VAFA RNd 14 05.qxd 22/7/05 12:56 PM Page 1 Inside the VAFA Boys From the Bush Shade Brave Ammos. Others who toiled manfully The VCFL were worthy, though hardly emphatic for the Amateurs were Old winners of the Brian Molony Cup last Sunday at Xavs’ Travis Ruyg, who Sportscover Arena. Though the Amateurs went always picked the right in without some marquee players (Ockleshaw, option across half back, Gerstman, O’Farrell, among others) a new look Old Brighton’s Leigh VAFA team hammed it up to their professional Hendra, who showed foes and at one stage looked as though they plenty of pluck in his first could pull off a remarkable come-from-behind rep game and former victory. The VCFL, who draw their players from skipper Andrew Ramsden, all the major country competitions throughout who was regularly beaten the state, were probably a bit too big and to the tap but showed his physical. customary dash and agility around the ground. Early on, Uni Blues’ CHF Andrew Lowcock was In the end, the VCFL probably had two or three a constant headache for the VCFL, showcasing more guns that were ultimately the difference. his unsurpassed ability to time his leads and Apart from Archard, Myrtleford’s Brad Murray mark cleanly in front of his face. If not for three and Maffra’s Hayden Burgiel are two of the best behinds in the first half, he could have had the country players of recent years with well stocked country team on the ropes. Rep side debutant trophy cabinets. Their pace and hardness at Justin Arnold (Xavs) and fellow small man stoppages proved telling. Their tall, solidly built David Biggs (Old Essendon) pounced on any defenders Linc Wellington and Dean Talbert (a loose balls and handled the muddy conditions former runner up in the Liston Medal) were also with aplomb. But the ammos were a bit wayward in front of impressive. goal and the VCFL began to skip away. At half Suffice to say, this fixture gets more fiercely time, they were 23 points the better and looked contested by the year and we await the next to have the game in the bag. contest eagerly. Here’s hoping the VAFA can go After the long break, the VAFA kept chipping bush in 2007 and bring home away, with captain Paul Corrigan picking up the bacon. possessions at will across the middle and half back and Marcellin youngster Joel Rice (at 20, Inside the VAFA’s best: the youngest player on the field) showcasing his VAFA: Paul Corrigan, Gerard Beven, Joel Rice, immense talents on the members’ wing. His David Boundy, Murray Pitts, Justin Arnold, gutsy intercept mark and subsequent long goal Travis Ruyg, David Biggs was one of the highlights of the day. Early in the VCFL: Brad Murray, Dean Talbert, Linc final term, Old Essendon’s Daniel Flaherty Wellington, Hayden Burgiel, Luke Saunders. slotted a few and the home side had a sniff. To their credit however, the VCFL bottled things up Official Match Details: and out of nowhere, Gisborne’s Luke Saunders VCFL 4.2 7.6 8.12 13.13 (91) kicked an extraordinary goal to seal the game. VAFA 2.4 3.7 4.12 8.14. (62) Down back, several players from lower grades VCFL Goals: Archard 3 Shipp 2 Saunders Cail bobbed up to restrict the VCFL to just one McLaren Newman A Burgiel Shepherd McLean H multiple goal kicker (the very impressive rover Burgiel Rhys Archard from Benalla). Old Paradians’ Best: Murray O'Sullivan Wellington Twitt H youngster David Boundy showed great poise, Burgiel Saunders Davies Beaumaris’ Murray Pitts repelled time and time VAFA Goals: Flaherty 3 Rice Gleeson Ramsden again and Prahran’s Gerard Beven never gave Low Corrigan an inch all day. The veteran Beven recently Best: Rice Corrigan Biggs Arnold Boundy Beven crossed from Northcote Park in the DVFL and David Code Medal: Brad Murray (VCFL Award was a revelation for the Amateurs; his one only) handed juggling mark on the grandstand side being a particular highlight. Jonathan Horn THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER THE JOURNAL OF THE VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION July 16th, 2005 Price: $2.00 Vol. 05 No. 14 V THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2005 1 VAFA RNd 14 05.qxd 22/7/05 12:56 PM Page 2 A SECTION by Jonathan Horn Foundation Frustration the week but his St Kevin’s did themselves proud in the decision to spend his Foundation Day clash at their Toorak campus, weekends at the Trott only to fall an agonising five points short. I has paid dividends. don’t reckon I’ve ever set foot on St Kevins’ Kalev Jones in the ruck, school grounds