VAFA Premier Men’s Round 10 live stream: University Blues face Old Brighton looking to continue great run

As the ground got worse, the home side just got better. University Blues defied a boggy surface to boot their way to a sixth-straight win. Watch the REPLAYS now.

A thumping six-goal final term in the muck and mire at University Oval has helped University Blues power their way to six-straight wins in the VAFA Men’s Premier League.

The Blues were almost unstoppable in a thrilling final quarter, adding nearly 40 points down the stretch to notch a convincing 12.10 (82) to 6.6 (42) win over a faltering Old Brighton.

Both sides traded blows in an opening half that was dominated by a toreential downpour.

But as the surface got worse, the home side got better.

The Blues were more composed on the ball and executed a simple gameplan in the difficult conditions to get the upper hand over their rivals.

Old Brighton’s Ben Prior, who kicked four goals for the day, bookended the Blues scoring run in the final term with two consolation goals - but it was a late storm that proved too much for the visitors to weather.

Tom Young, Charlie Furphy, James Patterson and Will Harrington all kicked two goals for the home side in what could prove a season-defining win for the red-hot Blues.

REPLAYS

Uni Blues v Old Brighton (Men’s Premiers)

Uni Blues v Old Brighton (Men’s Reserves)

We are missing footage from the opening stages of the fourth quarter of this game. We apologise for any inconvenience and will have the full replay available as soon as possible.

Preview: Young guns inspiring Uni Blues in sizzling mid-season run

University Blues will look to make it six wins in a row when they take on last year’s VAFA runners up Old Brighton on Saturday.

After beginning the season 2-2, which included back-to-back with losses to Old Scotch (Rd 3) and Old Xaverians (Rd 4), the historic amateur club has suddenly hit top form.

Catch all the action from the Premier Reserves/Premier Men’s double header from 11.40am on Saturday LIVE on KommunityTV. Check out the LIVE STREAM schedule below for full details.

“It’s been a culmination of a number of different things,” Blues skipper Ayce Cordy said.

“We have got some young guys that have come in and started feeling more confident playing their football at senior level, we have got a pretty well structured game plan that we’re actually implementing now and we have had a few guys play themselves into form.”

Ayce Cordy is proud of his young players.

Cordy went on to mention six youngsters who were in their late teens and early 20s that had stepped up to help raise Uni’s standards.

James Curran (midfielder)

“He came up through the under-19s. He has really come into his own and is starting to play with some real confidence and is starting to play with a bit of class in the middle there which has been really impressive.”

Isaac Dykes (halfback)

“He has been very, very impressive. He is a wiry defender,”

James Harrington (small forward)

The small forward from Ballarat “has really shown a touch of class in front of goal. He has also got really good leg speed and real good pressure, which is one of the reasons why our forward line is functioning so well.”

Mojwok Akoch (half forward)

The half forward from Warrnambool is “a wiry half forward who leads up really well at the ball and then gets back inside the forward 50 to help keep it locked in.”

University Blues half forward Mojwok Akoch handballing against Old Melburnians.

Mitch Taylor (defender)

The Ocean Grove footballer “is a really strong and dour defender.”

James Paterson (forward)

“A tall forward who can really lead at the ball and clunk them. It’s been nice to have that down there.”

Cordy said an improvement in his side’s structure, particularly in the forward line, has helped turn around their form.

“We were letting their defenders intercept marks and then the ball was rebounding out of our forward line really quickly,” he said.

The Blues forwards have now been able to apply more pressure and block off exits for opposition defenders.

It will be important again this week against an Old Brighton side which may have some more players returning from injury.

Uni Blues’ fortunes have changed after a slow start to the season.

The Tonners have been impacted severely in the last month with key players missing, including their skipper and reigning league best and fairest winner Harry Hill, who was out for more than a month.

They have lost four of their last five matches, but their win in that period, surprisingly, did come against reigning champions St Kevin’s in the grand final rematch.

The Blues will enter the game in third spot on the ladder with a 7-2 record and the Tonners come in with a 5-4 record sitting in sixth spot.