Dog Day Out 🏆

The SKOB Dogs are the talk of the town after their emphatic Premiership win on Sunday at Box Hill City Oval. The hounds broke away in the second quarter and were dominant all afternoon as they romped to the premiership in their maiden Season. On Saturday the Seniors - with 13 changes to the lineup - were overrun in the second half after a spirited opening against St Bernards at the Snake Pit. The win for the Bernies securing their spot in Premier for next season. Our diminished Reserves team rallied late to score a great win in their last hitout before the finals. The Under 19 Premier team took the minor premiership by finishing first at the end of the home and away season with a win over De La, whilst despite a gutsy effort in heavy conditions, our 19 2's bowed out with a loss in their First Semi final to Uni Blacks. There were byes for Saints Gold and Blue. 3 wins from 5 games for SKOB, with the SKOB Dogs getting the one that mattered most - 🏆

Cool World

From the moment the opening strains to Mondo Rock's 1982 hit rang out instead of the National Anthem, the SKOB Dogs were totally tuned in to their task. The MC's mishap as the teams lined up for the pre-game formalities did nothing to upset the focus of the SKOB Dogs who were absolutely primed for the big one. From the opening bounce when SKOB won the first clearance, right through to the final siren, the Dogs were relentless. On the big ground at Box Hill City Oval, SKOB were able to spread the ball with speed and outrun their opponents on every line. After a tense and tight opening quarter where they eked out a small lead, SKOB ran riot in the second term, buoyed on by a healthy cheer squad who roared every mark, tackle and goal. Every time the Beders looked to come through the corridor, they were chopped off by the Dogs who had a pressure rating that was off the charts. With their ability to translate turnover into scores, SKOB hit the sheds with a five goal lead. SuperCoach Doyle implored his players for a repeat of the same dose - knowing that the Beders would come out firing after the main break.

The boys from Mentone certainly lifted, but SKOB were well structured behind the ball and their defence was rock solid. They withstood the last surge from the Beders and saw off the challenge to turn for home 49 points to the good and with one hand on the trophy. Players tired in the final quarter but all that meant was that the scoring rate lifted as fatigue set in and the SKOB dogs feasted. A six goal to one finish was pure icing on a delicious cake that delivered the premiership cup on the back of an 80 point thumping. For the SKOB Dogs Roshan Fernandes was rightly nominated as the best afield and won the medal for his four quarter performance. There were plenty of great contributors in a very even team effort, but Ronan Smythe with his 4 goals was a close contender for BOG honours and Alex Smith, Liam Hepburn, Sam Doyle and Nelson Conwell were all amongst the best.

Congrats to the SKOB Dogs - no doubt they will party hard.

Lynch's 13 ride their luck

There were no less than 13 changes to the Senior side for their final game of the regular season against St Bernard's at the SnakePit. With SKOB unable to change their finishing position regardless of the result, the coaching staff took a managed approach to the fixture, resting a few, getting some game time into others and providing a great opportunity to players who have shown a lot of promise in the Ressies and Academy squads. The Snowdogs had to win the game to remain in Premier Grade for 2026, so the heat was on the hosts rather than the visitors, and the first half reflected this dynamic. The injection of youth to the SKOB side allowed them to play with freedom and they took their chances early - racing to a handy half time lead on the back of pure enthusiasm. The more experienced home team lifted in the second half as they raised their game and wore down the youthful SKOB. There was still little in it at the 10 minute mark of the last quarter when Ollie Gill threaded through a long bomb from the paint, but from that point on, St Bernards kicked 5 straight goals to SKOB's 5 straight behinds and the home team ran out comfortable winners in the finish. For SKOB there was plenty to like from the contest and they'll enjoy another week's break to get themselves fully fit for what will be a tough finals campaign. Eliot Mahoney was brilliant from the get go - taking a contested mark and kicking a goal on the back of the opening clearance from Oscar White who was in his first game for the Seniors. Also on debut was Tom Williams who booted a goal with his first kick in Senior footy, and Matt Canning who came up through the Academy where he played all of last season. Elliot Mahoney with 4 goals, Ollie Gill, William Pfeiffer, Ben Mansfield, Tom Jok and George Delimitrou were all fine contributors for SKOB on the day.

Ragtag Ressies rally

The Ressies had a most unexpected win over St Bernards in the day’s opener. With half the team pushed up into the Seniors for this week, Coach Clough had to shuffle the decks quickly and find some ready, steady replacements - he did that and more. With little to play for given that their top two spot was locked in for the finals, the Ressies showed real pluck as they took the game right up to their hosts who were looking to finish 2025 with a spark. The game was a great contest to watch from the start as the teams ran neck and neck throughout. When the Bernies hit the front with a few minutes to play, many thought that would be it, but SKOB ran home the last two goals in red time and took the points. There were great efforts from a number of players who had already enjoyed a mad Monday or two, or who haven’t had much football at all in 2025. For the victors Patrick Croagh, Tom Burley, William Pearce, Henry James, Ben Cantwell and Jasper Conquest - back from a long spell - were all good. 

Minor Premiers in Premier

It took an extra week, but the SKOB Under 19 Premier team took out the minor premiership when they got the job done in a business like fashion at TH King on Saturday. Coach Greeny was far more interested in hitting the finals in winning fashion, and his boys did not let him down as they tore away from De La early and kept them well at bay throughout. It's on to the Second Semi now for SKOB who had Pat Harmon, Liam Edwards, Johnathon Gambaro, Ged Saunders, Tom Bromhead and Dom Portelli amongst others to thank for their win.

Now it's Curtains for the twos

Our Under 19 2's earned a reprieve after last weekend's heartbreak in the elimination final, but alas, they couldn't cash in on their good fortune, coming up against a fast starting Uni Blacks team and horrible conditions at Western Oval in Parkville. The overnight rain had transformed the pitch into a right bog. Uni Blacks got the scoreboard ticking early, and although SKOB had the better of things after the main break, they couldn't reel in the Blacks in the swamp like conditions. A great season for Coach Joey and his boys, who will lick their wounds over the summer and be back with a vengeance in 2026. For the 2's, the better players were Mancini, Walshe, Kidman, Arthur, Williams and Gill