The Unicorns soar to keep the Friars in fifth

As we hone in on the pointy end of the season, there is a lot to play for, and not a lot of time to play for it. A win for Brunswick sees them retain second spot at this stage, however, in the same breath, South Melbourne Districts being defeated has left them precariously holding on to that elusive fourth finals position.

Brunswick and South Melbourne Districts hit the ground running on Saturday afternoon, with both sides getting plenty of the football. However, inaccuracy in the first gave Brunswick a handy 17-point lead heading into the first huddle.

The tables turned in the second and the Bloods got their skates on, producing a 6 goal to 1 quarter. After both teams held time in front, the third term seemed to be the leveller with just a point in it. Anthony Alexandris led from the front for the Nobs with 4 goals to his name for the day, while Jamie Brooker (3) dominated in front of the big sticks for the Bloods.

Brunswick came home with the chocolates in a 12-point victory over South Melbourne Districts. With both teams very much in finals contention, they’ll be looking to iron out any niggles over the final three rounds of the home and away season.

Home ground advantage will be an edge for both sides, as SMD host St Mary’s Salesian and Brunswick match up against Old Paradians.

Still chasing their third win for the season, Aquinas put together a valiant 4-quarter display against the Old Yarra Cobras, but it was not to be. With a lead change at each break, it really was anyone’s game, but it was the Cobra’s composure in the final term, kicking 5 goals to 2 that saw them over the line at the final siren, 10 points ahead.

Nick Zappala was best on ground after a strong performance for his side, while Anthony Raso starred with 4 majors. For Aquinas, Flack, Robertson, and Baxter all kicked 2 for the day.

Aquinas were the most accurate in front of goals in Division 2 for the round, registering only 1 behind. However, they faced a deficit in scoring shots and will be looking to get more of their hands on the ball this Friday night as they take on Bulleen Templestowe under lights. While the Old Yarra Cobras will host MHSOB.

Moving right along and all the way to Garvey Oval where Old Paradians faced Bulleen Templestowe. With both sides unfortunately out of finals contention, it is a matter of finishing the season strong and refining skills.

Parade had 8 individual goal kickers, combining for a total of 13 majors, ably led by Straun Thompson and Blair Healy. They took a lead early and maintained throughout to come home with a 13-point margin.

At the other end of the ground, Jack Cowell put on a masterclass earning himself 4 majors and a spot in the best. Daniel Banister joined him, for his fifth time named in the best for the Bullants.

Round 16 presents a challenge in the form of Brunswick for the Old Paradians. While the Bulleen have a 6-day break before they run out on Friday night to face Aquinas.

The steam train is not showing signs of slowing down as Parkside registered their 10 th straight win on the trot, defeating St Mary’s Salesian by a comfortable margin. Whilst the match started relatively slowly, Parkside revved the engine in the second, to slot 9 straight to the Saints’ 1.1.

Ben Radford’s impressive 5-goal performance further extends his lead on the leading goal kicker tally, while Matthew Holden was yet again best on for Parkside. As for the Saints, Nick Alexopolous was the only multiple goal-scorer and Jack Elliston continues to shine for his side even on tough days.

Round 15 Results

2023 DIVISION 2 MEN’S

GOALS: Brunswick: A. Alexandris 4, A. Coverdale 2, B. Wilson 1, A. Avraam 1, G. Banova 1, P. Scamporlino 1

South Melbourne Districts: J. Brooker 3, S. Wilson 1, J. Mildenhall 1, H. Portelli 1, T. Foley 1, S. Bradford 1

BEST: Brunswick: L. White, A. Fulton-Grigg, H. Mitter, A. Ross, L. Whelan, A. Avraam

South Melbourne Districts: W. Little, O. Paulke, J. Mildenhall, V. Armenia, D. Murphy, D. Winter

St Mary’s Salesian will travel to Albert Park in Round 16, the home of the South Melbourne Districts, as Parkside also play away against the Whitefriars.

Rounding out the weekend was a high-scoring affair between the middle order in MHSOB and Whitefriars. A win for the Friars would have secured them a top 4 seat with three rounds remaining, although it was not meant to be, with the Unicorns too strong on this occasion.

Melbourne High looked to the likes of club stalwarts Lachlan Dowling and William Hellier to get their side over the line, delivering 6-goal and 2-goal best on ground performances respectively. Even with 5 multiple goal scorers, headlined by Samuel Kieseker, it wasn’t enough to get the Friars over the line.

