under pressure. Picture: David Smith