St Bernard’s rises to the top of the Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier ladder after edging out Old Trinity in thriller

A TOP-TWO spot appears St Bernard’s for the taking after the Snowdogs edged out Old Trinity in a top-of-the-table Victorian Amateur Football Association thriller on Saturday.

VAFA footy: University Blacks V St Bernard's. St. Bernards coach

A TOP-TWO spot appears St Bernard’s for the taking after the Snowdogs edged out Old Trinity in a top-of-the-table Victorian Amateur Football Association thriller on Saturday.

St Bernard’s rose to the top of the Premier Division ladder after a 14.14 (98) to 13.14 (92) victory, 10 points clear of third-placed Old Carey after 10 rounds.

The match was played at a finals-like intensity, with little to separate the sides throughout.

“We both play a pretty attacking brand of football,” St Bernard’s coach Anthony Rock said.
“Kicking 90-odd points each, it was not an overly-defensive game.

“Apparently it was a really good spectacle, really quick.”

Below St Bernard’s and Old Trinity, just one game separates fourth-placed University Blues and Old Scotch, which sits eighth.

Rock poured cold water on the suggestion his side would be viewed as premiership favourites, adding the close nature of the competition kept even the most in-form teams on edge.

“It’s an interesting competition,” he said.

“First to 10th, it’s a very even competition. Those two spots below, you come up against Beaumaris and De La (Salle) and they’re fighting for survival.

“We play Beaumaris next week and know it’s a danger game and we’ve got to play well to beat them.”

Alexander Boyse finished with five goals in the victory over Old Trinity, while Sam Woods and Simon Caven stood tall.

Boyse shone inside forward 50 without Chad Jones or Adam Campbell by his side, taking his season tally to 30 goals from 10 games.

“He’s really developing. He’s not there yet as the complete package,” Rock said.

“But he’s certainly got some attributes to play at higher levels, there’s no doubt about that.”

Rock sent an ominous warning to the club’s premiership rivals, saying St Bernard’s could still take its game to another level.

“We’re not a complete package as yet as a football team, getting that consistency across four quarters,” he said.

“We’ve seen it at times this year, we’re certainly working towards that.

“We’ve got a lot of scope for improvement. I think Luke Beveridge has been quoted about being fussy and that’s what we need to be.”

The Snowdogs travel to Banksia Reserve to tackle Beaumaris this weekend.