when it hasn’t been pouring James Jorgenson up with rain and this day was a real rotter, freezing forward and Grant Rowston across the middle and dreary. Many puddles. were all good for the Lions. Didn’t seem to worry their fleet of mud runners And finally to the ‘Pit, where the heroes of the Marcus Dollman, Luke Mahoney, James 1975 flag gathered for a reunion in the new Marchesani and Nick Perrett, who slogged and clubrooms, only to watch the pups of today dove and continually drove the ball forward. methodically put away by a Haileybury team Though not in the best, Ryan Chard also that grows in stature by the week. Oddly, I left provided a good option across half forward Brett Trollope out of my Top 40 and 2004 team while Michael Mulgrew was busy up front. of the year but he and Paul Corrigan are two of Amazingly, Rob Gross' reserves team pipped the best performed players of the year thus far. the undefeated Xavs in the early game. For Xavs, Lachlan Ford has been a marvellously consistent amateur footballer for “ ddly, I left Brett Trollope out of the best part of a decade and provided great O my Top 40 and 2004 team of drive off half back while Cadyn Beetham the year but he and Paul Corrigan handled the wet ball with aplomb. They lost Travis Ruyg and Anthony McDonald to the flu are two of the best performed before the game and Tim Ockleshaw came off players of the year thus far.” injured just on half time. Still an impressive team but I reckon a quality, tall forward line A game that was a far cry from the watershed could find them wanting. We’ll see. round 1 clash last year. OMs hammed it up to Uni Blues early but The Relegation Run Home… Gleeson, Paterson and first gamer Adam Terill Four teams in the mix as I reckon it’s worth got things going for the frat boys. They blooded including St Bernard’s in this. Plenty to look two more debutants from the adjacent colleges, forward to, as the relegation games are often Dan Carmody and Dick Heinz, who if I’m not mistaken, used to host “Antiques Roadshow” McKINNON on the BBC. Blues are just bubbling along. SPORTS MEDICINE According to my mysterious contact “Brooke” at SHARPSHOOTERS – A OMs, Ross Mulquiney was his usual prolific self, James Miller did well in his 150th and CLUB NAME LST WK TOTAL youngster Sam Gooley continued to impress. A SECTION No surprises there. Safe for yet another year the Grammar boys. Old Scotch Gerstman 0 50 Scotch are now hot on Marcellin’s wing after Old Haileybury B. O'Farrell 3 42 they fell in by five 5 points against a gallant Marcellin Cullinan 2 41 Trinity while Collegians touched up the Old Xaverians Lynch 2 40 Eagles to the tune of 50 points. Special A RESERVE mention to Dick Henebery, who played his Old Haileybury Efstathiou 0 38 100th game for Collegians. Big Dick used to Old Scotch Beaurepaire 0 23 play with Sale and train with Collegians during Old Xaverians Rush - 23 2 V THE AMATEUR FOOTBALLER 2005 VAFA RNd 14 05.qxd 22/7/05 12:56 PM Page 3 crackers. Hope this makes sense… LAST ROUND’S RESULTS – A St Bernard’s – 4.5 wins. Play Collegians, St Kevin’s (A), Uni Blues, OMs (A), Trinity (A). A SECTION Verdict: A Pretty cosy run home. Should hang ST BERNARDS 0.0 1.5 1.5 1.8 (14) on but they’re shaky. The draw may save the OLD HAILEYBURY 3.5 5.8 7.11 9.14 (68) St Bern: N Mitchell. Best: N Mitchell Kavanagh Potter Blunt Uren Ballarin. day. Old Hail: O’Farrell 3 P Corrigan Bourke Barker McIntyre Seccull Kight. Collegians – 3 wins. Play St Bernard’s (A), Old Best: McIntyre Trollope P Corrigan S Langford-Jones Bourke Walden. Scotch, St Kevin’s, Uni Blues (A), Haileybury Umpires: Steve McCarthy Geoff Caulfield (F) Peter Teasdale Brendan (A). The last two are ball breakers and Cannon (B) Dominic Napoli Vin Vescovi (G) percentage is ordinary but they keep proving us COLLEGIANS 3.3 3.5 9.9 11.14 (80) MARCELLIN 1.0 3.4 3.6 4.6 (30) wrong Coll: Bull 2 Jorgensen 2 Taft 2 Blumfield Fry Rowston Dixon Unsworth. Old Trinity – 2 wins. Play St Kevins, Uni Blues Best: Jones Shinkfield Jorgensen Lockett Bull Rowston. Marc: Cullinan 2 (A), OMs, Old Xavs (A) and St Bernard’s. Abrahams Marson. Best: Augustin Jarred Woods L Considine S Considine Verdict: Some tough ones, the game against St B Dobson. Kevin’s is the one. Umpires: Tim Sutcliffe Russell Davidson (F) Andrew Errington Robbie St Kevin’s – Mayston (B) Kevin Segota Paul Gatt (G) 2 Wins. Play Trinity (A), St ST KEVINS 2.2 5.4 7.8 8.10 (58) Bernard’s, Collegians (A), Old Scotch and OLD XAVERIANS 3.3 5.6 7.7 9.9 (63) Marcellin (A).