A late goal at the 33 minute mark of the final quarter was all that separated SKOB from straight passage into the Grand Final as they went down in a thrilling semi to Old Brighton at a wet and windy Elsternwick Park on Saturday. The result means that the Seniors will need to dust off the disappointment of the day and try again next week in the Preliminary final against a red hot Scotch who won convincingly in their knockout final over Collegians. Our Reserves were outclassed by a stacked Old Xavs team in the earlier game - having to climb a mountain after Xavs piled it on early with first use of the breeze. In the Under 19s it was heartbreak for SKOB as they just fell short against Old Brighton in an all time classic. Coming home with the breeze, SKOB were just unable to land the killer blow and reel in the tonners who held on to win by 4 points and consign our boys to runner up for the second consecutive year.
Tonners land late dagger
September, Elsternwick Park and windy weather are as certain a trifecta you can bet on in Spring, but you might have needed to box your selections given the direction of the gale was to the Glenhuntly Rd end - not the golf course - and then we had rain - and plenty of it. If ever you needed a reminder that football is a winter sport, Saturday’s conditions served it up in spades. Having seen SKOB Ressies flounder into the breeze in the first quarter of their match, Captain Tom Jok gave his team the best news by winning the toss and getting first crack at it. But Brighton stunned SKOB early by grabbing the first two goals to the non-preferred end. It took some time for SKOB to settle, and not until the 20 minute mark before they registered their first goal through Cam Hodges. From then on they owned the quarter stepping up the pressure and beginning to take advantage of the squally gale to the Northern End. Goals to Tucker, Kerr, Hodges for a second and another to Kerr on the Siren saw SKOB blow out to a 23 point lead at first huddle. The game was eerily similar to the match the previous week between these two, with the roles reversed. In that game, it was Brighton with a late surge - this week it was SKOB - and as the teams swapped ends the four goal margin was widely accepted to be a fair assessment of the breeze.
Working hard into the gale, SKOB were able to shut down the Brighton attack and hold firm, limiting the tonners options and denying them the ball. Brighton were able to manage a goal half way through the term but were not making any real inroads when late in the quarter Pfeiffer booted one through to restore the quarter time advantage and take a hugely valuable 22 point lead to the sheds.
With the wind now at their backs and 22 points to the good SKOB were in A1 position to skip into the Grand Final at first asking, but Brighton had gone to school on SKOBs work in the third and proved equally hard to break down. They kicked one at 10 mins to reduce the margin, but when Kerr finally got SKOBs first for the quarter as the clock ticked into time on, SKOB were 23 points up and still with the aid of the breeze for the last few minutes. Simply holding this lead to the last change might have given enough breathing space to close out the game but Brighton then made the match winning move. Kicking 3 goals in time on to make it just 6 points at the 3/4 time bell and suddenly SKOB were up against it.
It was going to take a massive effort with such a small lead, but SKOB went about their task as they had in the second and when Tucker kicked one at the 10 minute mark it was SKOB by 11 and playing with incredible effort and control. By now the wind was really howling and Brighton eventually broke through on 19 minutes to make it 5 points and a lot of time on the clock. A behind to SKOB to make it an even goal and they dug even deeper still. Teams entered time on and at the 28 minute mark Brighton levelled with a goal. The clock ticked past half an hour and extra time was now on the supporters minds when a dagger at 33 minutes put Brighton in front by 6 points and they claimed the first spot in the Grand Final. A brave effort from SKOB who gave it a great shot and will get another chance next week to force a replay with a team they are so evenly matched with. A huge challenge awaits though against Old Scotch who are coming off a win in their semi. SKOB will need to summon the spirit of 2018 when they turned around a Second Semi loss to Collegians, coming back through the Prelim before reversing the result in the big one.
Anthony Seaton was brilliant all day for SKOB with Jack Darmody, Liam Gunson, Nicholas Sing, Liam Walters and Luke Winter all trying hard.
