2016 VAFA Premier B Finals: Old Scotch 9.11.65 v Monash 8.10.58

Old Scotch and Monash might have finished with the same win-loss record, but they got there in very different ways.

The Cardinals spent the first half of the season in the top two, but five losses in six games late in the season saw them having to fight for a finals spot. Premier B newcomers Monash lost their first three games and were cellar-dwellers early on before eight wins from their last ten games saw them barge into the top four in the second half of the season. However, they weren’t the only ones, and found themselves needing to beat top team St Bede’s/Mentone in the last round to progress to finals action. The Blues got up in a four point thriller, ensuring fourth place and a sudden-death elimination final against Old Scotch. The season series was tied at 1-1. Old Scotch won their Round 2 encounter by 41 points before Monash squared the ledger in Round 13 with a two-point victory.

First Quarter: Old Scotch 3.2.20 v Monash 1.4.10
Much like the game the previous day, both sides took a long time to find the goals and it was the team wearing blue who struggled the most. Charles Dixon had the first shot on goal for the Cardinals thanks to a nice pass from Jono Daggian but failed to convert. Monash then added three early behinds, with missed opportunities from Daniel Easson, Nick McConville and Liam Darcy. Tim Macmillan nailed a set shot from the boundary to open the Cardinals account 17 minutes into the contest. The Cards got the clearance and the ball landed in the arms of Max Van den Broek who added another one a minute later. Nick Petering missed after getting a free for in-the-back, before Andre Headberry took a ‘speccy’ and converted the set shot for the Blues. Andrew Jelbart gained a free but didn’t convert, then Van den Broek marked the Monash kick-in and scored a late goal, giving the Scotchies a ten point lead.

Second Quarter: Old Scotch 5.4.34 v Monash 4.7.31
The second term was an even contest, with the Old Scotch lead remaining in single-digits for most of the time. McConville got on the end of a chain of handballs but missed with his quick snap. It was goal-for-goal early on, with Nick Cox taking a contested mark and kicking truly in between goals to Petering and Macgregor Cameron. James Taylor broke free for Monash but missed on the run, then Aidan Franetic got into the action. He missed his first attempt and then appeared to have slotted a goal, only for it to be called touched off the boot. James Sansom marked from a Monash kick-in and slotted the goal, but a late one from McConville brought the margin back to three points at half time.

Third Quarter: Old Scotch 7.7.49 v Monash 5.7.37
Scoring dried up in the third quarter, with just three goals kicked and the last score for the quarter was at the 17-minute mark. Jono Daggian was rewarded for a great tackle at the top of the goal square. Lachlan Byrne-Jones drew the ire of the Monash fans when he dropped a simple mark in his defensive area, allowing Cameron Pither to pounce and get one back for the Blues. There was even a cheeky wag ‘congratulating’ him on his inclusion in the Premier B Team of the Year.  Macmillan had a couple of unsuccessful shots on goal, then launched a high kick inside 50 which allowed Hayden Calway to take a contested mark and nail the set shot, giving the Cardinals a two goal lead.

Fourth Quarter: Old Scotch 9.11.65 v Monash 8.10.58
I had to leave at three-quarter time and even though OId Scotch seemed to be in control, I had a feeling I’d probably miss the best quarter of the match. As both teams entered the final term playing to keep their season alive, the intensity and tempo lifted and the small crowd came to life. The quarter once again started with a few misses. Sansom had a chance with a mark and set shot, then Petering got himself a free but was unsuccessful. Darcy marked the resultant kick-in but failed to make the Scotchies pay. Monash found an extra gear and kicked the first three goals of the quarter. McConville won a one-on-won tussle and in a show of strength just ‘yoinked’ it from his opponent; Maddison Hardiman received a pass from Easson and kicked truly; Darcy received an ‘over-the-head’ handball from Petering and kicked one from close range. At the 26-minute mark, Old Scotch hadn’t kicked a goal and the Blues had the lead and all the momentum. However, there was another twist in this tale when James Bowden marked inside 50 and nailed the goal, bringing the scores level. A couple of minutes later Ben Whitfort was caught holding the ball in the backline and Daggian kicked truly, somehow giving Old Scotch the lead. Sansom kicked a point at the 30-minute mark and the Cardinals had put the game out of Monash’s reach, ending their season and setting up a Prelim final showdown with Beaumaris.

I was impressed with Monash’s year. I know it’s probably no consolation after they were leading the Cardinals with five minutes to play then lost, but to make the finals after going up a section, and then after losing the first three games is a great effort (let alone the fact they had to beat the top team just to make the finals).

Old Scotch moves on to a Preliminary Final showdown with their Premier section ‘relegation buddy’ Beaumaris. The Sharks won both their 2016 contests, handing out a 51-point beating in Round 8 followed by a three-goal win in Round 14.