Old Scotch stuns reigning premiers University Blacks in VAFA season-opener

OLD Scotch kickstarted its Premier season with an outstanding win over reigning premiers University Blacks on Saturday.

s43dt203 Vafa Footy Old Trinity v St Bernards in Bulleen. St Bernard Simon Caven 22 tackles Old Trinity Tom Young 48. Picture: Susan Windmiller

OLD Scotch kickstarted its Premier season with an outstanding win over reigning premiers University Blacks on Saturday.

Manic first-half pressure laid the groundwork for a 24-point win, 15.10 (100) to 11.10 (76). Old Scotch coach Mark Passador said the emphatic win was the ideal way to start the year.

“To beat the reigning premiers on their ground in the first round of the season is pleasing,” Passador said. “Our tackling and pressure was ferocious which was a good sign.”

Ashley Lim led the way off the wing, winning the hard ball around stoppages, while Hugo Perry was also among the best. Passador said the result showed his players what they were able to achieve.

“It showed that, if we play the style of footy we want to, we can compete with the best teams,” he said. “We had a couple of lapses in the third and fourth quarters, but it was really good that we were able to kick away in the end.”

While the win was reward for effort over the off-season, the coach said Old Scotch needed to stay centred.

“At the end of the day it’s four points,” Passador said.

“We need to make sure we refocus next week and don’t undo any of the good work from this week.”

Meanwhile, St Kevins started its Premier B season with a gripping win over St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, 12.15 (87) to 12.11 (83). In Premier C, Old Camberwell Grammarians started with a loss, going down to Oakleigh 22.15 (147) to 10.6 (66) .

In Division 1, Kew defeated Old Geelong 15.14 (104) to 10.11 (71) while St Mary’s Salesian crunched Yarra Valley OB 28.11 (179) to 13.8 (86).

In Division 3 Hawthorn lost to West Brunswick 14.10 (94) to 7.8 (50) and Swinburne Uni beat Glen Eira 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88).

And, Canterbury had a one-point victory over Parkside, 16.13 (109) to 17.6 (108), in Division 4

THRILLING DRAW TO START SEASON

Old Carey made a gripping start to the VAFA Premier season thanks to a draw with Beaumaris on Saturday.

There was never much between the sides all day with the margin always within two goals. The final siren saw the scores tied at 11.10 (76) to 10.16 (76).

Coach Glenn Cox said the players’ effort was the most pleasing part of the game.

“It was a really good game of footy,” he said. “While you always want the win it was a hard, tough game and the players never let up.”

James Gaff impressed off the wing, while Jacob Murphy and Andrew Sloane were solid in defence.

Cox said while it was a great first up performance, consistency was key.

“It’s easy to get excited after round one, but the question is whether we can maintain it,” he said. “Coming up to a new division that is going to be our challenge for the season.”

Old Trinity also had a thriller, defeating St Bernards 12.8 (80) to 10.15 (75). Harry Tinney led the way with Jakob Steinhart also among the best.

Marcellin got its Premier C season off to the perfect start with a 124-point win, 33.8 (206) to 12.10 (82), against Williamstown CYMS. Jeremiah Antypas kicked 12 goals to bankroll the win.

In Division 1, Bullen Templestowe lost to Old Mentonians, 15.15 (105) to 15.7 (97), while Whitefriars went down to Ormond 19.13 (127) to 13.8 (86).

In Division 4 Manningham Cobras lost a close one to Point Cook, 10.13 (73) to 10.9 (69).

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