In the annual game at the school the SKOB Seniors put in a devastating four quarter effort against the reigning premier Collegians, eventually running out winners by 56 points on a wet old day that dampened everything except the spirit of the home fans who were treated to a brilliant performance from SKOB. On past players day the Seniors did their old team mates proud with their attack on the ball, celebrating their win in Cam Hodges' 100th game. Earlier the Reserves broke clear of a persistent Collegians team, only finding clear air in the last quarter as they kicked away with the final four goals of the match. The Academy gave their all in a high quality top of the table clash on Friday night. A slow start saw them come up just short against Old Xavs. On Saturday the Stingers blitzed Old Geelong early and claimed a big win. It was three for three in the Saints world. The Gold team proving too strong for Caulfield as Sarah "Sharpshooter" Cameron booted another four. The Blues were ruthless in their dispatching of Caulfield - jumping back into the top four with the win. The Greens created history playing at the College and keeping their unbeaten run going. In the 19s our Premier team claimed a vital win away to St Bedes whilst there was a draw in the Div 2’s at Old Ivanhoe. A bye for our Div 4’s meaning the club registered 7.5 wins from 9.
SKOB bring the heat to thaw big chill
A brilliant opening quarter from an inspired SKOB saw them set up the platform for a big win over last year’s premiers Collegians at the College on Saturday. Wearing their heritage strip for the first time ever and with a vocal home crowd behind them on a big past player’s day, SKOB were on from the opening bounce, leading throughout and running out comfortable winners on a day when they celebrated another famous win over the purple army in 2004.
Coach Lynch put a heavy emphasis on the significance of the day as he prepared his team for battle. The temperature was hovering in the single digit range and persistent rain was proving it was not going to be a day for the faint hearted. Kicking to the school end in the first quarter the home team were enjoying the better of the opening salvos. A couple of early behinds were an indicator of the early dominance and it wasn’t too long before SKOB were able to translate this into registering majors on the scoreboard.
Kerr was on the back of a sliding ball that skidded over the pack and he registered the first after ten minutes of solid going. Al Richards who was lively then snapped one out of a pack, Cam Hodges in game 100 got another shortly after and then Cal Jones booted one from the square upon receiving a 25m penalty to make the score 27-0. A solitary behind was registered by the visitors before Michael Pisker slammed one through from outside the generously marked paint of 40m from a handball receive courtesy of Billy Coates. By the time the players had hit the huddle for the first time the score was 33-1 and just about done.
Collegians rallied well in the second term but SKOB were always able to find an answer. A clever dribbled goal by the Lions was followed by a scrambled snap out of the goal square but George Delimitrou slotted a great goal to the school end to snuff out any signs of a comeback and the players hit the sheds with SKOB still 20 points to the good.
If there had been any whiff of a boilover on a freezing day, the second half opening burst from SKOB snuffed this out in a flash. Three goals to the Kooyong end inside the first five minutes and a fourth to Andriske to make it a 45 point margin before the clock had reached ten also put paid to any ideas the warm fans inside the pavilion enjoying, the last remnants of afternoon tea, had of walking out into the cold and watching proceedings play out. A few made it to the huddle at ¾ time with the margin at 9 goals where Coach Lynch implored his players to finish well. SKOB got the first couple, and by now the game was all over bar the shouting – and that shouting was coming from a couple of rowdy Canadians on the pavilion balcony. With no sting left in the game and with the result well beyond doubt you could even hear some supporters shift their attention to discussing the underwhelming performance of Joe Biden in the first Presidential debate, as all that was left was for the siren to sound...
Collegians are a professional unit and to their credit fought out the game well. They rallied and were able to register a couple of late ones although in between these was a great moment for the 100 gamer Cam Hodges as he kicked his second goal of the contest and gave supporters one more reason to cheer from the balcony. The final margin of 56 points was just reward for SKOB who were relentless from the opening bounce right to the end.
