Everything you need to know from the VAFA’s latest action

Saturday’s VAFA action saw plenty of movement as relegation battles heated up and finals races were turned on their head. Here’s everything you need to know.

Old Trinity would have been frustrated with the result. Image: VAFA Media/Cath Coady.

It was moving day in the VAFA at the weekend.

Here are all the major talking points.

Old Scotch passes its biggest test

There had long been questions over Old Scotch’s ability to get the job done when the pressure is on. But in the last fortnight, Mark Gnatt’s side has delivered back-to-back wins against the top-two. They blew St Kevin’s off the park in the second half on Saturday to run out 48-point winners. Angus Symons, Ryan Valentine and Will Clark all kicked three goals while Doug Lawrence and Charlie Cormack were brilliant in defence. With three rounds to go, Old Scotch still sit third but might just be the competition’s most in-form side.

Fourth spot opens back up

The race for fourth in the Premier Men’s competition took another twist as University Blacks secured a shock win over Old Xaverians, four points which did wonders for their own survival hopes. Collegians was able to bounce on the result, getting the better of University Blues to only trail on percentage now.

Movement galore in Premier B

Up and down the Premier B ladder, it was moving day. Old Camberwell jumped into fifth, just outside the finals places, after its accurate goalkicking was pivotal in earning a draw against Old Trinity. Donald McDonald’s side would feel like it was one which got away after booting 3.8 in the last. Meanwhile, Williamstown CYMS continued its remarkable last season revival with a 54-point win over Beaumaris to climb out of the relegation places as Caulfield Grammarians dropped into the bottom two.

Marcellin celebrated Pride Round on Saturday afternoon.

Marcellin’s season defining win

Marcellin may well have saved its Premier C status for next season after producing arguably its best performance of the year. The Eagles recorded a 91-point thumping of fellow relegation threatened side Oakleigh. It was a result which moved Marcellin one game and percentage clear of ninth place Monash Blues with two games to play. Games against PEGS and Mazenod are to come, two sides already out of the finals mix meaning a win which would guarantee safety probably isn’t out of the question. Leading performers on the day included Josh Atwell, Patrick Howe, Jack Pekin (four goals), Mackenzie Ryan, Michael Lane and Elliot Atwell. Caleb Barry celebrated his 50th game in the win. It was a big weekend for the Eagles with the senior men’s and women’s teams both winning.

Prahran win 10 in a row

Prahran will finish on top of the Division 1 ladder. They sit two games and just under 40 per cent clear with a fortnight to play. It’s a position which has come on the back of a 10-game winning run as the streak reached double figures on Saturday on the back of a 101-point win over Old Peninsula. There has been ominous signs in recent weeks with Ethan Plaza starting to rediscover his best form with seven goals in his last two. After missing almost the entire first half of the season, Riley Hogan produced his best game yet while Joey Bell is playing some of the best footy of his career. And in just another warning sign, a pair of the Two Blues’ most important players, Rory Brodie and Mackenzie Mayne, didn’t play on the weekend.

UHS-VU currently sits fourth. Image: VAFA Media/Dennis Timm.

Division 1 top four all but set

With two games left to play in the Division 1 season, we can’t see the top-four changing. UHS-VU currently sit in fourth position two games and percentage clear of Kew and Old Peninsula, both 8-8. Even the fixture looks favourable for UHS-VU who will play relegation battler West Brunswick before a clash with the Bears in the final round. As mentioned, Prahran should finish on top. Ormond (second, 12-4, 150.67%) and Parkside (third, 11-5, 144.07%) face off this weekend in a game which could define how the first week of finals shapes up.

Division 2 relegation battle takes another twist

Unfortunately there’s going to be some major heartbreak in the Division 2 relegation battle. Bulleen Templestowe secured a vital nine-point win over MHSOB on Saturday to keep its survival hopes alive with David Dakin, Hamish McClean, Liam Chu, Owen Michael Watts, Ashwyn Mohandas and Angus Murphy named among the best. Now that’s where it gets interesting. The Bullants still sit bottom with a record of 4-11, while Wattle Park (4-11) occupies the other relegation spot. Aquinas is half-a-game ahead, with St Mary’s Salesian on 22 points (5-10-11). Even MHSOB might not be safe with 26 points and a percentage of 89.08 with games against Brunswick and St Mary’s Salesian to come. Recent history suggests Emmaus St Leos relegated with four wins in 2018. Then there’s poor old Glen Eira who were relegated with seven wins in 2017.

Remaining fixtures

MHSOB: Brunswick (A), St Mary’s Salesian (H)

St Mary’s Salesian: Wattle Park (A), MHSOB (A)

Aquinas: South Melbourne Districts (H), Hawthorn (A)

Wattle Park: St Mary’s Salesian (H), Elsternwick (A)

Bulleen Templestowe: Elsternwick (H), Whitefriars (H)

Whitefriars way too good for Brunswick

Whitefriars had been in hot form before Saturday — but they are now a premiership contender. They smashed Division 2 VAFA ladder-leader Brunswick to the tune of 81 points. Nicholas Garratt and Sam Kieseker led the way with six and five goals respectively. Brunswick will still finish top of the ladder but with two games to play Whitefriars are leading the race for the double chance. Jordan Knox, Max Warrick, Spencer Larsen, Thomas Jacotine and Jack Elmer impressed. 

St John’s huge win

A thriller played out at Canterbury Sportsground as St Johns prevailed by five points against Canterbury to move closer to top spot on the ladder. Matthew Carnelley continued his impressive goalkicking form with five while Josh Mourant was named the best player on the ground. The result saw Canterbury fall out of the top-three and behind in the race for the double chance after Power House got the better of Box Hill North.