Ressies blown away early - fight another day
Not a lot to be said about the Reserves game which was played in atrocious conditions on Saturday. It all started badly for SKOB who had to kick into the breeze in the first and were literally blown away by Old Xavs who used the early advantage well, booting 4.3 to zip, then defended brilliantly into the breeze, punishing SKOB on the counter, kicking two vital goals to the non-preferred end. It took until late in the second quarter before SKOB were able to register their first and the 31 point deficit at the main break represented a mountain to climb in the second half. That mountain grew to a monumental peak as Xavs controlled proceedings with the breeze in the third to turn for home in an unassailable position. Coach Clough was able to extract a fighting finish from his chargers in the last as they kicked a couple of goals to nil in the final term but it was well over by then. A few wounds to lick for SKOB as they gather themselves for another shot at a Grand Final spot through the Preliminary Final next weekend. They have earned the right for a second chance through finishing top two and will look to turn it around quickly. Best were Lachie Merrett, Cal Jones, Hamish Serpell, Liam Mahoney, Harry Kirkwood and Tom Pirola
So close! 19s fall agonisingly short
The under 19 Premier boys are carrying heavy hearts today after a nail biting loss to Old Brighton in a Grand Final that was so close. The margins are always tight in September and SKOB were unable to own enough clutch moments to claim the silverware, but they could not have made their supporters any more proud of their incredible efforts in the finish. Opening with the breeze at their back, Old Brighton looked as slick as they have all season. They have been the benchmark team in 2024 and were showing this as they slipped out to a three goal lead inside the first fifteen minutes. Half way through the opening quarter and looking like conceding a 6 goal plus margin before the first change of ends, things were looking bleak for the young SKOB team. But from that point they dug their heels in and slowly worked back into the contest. First, they stopped the Brighton run, then kicked one through George Delimitrou to cut the margin back. A goal to Brighton on the siren made the difference 21 points which was about evens given the strength of the breeze. Kicking with it in the second term, SKOB were able to cut into the deficit with another goal to Delimitrou, followed by snags to Xavier Duke and Ben Palmer. SKOB were running on top of the ground and hit the sheds only a point down. It was all to play for in the second half, as the coffee stand queue started snaking around the ground.
An early start means half time comes around mighty quick and we were half way through the game in a flash. The wind was as strong as ever and now the tonners were going with it. A big third term would give SKOB every chance and they went to work. Brighton got one early and another half way through, but just as they had in the first term, SKOB were able to lock down and keep their opponents from running up a winning margin. The last half of the quarter was a grind and if anything SKOB looked the most dangerous as the siren sounded for the final change with the margin to Brighton a very gettable 13 points. There was real belief at the final huddle for season 2024, but perhaps the close margin contributed to a lapse at the start of the fourth term when Brighton surprised with a behind and goal to suddenly make the gap 20 points. SKOB were jolted into action knowing now that the clock was starting to work against them.
Up stepped inspirational captain George Delimitrou who booted his third goal for the game as he looked to bring his teammates along with him on his broad shoulders. Hudson Lefoe goaled shortly afterwards and the difference was down to 8 points with plenty on the clock. A near miss to SKOB and then Brighton struck again with a goal half way through the term. Margin back to 13 but it would soon become 7 points when Jack Luscombe goaled for SKOB to draw them ever closer. It was desperate stakes from both teams with the rain and wind throwing skills out the window and making every contest vital as the seconds ticked by. A miss and then another miss to SKOB brought it under a goal. The football was parked in the SKOB forward line but they couldn’t land the final blow. Another behind to SKOB as they inched ever closer, but it was not to be. The siren rang with Brighton ahead by 4 points and the pennant awarded. SKOB had done all they could to capture the flag and left nothing on the table, giving a huge effort on the day. A great season by the boys that just didn’t finish as they’d have liked. The result is a bitter pill, but they’ve demonstrated that with with their endeavour and spirit and enjoyment for the game and each other they have bright days ahead.
George Delimitrou was awarded the medal for best afield in an incredible performance. Other better players for SKOB were Ben Palmer, Xavier Duke, Conor Lynch, Mark O'Mahony and Rosh Fernandes.
With thanks to James Andriske for the photos
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