Round 5 Match Review, 2026

 

Senior Men's Match Report

Old Trinity                  2.3     7.5     8.8     11.9 (75)

Old Haileyburians     3.3     3.4     6.5       7.9 (51)

Goals: H.Nosiara 2, N.Conway, C.Goonewardene, F.Gregor, C.Harrop, S.Stefanakis

Best: B.Seccull, N.Higgins, C.Harrop, H.Nosiara, F.Gregor, N.Conway

 

Unfortunately, it was another game where one poor period proved costly — this time the second half of the second quarter, where Trinity kicked six goals to one. During that stretch, our contested work simply wasn’t at the standard required for Senior football. To the boys’ credit, we responded and improved in this area after half time, but ultimately the damage had already been done.  Credit must also go to Trinity, who are a strong and well-drilled side. Their disciplined defensive structure made themextremely difficult to play against all afternoon.

Despite trailing at three-quarter time, we were still within striking distance. We dominated possession and territory for the opening 10–12 minutes of the final quarter and looked capable of mounting a comeback. Unfortunately, we missed some very gettable opportunities in front of goal that would have applied genuine scoreboard pressure. Trinity steadied late with a couple of goals of their own to finish 24-pointwinners, 11.9 (75) to 7.9 (51).

Five rounds into the season, we’ve shown we can match it with the top sides, but we’ve yet to put together a consistent four-quarter performance against the stronger teams in the competition.

Brede Seccull was a workhorse all day around the contest and can hold his head high after another strong performance.  He was well supported by Ned Conway and Noah Higgins, who both covered enormous ground on their wings, but unfortunately we were left relying on too few for too much of the day.

How the VAFA saw the match:

Old Trinity continued their run as the form team of the competition, chalking up their fourth straight win after eventually getting the better of Old Haileybury at Daley Oval.  The VAFA’s two most recent Premier B champions looked an even match-up on paper, and so it proved to be on grass as well, with little separating the teams early – the Bloods taking advantage of the breeze to kick three of the first four goals and edge in front by a kick at the first change.

The T’s then took control of possession in the second quarter, getting on top of aerial and ground contests, pumping the ball Inside 50 repeatedly and finding forwards to get on the end of it. They booted the only five goals of the term, as the Bloods struggled to hold them up, taking just 13 marks themselves for the entire period to trail by 25 at the half.

Old Haileyburians responded in the third term, evening things up on the inside and nailing a couple of stoppage goals themselves to work their way back into the contest, adding 3.1 to 1.3 to close within 15 points at the last break.  It was a low-scoring, high-pressure struggle, and goals were at a premium.

The longer the final quarter progressed, the more important the first goal became, and the deadlock was eventually broken by a piece of Oliver Scott clearance magic. He roved the opposition tap, then split two Bloods tacklers to snap a brilliant left-foot goal from 35 metres out, making it a three-goal game at the 13-minute mark.  When Nick Hodgson streamed inside 50 and finished a few minutes later, the game was Old Trinity’s – Donald McDonald’s men extending their winning run with a 24-point victory that keeps them level with Old Brighton and Old Xaverians at the top of the table.

Brede Seccull had another excellent game for the Bloods, racking up 27 touches (16 contested) and nine clearances, while Jasper Russell and Flynn Gregor both continued their fine form also, finishing with 34 and 30 disposals respectively.

Old Trinity’s contending credentials will be put to the ultimate test this coming week, as they head to Brighton Beach Oval to face the Tonners in one of the most fascinating games of the year so far, while Old Haileyburians also face a huge challenge as they host Uni Blues in a belter at Princes Park.

Guy Martyn (Old Haileyburians): “Our second quarter contest stuff was really, really poor and the main difference in the game. Trinity are a physically strong team, and their contest stuff (aerial and ground) is impressive. But I thought some of our efforts in the second quarter simply weren’t up to senior football standard and was probably the difference in the game.

“We were much better in the second half, in terms of that contest stuff, which was pleasing to see a response. We kept fighting and had all the play in the first 10-12 minutes of the last quarter, but just wasted our opportunities to put some scoreboard pressure on. Ultimately, we left ourselves with too much to do in the second half.  We’ll work on our contest and our connection going Inside 50 this week.

