VAFA ROUND 2.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association
VAFA ROUND 2.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association
VAFA ROUND 2.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association
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PREMIER<br />
Michael Fitzgerald<br />
OLD WORLD<br />
ORDER<br />
Pundits who based their selections on 2010 form<br />
rather than the off-season signings would have<br />
picked the card, as Opening Day had an eerily<br />
familiar feel to it. Other than Old Carey, which<br />
had to thunder home like Black Caviar to snatch<br />
victory from a fifty point deficit, the favourites<br />
appeared to have secured the points long before<br />
the skies turned prematurely black.<br />
The Panther Cotillion went smoothly until the<br />
colours ascended the mast, but it was the brave<br />
Trinity that led the Beasts a merry dance once<br />
the clock struck two. Greens new coach Adam<br />
Andrews would have been delighted with the<br />
first half performance. Sans their spiritual leader<br />
Ramsden, the Ts opened with authority in the first,<br />
and increased their lead in the second. However,<br />
ravaged by injury, they ran out of gas in the third<br />
and the cat pounced. Where there had been<br />
disarray, suddenly there was system, Jarrod Reid<br />
broke free and all was well that ended well for Old<br />
Carey as it nosed ahead in the gloaming.<br />
The predominantly youthful Old Haileyburians<br />
ventured to Mentone for the first time and found<br />
the Brindisians ready to defend their turf. In a<br />
tough first quarter, the Bloods failed to capitalise<br />
on the wind and only two late goals gave them<br />
the edge. The Seasiders tattooed the sticks in the<br />
second, but were customarily inaccurate, ensuring<br />
not only that the flag wavers earned their money<br />
but shed any excess avoirdupois left after their<br />
grinding pre-season. Still vaguely in it at the half,<br />
but needing a massive third term, the Bloods<br />
failed to shake the Tiges, who calibrated their<br />
sights, straightened up, and in the end, kicked<br />
away. Darcy Holden turned in a top performance<br />
for the home team, while Pete Gleadhill did well<br />
for a Haileybury outfit that kept on fighting.<br />
Under the spires, De La Salle slid away from Uni<br />
Blues early and then sealed the deal in the second<br />
term. The Varsity squandered early opportunities<br />
and while it emerged stronger after the long<br />
break, it was all too late. Brett Eddy, the ‘Pies<br />
listed forward, was prominent, but ominously for<br />
future opponents, so were the De La stars who<br />
didn’t play in the seniors. From all accounts, the<br />
Blue and Golds were in slashing form, setting<br />
the table for a monster season under new gaffer<br />
Max McLoughlin. The latest grads of the U19<br />
production line, Tom Humphrey and Ed Clinch,<br />
both played solidly. John Kanis would have been<br />
pleased with the form of Charles Shaw, but will be<br />
anxious to have his full squad available. Blues face<br />
a tough month.<br />
Old Scotch hit the front in the final stanza against<br />
Collegians, but the Lions responded viciously with<br />
a seven goals to none burst. For the Purples, the<br />
old reliables lifted when needed, with Harry Croft<br />
and Daniel Strahan providing goal power. All<br />
eyes were on Nick Sautner, wearing the Wesleyan<br />
jumper for the first time, but his role was more<br />
minimal than it will be in the coming weeks. Cards’<br />
coach Peter Banfield will no doubt find some<br />
consolation in the form of some of his younger<br />
charges and the big effort from Sam Thompson.<br />
With boom recruit Simon Taylor prominent early,<br />
Old Melburnians were on top from the outset<br />
and must have fancied their chances against an<br />
Old Xaverian lineup missing eight from the team<br />
that chaliced in September. According to the stats<br />
sheet, OMs had seventeen forward arc entries in<br />
the first quarter to the home team’s twelve, but<br />
TODAY<br />
Selections in BOLD<br />
COLLEGIANS v UNIVERSITY BLUES<br />
OLD TRINITY v OLD XAVERIANS<br />
OLD MELBURNIANS v ST BEDES/MT<br />
OLD HAILEYBURY v OLD SCOTCH<br />
DE LA SALLE v OLD CAREY<br />
2 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011<br />
SPORTS INJURY CASUALTY - OPEN 1-7 SATURDAY