VAFA ROUND 21_Col.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association

Zac Hubber
Darren Dawson
Richard Wilkinson
UNDER 19
PREMIER: Then there were four. After 18 rounds of
football, De La Salle, Old Scotch, Beaumaris and Old
Xaverians will contest this year’s finals series. This series
was to have begun last week, but strange things happen.
Rain came, footy postponed. So here we go again,
Premier column retyped.
De La is truly the impressive story of 2010 after going
undefeated for the season and backing up last year’s
minor premiership. De La led by 28 points at half-time
against a spirited Old Melburnians line-up, but the class
of the boys from Dairy Bell shone through in the third
with an eight goal to one rampage. Jack O’Halloran was
impressive against OMs, now a key player in the side
after starting the season in the Magoos. Ed Espinosa
and Ben Nethersole have kicked at least three goals
seven times and five times respectively this season, and
Hugh Nicholson has kicked a goal in his past 16 games.
Headaches all round for the three opposing finalists. After
such an upbeat preseason, OMs will be disappointed with
its season, but it did suffer a fair share of injuries and
escaped relegation. Lachie Bennett has been a shining
light for 2010.
Uni Blues’ season ended by the slightest of margins,
sending the afternoon Old Xavs-Beaumaris match to a
dead rubber. The early fixture saw a spirited Uni Blues
throw everything at Old Scotch in the final quarter, but
it wasn’t enough to make the finals. Cardinals’ Lachlan
Cooper was terrific in only his fifth game for season, as
was Henry Dick. Charles Shaw was best afield for the
Students, coming off a great performance for the Premier
team the week prior. And congratulations to Max Allen
for taking out the Sherrin Sharpshooters.
Beaumaris and Old Xavs will do battle on neutral territory
this Saturday, just a week after the Sharks defeated the
Xavs by eight points. The return of Hicham Nidam after
his suspension was obvious on the field, while finals
specialist Sam Lees was red hot. Beauy’s spread of
goalkickers was impressive down at Banksia Reserve,
and whether or not either team played conservatively
before the finals will be answered soon enough.
St Bedes/Mentone Tigers finished its season off with an
impressive eight-goal victory over Marcellin. The Tigers
won three of their last five games for the season, and word
is the 18s coming up may take the Baysiders back into
finals contention in 2011. For Marcellin, it’s a wooden
spoon and relegation after a lacklustre year.
Uni Blacks is the other team to feel the relegation pinch,
but was also entertaining towards the pointy end of the
season by winning three of its final four games. The
Students won a cliffhanger over Old Camberwell, a team
that will have to regroup next year after a midseason hot
streak.
NORTH 1: A quirk of the draw saw a second-semi
dress-rehearsal in the final round. And, whilst they went
down to the Tigers by 28 points, Fitzroy showed enough
to prove they will be no push-overs in the big re-match.
Leading by two points at the half, the Roys believed that
the juggernaut might finally be stopped; but it was not
to be, as the Bees were stung into action and banged
on eight to decide the contest. Old Carey, with one eye
on the first semi, recorded a solid victory over Trinity.
Ben Fordham booted six. Carey will need to step up the
intensity a notch if they are to overcome St. Bernard’s,
whose 119-point mauling of neighbours Old Essendon
was a handy hit-out leading into the semis. Brad Cooper
was again amongst the best for the Dogs.
Preview: Although not totally convincing last week, it is
impossible to go past the all-conquering Tigers in their
second-semi appointment with the Roys. For me, it’s
Werribee by 35 points. After the Snow Dogs won big in
their first two meetings, Carey hit back in R13. It could go
either way, but St. Bernard’s should have the firepower to
get over the line by 10 points.
NORTH 2: In the local derby at Chelsworth, it was Old
Ivanhoe who prevailed over Ivanhoe and thus confirmed
for themselves a piece of the finals action. The Old Boys
always had the game under control, and luckily their
wayward kicking for goal did not prove costly. Therry-
Penola confirmed their flag favouritism with a thumping
defeat of the Bullants. The Lions had an impressive
twelve goal-kickers in their massive 30-goal victory,
spear-headed by William Dean with 13. Old Westbourne
did enough against Emmaus-St. Leo’s to hang on to a
place in the four. However, the Warriors were not overly
impressive in dispatching the cellar-dwelling Animals,
who only posted one victory for the year. Latrobe’s
96-point defeat of Fitzroy only served to remind them
of what might have been had a drastic mid-season slump
not ruined their season. And in the final match, Aquinas
powered away from local rivals Whitefriars in the second
half to post a 24-point win.
Preview: Although Aquinas knocked them over in their
previous encounter, Therry-Penola’s late-season form has
been excellent. They have the ability to score heavily,
and given the right conditions should do so again in the
second-semi. The Lions by 25 points. Old Westbourne’s
recent form has been inconsistent, and I am tipping Old
Ivanhoe to continue their late surge and win by 5 goals.
NORTH 1 REVIEW: At Amateur headquarters under
the Friday night lights, it was Old Carey who shone
brightest in the first semi-final. The match was tough
slog, particularly in the first half when only five goals
in total were scored. It was St. Bernard’s who went into
the main break with a slim two-point lead, although it
48 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2010