For the second successive season, SKOB have maintained a perfect home record by winning all their home games, after they defeated Old Melburnians by 73 points at TH King this afternoon. With little at stake for either side given last rounds’ results when SKOB tied up a top two spot and OM’s ensured they could not be relegated by staying clear of the drop zone, SKOB put on a worthy display of Premier Division Football in front of a healthy crowd of happy home supporters and in glorious early spring sunshine.
The second quarter saw SKOB press the advantage even further as they sought to put the game to bed before the end of the half. With Cal Matheson dominating around the clearances, SKOB enjoyed plenty of possession and headed into the sheds at the half comfortably in command - 8 goals to 2.
At half time with the unseasonable heat taking its toll, players were keen to rest up for a second go at it. OM’s knew they only had another half of football for the season, so they were not concerned about leaving anything in the tank. They lifted their work rate in the third quarter but as time went on, SKOB reasserted their dominance and ultimately had their best period of the match, booting seven goals for the quarter.
In the final quarter and with little left to play for but the final bell, SKOB cruised to the line kicking 3 goals and keeping OMs goalless to run out very comfortable winners in the end. Results from other grounds saw SKOB actually leapfrog Collegians and finish the season as minor Premiers, although they will still face the Lions next week in the Second Semi Final. Billy Kanakis had another day out and his 6 goals will almost certainly tie up the goal kicking title in Premier - a superb effort that caps off his best season to date with SKOB. All in all it was a pleasing result and the players were thrilled to get the win for Gerard Gleeson in his 100th game for SKOB.
SKOB 18.9.117
Old Melburnians 4.10.44
Goal Kickers: B. Kanakis 6, J. Corboy 3, H. Parkes 3, S. Kennedy 2, H. Lagastes, S. Gilham, C. Matheson, P. Manivong Best Players: C. Matheson, H. Lagastes, C. Hodges, B. Kanakis, H. Parkes, J. Corboy
It topped off a great day for SKOB after the Under 19s Premier Reserve team held off a fast finishing St.Bernards to progress to the Preliminary Final next week. A fabulous result for the boys for whom the majority were playing in their first VAFA final. After a low scoring first half where SKOB looked mostly in control, the Snow Dogs came back hard in the 3rd term and set up the match for a pulsating finish. The SKOB boys - enjoying a home final - were able to lift again in the last term and pull away to a 9.8 to 5.10 victory, and will play the loser of the other final for a place in the Grand Final. Well done boys
In the other game - SKOB reserves went down to finals bound Old Melburnians. It spells the end of the year for the Ressies who suffered greatly this year from injury and unavailability but fought every game out during the year, and astonishingly played 65 players for the season.