Whitefriars remain in finals contention and are hot on the heels of South Melbourne Districts, only separated by percentage. This will no doubt be at the forefront of their minds as they head into a tough challenge against the Old Yarra Cobras. While the Whitefriars will be looking to use this momentum when they come up against ladder leaders Parkside in Round 16.

GOALS: Old Paradians: B. Healy 3, S. Thomson 3, A. Cafari 2, M. Nolan 1, K. Mahony 1, T. Cooper 1, T. Philp 1, J. Christelow 1

Bulleen Templestowe: J. Cowell 4, C. Shiels 2, A. Lucisano 2, P. Toscano 1, M. Donovan 1, A. Murphy 1

BEST: Old Paradians: N. Arcangel, J. Christelow, D. Huntley, J. Kappos, J. King, L. Murdoch

Bulleen Templestowe: D. Banister, P. Toscano, J. Cowell, A. Mohandas, L. Bosio, C. Shiels

GOALS: Old Yarra Cobras: A. Raso 4, N. Sambevski 2, J. Bell 1, S. Yeo 1, M. Young 1, A. Lamanna 1, L. Marshall 1

Aquinas: H. Flack 2, J. Baxter 2, J. Robertson 2, B. O’Loughlin 1, H. Dwyer 1, J. Costello 1, J. Morrison-Story 1

BEST: Old Yarra Cobras: N. Zappala, A. Baltruweit, L. Marshall, E. Brandon Jones, S. Yeo, L. Mitchell

Aquinas: H. Flack, J. Glennie, L. Robb, J. Costello, B. O’Loughlin, B. Shepherd

GOALS: Mhsob: L. Dowling 6, M. Fennessy-Kent 3, J. Eimutis 2, P. Pirozek 2, W. Hellier 2, L. Hanly 2, A. Mourtikas 1, H. Radcliffe-Smith 1, A. Tran 1

Whitefriars: S. Kieseker 4, N. Garratt 3, D. Hughes 3, J. Coates 2, J. Perrin 2, T. Angus 1, A. Daou 1

BEST: Mhsob: W. Hellier, L. Dowling, T. Golz, A. Tran, S. Lester, C. Witt

Whitefriars: S. Kieseker, N. Garratt, A. Hands, D. Hughes, S. Mathers, R. Turner

GOALS: Parkside: B. Radford 5, C. McKay 2, L. Balcombe 2, T. Hakins 1, M. Doyle 1, B. Douglas 1, M. Holden 1, C. McFadyen 1, C. Cotter 1, R. Williams 1

St Mary’s Salesian: N. Alexopoulos 2, B. McNally 1, J. Elliston 1, B. Tricarico 1, C. Tait 1

BEST: Parkside: M. Holden, T. Hakins, M. Romano, A. McEvoy, L. Logozzo, C. Cotter

St Mary’s Salesian: J. Elliston, J. Rubidge, C. Butler, B. Tricarico, J. Mattiske, N. Alexopoulos

2023 DIVISION 2 RESERVE MEN’S

GOALS: Brunswick: D. Heenan 4, L. Pearson 3, M. Rapa 3, B. Daly 1, J. Gale 1, J. Doherty 1 South Melbourne Districts: BEST: Brunswick: A. Bevanda, L. Pearson, M. Rapa, S. Hijazi, J. Doherty, D. Heenan

GOALS: Old Paradians: L. Gough 5, P. Salvatico 2, J. Sciberras 1, A. Gafa 1, M. Girolami 1, M. Raponi 1, R. Landers 1, J. Iliopoulos 1, R. Gleeson 1

Bulleen Templestowe: J. Sims 1, R. Ferraro 1, T. Matthes 1, S. Lambropoulos 1, C. Burridge 1, T. Gascoigne 1

BEST: Old Paradians: T. Dimasi, N. Spencer, J. Sciberras, D. McDean, J. Iliopoulos, M. Marangon

Bulleen Templestowe: T. Matthes, C. Burridge, L. Parris, G. Chivers , T. Gascoigne, M. Cowell

GOALS: Old Yarra Cobras: M. Blundell 3, D. Esdaile 2, W. Ponsford 2, J. Papatheodorou 1, N. Paton 1

