APS Insider: Top performers, scouting notes from St Kevin’s v Haileybury in round 9
A Vic Country draft hopeful continued to impress, while Richmond and Carlton prospects shone elsewhere as Haileybury closes in on a second APS title in the span of three years.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Draft hopeful Tairon Ah-Mu continued to impress as Haileybury College took a significant step towards securing a second APS football title in three seasons.
Haileybury coach Matthew Lloyd lauded Ah-Mu, who he said “has been critical to our fortunes all year”, as Haileybury toppled St Kevin’s College 8.10 (58) to 3.7 (25).
Ah-Mu, who split his time between the ruck and full forward, imposed himself on the match from the opening seconds when he won the first clearance and launched a threatening kick inside 50.
The Vic Country representative had an impressive day out in the ruck and around the ground and took plenty of big marks. He also nailed a long-range set shot late in the piece.
George Dimer and Haileybury captain Jack Lawrence shone in the midfield, with Lloyd labelling the duo “outstanding with their power and speed and pressure”.
In defence, it was Ollie Bartal and Ryder Pascoe who stood out for Haileybury. Pascoe was as cool as they come under pressure and worked up the ground well.
St Kevin’s had trailed Haileybury by just 10 points at half-time after a scrappy and low-scoring opening half in drizzly conditions, before the Bloods put their foot down to kick away while conceding just one goal in the 33-point victory.
“Let’s make it a big win” was the message on top of the whiteboard at Haileybury’s three-quarter-time huddle, and Lloyd was pleased to see his side do just that.
“You can go into protection mode and try and hang onto leads, I didn’t want that to happen with us, I wanted to turn it into a bigger margin than the three-goal lead at three-quarter-time,” Lloyd said.
“To get a couple of goals late was really pleasing for all the hard work and full credit to St Kevin’s, their pressure was as good as any team we’ve played all year, to finish strong was really pleasing.
“We knew it was going to be tricky, it’s never easy going to St Kevin’s, we had to grind it out and it was a real territory battle … it took us until late in the piece to really break them.”
TOP PERFORMERS
TAIRON AH-MU (HAILEYBURY)
The ruckman’s tap work was dominant and he was capable of following it up to win his own clearance. He took good marks not only when situated at full forward but around the ground too and capped off his performance with a goal. The Vic Country representative has a thumping right boot on him too.
WILL MAZZEO (ST KEVIN’S)
Was lively as usual in the St Kevin’s forward line and had somewhat of an ‘almost’ day, but his pressure was exceptional and he finished with two of the three St Kevin’s goals for the day. Mazzeo sprung to life in the second term with an exceptional smother where he managed to keep possession of the ball in one motion before his snap on the run missed by mere centimetres. Later in the quarter, he pulled off an exceptional chase down tackle inside his forward 50 to earn a free kick close to goal which he put away. Worked his magic again after half-time when he controlled the ball under pressure and turned sharply to lose his man before snapping a goal from 40m out.
GEORGE DIMER (HAILEYBURY)
Dimer is a crafty player who was composed under pressure and could get himself out of trouble in tight spaces. Lloyd noted that he’s the cleanest player below his knees to come through at Haileybury since Andrew Brayshaw.
MATTHEW FAIRCHILD (ST KEVIN’S)
Had his fair share of the footy in the middle of the ground and delivered some dangerous kicks inside 50 which created scoring opportunities.
RYDER PASCOE (HAILEYBURY)
Pascoe was one of Haileybury’s standouts in the backline. He was agile and his work rate was impressive, almost kicking a great goal on the run after charging up the ground to follow up his own kick.
XAVIER WEST (ST KEVIN’S)
West played a solid game in defence and was distributing the ball well. He was composed under pressure and showcased his strength when he shrugged off a tackle effortlessly.
JACK LAWRENCE (HAILEYBURY)
The Haileybury skipper kicked his side’s first goal with a nice effort on the run from 40m and it was a sign of what was to come as he enjoyed a dominant outing. He was a sharp player who hit targets regularly when going inside 50 and threatened around goal.
