Premier A 2014

[Canada]

Crikey. And the Xavs won all 7 games last week. The Bear has been poked and its starting to grumble and rumble. Seems many are afraid...very afraid!

 

[Bagman99]

Crikey. And the Xavs won all 7 games last week. The Bear has been poked and its starting to grumble and rumble. Seems many are afraid...very afraid!

I actually think Xavs revival this season is just what Premier section needs. Clearly they were beset with injury earlier in the season and as they get players back, they are formidable. Their run home is:

De La - AWAY
St Bedes - HOME
Trinity - AWAY
Old Brighton - HOME

They need to win all 4 in my view to make finals. Why? Currently sitting on 28 points and with a % of 92.2, they will need to get to 44 points in my opinion. Consider:

Scotch plays Old Brighton (away), Bernards (Home), Beauie (Home) and then Collegians in a possible round 18 elimination final.
Collegians plays Bernards (away), Beauie (home), St Bedes (away) and then Scotch in that round 18 doozie.

Both Scotch and Collegians are capable of winning 2 of their next 3 before their round 18 clash. Give them two wins each in the next 3 and they are both on 40 points after round 17. So, one of these teams can conceivably get to 44 points. Scotch has a significant % buffer versus Xavs, Collegians does not.

Then throw OT into the mix - with Beauie (away), Blacks (Home), Xavs (Home) and De La (away) - form line suggest to me they win 1 of these, maybe 2. Beauie's ground on the weekend was, by all accounts, a bog, so expect a very physical clash this week at Beauie for OT. Massive danger game as Beauie needs a win to stay above relegation stakes. If OT can win 2, they are also going to be on 40 points and with a decent (current) % buffer versus Xavs. But, I reckon they are done and finish the season with 8 or 9 wins and miss finals.

The beauty of Premier footy and VAFA footy is that Xavs round 18 clash against Old Brighton could be do or die for OB, and could be a "MUST WIN" for Xavs to make finals, so "form lines" can count for nought. Given OB plays Scotch, De La (away in a relegation ding dong battle) Blacks, and then Xavs - you can't just presume Xavs has an "easy" game in this final round clash.

I just think it is fascinating and is what makes VAFA Premier footy clearly one of the best metro leagues in the country.

The next 4 weeks will be fascinating.

 

[Jimmyjack]

God forbid. Next you will be bringing up the primary school of Brendan Iezzi. I'd hate for him to be disassociated from Trinity because he went to another educational facility in his lifetime. Continuing to really clutch at straws. But that's ok. Jealousy will do that to some people.

And yes, you are right. They did rest three top players. Darvell, Shaw and Woodley should all step in this week.

Was just a quirky response to your inclusion of the old boy comment so don’t’ take it too seriously. To be honest I could not care less where a club gets it players from. Pattison, Blake, Hogan, Kruse and other big names lured to the Blacks in recent years are not students at the Uni. ‘State of Origin’ rules don’t exist in the ammos!

At the risk of posting further useless information - in another twist of that trio only Wynne came to Xavs essentially a ‘footballer’. Ambrose came on the back of his athletics ability and Goss as a cricketer.

 

[flat footy]

Gees, when they are not winning game, people sinking their boots into the Xavs. Suddenly they put a couple of wins together and they have the rest of the comp clammering for excuses and blaming head office for their success. Apart from the fact they are sitting sixth at the moment, seems there are multiple teams looking over their shoulders already. Beetham has played the most of the year (apart from his suspension) and is really hitting some top form. Kennedy didn't get a look in until the half way mark. Goss pulls the boots on for his first game and proves what an integral player he is for the side. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see he will play out the last four games and any other that may present themselves. Wynne still needs to qualify and will. Is he the best player in the comp? Ambrose similar but qualified. I don't hear any pundits complaining when Barlow and Jameison come back for the big ones for the cardinals. Fair play to them. Rules are rules. All five of the above mentioned Xavs players are all old boys.

Like I said in an earlier post, even if Xavs win their remaining games, its up to the 5 teams above them to look after their own back yard, win some games on the way home and they won't have to worry about it at all. If they can't do that and Xavs remain undefeated, there might be a story to write come September. .

I think the whole Xavs thing can be best summed up as to when they get/got their full list together as to how good they will be
(acka, last years grand final list). Gotta feel for Berry. Had half of what ran out last sat.to work with, shown no mercy.
Hey, but thats footy. Wrong bloke. in the wrong place at the wrong time..............

 

[Rooster 24]

I think the whole Xavs thing can be best summed up as to when they get/got their full list together as to how good they will be
(acka, last years grand final list). Gotta feel for Berry. Had half of what ran out last sat.to work with, shown no mercy.
Hey, but thats footy. Wrong bloke. in the wrong place at the wrong time..............

Spot on FF. I think many, myself included, had Xavs as flag favorites in the pre-season. Just goes to show that it doesn’t matter who you are, if you cant get close to your best team on the park you are going to find things tough. Not even their much-vaunted depth was enough to win them games early on. Having said Blacks are an imposing unit this year and I still fancy them to hold the cup aloft at seasons end.

