VSDCA talking points: Altona makes it, flag contenders stumble

Altona has timed its run perfectly to make the finals, while some last-round stumbles have thrown the premiership race wide open in VSDCA south-west section.

James Grubb has steered Altona into the VSDCA south-west section finals Picture: Hamish Blair

Altona captain James Grubb puts his side’s strong 2024-25 form down to “belief”.

Grubb and his teammates have stormed into the VSDCA south-west finals after winning six of their last seven games in a rollicking finish to the regular season.

After beating Spotswood in a virtual elimination final on Saturday, Altona jumped up to fourth spot, setting up a trip to Brighton for the first week of the finals.

“There’s so much belief in our group, we all play for each other which I think is a massive thing,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of homegrown players, guys might have gone away from the club but then they’ve come back.

“Even the English guys have played together back home.”

Altona came away with a six-wicket win on the weekend after rolling Spotswood for 129 as Adam Yates took 4-27.

After losing both openers for ducks, Matt Turcinovich eventually led the run chase home with 56 not out alongside Grubb (35no).

“He’s worked his backside off the last couple of years,” Grubb said of Turcinovich.

“He’s made the number five spot his own. He played a really mature innings, picking his time to go.”

Grubb said his side would need to be wary of Brighton’s frontline bowlers including Glen Parker, Will Sist and Peter Cassidy.

“We’ll be going from one of the slowest grounds in the comp to the quickest,” he said.

“We had a hiccup against Port Melbourne a couple of weeks ago but we’ve learnt from that experience.”

Luke Domaschenz in action for Port Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Batsch

DOMA DOES IT AGAIN

Port Melbourne’s star all-rounder Luke Domaschenz put the cap on a fine season with 3-31 and 58 in Port’s win over Moorabbin. Domaschenz took a wicket second ball of the match and then played some beautiful strokes (hitting 7 fours and 1 six) as he scored his fourth half-century of the campaign. Port Melbourne No. 5 Nicholas Benson also impressed making 66 not out.

FIELDERS STUMBLE

Caulfield had a pre-finals hiccup when it lost to Yarraville. The Fielders had won three games in a row before the last-round loss. Yarraville’s win was set up by all-rounder Alexander Wood, who took 3-38 and made 57 off 53 balls at the top of the list. Ashish Mathew (50) and Tejas Hari (43no) also fired for Yarraville, which fnished in 11th spot with a 6-8 win-loss record. Caulfield will look to hit back hard in a finals showdown with Oakleigh. Paceman Andrew King played in the seconds on Saturday, taking 4-23.

James Bartholomeusz on the drive for Ormond. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

MONDERS MAGIC

James Bartholomeusz, Nick Oaten and Rodney Bird combined as Ormond finished its season with a stunning win over ladder leaders Oakleigh. Bartholomeusz struck 6 fours and 1 six as he made 56 off 74 balls to set up the Monders 8-161. Bird and Oaten then went to work with the ball, reducing Oakleigh to 7-39, before it was dismissed for 150. Oaten took 4-20 and Bird 3-23.

‘LJ’ GOES BIG

Lincoln Edwards blitzed 149 off 126 balls to fire Elsternwick to an eye-popping win over finals-bound Malvern. Edwards put away 18 fours and 3 sixes as Elsty racked up 7-255. Dasun Opanayaka (57) and skipper Zachariah Grundmann (19 off 11 balls) also batted with intent. In reply, Malvern made a shaky start as Jack Phillips (3-35) ran hot. Elsternwick medium pacer Hugh Bennett collected 5-23 as the Roosters were dismissed for 194. Tom Rickarby top scored with 70, going past 400 runs for the season.

TIGERS TAME TONNERS

Jonathan Burton and Stephen Plumridge took four wickets apiece to set up Werribee’s impressive win over flag contenders Brighton. Burton (4-14 off 9 overs) grabbed the first four wickets as Brighton slumped to 4-40 before Plumridge struck as Brighton was restricted to 9-158. In reply, Werribee achieved victory in the 37th over, finishing 6-161, with Darcy Phillips (63) and Burton (51no) hitting half-tons.

HOT START GIVES MELTON STRONG FINISH

Bradley Jones and Lachlan Peterson bowled with venom early to set up a resounding win for Melton over Taylors Lakes. Jones (2-21) and Peterson (2-16) reduced the Lakes to 4-23 and they were eventually shot out for 79, with James Robertson (2-13) and Joel Mitchener (2-21) also impressing. Mitchener then blasted 43 off 37 balls (6 fours) as Melton coasted to 2-80 in 19 overs.

LADDER: Oakleigh 66, Hoppers Crossing 66, Brighton 60, Altona 57, Malvern 57, Caulfield 54, Spotswood 54, Elsternwick 48, Taylors Lakes 42, Werribee 39, Yarraville 39, Port Melbourne 39, Ormond 39, Williamstown 30, Melton 15, Moorabbin 15.

FINALS, this Saturday and Sunday:

Hoppers Crossing v Malvern, at Hogans Road Reserve.

Oakleigh v Caulfield at Warrawee Park, Brighton v Altona.

Brighton v Altona, at Brighton Beach Oval