Round 11 Match Review, 2024

 

Senior Men's Match Report

Old Trinity                  1.0     1.2     4.5       6.6 (42)

Old Haileyburians     1.2     4.6     6.6     12.8 (80)

Goals: A.Stefanakis 3, J.Gasparini 2, D.Seccull 2, J.Constable, C.Harrop, W.McPhee, M.Rose, C.Sinclair

Best: J.Gasparini, J.Constable, M.Rose, A.Stefanakis, M.Sievers, W.Paul

Debut in 1sts: Will McPhee

Milestone: Joel Constable (100 games)

 

ln our last game before we have two weeks with no footy we headed out to Bulleen to take on Old Trinity.  It was our first Saturday for the year with persistent rain so it was going to be a slog for this 1 v 2 clash. Again our depth was to be tested as we had a couple of late withdrawals.  After beating us in the opening round of this year our boys were keen to turn the tables on our opposition.  ln the first quarter we were heading into a slight breeze so our pressure had to be first class when OT looked to move the ball. We managed to scrap very well and with Joel Constable kicking our first goal in his 100th game it was tight at the first break as we led by two points.

ln the second term we were strong around the contest and took our chances up forward to go into the main break with a 22 point advantage.  At the start of the third we were still controlling the game but Trinity had raised their intensity and were starting to win the footy through the middle. Pleasingly we steadied late in the term and led by 13 points with a quarter to play.

It was important that we lifted at the start of the last quarter and took our chances. Duz Seccull playing sore kicked a great goal to get us moving and we were running over the top of them. Josh Gasparini had been great all day but capped off a BoG performance with two goals to seal the victory. The margin when the final siren sounded was 38 points as we kicked six goals to two for the term.  A fantastic team performance with every player performing their role that was asked of them. We now head into the double bye for a well deserved break a couple of games clear on top of the ladder. After starting the season 0-2 we have now won nine in a row and are playing a great brand of footy.  Lots to look forward to in the back half of the year if we keep working hard on the track and look to improve each week.

How the VAFA saw the match:

The double-bye is upon Premier B football, and it’s Daniel Ward’s Old Haileyburians that have rocketed to the break with a ninth consecutive win, saluting in a one-v-two contest with Old Trinity.  The Bloods are two games clear in first spot on the ladder – a brilliant turnaround from the 18-point loss to the T’s and a 43-point humbling at the hands of Beaumaris that kicked off their 2024 campaign.  “We took a while to find our feet a little bit (but) the type of footy we’re playing right now is really pleasing,” Daniel Ward said on Monday.

In wet, windy conditions at Daley Oval, the Bloods held the Ts to just one goal in the first term, before kicking three goals to none in the second to go into the long break with a 22-point advantage.  Donald McDonald’s side worked back into the contest to trail by just seven points with a few minutes left in the third, but the Bloods wrestled back control with the wind and finished with a flurry, piling on six goals in the last quarter to win 12.8 (80) to 6.6 (42).

After poor kicking and a stingy Sharks defence kept his side to their equal-second lowest score of the season in Round 10, Ward said he was pleased with his team’s ability to apply scoreboard pressure, despite the unfavourable conditions.  “We addressed (the low score) and spoke about that – and I thought our group was absolutely fantastic at putting that to the side and going to work.”

A sore Durras Seccull was selfless and competed strongly in the air, responding to a goalless outing against Beaumaris with two majors, while livewire Andreas Stefanakis continued his mighty year with another three goals.  Stefanakis, despite playing only five games to this point of the season, has kicked 20 goals – good enough for fifth across Premier B.  “He’s got real confidence in his game and he knows what works for him,” Ward said.  “The development he’s had year upon year has been sensational. We see it as a blessing to have him.”

Blood Josh Gasparini (30 disposals, 16 clearances) continued his magnificent form, while Nick Hodgson (31 disposals, 20 contested possessions) was manful for the Ts.

