Party Crashers

For the second year running Old Scotch have played party crasher to the SKOB Senior's finals campaign, once again ending SKOB's season in a cut throat final. The Cardinals jumped SKOB early and held Coach Lynch's team at bay for the rest of the contest, running out deserved winners and going on to the Preliminary Final next week. Our Reserves were plucky against the highly fancied Old Xavs, and despite eventually going down have earned another shot in the Prelim next week. There was heartache too for the Saints who were brave as heck but were pipped at the post by Caulfield. For all the doom and gloom there was one bright light for SKOB and it came under lights - and after two periods of tense and highly stressful extra time - in the Under 19 Premier, when the young SKOBBERS got back up off the canvas and surged to the line to beat Uni Blues in a thriller and set up a rematch with Old Brighton in next week's Grand Final.

Cards draw the curtains

It's season over for SKOB Seniors who couldn't overcome a fast starting Old Scotch outfit that jumped away to an early lead, and held on throughout a high quality contest at Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday. The Cardinals had all the early running and could have put the game to bed by the half way mark of the opening term. They registered the first three goals and could have added to the tally before SKOB finally got their game going. A goal to Critchley started the run for SKOB and reversed the trend of the game almost immediately. For the remainder of the quarter SKOB were dominant, but were unable to translate this on the scoreboard as they could manage only 4 straight behinds despite owning the football through the back half of the first period. The second term opened with an early chance for Scotch, but again SKOB held momentum, only for wayward finishing and a stout Cardinal defence to thwart them. Scotch then landed a double killer blow against the run of play with a goal from turnover when SKOB looked most likely to score. Before the tricolours could even comprehend the shock of conceding a goal - they'd conceded another - and Scotch were out by 20 points. Now it was the red men in command and the SKOB defence was under siege. Ollie Gill managed one against the grain but Scotch answered. It was only two unlikely goals to SKOB as the clock ticked into time on that brought the half time margin back to 10 points. A clever snap from the ruck by fill-in tap man Mansfield was followed by a rarer than hen's teeth goal for Billy Coates. At the main break SKOB had kept Scotch from running away with the game and were back to the quarter time margin, but the clouds were gathering.

If the third term is the Premiership quarter then the reigning cup holders showed this to be true as they took command of the skies and simply played better football than SKOB. The Cardinals rattled in 4 goals to nought and pretty much put their foot into next week before the jelly snakes had even had a chance to get passed around. With no next week, the shackles came off and SKOB were able to put 4 on the trot themselves in the final quarter, drawing to within 16 points with 10 minutes left and open the slightest possibility of a big steal. But again Scotch were able to clunk the big marks when they needed to, and it was apt that the goal to finally nail SKOB's season was on the back of another strong grab. For Coach Lynch, the better players were Tom Ferguson, who perhaps played his best game for SKOB to date and looks a great future prospect, Luke Winter, Liam Gunson, Billy Coates, Tom Jok and Cam Hodges.

Ressies show fight - will get another crack

Our Ressies put in a great showing early against the hot favourites Old Xavs in the Second Semi, before being overhauled in the second half. Fresh back from his sojourn overseas, our intrepid reporter Yanni was on hand to capture all the action

The Long Road to Glory Begins

SKOB's finals football is here, and the reserves came out knowing that a win could take them to the promised land of the Grand Final. The boys arrived full of energy, determined to play a fierce game against their well-known rivals, Xavier College. You couldn’t have asked for a better day to kick off the 2025 VAFA finals series at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

The game kicked off hotly contested. SKOB's boys came out swinging, giving them the early momentum with the first two punches on the scoreboard, with goals from Tom Burley and William Pearce. The ball was pinging from end to end as both teams were finding their groove. Despite SKOB's finding the early ascendancy, their opponents returned a few punches of their own, pushing the boys onto the back foot. However, the SKOB's boys held their own and pushed for a late goal, setting themselves up for a tight end to the first quarter.

The second term began with both teams really turning up the heat with their tackling pressure and attack on the footy. It quickly became your typical fierce finals footy, exactly what you'd expect from the top two teams in the division. Midway through the quarter, the game started to open up, with both teams having even scoring shots. Yet the SKOB's boys were more clinical in front of goal, which held them in good stead, maintaining a four-point lead heading into the main break.

Heading into halftime, the SKOB's boys, knowing they had the lead, were filled with optimism. Could they continue their form into the third quarter and book a place, in a fortnight’s time, in the 2025 Grand Final?

