In a thriller at Sandringham, the U19 Premier side 14.14.98 defeated Old Xavs 13.14.92 to claim the Premiership. …
The St Bedes/Mentone Tigers group of supporters, families and local community arrived in their droves to Trevor Barker Oval, Sandringham on Sunday to support and cheer on the U19 Premier team playing in the Grand Final against Old Xaverians. It was a typical spring day by the bay with the sun shining bright and a 3 goal beach breeze assisting the scoreboard end.
The strategy by Captain and Coach to kick into the breeze if we had won the toss was always going to be a risky decision, but with a buy in from all the players, it did prove to be a pivotal decision. Both teams came out in the first quarter hell bent on not giving an inch and the attack on the football and each contest was a real highlight. The young Tigers tackled fiercely and applied pressure all around the ground and the Xavs players had no space to create. Both teams had opportunities forward, but both teams’ defensive lines had the upper hand on their respective forwards. The disciplined Tiger backs in Hard, Bower and Wighton wore Lachal, Cain and Healy like second skins and ran off them at every opportunity. Quarter time Xavs up by 5 points.
In the second quarter the Tigers produced one of their best quarters of football for the year. The entire midfield group lifted their work rate and clearly dominated centre clearances and stoppages and coupled with quick ball transition provided the forwards with plenty of opportunity and space to hit the scoreboard. Matty Hoy welcomed quick long ball entry and a highlight of the quarter was his big contested mark; wooo oooo Aaaabbbblettttttt. Great quarter by the big man kicking (3) goals even though he was being man handled, he clearly dominated his opponent. Young gun ruckman Brayden O’Toole controlled the quarter providing clear taps to advantage to the likes of midfield guns in Denton, Cross, Moloney and D’Andrea . A 7 goal to 1 quarter and a 31 point lead to the Tigers.
As expected the Old Xavs team came out after the break like all good teams do and lifted all over the ground. They needed to match the inside physical work of the Tigers and needed to stop the Tigers run on the outside. The Xavs boys looked a very different team and it seemed like the teams must have changed jumpers at half time. A quick 6 goals to Xavs had them hit the lead at the 21 minute mark and the Tigers needed to control the tempo of play. Many questions where being asked of the Tigers Coach on why the midfield group where spending larger time on the bench in the 3rd quarter and the answer was simple, being the Tigers played last week and Xavs had the week off meant this game was going to be won in the last 40 minutes. O’Kearney, Nicoll, Dalzotto and Alex Whalebone lifted and a late goal to the Tigers was crucial and reduced the Xavs lead to 3 points at 3 quarter time.
The crowd had witnessed a great game so far and the final quarter was going to be a beauty. Would the rested and fresh legs of Xav’s run away with the game or would the hard nosed , determined Tigers not give up.
This was a replica of the second semi final although this time Xavs had the 3 point lead. It was like watching a heavyweight boxing title fight in the last quarter, both teams again throwing their bodies in to every contest and running themselves to exhaustion. The Xavs team kicked the first couple of goals to take a handy 12 point lead and then the Tigers fought back with their aggressive offence tactics and kicked quick goals to go 13 points in front….what a game. You could see both coaches looking for tactical advantages, changing backs to forwards and forwards to backs it was like a game of chess. Beckwith on a wing was now unstoppable and gathering possession at will, McCready going forward sparked the Tigers again with 2 quick goals and a hand in another. Big Matt Hoy was unstoppable at full forward and when he kicked his 6th goal the game was just about sealed. Xavs came again and 2 crucial spoils to Capp in the last line of defence against 3 Xavs players…. pure magic. Seconds remaining, a rushed behind to Xavs, a Tigers kick in and Siren…….. History created and a memory forever.
Sensational game and the Club is very proud of the playing and coaching group. Thanks to all the supporters and helpers on the day.