The 2012 VAFA Premier fixture has been released...

On a disappointing Sunday morning, Coach Girdwood's Tertiary Team went down to Old Xaverians in the Premier Thirds Grand Final. Xavs proved too adept around stoppages as they continually won the ball and pumped it forward. After a six goal to zip first term, the Blues were never really in the hunt despite occasionally playing well. A proud Girdwood tried to inspire his charges and they did their best to respond but were ultimately out-classed.

Best players, goal kickers and more to come. Go Blues.

Reserves – Well Of Luck Runs Dry

In a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar season, the Mighty Uni Blues Twos were bundled out of the finals race by a determined De La Salle. A gusty wind played havoc with players' skills turning the spectacle into a relatively scrappy affair. In a low-scoring game, goals were always going to prove crucial and the Blues got the first one on the board to lead at the first change. One player who loves a scrap, especially on Elsternwick Park during the finals, is Quinton Gleeson. The former Woodrow medallist tackled and fought in the middle of the ground to get his team going, and he was instrumental in getting the Blues' second goal on the board. De La Salle replied before the half-time siren sounded and a solitary goal separated the teams during the long break. Disappointingly for Blues' supporters, the game was being played into De La Salle's hands. The Sallians love to get numbers around the ball and tie it up with continual ball-ups. They score by slickly handballing from traffic into an attacking position. The Blues, meanwhile, enjoy breaking games open with run and carry. The style of football being played meant that De La Salle's supporters were pleased while the Blues' were waiting for the game to be broken open. De La Salle made a break for it in the third term, kicking three goals to hit the front. Ben Millard did his best across half-back, and demonstrated the skill level and intelligent decision-making required. Another defender, Jack Heinz did his best to repel De La Salle but at the final change, the Blues were down by 9 points. De La Salle kicked the first of the final term but the Blues quickly replied through Andy Christensen and Llewyn Butler. Albert Weddell was continuing to work hard at stoppages, helping out Gleeson to push the ball forward while David Withers was a useful utility. Half-way through the final term the Blues hit the front thanks to Dirk Heinz's second goal and it looked as though the Blues had used another get-out-of-jail card. Sadly, it was not to be as the Sallians kicked the last two goals of the game to run out 10 point winners. Jack Maxwell was another Blue who tried his best. In a strange quirk of fate, the Blues kicked identical scores in both finals games and would have won either of them had they been more efficient in attack. The loss also ends a run of three premierships in a row and all involved will be ruing the chance at a fourth.

University Blues: 5 – 11 – 41

De La Salle: 7 – 9 – 51

Best: Q.Gleeson, B.Millard, A.Weddell, J.Heinz, D.Withers, J.Maxwell

Goals: D.Heinz 2, A.Christensen 1, L.Butler 1, M.Steinbach 1

Thirds – Gain Momentum Into The Big Dance

Spectators who arrived at Elsterwick Park early were inspired by an under-dog University Blues Tertiary Team who over-ran a far more experienced Collegian outfit. A swirling wind made the game occasionally befuddling, and twice in the first term Blues' defenders were caught out and conceded goals. At centre-half back, Will Robinson was doing his best to control the game and restore some confidence in his young team-mates but at the first break, the Blues were 10 points in arrears. The wind swung to the northern end in the second term meaning that the Blues now had to kick into the face of it. The Blues defended stoutly with Dan Gumley blanketing his direct opponent, while Jason Clifford smoothly moved the ball up the ground with deft handballs and kicks. The Blues got their first two goals of the game into the wind and were feeling calm and confident despite being 15 points down at half time. An inspired move saw John Wood onto the wing in the the third quarter and he got the Blues moving with his raking left foot. Goals to Andrew Walsh, Mitch Pickering and Wood saw the Blues hit the lead within minutes of the third term starting and the Blues were running all over the Lions. In the middle of Elsternwick Park, Dan Parkinson was instrumental in kicking the ball free from stoppages to get the Blues into attack. Another two majors were added, and in a single quarter the Blues turned a 15 point deficit into a 20 point lead. The howling wind meant that Collegians would have a significant advantage in the last term and the Blues knew that their work was not yet done. In the face of the wind, the Blues got the first goal of the final quarter through Max Allen (2 goals) to extend their lead and set a tough task for their opponents. Collegians got two goals back but when Walsh kicked his third, the Blues knew they were home. Young Blues Pat Mithen and Jared Edwards worked very hard across the expanses of VAFA HQ and were indicative of the team ethos where everyone plays their part. The Blues maintained their 20 point lead to book themselves into a Grand Final. Next Sunday at 9:20am University Blues take on Old Xaverians in a battle for Premier Thirds supremacy. Make sure you get there to cheer Coach Bobby G and his boys on.

Go Blues.

University Blues: 9 – 10 – 64

Collegians: 6 – 8 – 44

Best: J.Clifford, D.Parkinson, D.Gumley, W.Robinson, P.Mithen, J.Edwards

Goals: A.Walsh 3, M.Allen 2, D.Barton 1, S.Curran 1, M.Pickering 1, J. Wood 1

Seniors – Season Smashed By Xavs

In what turned out to be Coach John Kanis’ last game in charge, University Blues were comfortably beaten by a ruthless Old Xaverians in the 1st Semi Final. The first minutes gave no portent of things to come as Mick Monteith kicked the first goal for the game. Moments later, Pat Smith hit the post from a tight angle and the Blues looked to have some momentum. Sadly, it was not to be. The opposition slammed home seven goals in the remainder of the quarter to remind all gathered why they were favourites heading into the final. Mark Paterson was one Blue who was throwing himself at contests trying to stem the tide, but could not buy any luck. The second quarter was equally awful. Xavs slotted through another eight goals to quash any idea that the northern end was the better end to kick toward. By the time the siren mercifully rang for half time, the Blues were a gigantic 73 points in arrears and the season was all but over. Coach-in-waiting Fergus Watts was furious and must have been questioning what he had gotten himself in for. Down back, captain Matt Torney and full-back Tom Maddocks fought manfully but they had too few helping them. Only Monteith and Paterson could join the two defenders in holding their heads up high, as most Blues looked absurdly out of place on the expanses of Elsternwick Park. The second half brought much-needed respite. Reminiscent of junior football, many Blues started the half at the opposite end of the ground to their norm. The Blues kept Xavs goal-less in the third term while pegging back a couple for themselves. Pat Hayes ran hard around the half-forward line to take a few marks and kick a couple of goals, but one could not help but think that Old Xaverians knew they had done enough for the day. The final term was easily the Blues best. Although it was fanciful to think that they could come back, especially after the opposition added the first two goals of the quarter, the Blues earned some respect. The Blues reduced the margin to 25 points and even ended the game with more scoring shots. Smith got some swagger back after adding his second, while full-back-turned-full-forward Maddocks also kicked two. Big man Jack Watts continued to work as hard as he could but they could not undo the damage of the first half. The 2011 season ends somewhat disappointingly as the Blues showed they were a capable team but were probably too inconsistent. Players will spend time regretting errors before hitting the track hard in a couple of months.

University Blues: 12 – 12 – 84

Old Xaverians: 17 – 7 – 109

Best: M.Monteith, P.Hayes, M.Torney, T.Maddocks, J.Watts, M.Paterson

Goals: P.Smith 2, M.Monteith 2, T.Maddocks 2, M.Paterson 1, B.McConnell 1, P.Hayes 1, J.Mugavin 1, M.Torney 1, M. Steinbach 1