 

[AM]

I think the whole Xavs thing can be best summed up as to when they get/got their full list together as to how good they will be
(acka, last years grand final list). Gotta feel for Berry. Had half of what ran out last sat.to work with, shown no mercy.
Hey, but thats footy. Wrong bloke. in the wrong place at the wrong time..............

Feel for Dom too.

In fairness though, it's only been the last couple of weeks that Xavs have been able to put close to their best team on the park. Yet the turnaround happened weeks back.

That said, they replaced Dom with a cast of thousands so better on-field performances could reasonably be expected. Hawkins being more hands-on than the others I understand and therefore warranting much of the credit.

 

[HedgeFund]

I think the whole Xavs thing can be best summed up as to when they get/got their full list together as to how good they will be
(acka, last years grand final list). Gotta feel for Berry. Had half of what ran out last sat.to work with, shown no mercy.
Hey, but thats footy. Wrong bloke. in the wrong place at the wrong time..............

This was my point exactly several weeks ago. Why did it take the axing of their coach when half their list was AWOL to spark the turnaround? Feel for Dom Berry as he should be the one riding the recovery wave.

 

[flat footy]

This was my point exactly several weeks ago. Why did it take the axing of their coach when half their list was AWOL to spark the turnaround? Feel for Dom Berry as he should be the one riding the recovery wave.

Berry and Hawkins? Dont know Berry but Hawkins is a "ripper bloke" and a very, very, very good coach............That being the case, maybe he brought the "icing" for the top of the cake....

 

[Canada]

Lethlean is the man getting it done. Can't get the AFL fixturing right to save himself...but a gun coach. Watched him up close at recent VAFA Rep games and he's the best I've seen at this level.

 

[Ldr Local Footy]

You've seen him on the football field playing for Beaumaris and watched him on Fox 8's The Recruit.
Here's the story of Waylen Manson - told by Beaumaris teammate Jonno Nash - who turned his back on his AFL dream but is back in search of a second chance: http://bit.ly/1ub2LMP

Is he capable of making the big time?

 

[Bagman99]

You've seen him on the football field playing for Beaumaris and watched him on Fox 8's The Recruit.
Here's the story of Waylen Manson - told by Beaumaris teammate Jonno Nash - who turned his back on his AFL dream but is back in search of a second chance: http://bit.ly/1ub2LMP

Is he capable of making the big time?

Short answer to that question is NOPE.

 

[flat footy]

Lethlean is the man getting it done. Can't get the AFL fixturing right to save himself...but a gun coach. Watched him up close at recent VAFA Rep games and he's the best I've seen at this level.

Coaching a Rep side? How hard can that be? Coaching the Best of the Best. There are two coaches at Xavs getting it done, Hawkins and Lethlean.............................

 

[Bagman99]

thanks for that.........

Circling back to this for some Xavs gun VFL listed players….Wynne has played 4 and needs only 1 more to qualify for finals…..will do that in round 18 when Richmond VFL not playing in VFL week 1 of finals……Goss has 1 game, needs 5 and there are 4 rounds to go, so only issue for him will be if he plays Essendon VFL…that will be interesting..…Ambrose has played 5, 2 after 30 June and so is qualified……so, if they make finals, and barring injury, they will be at full strength in terms of available talent

 

[Canada]

Coaching a Rep side? How hard can that be? Coaching the Best of the Best. There are two coaches at Xavs getting it done, Hawkins and Lethlean.............................

Agreed, but with Lethers the main man.

 

[AM]

Lethlean is the man getting it done. Can't get the AFL fixturing right to save himself...but a gun coach. Watched him up close at recent VAFA Rep games and he's the best I've seen at this level.

Hmm! The rumour is he's actually not at training that much due to his AFL commitments.

Not suggesting he's not a switched-on coach. Merely that others are doing the grunt work. Not unlike the set-up with Dom and Nick in 2013.

 

[Brissel]

from beaumaris website

'WE recently had an incident at Beaumaris where a supporter approached the umpires after a Senior game and directed comments to one of the men in white.

This is unacceptable on every level.

The person in question has accepted he has done the wrong thing and has agreed to pay any fine imposed on the Club by the VAFA, but this doesn't gloss over something that can't be tolerated.
We've heard from the umpires that the Beaumaris supporters are the most abusive in Premier Division. This may partly be because we have three times as many as most other clubs, but it is nevertheless unacceptable.



It doesn't help our on-field efforts if umpires dislike visiting our ground.


It doesn't help the VAFA fill its umpiring ranks if umpires are continually abused. The biggest "walk away from the job" factor for umpires is constant abuse.
And, it doesn't help the Club if we get fined.
So, next time you're watching a game, be it Seniors or Under 9s, and the umpire makes a mistake, SHUT UP!
If you can't, stay in your car or stay home. '



Good to see the club is taking a stand as a lot of their supporters are an absolute disgrace and are clearly the worst/most abusive from my personal experiences, and are more suited to the other leagues (nfl,sfl,wrfl etc) where everyone is ten stubbies deep causing fights in the crowd



end rant.