BLOODS ON CUSP OF FLAG
Just two games is all that stands between Haileybury and a second APS premiership in three seasons after Haileybury passed its latest test against the gallant St Kevin’s – who sit fourth – with flying colours.
The Bloods are undefeated through eight games and now have only Geelong Grammar and Melbourne Grammar – who are 10th and 8th respectively – standing between them and premiership glory.
“We’ve got two weeks to go, it’s what you play football for us is to get yourselves opportunities like this,” Lloyd said.
“We work really hard to put ourselves in this situation, it’s really exciting to be in this position with two games left.”
Lloyd has been involved in the Haileybury program for a decade and is now in his fourth season as head coach.
He’s already been involved in four premierships, including one as co-coach in 2019 and 2023 as a head coach.
Brighton Grammar, who pipped Haileybury to last season’s premiership with a thrilling one-point win, are 7-1 and would be the only premiership challenger should the Bloods stumble.
ESTEEMED COACHING PANEL
Essendon great and Haileybury coach Matthew Lloyd was flanked with a pair of high-profile assistants in 200-gamer Cale Hooker and champion Magpie Scott Pendlebury.
There was only a small recruiting presence at the match, with spotters from Adelaide, Geelong and Melbourne keeping an eye on proceedings to ensure no talent slips through the cracks.
As for the half-time spread, there was a variety of food on offer including sandwiches, scones, cakes, muffins, hedgehog slice, party pies, sausage rolls, sushi and Freddos.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
The hotly contested Cordner-Egglestone Cup between foes Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College didn’t disappoint, with Scotch holding on for a nine-point win.
The atmosphere was electric in a tense final term as the bumper crowd watched on with bated breath, but goals were hard to come by late in the 10.9 (69) to 9.6 (60) triumph.
“We’ve been in that position a few times and not been able to hold on, we were kicking against the wind and to be able to hang on and find a way we did was excellent,” reflected Scotch coach James Gerstman.
2026 Richmond NGA prospect and Vic Country representative Tanner Armstrong, top-age Carlton NGA Jack Ison, Louis Emmett — who have both turned out for Vic Metro — and Ben Fergusson were among Scotch’s top performers in the win.
“There were some amazing individual efforts, we had amazing efforts in terms of smothers and chase downs and stuff, it was a fantastic team performance,” added Gerstman.
“Tanner just hunts the ball, he’s an absolute menace, he’s incredible.
“Louis an amazing target, he’s an All Australian ruckman, we think we can get the most out of him as a forward.
“Jack Ison is just creative, amazing kick on him.
“Ben Fergusson rucked really well all day, he’s had a tough couple of years but for him to come out and ruck the way he has, has been excellent.”
Both of the school’s cheer squads were in full attendance and full voice throughout the match, with Scotch’s ‘Red Army’ storming onto the field in their hundreds as soon as the final siren sounded with flags and a flare in tow.
Scotch alumni Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was among those watching on, as was former Western Bulldog and father of Scotch player Will, Luke Darcy.
“We focused on us and not all the noise, it’s such a big game for the school and the boys, there’s plenty of things going on in the background but we just tried to concentrate on what we control,” added Gerstman.
“It’s really good, we like to treat every game the same but this certainly has a bit more significance than the others.”
More Coverage
Originally published as APS Insider: Top performers, scouting notes from St Kevin’s v Haileybury in round 9
Brownlow Predictor: Nasiah’s move, leaders and club counts
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is surging up the ranks in our Brownlow Predictor — but how high can he get? Plus a Nick Daicos update and every vote from every game here.
TV Wrap: Swann flags wildcard, champion Dee on Roos radar
The new football performance boss has weighed into several contentious discussion topics, including the introduction of the wildcard and the last-touch rule. Plus a Dee is on North’s radar. The full TV wrap here.