One Perfect Day

A return of 8 wins from 8 games on Saturday as SKOB scored a perfect record across the divisions. A win for the Seniors at Haileybury has confirmed finals for Coach Lynch and his team. The Ressies chalking up a huge win in the curtain raiser. The Saints went to Como and Golds and Blues both saluted. The 19s were comfortable at the King with the Premier and 19 2's winning well, but the story of the day was in the Thirds with the SKOB Dogs winning their final at TH King, and then the Stingers hanging on for dear life and sneaking past Old Xavs in an absolute thriller at Stradbroke Park. Both SKOB teams will go on to Prelim Finals next weekend. All this and more as the Saints celebrated their 10th Season with a big shindig on Saturday night where the Team of the Decade was announced.

Sunny skies as SKOB step up

Despite the doom and gloom forecast from the know it alls at the Bureau, sunny days reigned once again in this winter of much content. Yes, there was a chill in the air but plenty of sunshine and only little of the predicted rain would dampen what was a great day for footy. The white picketed fence bordered the pristine surrounds at the Bloods' alma mater and conditions were spot on for both sides. SKOB were missing a handful of players from the previous week with Kerr, Mansfield, Seaton, Andriske and Gunson all out, but with some handy replacements in Edwards and Gill, as well as a trio of long time missing SKOB favourites. Rob Larcher and Eliot Mahoney returned to the Seniors after both sustained long term  injuries way back in the opening rounds, and coming in fresh off his 150th game for the club, Lachie Merrett was back in the Seniors. The first term was an even affair with SKOB having the better of the early going and Haileybury coming into it later on. The visitors probably didn’t make the best of their early ascendancy, only having a single goal to Jack Mahony to show for their early dominance. They left the door ajar for the Bloods who hit back with a couple and went to the break a goal down. In the second quarter however it was all SKOB. From the very start they were dominant. Jack Ball marking on a lead then getting a shove (and a fifty) for his troubles. He made no mistake from the line. Eliot Mahoney then gave the visiting fans a reminder of what they’d been missing this year with a nicely crafted goal and Ollie Gill celebrated his return to the seniors with the subsequent mark and goal from the next centre clearance. In a flash, SKOB had etched out a nice lead, and after peppering the sticks to no avail, finally broke through when Darmody brilliantly found Ball for his second then a Critchley mark on the line and snap gave SKOB the lead they had probably deserved as the players hit the luxurious sheds. 

As expected, the Bloods responded strongly after the main break and scored an early one, but Critch reprised his “mark on the point post - hook the set shot through” routine from the second term and SKOB had the answer. Again the Bloods struck but SKOB were enjoying the lion's share of the ball in their half, and only some wayward finishing was preventing them establishing an unassailable advantage. Finally after a couple of misses, Eliot Mahoney launched one from deep and a minute later Darmody found Phillips who drilled it from the paint and the lead was out over 5 goals. Buoyed on by the home fans, the Bloods rallied again in red time and snagged a couple to make things interesting as the jelly snakes were handed out and the supporters made their way to the huddle for the final change. After some dour defending put up by the home team, Sam Cameron tackled his man like they were dancing the "Pride of Erin", with the judges adjudicating that although a 360 degree spin might look appealing on the dance floor, it was holding the ball in this game. From the very tight angle, Sam made no mistake. Any doubt of the result all but disappeared as Gill sharked a crumb and fed Darmody who snapped beautifully on the run. Unfortunately for Jack, he suffered a nasty injury on the next play, stretching for a mark from the centre clearance he landed awkwardly and had to leave the field. We send our best to Jack for his recovery. SKOB were 34 points to the good at this stage and finished the match an even 30 points in front. A hugely important win that guarantees them a spot in the finals where they may face the same opposition in a few weeks time. For the winners, the better players were Jack Mahony, who was simply dominant. His desperate spoil late in the third term exemplified his all day effort. Billy Coates, Cam Hodges, Andrew Mathieson, Luke Winter were all solid contributors, and Rob Larcher in his first game back in the seniors in 2025 was brilliant. 

Fighting fortnight firms up Finals

Two weeks ago SKOB faced a crucial fortnight of fixturing that would determine their finals spot. With 3 teams vying for two spots, the maths dictated that any slip would lead to mothballs in September. Facing down the other teams in the race - both of whom had beaten SKOB in the earlier rounds - these two weeks were circled on the coach's calendar as the biggest fortnight of the Season. SKOB had successfully navigated week one in the bracket, and have now toppled Old Haileybury in the second act. The results have guaranteed a spot in the finals for the SKOB Seniors for the 7th straight season with two rounds still to play.

Ressies do it for TP

The Ressies celebrated popular clubman Tom Pirola's 100th in the best way with a thumping win over Haileybury in the day's opening clash. Coach Clough had his players ready from the get go and their first half haul of 10 goals to zip pretty much set the tone for party time in the second half when TP even managed to bob up and kick a goal himself to put some icing on the cake. Granted, the Bloods were far from full strength, but SKOB were in no mood to let up with just a couple of rounds left before they hit the finals.

For the Ressies, the better players were Xavier Duke, oscar white, Conor Lynch, Hamish Reimers, Matthew Canning and of course Tommy "TP" Pirola

No FOMO at COMO as Saints do the double

Our Saints Gold and Blue both saluted in different styles at Como against Old Geelong before partying hard to celebrate 10 years at SKOB.