 

[Canada]

Massive bogan club. Lets hope they heed the message. I feel filthy after leaving shark park.

 

[flat footy]

Massive bogan club. Lets hope they heed the message. I feel filthy after leaving shark park.

Hey Canada, dont hold back..............

 

[flat footy]

Hmm! The rumour is he's actually not at training that much due to his AFL commitments.

Not suggesting he's not a switched-on coach. Merely that others are doing the grunt work. Not unlike the set-up with Dom and Nick in 2013.

No doubt Leth is a very good coach. In my humble opinion. Hawkins is at least his equal.

Hawkins went to a club that had free fallen from A grade to C. in "straight sets". He turned them around, climbing back to A, gathering a B grade flag and a runners up pennent on the way.

It was his skill set and values that set the club up for 2 A grade flags and a Runners up.

It is Hawkins DNA that his particular Club still enjoys.

 

[FWIW]

Massive bogan club. Lets hope they heed the message. I feel filthy after leaving shark park.

For what its worth maybe they should close off the tennis club at half time.........

 

[river man]

No doubt Leth is a very good coach. In my humble opinion. Hawkins is at least his equal.

Hawkins went to a club that had free fallen from A grade to C. in "straight sets". He turned them around, climbing back to A, gathering a B grade flag and a runners up pennent on the way.

It was his skill set and values that set the club up for 2 A grade flags and a Runners up.

It is Hawkins DNA that his particular Club still enjoys.

I spose the next question is going to be whether Hawklean will be back in 2015 or not.

Here Here to the "tennis club" down at shark park. Mind you, while standing behind the goals earlier in the year and engaging in "conversation" with the guys on the stairs and the hill, it made for some very entertaining banter. Providing it doesn't get physical or threatening, there is nothing like a bit of old fashioned barbing at a footy game. Having recently enjoyed the view of Apollo Bay v Lorne game standing around a 44 gallon drum fire and knocking a couple of green ones in, watching local footy is alive and well.

Its better than the garbage served up in the top flight or on the tele.

Interesting to read that Brett Eddy (ex de la player) has been invited to the draft combine this year as a tall forward having kicked 54 goals in 15 games in the SANFL. At 25 he would be mature age pick up, but that is becoming more common. Mind you, I would much prefer Nick Wynne running of Melbourne's half back line than Dean Terlich......

 

[Skip_25]

I'm all for the banter between the old fellas, keeps them coming back and is pretty damn entertaining. But abusing umpires is just pointless and disgraceful, especially given most of them are kids these days.

What's worse though - Shark Park or The Snake Pit

 

[Over The Post]

As stated before, worst umpire abuse I ever copped was at the Pit, when doing U10s on a Sunday. The crap on Saturdays from under the scoreboard and by the canteen was tolerable compared to that.

But that pales in comparison to the two St Bernards heroes hanging over the fence giving a constant foul-mouthed tirade at my 15-year-old goal umpiring in the WRFL finals. They didn't shut up until I went and had a quiet word with them. All class, utter champions.

You have to be a totally impartial adjudicator on the field but by god some clubs make it more difficult than others.

Yes, I miss running around in A grade

 

[Jimmyjack]

I'm all for the banter between the old fellas, keeps them coming back and is pretty damn entertaining. But abusing umpires is just pointless and disgraceful, especially given most of them are kids these days.

What's worse though - Shark Park or The Snake Pit

Every club has their share of idiots. Beauy certainly have plenty in their ranks but good on them for at least trying to address it.

From my experience easily the worst supporters are those from St Bernards, particularly the abuse toward opposition players, (which I find almost as weak as umpire abuse). They take it to another level at the pit. Always found their players to be pretty good blokes however.

 

[Bagman99]

I spose the next question is going to be whether Hawklean will be back in 2015 or not.

Here Here to the "tennis club" down at shark park. Mind you, while standing behind the goals earlier in the year and engaging in "conversation" with the guys on the stairs and the hill, it made for some very entertaining banter. Providing it doesn't get physical or threatening, there is nothing like a bit of old fashioned barbing at a footy game. Having recently enjoyed the view of Apollo Bay v Lorne game standing around a 44 gallon drum fire and knocking a couple of green ones in, watching local footy is alive and well.

Its better than the garbage served up in the top flight or on the tele.

Interesting to read that Brett Eddy (ex de la player) has been invited to the draft combine this year as a tall forward having kicked 54 goals in 15 games in the SANFL. At 25 he would be mature age pick up, but that is becoming more common. Mind you, I would much prefer Nick Wynne running of Melbourne's half back line than Dean Terlich......

Whisper from Xavs is that Richmond will draft Wynne for season 2015