Aquinas: A. Reichart 2, A. Kinghorn 1, S. Scanlon 1, L. Holewa 1, Z. Jones 1

BEST: Old Yarra Cobras: J. Papatheodorou, M. Blundell, J. De Waard, N. Paton, D. Chesney, W. Elsworth

Aquinas: L. Holewa, E. Muckleston, L. Koetsier, S. Scanlon, A. Reichart, T. Freeman

Whitefriars

GOALS: Whitefriars: B. Galtieri 2, C. Skien 2, A. Kearney 1, M. Makao 1, C. Spencer 1, T. Di Carlo 1, J. Petrowski 1

Mhsob: J. Cusack 3, E. Riddle 1, C. Tetaz 1, B. Gunn 1, J. Grierson 1

BEST: Whitefriars: S. Clarke, T. Warrick, C. Spencer, C. Hayes, T. Di Carlo, C. Skien

Mhsob: J. Grierson, J. Cusack, Z. Comley, C. Tetaz, D. Owens, D. Colwill

GOALS: Parkside: L. Chilcott 6, C. Osullivan 4, M. Soligo 4, S. Logozzo 3, J. Italiano 2, A. Bianchi 2, N. Corda 2, J. Heritage 1, I. Romano 1, B. Lugli 1

St Mary’s Salesian: J. Briggs 2

BEST: Parkside: S. Logozzo, L. Chilcott, C. Osullivan, I. Romano, K. Howes, J. Italiano

St Mary’s Salesian: D. Ryan, W. Marshall, J. Kidman, L. Hood, J. Coldebella, J. Reeve

Elsternwick go a game clear in top spot

Mathematically… it’s not over yet.

Round 15 of VAFA footy saw the top of the table get a change up, whilst the gap back from fourth to fifth now hangs on a knifes edge.

The battle of the Finals spot went into overdrive this week between Wattle Park and Power House, with the Animals keen to shut the door and throw away the key on their final spot.

For Power House it was a great start with the likes of Joseph Halloran and Jeremey Hill doing their bit to steer the side strongly in the first half, trailing the Animals by just five points into the half.

Coming out of the break Wattle Park found their form with a slew of goal kickers managing to find the big sticks and sit three goals clear coming into the final change, where the Animals managed to take a stronghold on the game and run out 25-point winners and all but guarantee a finals birth in 2023.

Next up was a battle of the top, with Hawthorn looking to get one over Canterbury in 2023. Meehan and Raiti were at the helm of the Hawks push as two of the leading goal scorers in the league, taking on Tom Lowden and Jordan Dear headlining the Cobras attack. The first half left the sides hardly separated with the Hawks going in ahead, but when push came to shove late in the piece it was Hawthorn who managed to do what no other team has in 2023. They ran over the top of the Cobras in the last, piling on 41 points to dominate the contest and get one back on the former ladder leader.

Next up, in the battle of the Universities with La Trobe and Swinburne going head-to-head at La Trobe’s home ground for a Saturday afternoon.

It was a slow start for the home side not managing to slot one between the big sticks in the opening quarter, before finding their feet in the second with 7 majors to lead into the main break.

From there on out the Trobers’ didn’t look back, managing to keep a fast-moving Swinburne at bay and secure their third win of the season, just two behind Richmond Central with three rounds to go.

The final game of the round saw Elsternwick face off against Richmond Central with Elsternwick looking to continue their winning streak, with three rounds remaining in the season.

Inaccuracy cost the visitors early with eight behinds, but it didn’t take long for Elsternwick’s big hitter Spencer Hankin to send them flying all afternoon long, rounding it out with 7 majors to his name for his biggest bag of the season.

With Canterbury going down to Hawthorn, Elsternwick now sits outright at the top of the table with only two losses for the year. It is a top of the table clash this coming Round in what could be a finals preview. Other match ups see Hawthorn travel to Ross Gregory Oval to face Power House, whilst La Trobe play host to Wattle Park. Rounding out Round 16, Swinburne will meet with Richmond Central for the third time this season.

