William Buck Premier Men's Round 18: A Look at the Results Across the League
A wildly unpredictable home & away season went all the way to the wire, with the minor premiership, fourth spot & relegation all decided on the final afternoon. Here’s Round 18 of Premier Men’s in review.
Fourth spot was up for grabs as Old Haileybury – who had looked a likely finalist for most of the season – hosted Old Scotch at Haileybury College in a finals preview that would see the winner sneak in and the loser miss out.
Their lead-up form could barely have been more different, with the Bloods limping into the final round, while Old Scotch – buoyed by an injection of their VFL-listed talent – roared back into contention.
But, led by Olli Hotton (who had 12 disposals and 4 clearances in the opening term), Old Haileybury were strong in the contest early, dominating ground balls and contested possession to generate 7 scoring shots to 5. However, they failed to convert, and a disastrous 0.7 to 1.4 was the result, leaving them 3 points down at the first break.
They were left to rue their inaccuracy when the Cardinals managed to turn the tables on the inside as Sam Grant took control of the hit-outs and gave his midfielders first use. The reigning champs booted 3.4 to a further 2 behinds from Old Haileybury, who headed to half-time stranded on 0.9 and trailing by 23 points (despite only 3 fewer scoring shots).
Harrison Jones kicked the Bloods’ first goal in the opening minute of the third term, and when he added another 90 seconds later, momentum began to shift as the margin closed to 11 points. But long-range set shots from league-leading goalkicker Andreas Stefanakis and Jones both missed, before a 10-minute stalemate with no scoring ensued.
The next goal continued to grow in significance, and when James Tarrant nailed his set shot from 25 out, it felt like a big moment against the flow. Olli Hotton kicked a big goal at the 23-minute mark, but that was erased by a big pack mark and set shot goal on the three-quarter time siren, giving the Cards a 16-point advantage.
The early minutes of the final term proved decisive. James Tarrant gave off a slick handball for a running Jake Torney to make it 22 points, which blew out to 28 points just over a minute later when Jack Polkinghorne ran into an open goal.
From there, the Cards could control the game – and they did. Grant’s ruck dominance prevented the Bloods from getting first use, allowing Old Scotch to dictate the tempo, taking 33 uncontested marks to 11 in the final term and kicking 4.4 to 1.1 to keep their premiership defence alive and end Old Haileybury’s season.
The Cardinals looked dead and buried when they trailed the Bloods by 3 games plus 14% three weeks ago, but their three wins, combined with 3 losses to the Bloods and Blacks, have seen them complete the most unlikely of ‘Steven Bradbury’ late surges to snatch fourth spot.
They will face St Kevin’s in the cut-throat First Semi-Final, and while they will not have all their VFL-listed talent available due to finals eligibility rules, their rejuvenated line-up is enough to challenge for back-to-back titles.
Disappointment for Old Haileybury, who have been one of the season’s success stories after rising back up from Premier B this season. They had been in the Top 4 since Round 5, but 5 losses from their final 6 games ultimately cost them their first Premier Men’s finals appearance since their 2006 premiership.
Mark Gnatt (Old Scotch): “It was a tough and well-fought-out battle as we expected. Old Haileybury have been a formidable opponent all season – Wardy and Brede and their team have done a brilliant job. They have been in the top 4 all season for a reason, and this needs to be acknowledged.
“We knew that we had to match OH’s strength at the contest, as they have the ability to cut teams up in this part of the game. We were able to neutralise at the contest and then get good transition to the outside and create repeat F50 entries for our forwards to get to work.
“The team is improving week to week, and we have hit form at the right time. Finals is a new season, and we are in the hunt! Bring on September!!”
Daniel Ward (Old Haileybury): “We had periods of the game where we had control but didn’t take our chances. Kicking 7 behinds in Quarter 1 with the wind is not going to get it done.
“Couldn’t fault the effort of my group at all, but Old Scotch took their opportunities and deserved the win. Best of luck to Gnatty and his group for the upcoming final series.
“From an overall season perspective, it’s tough to sum up. After coming up from B-grade, we are proud of our improvement, remaining in finals contention right up until the last day. With that being said, we are disappointed we let an opportunity slip. After the double bye, we couldn’t find the same form and struggled to replace key players missing with VFL duties or injuries.
“Special mention to Andreas Stefanakis for winning the A-Grade Goalkicking. A fantastic effort from a 20-year-old with a bright future.”
Meanwhile, at the other end of the ladder, all eyes were on the Snake Pit as St Bernard’s hosted St Kevin’s, knowing that a Snowdogs’ win would see them survive in Premier Men’s for 2026.
With third spot already locked away, SKOB coach Anthony Lynch took the opportunity to rest a large group of senior players, making a whopping 13 changes to his Round 17 line-up.
Yet it was the visitors who seized the initiative, booting 3 of the first 4 goals to lead by 10 points at the break.
SKOB extended that margin in the second term, due in part to St Bernard’s inability to finish their work. The Snowdogs added just 6 behinds for the quarter, while St Kevin’s found goals via Jack Ball and Elliot Mahoney, who had 3 goals to half-time.
Collegians fans – who were reluctantly forced into barracking for SKOB for the one and only time in their lives – were nervous but mildly confident as St Kevin’s headed to the main break with a 19-point lead. With the Lions 46 points up at Harry Trott, it was the Snowdogs at this point headed for Premier B next season.
But the third term saw the Purple Army’s nightmare realised, as the Dogs began to take charge. It started at the contest, and the home crowd found its voice as their team – led by a white-hot Jackson Hately – got hot in a hurry.
