The Seniors have made it three from three with a strong win over Old Melburnians at VAFA HQ on Saturday. Josh Wallis set the tone from the get go with 2 goals inside the first five minutes of play and SKOB were never headed as they put together their best four quarter performance so far in 2023. With 10 goals to half time in absolutely brilliant conditions, sKOB added another 5 goals to 2 in the third term to stretch their handy half time lead out to 46 points at the last change and ran out comfortable victors by 40. Shaun Kennedy had a great opening term booting 3 goals and would go on to add another. Jack Darmody and Mitch Wallis both chimed in for 3 goals apiece as SKOB found ten different goalkickers on the day giving them multiple avenues to attack which they exploited to great advantage. Old Melburnians had their moments throughout the day and looked dangerous at times, but SKOB put a gap in the scoreboard early and built on it to always seem in control of the contest. Josh Wallis is loving life back in the SKOB jumper and was best afield after his blistering start. He was joined in the best by brother Mitch and Mitch's brother in law, Nick Sing. Josh Tynan, Luke Winter and Jack Darmody (with his 3 goals) were all great contributors. SKOB move on to tackle newly promoted Uni Blacks next week at TH King.
It was a cracking game in the Reserves with little in it all day until Old Melburnians drew away at the finish to win a close one. Coach Clough was happy with the performance - despite the loss - particularly with the form of Nick Dachs, Charlie Bryan, Jack Byrne, Patty Croagh, Luke Mazzeo (up from the Thirds) and Vlad Stevancevic. Our roving photographer Sarah Withers took some nice shots in the glorious sunshine.
Our man at the ground in the early game was able to file the following for the Thirds:
First win for the day came for the Academy boys when their obvious stature and crowd pulling capacity was recognised and they were upgraded from the postage stamp back oval at Elsternwick to the main stage at league HQ.
Starting with a ferocity that shook the OMs in their RMs and moleskins the young SKOBs played a brand of football that gave no quarter. Although leading throughout the day the Academy did have a few questions asked of them though. The eventual margin of 35 points belied an OMs challenge, coming within 2 goals at the 10 minute mark of the 4th quarter. In what was described by coach Ollie as 'the most professional win I've seen from these lads' the Academy absorbed pressure and steadied to win, pulling away.
Ethan Boal silly good all day, winning balls he had no right to. Lemo O'Neill a bull at a gate / brick wall / oncoming semi all day - never beaten. Cooper a power forward. Doyle not mentioned, just assume he was in the best, because he was.
Saints golden run continues
The Saints Gold kept up their 100% record to start the season with a great win over the newcomers Coburg. It was a highly anticipated encounter at Old Rigret and coach Tommy P had his players ready for a tight and tough contest. It proved to be all of that and more as both teams put on a great display of football in brilliant conditions. The SKOB Saints held a slight advantage at the half and seemed to have the answers when needed in the third and fourth terms as they held off one of the teams to beat in 2023. Clearance machine Bree Doyle was again superb with Sarah Betts continuing her great start to the season. Emily Condon, Molly Simpson (3 big goals), Margaret Gleeson and Cath Stanton were all fantastic players for coach Tommy who could not be more proud of his team.
Coach Strauss of the Saints Blue must have spent the summer walking under ladders such is the bad luck that his team seems to be having at the moment. Despite playing some very good football, they once again found one better in Coburg and suffered a third defeat for the season. With a number of changes from the 2022 side, the Blues are adjusting to the transition and taking a little time, but are playing cohesive football and the wins are just around the corner. The best players on Saturday were Ruby Atkin, Dominique Garcia, Brook Stringer, Eliza Doble, Steph Taylor and Anna Lewis, with Steph Augustes playing a lone hand up forward kicking 3 goals. A number of the Blues players doubled up for the Saints Green later in the day.
As dusk fell the Green Machine lit up the night sky with an emphatic win in Prime time at the King on Saturday evening. Taking the main stage after a big day of Under 19 football, the Greenies played some scintillating football to overpower West Brunswick in a replay of the 2022 Grand final. For the Saints, the best players were Genevieve Holden, Steph Augustes (who must have been nursing a sore foot on Saturday night after adding 6 goals to her 3 for the Blues), Olivia Slifirski, Georgie McEwen, Ruby Atkin and Anna Lewis (again and again)
Thanks to James Andriske for some great snaps of the action on Saturday night.
19 Prems flex some muscle
It was a great day for the Under 19 community at SKOB as we hosted a triple header at TH King, with huge numbers of family, friends, parents and supporters getting down to enjoy the game and to get together as a big group. The day finished brilliantly for the Premier Under 19s who had a big 9 goal win over Old Brighton. Jasper Conquest who made his senior debut in Round 1 was superb with 6 goals, whilst the ever consistent Zach Dowd played magnificently across the day. Xavier Duke, Seb Duffy, Jack Romanin and Will Pfeiffer (3 goals) were all strong contributors as SKOB got away to a great start and built on their lead all the way through to the finish. The Div 2 team came up against the competition favourites in Old Carey and despite battling hard found them too strong on the day. For SKOB Will Blyth, Tom Buultjens, Henry James, Josh Bayley, Angus Kerr, Jeremy Bourke were the better players. It's the first loss for the Div 2 boys and they will look to bounce back pretty quickly next week. If you just took a peek at the scores in Div 4 then you not get the full picture for the SKOB team that gives its all on the park each week. This round they came up against a much stronger St Bernards outfit but applied themselves for four quarters and showed great determination all day. Coach Tom Kerr knows the wins will come if his team keeps putting in the same effort each week. The better players on Saturday were Patty Shaw who was everywhere and kicked 2 great goals, Jack Hillyer, Noah Pearce, Jackson O'Malley, Captain Tom Whelan and fullback Patrick Jones.
Our final game on Sunday saw the Masters go down to De La Salle at Waverley Oval. SKOB legend Karl Wissell saw plenty of it and was best for SKOB whilst, Sam Robertson, Dancing Ricky Caldow, Gerard Dutchy Holland, Daniel Prior opportunity and Patty Boyle were all good players who will enjoy a week off to rest their bones and go again in a fortnight.
Home Game lunch - next Saturday - BOOK NOW
It's Ladies Lunch this Saturday 06 May at TH King and EVERYONE is welcome. The under 19 Div 4's will kickoff proceedings at 9:20 then the pre-match luncheon commences as our Reserves 11:40 and our Seniors at 2:00pm take on newly promoted Uni Blacks, followed by our Thirds at 4:40pm. The lunch is always a popular day and we are expecting a great crowd to come down and support SKOB.
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