Round

Round 15 Results

2023 DIVISION 3 MEN’S

GOALS: Hawthorn: W. Meehan 5, J. Raiti 4, E. McLaren 2, S. Dicintio 2, J. Southby 2, H. Sudholz 2, X. Bryham 1, J. Kenny 1, L. McLeod 1

Canterbury: T. Lowden 5, J. Dear 3, J. Cutts 1, M. Topp 1, N. Szabo 1

BEST: Hawthorn: J. Raiti, L. McLeod, E. Harvey, S. Dicintio, H. Smith, H. Sudholz

Canterbury: N. Szabo, J. Dear, T. Lowden, M. Topp, J. Ward, G. Daff

GOALS: La Trobe University: D. Thorn 2, J. Haigh 2, T. Spiteri 2, N. Simons 1, J. Assemani 1, L. Nelson 1, M. Ogle 1, A. Conboy 1

Swinburne University: T. Wiegold 4, L. King 1, S. Heather 1, A. Longfield 1

BEST: La Trobe University: L. Walsh, J. Assemani, N. Simons, S. Benetti-Baker, C. McCredden, A. Conboy

Swinburne University: T. Hartney, B. Field, A. Longfield, N. McKenna, C. TaylerTurner, N. Schulz

GOALS: Wattle Park: Z. Kearns 2, J. Greensides 2, J. Crothers 1, M. Hill 1, D. Hill 1, T. Hernan 1, N. Baxter 1, R. Luehman 1, N. Bird 1

Power House: J. Hill 4, R. Dyer 1, K. Wotherspoon 1, H. Officer 1, M. Auchettl 1

BEST: Wattle Park: H. Schaeche, N. Bird, M. Hill, N. Baxter, J. Greensides, G. Donovan

Power House: J. Halloran, J. Hill, T. Scotland, H. Officer, J. Eliezer, B. Wright

Central

GOALS: Elsternwick: S. Hankin 7, E. Holland-Dean 3, Q. De Luca 3, T. Falco 2, D. Cook 1, B. Reese 1, S. Convery 1, C. Campbell 1

Richmond Central: B. Adams 2, J. Bilson 2, J. Miller 2, B. Krieger 1, L. Conboy 1, H. Spurr 1, D. Holland 1

BEST: Elsternwick: S. Hankin, M. Oman, J. Mount, J. Olver, B. Reese, D. Roberts Richmond Central: L. Conboy, D. McLinden, J. Miller, J. Hartley, T. Forster, D. Holland

2023 DIVISION 3 RESERVE MEN’S

GOALS: Hawthorn: H. Kothari 2, T. Wilkinson 2, C. Chenoweth 2, S. Neohoritis 1, C. Chisholm 1

Canterbury: J. Scammell 4, M. Auld 2, C. Fall-Jablonka 1, N. Ramakrishnan 1, L. Venditti 1

BEST: Hawthorn: L. Huber, C. McGeough, L. Clancey, C. Chisholm, B. Metcalf, D. Sheahan

Canterbury: L. Venditti, J. Collins, M. Deane, M. Wood, N. Ramakrishnan, Z. Walden

GOALS: Swinburne University: T. Roberts 3, T. Wood 2, J. Lamperd 2

La Trobe University: T. Hillman 2, P. Carroll 1, J. Billings 1, D. Singh 1

BEST: Swinburne University: T. Millard, C. Bruce, N. Ferguson, T. Roberts, S. Leggett, C. Kelly

La Trobe University: M. O’Brien, D. Singh, C. Barrett, B. Carter, T. Hillman, R. Nolan Wattle

GOALS: Wattle Park: M. Price 7, J. Nelson 2, I. Waite 2, C. Price 1, L. Hicks 1, A. Smith 1, L. Elso 1, A. Smith 1, Z. Durrant 1

Power House: I. Taylor 2, D. Cameron 2, K. Troy 1

BEST: Wattle Park: M. Price, L. Elso, G. Rollo-Walker, I. Waite, C. Xipolitos, B. Severin

Power House: O. Peddle, S. Marshall, J. Ditchfield, I. Taylor, S. Sheldrick, T. O’Sullivan Richmond

GOALS: Richmond Central: A. Fraser 5, B. Dillon 4, A. Creak 2, S. Tarbet 2, A. Leong 2, N. O’Loughlin 1

Elsternwick: J. Hunter 3, A. Gruen 1

BEST: Richmond Central: A. Fraser, N. Maddock, K. Murray, M. Simpson, S. Tarbet

Elsternwick: B. Wallace, N. Mascadri, A. Gruen, A. Patey, J. Purchase, W. Davis

Billy Bolch