Round 17 Match Review, 2025

 

Senior Men's Match Report

St Bernard’s OC        4.1       9.4     13.8     21.15 (141)

Old Haileyburians     1.2     4.10     6.13       7.16   (58)

Goals: A.Stefanakis 5, Cody Goonewardene, F.Gregor

Best: A.Stefanakis, O.Hotton, F.Gregor, M.Rose, C.Riley, J.Paul

 

How the VAFA saw the match:

The pivotal result was at the Snake Pit as St Bernard’s gave their chances of surviving in the top-flight an enormous boost with their biggest win of the season – an incredible 83-point victory that sends a spiralling Old Haileyburians into a virtual Elimination Final against reigning champs Old Scotch on the final day.

Entering without a victory over any team other than De La Salle since Round 4, the Snowdogs were on song from the outset. Led by Jackson Hately, who returned from Essendon’s VFL team for his first game of the season (13 disposals and 5 clearances in Q1), they smashed the Bloods 15-4 in Clearances, and led by 17 points at quarter-time.

Hately’s dominance continued in the second (another 12 disposals and 4 clearances) as the Snowdogs added 5.3, while the Bloods – who were creating opportunities – couldn’t find their radar, booting 3.8, with leading goalkicker Andreas Stefanakis contributing 3 of Old Haileybury’s 4 first-half goals.

Leading by 24 points at the half, VAFA fans around the competition wondered whether the Snowdogs could maintain the rage in such a high-stakes game. Not only did they continue to match the fourth placed Bloods, they outstripped them again in the third term, kicking 4.4 to 2.3 to extend their lead to 37 points at the final change, then blew them off the park in the last quarter.

It was a final term display that had the Snowdog faithful in raptures, as they slammed on 8.7 to 1.3 to storm away to a massive win, both in terms of the scoreboard and their chances of remaining in Premier Men’s in 2026.  Hately delivered one of the performances of the season, finishing with 47 disposals (23 contested), 11 clearances, 7 Inside 50s and a goal, leading the Dogs a game clear of Collegians with one to play.

However, the Lions play the winless De La Salle in the final round and have the superior percentage (almost 11%). So, the likelihood remains that the Dogs will need to pull off another Top Four upset this weekend & roll the in-form St Kevin’s if they are to avoid relegation. They will enter that must-win game riding a wave of momentum and belief.

The same can’t be said of the Bloods, who sat equal second at the halfway mark of the season, three games clear of the Cardinals at that point.  But they’ve lost six of their last eight to be clinging to fourth by their fingernails, and will have to defeat the reigning premiers in a virtual Elimination Final this weekend if they are to play finals.

Daniel Ward (Old Haileyburians): “We started the game well and it was looking how we wanted it to. But we didn’t take our opportunities in front of goal and St Bernard’s did.  Credit to Steve and his group as they wanted it more in the end. The game got away from us late with multiple injuries and no bench. We dust ourselves off and go again for all the marbles next week.”

For full pictorial coverage of the Seniors' match against St Bernard's OC go to the Gallery

 

Men's Reserves Match Report 

St Bernard’s OC        2.5     7.9     12.10     17.14 (116)

Old Haileyburians     1.6     3.7         4.9        5.11   (41)

Goals: J.Kennedy 2, W.Barrie, J.Tuffley, M.Walstab

Best: J.Grenda, J.Kennedy, J.Munro, J.Black, M.Cowell, L.Wood

Milestone: Jack Munro (150 games)

 

Under 19's Match Report

Old Haileyburians     4.2     9.3     12.7     17.10 (112)

Old Carey                   0.1     3.2       4.3          5.4   (34)

Goals: W.Hardeman 3, L.Giliam 2, L.Hornblower 2, J.Marshall 2, K.Mountford 2, L.Burfurd, E.Jones, N.Law, Z.Nosiara, J.Paitaridis, A.Russell