Probably fair to say that the Saints Gold match against Old Geelong will not feature heavily on the most requested page of the Name a Game website. It was a bit of a dour affair where both teams defences were on top and scoring was harder than a physics exam. The Saints were heading into the breeze in the first term and did well to hold OGGs to a solitary major, and when Kate Stanton bobbed up for a goal of the day contender less than a minute into the second quarter it looked as though the floodgates would open - but alas, they were firmly shut straight after. The Saints were forced to take shots from too far out on the big ground, and although they kept OGGs to zip for the remaining 3 quarters, they were stymied at every turn by the tight and disciplined OGGs backline. Best for the Saints were Belinda Woolcock, Elyce Hay, Elysia Burvill, Kate Stanton, Mischa Beaconsfield, Ali Hynes.

It wouldn’t have bothered Coach Tommy who was only after the 4 points to keep pressure on the top two, and certainly the Saints may have had one eye on the 10 year shindig on Saturday Night. From all reports that was a fantastic affair, and a great celebration of the Saints 10 years at SKOB. The Team of the Decade was announced with many great names appearing in the hotly contested side. 

The Saints Blues game was quite the contrast with a goal fest up forward, led by Lucy Watkin who booted 7 goals in a brilliant performance. In glorious sunshine the Blues proved too slick for their hosts with some of the goals real highlights - none more so than the snap from Co-Captain Poppy Sommerville that bounced at right angles, then on it’s head again, turned left, took another turn right and totally bamboozled the OGG’s defenders to sneak over the line. The reaction from her teammates was half shock, half awe, pure joy. Alas the win was soured by a nasty injury early on to Anne Wallace who will be sidelined for some time. We wish her a speedy recovery and know that she has the love and support of her team mates and the Club. For the Blues, the better players amongst a solid all round team effort were Isabella Calder, Lucy Watkin, Alice Buffham, Poppy Somerville, Caitie McDonough and Remi Fiorentini

Stingers hold on in a classic

It was an absolute nail biting thriller at Stradbroke Park in Kew, where the Stingers hung on to score a famous victory over Old Xavs. Our man at the ground filed this report

Facing a markedly different lineup to our last game against Old Xavs where they had the better of us by some 6 goals, Xavs started very well and only bad kicking kept us in it with our only goal being a long set shot from Xander Deitz. To be fair we were fortunate to be so close at 1/4 time. In the second quarter we played much better with Finton Evans dominating up front and kicking truly followed by a good set shot from Tom Briggs. Suddenly, the Stingers were in front. Unfortunately, with just 5 secs to go in the second quarter , we conceded a free and kick with a 45 metre goal  after the siren to give them the half time lead. This would be a momentum killer for most teams...not the mighty Stingers.

We came out breathing fire in the third and had the better of despite us not being able to convert early chances, eventually broke through via a great goal from Augorinos, and with just a minute to go before the bell, JP O’Shannassy chipped the ball to Xander Dietz at the top of the goal square who duly saluted to give us the lead..little did we know at the time how vital that goal would be.

Holding a slender 4 point lead at lemon time, the big crowd gathered to hear the wisdom from coach James who pleaded with his troops to hang tough and run the game out. In a gripping and dramatic final term both sides missed gettable set shots as the margin stayed under a goal the entire term. For what seemed like an eternity, the mighty Stingers held out their hosts to go on and win by 2 points in a  epic goal less final term to book a spot in their second consecutive prelim final. What a win against the old rival at their ground.

Best for the Stingers were Lachie Haig, Zach Close, Fintan Evans, Oliver Phillips, Otis Trail and Noah Montague

The Stingers will face Old Trinity for the right to play the other Old Xavs in the Grand Final.

SKOB Kings of the pound in battle of the DOGS

The mighty SKOB DOGS got things going for the Club in the best way possible, winning their home final against St Bernards at TH King in the early one. In a battle for the dog pound it was SKOB versus Snow and the first quarter was a typical finals battle. Tight, contested and little quarter given by either side. SKOB had their necks in front at first change and put the foot to the floor in the second to head for the sheds with a solid break and the major change. The Bernies hit back in the third, but SKOB ran the quarter out brilliantly and turned for home with what looked a match winning lead. An even last quarter was all that was needed for Super Coach Doyle as his young pups advanced to the Prelim final next weekend. Brother outlaw Andrew Smale was best of the hounds with Lachie Groves, Ronan Smythe, Liam Hepburn, Alexander Smith and Josh Bayley all handy.

Six pots and a Palmer

It was a business like performance from the Under 19 Premier team at TH King on Saturday. SKOB were catapulted to the top of the table in Premier after the leader got the stumbles, so coach Greeny was keen to ensure his team didn’t take the same path and had them on from the start against the Beders. Ben “brother of Chicken” Palmer was on song with 6 snags for the day in a best afield performance. His efforts were well complemented by the likes of Tom Bromhead, brothers Henk and Freddie Noble, Jack Morice and James Kerr. The Premier lads now with two games to go before a second semi date with Old Brighton that is already locked in.

On the Edge of Seventeen

In a case of fill your boots, Will Young did that and then some, walking from the field with no less than 17 - yes SEVENTEEN - goals to his name as the 19 2’s demolished a severely undermanned Collegians team at the King. Holding a slender lead at the top of the Sharpshooters list in Div 2, Will surely sewed up the gong with a match return for the ages. Well he did, but only just, as his rival from Uni Blacks kicked 14 in his game - wow! The 17 goal haul from Will was easily a Club record and he was rightly best afield along with Noah Spiteri, Daniel Deguara, Luke Arthur, Francis Mancini and Joey Noonan