VAFA ROUND 2.indd - Victorian Amateur Football Association

PREMIER
Michael Fitzgerald
OLD WORLD
ORDER
Pundits who based their selections on 2010 form
rather than the off-season signings would have
picked the card, as Opening Day had an eerily
familiar feel to it. Other than Old Carey, which
had to thunder home like Black Caviar to snatch
victory from a fifty point deficit, the favourites
appeared to have secured the points long before
the skies turned prematurely black.
The Panther Cotillion went smoothly until the
colours ascended the mast, but it was the brave
Trinity that led the Beasts a merry dance once
the clock struck two. Greens new coach Adam
Andrews would have been delighted with the
first half performance. Sans their spiritual leader
Ramsden, the Ts opened with authority in the first,
and increased their lead in the second. However,
ravaged by injury, they ran out of gas in the third
and the cat pounced. Where there had been
disarray, suddenly there was system, Jarrod Reid
broke free and all was well that ended well for Old
Carey as it nosed ahead in the gloaming.
The predominantly youthful Old Haileyburians
ventured to Mentone for the first time and found
the Brindisians ready to defend their turf. In a
tough first quarter, the Bloods failed to capitalise
on the wind and only two late goals gave them
the edge. The Seasiders tattooed the sticks in the
second, but were customarily inaccurate, ensuring
not only that the flag wavers earned their money
but shed any excess avoirdupois left after their
grinding pre-season. Still vaguely in it at the half,
but needing a massive third term, the Bloods
failed to shake the Tiges, who calibrated their
sights, straightened up, and in the end, kicked
away. Darcy Holden turned in a top performance
for the home team, while Pete Gleadhill did well
for a Haileybury outfit that kept on fighting.
Under the spires, De La Salle slid away from Uni
Blues early and then sealed the deal in the second
term. The Varsity squandered early opportunities
and while it emerged stronger after the long
break, it was all too late. Brett Eddy, the ‘Pies
listed forward, was prominent, but ominously for
future opponents, so were the De La stars who
didn’t play in the seniors. From all accounts, the
Blue and Golds were in slashing form, setting
the table for a monster season under new gaffer
Max McLoughlin. The latest grads of the U19
production line, Tom Humphrey and Ed Clinch,
both played solidly. John Kanis would have been
pleased with the form of Charles Shaw, but will be
anxious to have his full squad available. Blues face
a tough month.
Old Scotch hit the front in the final stanza against
Collegians, but the Lions responded viciously with
a seven goals to none burst. For the Purples, the
old reliables lifted when needed, with Harry Croft
and Daniel Strahan providing goal power. All
eyes were on Nick Sautner, wearing the Wesleyan
jumper for the first time, but his role was more
minimal than it will be in the coming weeks. Cards’
coach Peter Banfield will no doubt find some
consolation in the form of some of his younger
charges and the big effort from Sam Thompson.
With boom recruit Simon Taylor prominent early,
Old Melburnians were on top from the outset
and must have fancied their chances against an
Old Xaverian lineup missing eight from the team
that chaliced in September. According to the stats
sheet, OMs had seventeen forward arc entries in
the first quarter to the home team’s twelve, but
TODAY
Selections in BOLD
COLLEGIANS v UNIVERSITY BLUES
OLD TRINITY v OLD XAVERIANS
OLD MELBURNIANS v ST BEDES/MT
OLD HAILEYBURY v OLD SCOTCH
DE LA SALLE v OLD CAREY
2 THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2011
SPORTS INJURY CASUALTY - OPEN 1-7 SATURDAY