The Academy and Stingers have both marked their dance cards and are off to the big one next weekend - having saluted in two tough Preliminary Finals on Sunday. Our Saints Gold kept marching on - making short work of the Magpies, after the Maggies got one over the Blues, which might end their run at the post season. One game now remains in Under 19 and the Premier team will be playing for the double chance next weekend after a big win on Saturday. The Div 4's also had a great win at Therry, although the Div 2's found it tough going. With byes for Seniors, Reserves and the Green Machine, the Club went 5 for 7 over the weekend.
A year on...Academy flips the script
They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. This one was 12 months in the making as our man reports:
"A year can seem like a mighty long time when you've just been jettisoned from the finals by a Hail Mary kick on the siren, but almost 12 months to the exact day, there was the SKOB Academy, once again facing their conqueror of a year prior, standing in the way of them and finals progression. Could they right the wrongs of that fateful exit?
The first half was a battle of wills as the intensity of finals football and the fine margins for failure facing both teams saw little movement in terms of scoring with territory prized like gold. Just a goal to each team in the first half. SKOB 1.9 to 1.0 straight. Dominating everywhere bar the scoreboard. The coaches at the half encouraged the boys to persist.
The second half saw SKOB start to lift. Jack Romanin suffered an identity crisis. Wasn’t sure if he was a ruckman or rover… so he did both jobs instead. Both Arty Nguyen and Michael Naughton justified their selection with an attack on the ball (and player when required) displaying a presence that the more mature bodied Scotch blokes didn’t appreciate. The Academy not allowing themselves to be physically intimidated by players with greater size and experience than the younger SKOB cohort.
The message at 3/4 time with the game very much still in the balance, was to persist and ramp up the pressure - the opposition will crack.
A trickle, a flow and then a torrent. SKOB finished on top of the deck as forwards got going and opposition shoulders slumped. A rain of goals to finish the game as SKOB pulled away to a 6 goal win to send them into the Grand Final.
One more."
BEST: Daniel McCarthy, Oliver Doyle, Andrew Butler, Arthur Nguyen, Sam Doyle, Charlie Pammer
Stingers get it done - granny awaits
Coming off a stinging result in the second semi the Stingers were wary of a straight sets exit that has plagued many a team throughout the history of the VAFA. The Will brothers were determined not to consign this team to the dark annals of prelim history and instead had their eyes firmly on the prize - a spot in the Grand Final. Running out onto Waverley Oval - home of De La - with a sizable attendance giving SKOB a home crowd feel, the Stingers had the better of the opening term and took a slender lead into the first change. AJAX stepped it up in term two and hit the sheds with the lead in a see sawing battle. It was all down to one half of football remaining to determine who would go on, and who would head for Mad Monday. A four goal to one third term had SKOB believing, and once they slotted a couple in the last it was destination dance floor for the Stingers. They finished with a five goal to one term and settled the nerves of the "home" fans early - going on to win by 38 points and keep the dream alive to the final weekend of the season. Jimmy Hill had a day out for the Stingers, booting 6 goals in a BOG performance, ably assisted by Lachie Haig, Hugo Read, Zach Close, Cooper Lanyon and Christian Dachs.
Saints swoop the Magpies
The Saints Gold made it sweet 16 on the weekend as they remain undefeated in Women's Premier. Next weekend they take on their chief challenger - Old Scotch - in a game that will determine bragging rights for the home and away season, but this weekend's assignment was to focus on the West Brunswick Magpies - one of SKOB's oldest rivals in the VAFA Women's comp.
Facing a team desperate to stay in the finals hunt, this loomed as a danger game for the Saints, but Coach Tommy had the team ready for the contest and they began brilliantly, slamming home the first four goals before the Maggies registered one in the first term, then repeating the four goal to one dose in the second quarter to have the game well in command at the major break.
Finding plenty from the usual suspects in the Saints Gold lineup, the ability to extract contributions across the ground is a trademark of Saints football, and such was the case on Saturday as the full 22 players all chipped in to see SKOB rattle home five goals to one in the second half and come away with a 62 point win.
With such an even performance, Coach Tommy gave the votes to: Kate Stanton, Bree Doyle, Maggie McDonough, Emily Condon, Lauren Suleiman and Hannah Smith - who booted 4 goals to continue her late run at the Sharpshooters title.
Heartache for the Saints Blue as West Brunswick put a dent in their finals hopes, winning a critical battle by 10 points. The fast finishing Saints left themselves too much to do in the last quarter, despite owning the battle in the final term. Two goals from half a dozen shots was not enough in the finish and now the Blues have an uphill battle to make it to the final four. A win next week against third placed Scotch will give them a chance, so the ball is still firmly in their court. It was a brave effort playing away to West Brunswick who were just too good on the day. For Coach Strauss, the best were Michaela Weinstein, Asha Turner Funk, Brigette Snell, Georgina Nolan, Lucy Kehoe and Steph Chong
Thanks to Sarah Withers for the photos capturedbysez
Young SKOBs avoid getting caught in Shark Net
At TH King, the Under 19 Premier team were hosting the Beaumaris Sharks in their penultimate home game for the season. Playing a team on the bottom of the table can sometimes result in a less than 100% effort, but with second spot up for grabs, SKOB were nothing but fully focussed on the task at hand. After a tight first term, SKOB slammed home 7.6 to zero in the second quarter to put the game to bed by half time. There was little let up from the home team after half time as they registered another 12 goals to 2 and ran up the scoreboard to help their percentage take them into second spot. They will play for that very honour next weekend as they host third with the winner guaranteeing the double chance in the finals. As for this weekend, the best for SKOB were Xavier Duke, Oscar White, Lucas May (5 goals), Liam Edwards, Paul Parakilas and Hudson Lefoe.
Our Div 2's had a rough old afternoon, coming up against a red hot Uni Blues who saluted by 116 points at Crawford Oval. The Div 2's have had a good few weeks but were no match for the boys from the Uni on Saturday. Best for SKOB were Nelson Conwell, Francis Mancini, Aiden Posterino, James Hunt, Jack Ball and Justin Willmott.
A great result for the Div 4's who came away with a terrific win out at Therry. Never an easy place to get a win, the young SKOBBERs proved they were more than up for the task. Handling the early morning slippery conditions much better than their hosts they were able to match it in the early going and ran right away with it in the second half, showing some great fitness and classy play. Tom Feehan brought his own Sherrin to the game and completely dominated proceedings - booting 4 goals from the centre. He found plenty of help through the efforts of Aiden McGrath, Henry Noble, Neth De Silva, Edward Harmon and Iggy Murphy.
Comments