VAFA livestream: Old Xaverians face Old Brighton in Men's Premier elimination final (VAFA Finals Series)

Old Brighton are looming as a real VAFA Premier Men’s title threat after kicking 16 goals in ending Old Xaverians’ season. Relive all the excitement of the goal-ful final quarter.

We apologise for the loss of coverage during the Old Xaverians and Old Brighton VAFA Premier Men’s semifinal at the weekend. Watch the full match replay in the player above.

Old Brighton have thumped Old Xaverians by 57 points in the VAFA Premier Men’s elimination final at Trevor Barker Oval to keep its premiership hopes alive.

Old Xaverians kicked the first two goals of the game but Old Brighton quickly found their range and weren’t headed thereafter, eventually winning 16.10 (106) to 6.13 (49).

Old Brighton led by four goals at the main break and piled on a further nine goals to three in a dominant second half.

Old Brighton will take on Collegians next week in a preliminary final where the winner will play St Kevins for the VAFA Premier Men’s title in the decider.

PREVIEW

The heat will be on high-scoring Old Xaverians and in-form Old Brighton on Sunday as they look to keep their VAFA Premier Men’s title hopes alive in the elimination final.

The winner of the blockbuster clash will progress through to the preliminary final to take on Collegians for a spot in the Grand Final later this month.

Make sure you catch the game - and the entire finals series - on KommunityTV’s livestream on Sunday from 2pm.

REPLAY: St Kevins charge into VAFA Premier Men’s Grand Final

OLD XAVERIANS

Old Xaverians gun Marcus Stavrou. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Old Xaverians stood outside the top four for a few games towards the end of the preliminary rounds, although a win in the second last round boosted them up to third.

This season, Xavs have been the second best offensive team in the competition, averaging 84 points per game.

Defensively, they have also been the second best team in the competition, keeping teams to 58 points per game on average.

For these records alone they stand as a strong contender for the premiership.

Their win-loss record is 12-6, with the highlights being a nine-point win over St Kevins in round seven and a 31-point win over second-placed Collegians in round five.

Players to watch

Marcus Stavrou featured in Xavs’ best players in 11 matches this season, the most of any player on his team.

Forward Xavier Richards will be threatening in attack after scoring 39 goals - the fourth most in the competition - from just 13 games.

Alongside him will be Charlie Macisaac. who has also contributed strongly this season with 36 goals.

OLD BRIGHTON

Old Brighton come into the game with momentum having beaten Old Melburnians convincingly to make the finals.

They also finished the season with a 12-6 record with the fourth best offensive record in the league, averaging 77 points per game.

Defensively, they hold the fourth best record where they keep teams to 67 points per game on average.

Old Brighton have shown they are capable of challenging the best when they defeated St Kevins by three points in round eight.

Old Brighton’s Harry Hill. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Players to watch

Harry Hill is one to watch having featured in the best players on 15 occasions this season, the most of any player in the competition.

He was also best on ground when Brighton played Old Xaverians in round two.

Max Kennedy will be another player to keep an eye on having been among the best players on 11 occasions this season, including recent games where he was best on ground for two straight weeks.

In front of goal, Michael Karayannis and Jordan Segar have kicked 26 and 22 goals respectively for the season.

Verdict

Old Xavs head into the game on a four-game win streak while Old Brighton have won three of their last five games.

With the threat Old Xaverians bring in attack backed up by their records, it is hard to go past them and the form they have hit on the eve of finals.

Anything can happen in finals, however.

Old Xaverians by 26 points.

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