The premiership quarter began, and SKOB's scored early through Matthew Canning, pushing the lead to a 10-point advantage. From that point, the game started to turn, and it seemed like the footy gods had other ideas about who was going to come out on top.

The SKOB's boys began to miss some crucial fundamentals of the game, struggling to win the 50-50 contests, and it seemed like all the momentum they had built over the first half was fading. The boys fought valiantly, although it wasn’t enough to pull them directly through to the Grand Final. However, thanks to their fantastic regular season, which secured them second spot on the ladder, they are guaranteed another chance at premiership glory.

I look forward to bringing you all the action from the preliminary final next week at Elsternwick Park against Old Brighton.

Best for the Ressies were Conor Lynch, Matthew Canning, Robert Larcher, William Pearce, Hamish Reimers and Jack Ball

Saints denied as Fields find a way

In an absolute heart stopping thriller on Sunday, the Saints Gold were over run late by Caulfield who found themselves a goal in front when the final siren sounded. The curtain came down on a gutsy season for the SKOB Saints who were locked all year in a great three way battle with two very strong teams. The Saints had first use of the breeze and held sway early, although conceding a goal to the non favoured end would prove telling in the final analysis. Coming in to the first huddle holding a lead that was at least a goal short of par, the Saints lifted tremendously in the second quarter and restricted the 'fielders to just a single major. The Saints defence was extraordinary under intense pressure and they ensured that SKOB would hold a slender lead as the players hit the sheds for the half.

With the wind at their back the Saints went bang at the start of the third term, and then worked patiently for another to hold a 14 point lead with half a quarter remaining. Another goal or two could have put the game to bed, but credit to Caulfield who managed a second goal into the breeze and reduced the 3/4 margin to just 8 points. SKOB would need to reprise their efforts of the second quarter to eke out an unlikely victory, and conceding an early snag to the 'fielders did not help the cause. The Saints dug deep but momentum was against them, and Caulfield finally delivered the goal - and the dagger - that would get them the win and take them to the Grand Final next weekend.

Coach Tommy was tremendously proud of the effort of his team, stating "everything we stand for as a club was on full display yesterday. We never gave up . We were never beaten and we supported each other all day. It was a game of moments and in the end it just didn’t go our way. Couldn’t be any prouder of you all. Full credit to Caulfield who also played a great game and deserved the win"

Zara Guss, Belinda Woolcock, Bella Stutt, Sarah Cameron, Bree Doyle and Molly Wilson were the better Saints on the day when the team gave their all, but on Sunday it didn't go their way. Season 2026 can't come around quickly enough.

Stress and Duress - but at last - success!

So we have saved the best to last.

The Under 19 Premier team are into the Grand Final after a thrilling and heart stopping - and ever so slightly stressful - twilight match at Elsternwick Park on Saturday. SKOB came into the game licking the wounds of the Second Semi, but determined not to let a season that saw them finish top, end in straight sets. Uni Blues had stormed through the first semi and came out firing in this one, serving it right up to SKOB who knew they were in for a battle. With honours even in the first quarter, the Blues edged ahead until a bomb from outside the paint by Tom Conlan put SKOB in front at the major break. As sullen fans from the Seniors started dropping in on their way back from Sandringham, the young SKOBBERS put the foot down in the third and opened up a decent sized lead. They then snuck away in the last and looked home with just a few minutes left on the clock. Against the run of play and throwing caution to the wind, Uni Blues slammed home three quick goals to suddenly draw level. SKOB again scored to hold a six point lead as the seconds counted down. With one last chance the Blues managed a miracle strike from the boundary line - after the siren if you don't mind - to send the game into extra time!

Having just about thought they were safe into next week, SKOB had to find yet another gear in extra time. As officials were scratching around trying to find enough 20c pieces to keep the lights on, and with fingernails chewed to the quick on fans from both sides, desperately urging their players on, it was SKOB who would find the answers in extra time, kicking two goals to one and getting home by 8 points. After such high drama they are back into another grand final with Old Brighton. It's a repeat of the 2024 decider and this time, will be under lights, in a game that is sure to go right to the wire. Well done to Coach Greeny and to the boys who have made it to the Grand Final. Liam Edwards, Pat Harmon, Ged Saunders, Nicholas Nankervis, James Kerr and Ed Burley were all fine contributors on a night when there were many.