27 August - Victorian Amateur Football Association

PREMIER BJonathan HibbertROUND 18: DEAD RUBBER SURPRISEMy sincere thanks to the editor, who managed tosomehow throw together last week’s column atthe last minute, while I was incapacitated. In myfeverish delirium, I missed Hampton thumpingCaulfield, I missed St Bernard’s consolidatingtheir finals berth by utterly denying Ivanhoe oneof their own. I missed Oakleigh missing fourthposition like a fat kid on a diet misses cake. Thatsaid, if the Krushers win by about 150 againstMarcellin, and St Bernard’s get done by over120 by Caulfield, Oakleigh could slip into fourth.Statistically possible.Vindictive, Brighton was never going to bestopped by a desperate Marcellin, out off BulleenRoad. Having lost their earlier encounter withthe Eagles by a solitary behind, the Tonners werenot in a forgiving mood, and despite an evenlymatched scorecard, Brighton was decidedly incontrol. Dominating in the ruck, Tom Skeweswas brilliant, backed up by Dewar and Marston.Clutching at straws, Marcellin’s basic tacticswere to restrict the damage, flooding Brighton’sforward line, the ensuing third quarter congestionfrustrating players and spectators alike. JonathanBlanch and Stephen Pesavento’s best efforts wereshortly brushed aside, as Brighton’s strangleholdgrew tighter, the inevitable playing out, Marcellinlooking for solace this week away, againstOakleigh, Brighton’s finals berth well and trulyfixed.Leaping ahead with a six goal first term at theSnake Pit, St Bernard’s put the wind up Ivanhoe,Alex Singleton emphatically stamping his markon the game, and Tom Gleeson playing his bestgame for the year, following his return from thecollege tennis circuit in Florida. Trevor Cotsworthimpressed, offering his best game yet, as NickButler shot four straight majors, and Ivanhoebegan to claw its way back into the match. In atight arm wrestle, Tankard’s Snow Dogs began toshow their fitness, running longer and harder thanthe eastern interlopers, and in a telling final term,pumped home 7.2 to Ivanhoe’s 4.1.It’s been a disappointing back half to this seasonfor Uni Blacks. Having only won one from thepast seven games, Blacks must be rueing thislate slump, having now slipped from third toignominious seventh. SKOB’s, by comparison,have continued in a solid vein, and consolidatesecond position on the ladder after a tremendousmatch at T.H.King, the fifteen point victory overthe Varsity a welcome four points before lining upaway against Brighton this week. Plugger Lynchwas marvellous in the ruck, and Mick Giansiracusa’sfour goals signalled his return from suspension.Batten and Tom Napier again performed for Blacks,and continued to strive for an upset until the bitterend, ultimately countered by Tom McPherson andBen Dowd, as St Kevin’s ramp up preparations fortheir push back to Premier.Oakleigh’s spirit was krushed by the Sharks ina 19 point upset at Banksia Reserve, Oakleigh’sfinals hopes all but shattered, now strugglingin fifth behind the Snow Dogs by a game andpercentage. Fluctuating wildly, last week’s matchcould’ve been anyone’s, Oakleigh piling on threegoals after half time to scrape ahead by 16 points,only to have Beumaris bounce back with four oftheir own, Sean Coote forceful and Will Murtonbagging a couple for the Sharks to edge ahead atthree quarter time. Tim Scott bagged four of hisown, as Dermot Cleary added three for Oakleigh,TODAYSelections in BOLDOLD IVANHOE v BEAUMARISOLD BRIGHTON v ST KEVINSCAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS v ST BERNARDSOAKLEIGH v MARCELLINUNIVERSITY BLACKS v HAMPTON ROVERS4 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011SPORTS INJURY CASUALTY - 316 Malvern Road, Prahran