Having a Ball....

Footy returned in full on the weekend and SKOB had a great start back with 7 out of 9 wins across all the teams. The Seniors led wire to wire against Uni Blues, recording a big 52 point win at University Oval on the back of a 3 goal debut from Jack Ball. Our Saints Gold and

Blue returned with twin success at Old Rigret over the Kew Bears. The Stingers got the job done at the King and the SKOB Dogs comfortably accounted for the StationMasters at KB Reserve. Our 19s had dual success with the Premier Team thumping Xavs and the 19 2's just getting over the Rovers. Alas the Ressies found Uni Blues too slick on their home deck, likewise for the Saints Green who got a dose of the Monash Blues - going under in a close one at Clayton. The Academy had a bye and the club registered 7 from 9 in a very pleasing return to action.

Jack Attack makes Blues Crack

A trip to the Uni Oval in deepest darkest July usually means one thing - mud. But having had a fortnight’s rest and little of the forecast rain expected, the playing surface was presented in absolutely pristine shape. Only the swirling wind which was slight but ever present would impact the skills on an otherwise perfect winter’s day for football. SKOB welcomed two more debutants to the Senior line up. Jack Ball came in to provide some tall timber up forward. With a few talls out at both ends of the ground, Coach Lynch was ready to throw the magnets around and reward some players who had shown a bit. Jack Ball came up from the Ressies and was joined by Liam Edwards, whose fine form in the Under 19s saw him recognised by the State selectors - representing the Big V in their win over the Bendigo League during the break.

At Uni Oval on Saturday, the two teams went at it from the first bounce and the ball was pinging end to end as the sides shared plenty of possession between the arcs. SKOB were first to hit the scoreboard when Liam “Son of a” Gunson drilled a nice snag from a tight angle. The Blues responded but SKOB were able to get a couple through Sam Barnett and then Angus Phillips, with a sharp snap off a crumb, to open up a decent break. The Blues again struck with a major before Jack Ball opened up his senior account. Picked as a spare tall forward, he showed great dexterity in clasping the ball from off his shoelaces and booting his first senior goal. The second term was all SKOB. They actually kept their hosts scoreless as the footy was parked inside their forward half for the majority of the quarter. Uni Blues defended stoutly, and SKOB could have truly put the game to bed before the half, but were unable to convert enough opportunities to break the game apart. Still, they did manage to register the only 3 majors scored in the quarter - through Critchley, Aducci and again the man of the moment Ball - to have more than a comfortable lead as the players hit the sheds for half time.

As has been the pattern for a lot of the season, the third term was "Dour Central" with neither side prepared to give way to the other, and the outcome being a stalemate with just a goal apiece - mind you, SKOB’s goal came from the boot of Ball who was making a real impression on debut. When the sides went to the final huddle SKOB were 35 points to the good and looking just about home. They began the final term with a flurry of behinds as SKOB failed to take full advantage of a dominant game in their forward half. Uni Blues were more efficient and registered the first two majors to make things a little interesting.

With the ghosts of their last visit to the Uni still hovering about, SKOB were quick to then dial up the proton packs and made sure there would be no repeat of that catastrophe, storming home to boot the last 4 goals straight - which was overdue, given they had kicked 8.15 up until that point. Most importantly SKOB finished full of running and finished 52 point winners, giving themselves a decent percentage hike, and leapfrogging Old Haileybury into third spot on the table. With many fine contributors on the day, Coach Lynch was more than pleased with his entire team - none more so that with Anthony Seaton, Liam Gunson, Sam Critchley, Sam Tucker, Jack Mahony and of course Jack Ball who were the best half dozen.

The carnival moves on, back to TH King next weekend, where 2023 champs Collegians come to visit SKOB.  The Lions are deep in a relegation battle with a couple of teams, so will be throwing everything at SKOB in what should be another great contest.  Tickets for the pre-game lunch can be bought here.

Ressies Run Into Road Block

The Reserves hit a speed bump this weekend when the Uni Blues proved too good for them in the curtain raiser at Uni Oval. The game pitted second v fourth on the table, but it was the lower ranked team that got the chocolates on the day. Given the talent on the Uni Blues Ressies list, this was not a huge upset, and SKOB are still on track to make the finals, but the loss now drops them down to third as the battle for the double chance spot heats up in the run home. William "Hawkeye" Pearce played a lone hand up forward with 4 goals - and was well supported by Jack Byrne, Angus "Subs" McQuie, Lachie Merrett, Luke Mazzeo and Sam Jones

Overcast at Old Rigret, but the Saints still shine.

It looked chilly and grey at Righetti Oval, and supporters were huddled together under umbrellas - not so much to shield the rain, but to share the warmth - as they watched the Saints Gold light things up with a stout win over a determined Kew Bears who fought it out all the way to the finish. The win all but guarantees the Golds finals action again this season, but the focus shifts to next week when they take on Old Scotch in a game that could well decide who grabs the coveted top two spot in the run home.

Best for the Golds were: Kate Stanton, Belinda Woolcock, Bree Doyle, Holly Kenealy, Mischa Beaconsfield, Emily Condon

Blues staying alive in a drive to survive

Our Saints Blue had things well in hand for three quarters against Kew in the opener, before the Bears came home hard in the last term to fight it right out to the end. Sharp Shooting Sarah Cameron added another 4 snags to her tally this season and was the stand out up

forward whilst Zoe Kritikides, Lucy Kehoe, Teagan Berkowitz, Genevieve Holden and Eliza Doble were handy players for the Blues who keep their slim hopes for finals alive.

Not quite the dream for the Green Machine

The Green Machine couldn't achieve the dream this weekend, succumbing by a goal to the Monash Blues at Clayton. Best for the machine were Cara Davies, Charley Lupson, Mathanki Winayakan, Jaime Tucker, Bridie Howard and Kate Shannon

Stingers stick to script

Just the one outcome being sought by the Stingers this weekend and they achieved that with a solid win over De La Salle. The victory snuffed out the Sallians chance at finals, with the Stingers hoping to repeat the dose against Old Brighton next weekend. For the Stingers, the better players were Lachie Haig, Zach Close, Luca Gambell, Xander Dietze, Julian Chaffey and Oli Phillips

SKOB Dogs Krush the snakes

Another polished performance from the SKOB Dogs this weekend when they did the business at Kevin Bartlett Oval. With "debutante" Kris Krusher Kuchel in their corner, the hounds were too slick for the Snakes with Aidan Leiner, Joel McMahen, Roshan Fernandes, Gus Simpfendorfer, Andrew Smale and Jack Elsworth leading the way.

Greeny's guys get going on Palmer Saturday

The Under 19 Premier team flexed considerable muscle in taking care of the Old Xavs threat, with a thumping 57 point win at TH King. Ben "Brother of Chicken" Palmer helping himself to a half dozen snags as Matt Redenbach, Johnno Gambaro, Nick Hulls, James Quinlan and Tom Bromhead made life hard for the Claret and Stout. A solid performance from Coach Greeny's lads who have a crucial encounter with Old Scotch next weekend in a game that could decide who gets the double chance.

No cruise for the 19 two's

"Happy to just get the four points" would have been the quote from Coach Joey, as his limited squad did just enough to get past a pesky Hampton Rovers outfit at the King. The 19 2's were always ahead but never fully in control of the contest, but bagged the vital 4 points and got the momentum going again after a tricky month where availability has been fully tested. For the 2's, the better players were Will Young, Fred Walshe, Jacob Choi, Joseph Smith, Henry Pearce and Liam Cornish.