It had to be the greatest day in the history of the club. Three premierships starting with the U19βs and Reserves being toped off with a come from behind, one point win to the seniors over Ajax. It was awesome!
The crowd at Trevor Barker Oval, Sandringham was estimated at 5000. The ground capacity was stretched to the limits with people 8-10 deep in many areas around the ground. The senior match had everything. A bit of βwrestlingβ, followed by a send off in the first minute. Give away goals to Ajax, which had us under the pump. Ajax leading by eight goals mid way thru the second whilst kicking with the wind. Spectacular marks that you will see on TV next year on the Channel 9 Footy Show for sure. And finally intrigue at the end when we hit the front only to lose it back. And finally the winning goal and those tense last minutes as players stood up all around the ground. The game was videoed and a high quality production will be available shortly. Well done to our coaches, players and to our supporters who turned up in huge numbers. Well done! On our website you will find 150 fabulous Grand Final photos.
A message from the President
Six Premierships in 2006. What a fantastic weekend for the St Bedes/ Mentone Tigers AFC.
Three senior premierships in one afternoon to complement our earlier success is result that everyone involved with our club should feel extremely proud of!
I would like to take the opportunity to personally congratulate the coaches, Luke Beveridge, Tim Lamb and Owen Lalor for bringing home the coveted premiership cups and for their outstanding efforts throughout this season. To the captains, Luke Wintle,Shaun Napier and Robert Swayn your leadership and courage have been exemplary. To the players who enjoyed the opportunity to play in the successful finals teams and to those who unfortunately missed through injury or selection congratulations on your acheivements this year.
To the clubs that we competed against during the finals campaigns commiseration and particularly to the AJAX players and members thankyou for an outstanding finals series, amateur football has been the winner.
To all at the VAFA ,in particular, Tom Brain thank you for your assistance and provision of first class facilities at Mazenod and Sandringham.
I would also like to mention that although he was unable to attend the game our great friend Peter Harris would have been a proud man on hearing the results last Saturday evening. (Good on ya Pete)
Finally to everyone associated with the St Bedes/Mentone Tigers congratulations. You all deserve to share in what has been a truly remarkable performance by our boys this season.
Matt Beasley, President
A Little Bit More About Last Saturdayβs Game From RCT!
‘I seen it and I now believe it’…..
Never have I had heard so many people tell me from both participating clubs and non playing clubs who went to the Grand Final at Sandy on Saturday, that they have witnessed one of the ‘greatest games of local football’ in the last 30 years!
To the players and officials of both clubs who provided a spectacle of the ages…thank you…..and for anyone who wasn’t there with the approx.4500 spectators, then do contact SBMTAFC and purchase a copy of their DVD of the game….best footy investment you’ll make this year….or send me a private message and I’ll help you make arrangements for such.
A Grand Final for the ages…it had everything and then some….and can I say to anyone who has made a comment about individual player(s) on field behavious or perfomance…let it go…there was plenty going on the field and just as much off the field that was probably even worse in reality (note not physical but beyond the call of ‘watching your opposition’)
A Classic Grand Final will have the following in no order – goals, spectacular marks, courage, physicality, domination, comebacks, pressure, reports, dubious umpiring, good umpiring, crowd banter, defeaning crowd noise, injuries…..sounds like Hawthorn v Geelong at the MCG doesn’t it….but no it was SBMTAFC v Ajax at Sandy last Saturday.
Ajax in my eyes had some outstanding players in Gold (and I hope his injury which looked serious isn’t ) Ritterman and Sutton and a target up forward in Rapaport and their first quarter and a half was awesome football to watch as they served it up to the Tigers. Can’t believe I’ve seen possibly four of the best marks you could imagine to see ever in one game of football.
The momentum of the game shifted from the 20 minute mark of the second term when the tigers started to run the lines with Sawers, and Lynch in the ruck making a statement. Hayes kicked some telling goals and Tyquin started show why he is a key to the Tigers in the middle. Third quarter incredibly better the first two, the Tigers piling of the goals but the Jackas keeping them at arms reach to hold a 5 point lead at the final change and coming home with the breeze. How big were the huddles on the ground at 3/4 time!!!
When Ajax stretched their lead to 15 points at the 18 minute mark of the last term it seemed as though it just might be their flag but the Tigers refused to let go of the dream, and kicked 4 of the last 5 goals of the match from the 22 minute mark of the final term. Collins goal from 45mtrs into the breeze from the worst corner on the ground to kick one on this day, was a kick of pure class….17 years old but drilled like a 28yo playing his 140th game and then added to the drama when he took a brilliant pack mark 15 metres out only to miss the easy kick in front….Rapaport then takes a grab for Ajax up forward and nails it from 35 mtrs and their back in front by 5 points at the 30 minute mark….but the Tigers atack again and Groves takes a mark low to the ground and literallly splits the middle of the two big sticks from 20 mtrs out…still 2 minutes to play and Beveridge shows his absolute class to take two marks across half back as the Jackas try everything to get it forward…the siren goes but it’s barely audible such is the noise in the ground….has it ended….incredibly it has and the Tigers have won by a point.
Could you write a script like it…not in your wildest dreams.
So after three days of partying and living the dream of 3 Flags at Brindisi Street on a Saturday in September, I’m going to go quietly at work today and give the liver half a chance!
VAFA C Section
Round Grand Final 2006
SBMT Seniors 21.12.138 defeated Ajax 21.11.137
Best Players: M Wintle, A Sawers, S Zakic, L Beveridge, A Hayes, P Groves
Goal Kickers: Hayes 4, Corda 4, Collins 3, Tyquin 2, T McColl 2, Andrew Scafidi, Sawers, Groves, L Wintle, L Terrell, S Anstey.
VAFA C Section
Round Grand Final 2006
SBMT Reserves 19.19.133 defeated Old Camberwell 6.9.45
Best Players: Walstab, M McGettigan, S Kidd, D Waters, G Kempster, M Terrell.
Goal Kickers: Kempster 6, Kidd 3, M Terrell 2, Zahra 2, Sampieri 2, McConnell, McMahon, M Mcgettigan, D Porter.
VAFA C Section
Round Grand Final 2006
SBMT U19 12.11.83 defeated Ormond 7.10.52
Best Players: D. Francis, D. Graham, C. Richards, A. Falkiner, C. Mouritz, S. Andrews
Goal Kickers: M. Bodinnar 4, D. Francis 2, C. Richards 2, D. Lynch, J. Lebreton, S. L’Huillier, S. McLaughlin
Order your very own 2006 Tigers Grand Final DVD
Grand Final DVD’s for the Seniors, Reserves & U/19 Grand Finals are available for purchase from the Club. For $25.00 each incl postage within Aust. or $20.00 each collected from the Club you get your very own high quality copy of these famous wins. Order via email to: OR by writing to St.Bedes/Mentone Tigers AFC, PO Box 417, Mentone, Vic. 3194 Aust…. make sure you include a cheque, money order or full credit card details for the correct amount…$25.00 for one $ 50.00 for two or order a copy of all 3 teams wins and the cost is reduced to $70.00 total!
This Friday Night View the Game
If you havenβt seen it. The game will be replayed this Friday night at the club. The night starts at 7pm. All members, senior and junior, parents and supporters are invited to come down and enjoy the evening. Meals will be available and everyone will be made welcome! See you there!
Letβs Go Tigers 2007!