For full pictorial coverage of the Seniors' match against Old Trinity go to the Gallery

 

Hearts Match Report

Old Haileyburians     1.4     2.4     3.4       4.6 (30)

Marcellin OC              1.2     4.3     7.7     8.12 (60)

Goals: R.Barbakas

Best: E.McCrae, A.Argiros, A.Calogero, E.Rundle, N.Nowlan, S.Vudiniabola

Debuts: Jasmine Appleford, Teagan Berkowitz, Ruby Hartney, Emily Rundle

 

ln wet and trying conditions the Hearts faced off against second placed Marcellin on the main oval.  Marcellin had beaten us
comfortably earlier in the season and we were determined to make amends.  Right from the first bounce the aggression on the footy by the Hearts was outstanding. For most of the match the ball lived in our forward half with Charley Ansell-Jones and Serene Vudiniabola providing us with strong moving targets up forward. We were getting plenty of run and carry through the midfield with Emily Rundle, Ange Argiron, Eloise McCrae and Alex Calogero simply outstanding. Down back the pressure was elite led by Gracie (Torpedo) Vanderwaal, Nicky Nowlan and Ruby Hartney.

ln a tough contest, and even though we ended up with a few injuries and nobody left on the bench for the last quarter, the Hearts kept working their backsides off and came up short.  We have now played the top two teams recently and although not successful on the scoreboard, we have than matched them with our effort, tenacity and relentless pressure.  A win is just around the corner for this mighty team.

How the VAFA saw the match:

Marcellin now sit comfortably second on the ladder, after their narrow 11-point win against Old Haileyburians.  The weather clearly played a factor across all three games in Round 11, and the scoreboard reflects that particularly from this contest.  It was scrappy, it was wet, tough to gather clean possession and thus ultimately tough to kick goals.  From a Marcellin perspective, this was a game that they simply had to put away if they were to solidify their credentials at premiership challengers to Old Brighton.  So that is exactly what they did, it was tough, but they took the chocolates 2.11 (23) to 1.6 (12).

It was a gruelling first half, and for the most part incredibly even, as neither the Bloods nor Eagles could slot a major.  That was until T Zagontinos converted for the game’s first major and lifting Marcellin to a 6-point advantage at the main break.  The goal clearly gifted the visiting Eagles some momentum after half-time, as their lead grew out to 15-points on the back of a Zoe Glascott goal.

The rain and margin proved to be too much for the Bloods to work back from, despite kicking the only goal of the final term, Marcellin taking an 11-point win.  Alana Pane, Hayley Harley and Annabel Scott were named as some of the best for the winning Eagles. Old Haileyburians Emily Rundle, Nicky Nowlan and Eloise McCrae were also mentioned amongst the best on ground.

 

Men's Reserves Match Report 

 

Old Trinity                  3.8     7.16     13.25     21.30 (156)

Old Haileyburians     0.0       0.0          0.1         0.1     (1)

Best: P.Gleadhill, S.Stefanakis, P.McPhee, B.Oakes, B.Prior, P.Palologos

Debut: Mitchell Black

 

Under 19's Match Report

Old Xaverians 2         1.1    2.2          2.5         5.5   (35)

Old Haileyburians     3.2     8.8     13.13     19.17 (131)

Goals: B.Yates 8, G.Brayshaw 2, K.Mountford 2, F.Brayshaw, J.Connell, J.Lasscock, S.Lynch, H.Nosiara, L.Riedel, A.Russell

Best: B.Yates, J.Connell, G.Brayshaw, A.Russell, G.Kokoros, A.Daniel-Reid

Debuts: Arkin Daniel-Reid, Ziggy Nosiara

 

The U19s travelled out to Kew to take on arch-rivals Old Xaverians on Saturday and recorded an impressive win. Our preparation over the last couple of weeks has been elite and this resulted in another great start by the guys. The  conditions weren't ideal for footy with a constant rain falling throughout most of the game, but we handled the conditions much better than our opponents. A five goal to one second quarter saw us head into the main break with a  commanding 42-point lead.

Bailey Yates up forward was unstoppable ending the game with eight goals and our midfield dominated with Lynch, Russell, Connell, Mountford and the Brayshaw boys racking up huge clearance numbers and possessions.  Arkie Daniels-Reid on debut from the school 1st XVlll was repelling everything across half back, elite accuracy with his kicking set up many scoring opportunities.  We played four school players this week with Joel Lasscock also joining us and hitting the scoreboard with his first goal for the club. A five goal third quarter and a six goal final quarter saw us run out winners by 95points.  A well-deserved win.

It's been a great start to the season, and we head into the two week mid-season break sitting in second position on the ladder but more importantly five games clear of 5th position. Plenty of work still to do but for now a well-earned break before we take on Old Carey at home.