Young Max Lynch is clearly a good judge as he nominated Lachie Farrugia as the best afield on a day where there were solid contributions throughout. Others in the named best were Sam Tucker, Patrick Kerr (4 goals), Alastair Richards, Cam Hodges and Luke Winter
The win was another significant step before a fortnight break in the competition. The past two weeks have seen SKOB register a double over rival Xavs and also the reigning premiers Collegians and has extended their winning streak out to six games. Players from all teams will get a good chance to freshen up over two weeks before a stretch of four games leading up to another bye then a final group of three games sees out the season. There is still a long long way to go, but SKOB are well placed in second spot and eager to return on 20 July.
Cam Hodges became the second centurion in two weeks following Sam Cameron's milestone last week. Cam joined SKOB in 2016 and played in that years U19 A Grade Premiership, under coach Tommy Purcell. Joining the under 19's fully in 2017, he was promoted to the Seniors in 2018 and was a member of the Senior A Grade Premiership side of 2018 and again in 2022.
Cam spent a year with North Melbourne in 2019 and Port Melbourne in 2021 playing a number of games in the VFL as well as with SKOB in those seasons, and was a VAFA U19 Rep player in 2018 and 2019 (as Co-Captain)
Twos bounce back to skid past Lions
Our regular Ressies scoop, Yanni is still recovering from illness and was unable to get to the game to file his report. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to having him back after the break. No doubt he would have been warmed to hear of the efforts of the Ressies as they bounced back from last week's loss with a solid win over a determined Collegians.
It took a good three quarters to shake off the Lions who were proving a tricky opponent. Kicking to the favoured Kooyong end in the first, the visitors held up early before SKOB had the better of the second term, taking a 17 point break into the half. Again the Collegian forward line fired in the third to make things very close at the last break. There was little in it until Patrick Croagh (whose dad "Max" was being inducted as a Life Member on the same day) celebrated the event by kicking the sealer and registering a great win for the twos.
Best players: Hamish Serpell, Jack Liszukiewicz, Hamish Reimers, Daniel Aplin, Jack Byrne, Tom Pirola
Academy follies
A massive challenge under Friday Night Lights for the Academy as they took on Xavs in a top of the table clash. Here's our man's report:
"With Paul Connors from Old Xavs pulling some strings the Academy match was shifted from an undersized, heavy junior ground in Kew to prime time – Toorak Park under lights on Friday night. Friday afternoon productivity at work and uni of both teams plummeted as all involved were footy focused from midday onwards.
The game and facility lived up to the hype. A large & fast deck meet the players, many of whom were having their first run under lights. SKOB came out of the blocks hard with a work rate that has defined them all year. Kicking into a strong breeze the Academy lads had the chance to seize the early ascendency but for something else that has defined them this season – inconsistent goal kicking. At one stage early in the 2nd quarter SKOB lead the scoring shots – 11 to 9. Unfortunately this consisted of a wasteful 1-10 and found themselves 5 goals down early in the 3rd quarter.
Lead by the trio of big bodies of Bourke, Naughton and Peake the SKOB youth lifted and found another gear and willed themselves back into what was quickly becoming the match of the season. Coming home with the breeze and playing an exciting ‘fast stoppage exit’ brand of play the forward line was well serviced and accordingly found the targets that were so elusive earlier in the evening. Canning dialling in his radar to make amends for earlier misses with 4 majors in the 2nd half.
Alas with the ball parked in the SKOB forward line when the hooter sounded the Academy found themselves short by 9 points.
Academy Director, Ian Robson, was philosophical afterwards ‘Its only a cliché that bad kicking is bad football because its true so in that regard we let ourselves down but to front up against a team that beat us by 10 goals only a few months ago and to take them to the wire really sends a strong statement. There is a lot of upside in this team and we are building a positive brand of football nicely.’
Both coaches Olive and Connors were unanimous in their assessment of the game, post match when interviewed in the front bar of the Orrong, ‘best game played in this division in a few years, great competitiveness and spirit from both teams. Look forward to having a crack at each other later in the year!’"