“Brede Seccull can hold his head up high with the way he competed and his contest game. Noah Higgins (19 disposals and 10 groundball gets) and Conway (27 disposals) on the wings displayed really high work rate again as well.”

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

 

Hearts Match Report

Caulfield Grammarians 3     0.3     0.3     0.3     0.3   (3)

Oold Haileyburians               1.0     2.2     2.2     3.3 (21)

Goals: R.Barbakas, T.Baxter, G.Folwell

Best: E.Main, I.Compton, G.Folwell, R.Hartney, S.Phillips, J.Carty

 

The Hearts travelled to Caulfield’s home ground, uncertain of what to expect from a side that had been demoted following the fixture redraw.  The Hearts started slowly but managed to kick the opening goal into a strong breeze, giving themselves an early foothold in what quickly became a tough, scrappy contest. With the advantage of the wind in the second quarter, Old Haileyburians struggled to use the conditions as instructed, with the balls pending long periods trapped in the dead pocket.

After a stern halftime address from the coach, the Hearts emerged as a completely different side. Jaz Carty set the tone immediately, attacking the contest with relentless intensity and laying four huge tackles in the opening five minutes of the third quarter. Her attack on the ball inspired her teammates to lift their pressure around the ground, helping the Hearts hold another opposition side goalless for the second consecutive week.

Eliza Main was outstanding all day, tirelessly working up anddown the wing, while young guns Ivy Compton and Ruby Hartney again provided great composure and resilience across half-back.  Although the windy conditions made for untidy football at times, the coach acknowledged after the game that good teams still find a way to win even when they are not at their best — and the Hearts did exactly that.

How the VAFA saw the match:

Old Haileyburians continued their strong start to the season, further cementing their status as key contenders. What was a highly contested game ultimately wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard, due to inaccuracy from Caulfield.  Caulfield coach Lachy Worthy looked at his team’s performance constructively.  “We were quite competitive with Old Haileybury throughout most of the match but just couldn’t finish off in front of goal,” he said.

Hearts coach David Lappage cited the wind as a factor to the game's low scoring. “Caulfield worked hard. Their ruck gave them first use of the ball. Neither side really handled the wind well which made the game scrappy, and the ball was in the dead pocket for much of the game causing low scoring as a result.”  He also mentioned some individual efforts in Eliza Main on the wing and Jaz Carty across half back.

 

Men's Reserves Match Report 

Old Trinity                  5.4     8.11     13.13     19.17 (131)

Old Haileyburians     0.2       1.2         1.2          1.5   (11)

Goals: D.Hille

Best: Michael Cowell, W.Barrie, K.Ta, R.Seccull, A.Bonwick, J.Kennedy

Debut: Dan Hille

 

Under 19's Match Report

Hampton Rovers       4.4     4.4     7.4       7.6 (48)

Old Haileyburians     3.2     6.6     8.6     11.9 (75)

Goals: J.Waters 4, T.Carty 3, J.Paitaridis 2, N.Law, W.Sando

Best: T.Hendrie, J.Waters, J.Cassidy, A.Adams, K.Jacoby, W.Sando

Debuts: Wesley Sando, James Waters

 

This week the U19s made their way to the Boss James Oval to take on Hampton Rovers. This shaped up to be a great match with Hampton having come up from Division 2 into Division 1 South. Interestingly Hampton had won all their four games this season, three of them by well over 100 points and the fourth by a mere 86 points.

Conditions were tough with a two-club breeze to the changeroom end of the ground. We kicked into it in the first term.  Hampton settled well early moving the ball quickly with the breeze. Our backs under consistent pressure, but showed signs that we could move the ball. Eventually we got our opportunities to move the ball forward late in the quarter.

The second quarter we took stock and learnt that the wind wasn't going to do it for us but when we had ball in hadneeded to impact the scoreboard. To our credit they were unable to score in that quarter.  Come the third term and Hampton came out firing, looking to blow the game open. However the back line were a fantastic defensive unit, restricting them to three goals while we scored two ourselves. Final term and it was game on, with us up by only eight points. To our credit we focused on winning the football and then the wall broke, with us running out winners by 27points.

Better players were Tom Hendrie, Kennedy Jacoby, Jacob Cassidy, Emerson Jones.  James "Muddy" on debut kicked four and Wesley Sando ran rampant in the forward line.