Round 10 Match Review, 2026
Senior Men's Match Report
Old Xaverians 3.1 4.2 6.10 8.15 (63)
Old Haileyburians 3.1 7.2 7.4 7.6 (48)
Goals: J.Blight 3, J.Gillon, A.Harrop, N.Higgins, M.Kirkwood-Scott
Best: D.Seccull, M.Kirkwood-Scott, J.Blight, J.Russell, B.Seccull, N.Higgins
Debut in 1sts: Keegan Mountford
Milestone: Noah Higgins (50 games)
How the VAFA saw the match:
Old Xaverians registered an eighth straight victory, but they certainly didn’t have it all their own way against a plucky Old Haileyburians at Toorak Park. The game opened at a cracking pace with three goals in the first five minutes as James Blight struck first for the Bloods, before the Macisaac boys (Will and Charlie) responded in quick succession for Xavs. Xavs took slight control of the inside game early, but the Bloods’ pushed numbers behind the ball and their intercept game enabled them to repeatedly win the ball back, forcing the hosts into 20 midfield turnovers in the opening term alone, which they duly converted into their entire score of 3.1 to be dead level with Xavs at the first change.
The league leaders tidied up their ball use in the second term and had a stack more possession than the Bloods as a result, however, it was Old Haileyburians still able to play the more efficient football and hit on the counter. Despite having 36 fewer touches and two fewer Inside 50s for the quarter, the visitors absorbed the pressure, then unleashed four goals in six minutes as they counterpunched superbly, setting Xavs back on their heels and heading to the main break with an 18-point lead.
Neither team could find the middle of the goals early in the third term, and it wasn’t until Ed Delany received a downfield free in the goalsquare (after Tommy McRae was dumped after he kicked) at the 11-minute mark that a major was registered. That brought Xavs within nine points, and despite their territorial dominance (18 Inside 50s to eight for the quarter), their trademark efficiency up forward continued to desert them. They posted a further four consecutive behinds until McRae slotted the only other goal of the quarter at the 25-minute mark, and it was all tied up as the teams headed to the final break.
A further four consecutive behinds to Xavs opened the last term (three of them rushed), before Julian Gangi was held 15 metres out directly in front to break the deadlock and give the hosts a 10-point lead. When Charles Holmes marked in the goalsquare two minutes later, his conversion proved to be the sealer – Old Xavs continuing their winning run with a hard-earned 14-point victory that maintains their one game lead atop the ladder.
While last week’s hero Durras Seccull was fantastic for the Bloods once again, finishing with 31 disposals, 19 marks, eight rebound 50s and six Inside 50s. Jasper Russell’s stellar season continued with another 27 disposals, seven marks and five rebound 50s. Despite having lost five of their last six, the Bloods are playing some very good football at the moment, having pushed the Blues to within a point, then beaten Caulfield by a point last week, before pushing Xavs all the way in this one. Currently out of the drop zone by just 0.32% ahead of Old Scotch, they face an 8-point game against the Cardinals this week, with the victor to kick a game clear of the loser heading into the bye. What a game!!
Guy Martyn (Old Haileyburians): “We put in a pretty strong performance against a very good Xavier side. We threw something a little bit different at them structurally with a couple of extra defenders. Xavs’ offence is one of their biggest weapons, so we wanted to make them work for everything and take them a little bit out of their comfort zone. For large parts of the game, I thought we did that really well. We defended strongly, made it difficult for them to generate their usual ball movement and were pretty methodical with our own use of the footy.
“The difference was probably our inability to capitalise in the last quarter. We had taken our chances in the second quarter and kicked a few important goals late, but in the fourth, we had opportunities and couldn’t quite convert. Credit to Xavier, when the game was there to be won, they executed better. There was only a few points in it heading towards time-on in the last quarter, so we were right in the contest and gave ourselves every chance. In the end, their top-end class and ability to handle the pressure moments probably got them over the line.
“Individually, Durras Seccull was outstanding. To finish with 19 marks and 12 intercept marks against a side like Xavs was an unbelievable performance. Kye Turner was terrific alongside him and played a really important role in allowing Durras to have the impact he did. James Blight was a real livewire up forward. He finished with three goals, created a number of other opportunities and looked dangerous whenever the ball went near him. Overall, while it’s disappointing not to finish the job, there was plenty to like about the performance, and we’ll take a lot of confidence into a huge game against Scotch this week.”
For full pictorial coverage of the Seniors' match against Old Xaverians go to the Gallery
Hearts Match Report
Hawthorn AFC 1.1 4.5 4.5 5.6 (36)
Old Haileyburians 2.3 2.3 4.5 4.6 (30)
Goals: R.Barbakas 2, T.Baxter 2
Best: J.Carty, I.Compton, R.Barbakas, Z.Clavarino, T.Baxter, G.Folwell
How the VAFA saw the match:
Hawthorn have clawed up another rung on the ladder after defeating the Hearts. The Hawks are now sitting second, only four points off first. With the scores equal at three-quarter-time, it was Aaron Miller’s Hawks who were able to capitalise, holding the Hearts to a singular point in the fourth, whilst kicking a one goal and one behind themselves.
Men's Reserves Match Report
Old Xaverians won on forfeit over Old Haileyburians
Under 19's Match Report
Old Melburnians 0.3 4.12 8.17 10.21 (81)
Old Haileyburians 3.3 3.5 4.5 6.7 (43)
Goals: W.Hardeman 2, T.Carty, B.Hardeman, W.Sando, K.Ta
Best: T.Hendrie, A.Adams, O.Bailey, W.Hardeman, B.Hardeman, J.Hardeman