BEST: Joshua Peake, Jettson Brown, Michael Naughton, Edward Bourke, Matthew Canning (4 goals), Liam Foo
The Stingers returned to the playing field after a two week break and took care of Old Geelong to the tune of 84 points at Como Park. In a scoreline similar to the Seniors, the Stingers put 5 past the home team and kept them scoreless as the game was sewn up by the half with SKOB well in front. They maintained the rage in the second half and drew away to record a big win that keeps the heat on second spot - although fourth are breathing just down their neck in a very tight race for finals placings.
Best were Zach Close, Nicholas Walker (4 goals), Sam Close, Hugo Read, Fintan Evans, Harrison Martin
Three is a magic number
“Three games, three teams, three wins” was the proclamation on Saturday night at the clubrooms when the Saints results were announced. On a dirty day weather-wise at Old Rigret, the Gold team put Caulfield away early before easing off late as the visitors rallied in the last. It was another day out for Sarah Cameron who booted 4 goals to take her tally to 20 for the season (with half of those coming in the last fortnight). The Saints were huge early booting the first seven goals of the game as they stamped their foot down and took the contest away from the visitors. The Grammarians fought on bravely from that point and finished with the last five which gave Coach Tommy a little to work with over the half season break. Tessa Boyd parachuted in for her first game this year with the Saints and it was on the back of the usual suspects that SKOB got the better of this game. Rolls Royce Jess Joyce was again a standout as she celebrated her selection in the Big V squad. Fellow state reps Sarah Cameron, Bree Doyle and Kate Stanton also featured among the best as did Lauren Suleiman who had a great game. Special mention to Emily Condon, Zara Guss and Sarah Betts who are also off to Perth next week giving SKOB an incredible 7 selections in the Big V team
Blues bite back
This scribe was not at the game so can’t confirm, but from all reports Coach Strauss was once again barefoot in the park to lead his chargers to an impressive win in horrible conditions at Old Rigret. The weather tested the hardiest of fans, but didn’t seem to bother the Blues who put Caulfield to the sword early and did not let up all day. By half time the Blues had registered 6.4 and kept their opponents goal less, a feat they repeated in the second half to come away with a 76 point win and reclaim thier spot in the top four.
For the Blues the best were Izzy Worth, Dom Garcia, Isabella Hoal, Lucy Kehoe, Alice Buffham and Rachael Wilson
The Dream is serene for the Green Machine
An historic day for the SKOB Saints with the Green Machine playing a match at St Kevin's College for the first time ever. The dreamers took to the park just as the heaven's were about to open on a dreary Saturday morning, but they looked as bright as ever as they piled on four goals in a blistering first half. The rain then made conditions very tricky after that point and the scoring dried up as the pitch got wetter, but it mattered not for Coach Mikayla as her team went right away with the contest and the prize. There were smiles all around for the Saints as they registered their ninth win from nine outings and stayed atop the ladder.
Best for the dreamers were: Lucy Leckey, Cara Davies, Bella Stephenson, Lauren Barnes, Charley Lupson and Petra Edwards
Brilliant win at Brindisi puts SKOB back in bold ink
With the competition about as fierce as it gets in Under 19 Premier, there is virtually no margin for error and any win - especially one on the road - is absolutely priceless, so it's little wonder that the coaching staff of our Premier team were thrilled to get the result down at Brindisi St against St Bedes. In the process, and with the help of results going their way, SKOB were able to jump back up into the top four. There was nothing in the game as the players hit the sheds at the half, but SKOB showed tremendous fitness and determination to overrun their hosts in the second half and come away with a 34 point win that will help their confidence no end. With a single week's break now they will have some time to freshen up before launching an assault in the final third of the season. Best for SKOB were Liam Edwards, Oscar White, Lucas May, Benjamin Palmer, Roshan Fernandes and Lachie Teal. Over at Chelsworth Park in Ivanhoe the U19 Div 2's fought out a thrilling draw with Old Ivanhoe. Both teams could blame bad kicking as they each registered 6.14, but SKOB might rue their 1.6 to 4.1 in the last quarter that squared it all up at the final siren. It was a great game by all accounts as SKOB were best served by Archie Dollman (a Year 11 student in his second game for the old boys), Taj Fernandes, Jordan Youssef, Nicholas Hulls, Tom Devine and Will Batchelor.
Our Div 4's had the bye this weekend