They booted 3 goals in the opening 8 minutes of the term, and when Karam Bharathi created a turnover and released Matthew Watson into an open goal at the 15-minute mark, the Snowdogs were in front. Bharathi added another 4 minutes later, and while Tom Davidson found one against the run of play at the 21-minute mark, the Dogs had the final say of the quarter via Luca Alessio and headed to the last change with an 8-point lead as aghast Lions fans refreshed their phones.
St Bernard’s maintained their momentum with early goals to Charlie Vague and Nick Tonge extending their lead to 20 points before St Kevin’s responded via Patrick Kerr and Oliver Gill to reduce the margin back to single digits.
But 2 goals in 2 minutes to Ben Huggard and Matthew Watson (his fourth) all but broke the resistance.
Vague and Huggard put the result beyond doubt, then fittingly, Hately nailed the last. His timely return – more than any other factor – will see St Bernard’s remain in Premier Men’s in 2026, as he finished with 43 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 Inside 50s and a goal (to go with his 47 touches last week).
The final margin blew out to 34 points as the celebrations began at the Snake Pit. St Bernard’s – after going winless against everyone other than De La Salle since Round 4 – defying the odds to knock off two finals contender in the last fortnight of the season to dodge relegation in sensational fashion.
Steve Alessio (St Bernard’s): “Our finish to the season and the spirit we showed was very pleasing. We now have the foundation to build a team that can be competitive in Premier Men’s for an extended period.
“It means a lot to me and the club that we strive to be the best we can be, and continue the club’s great history. The enthusiasm of our players, members and supporters in those last two games was significant and certainly helped us with our late-season form.”
Anthony Lynch (St Kevin’s): “I was thrilled with our first half, I thought our group brought a level of intensity and pressure that we haven’t seen for a while and that enabled us to have a nice lead at half time.
“In the second half, Bernard’s – led by their top line players – started to really take the game on and generate momentum. I didn’t think we handled that period very well, but I could never question our effort.
“We rallied again halfway through the final term to get back within 9 points, but again the class players from Bernard’s stood up when it mattered and got them home. We look forward to resetting over the bye week and attacking the new season they call finals.”
St Bernard’s delight was Collegians’ despair as they took care of De La Salle at Harry Trott in a game that ultimately counted for nought in terms of their scrap to survive.
The Lions came out of the gates with the desperation you’d expect, repeatedly pressuring De La into error in the opening term, then capitalising on the scoreboard with 3 of their 5 first-quarter goals coming from turnovers as they headed to the first break with a 26-point lead.
The second term saw Collegians muscle up on the inside and play efficient front-half football, converting 14 Inside 50s into 6 goals – Dylan Thomas continuing his stellar form with 3 for the quarter as the lead swelled to 46 points at the half.
The game opened up in the third term, with both teams adding 5 goals as De La once again proved their ability to serve it up at this level. They kicked 3 goals in 4.5 minutes late in time-on to give their hardy fans something to cheer about, while Lions fans – despite their team being well in control – cursed into their phones as St Bernard’s hit the front at the Snake Pit.
The result at Harry Trott was never in doubt as the Lions finished in style with a 10-goal win that was spoiled by the news of the Snowdogs’ survival coming at the expense of their own.
Collegians will join De La Salle in Premier B in 2026 and will spend the summer lamenting their agonising stretch of tight finishes that saw them suffer 5 losses and a draw from their 6 single-digit results this season. If any of those losses had fallen the other way, they would have survived the drop.
Instead, they will consider themselves unlucky to be departing the top-flight for the first time since 2006, given their 6.5 wins is the MOST by any relegated top-flight team since University Blues suffered the same fate in 2013.
De La Salle will return to Premier B – where they were Grand Finalists last season – without a victory in 2025, but with significant gains in player and team development. They will feel much better equipped to challenge for the second-tier title than they were 12 months’ ago as they begin plotting their return to Premier Men’s.
Jordie McKenzie (Collegians): “A very pleasing team effort. Our clean hands around the contest allowed us to keep speed on the ball and created scoring opportunities.
“Campbell Walker, Scott Beilby and Luke Nelson were the top picks out of many solid contributors. Herschel Waters also impressed on debut, finishing with 2 goals.
“We said farewell to 2 legends of the club, with Sam Hibbins and Corey Cassidy retiring. Both have had outstanding careers and, more importantly, are great people.
“Unfortunately, other results didn’t go our way, so it was a bittersweet end to the year as we head down to B-Grade. Despite many challenges throughout the year, the club has stuck together, and we look forward to next season.”
Nick Hyland (De La Salle): “Our slow start was really costly. Collegians dominated around stoppage and put us on the back foot. They also forced us into turnover, and, to their credit, they punished us on the scoreboard.
“A pleasing response after halftime, but our skill level really hurt us all day. We would have momentum, and then a sloppy error would be our downfall.
“An extremely challenging year, but I’m proud of our playing group for not giving in and their willingness to fight out the season. I want to thank our players, coaches, staff, committee, volunteers and supporters for all sticking together throughout a difficult year. I’m confident as a club we will bounce back in 2026.”
Old Brighton rolled into Melbourne Uni knowing that a win over University Blues would secure them a second straight minor premiership, but a loss could see them finish second to Old Xavs.
The two teams went goal-for-goal in the opening term until the Tonners found the last two of the quarter to lead by 13 points at the first change.
Possession was roughly even in the opening half, but Old Brighton were more efficient and precise, and their intercept game started to take over in the second term, providing territorial dominance that was converted into a 4-goal-to-1 quarter and a 35-point half-time lead – Tom Burnell leading from the front with 13 touches and 2 goals to the major break.
Uni Blues’ best quarter of the match was their third and despite being beaten on the inside, managed to play some intercept footy of their own, pressuring the Tonners into turnovers which they scored from, winning the quarter 3.3 to 2.3 to narrow their deficit to 29 points.
But any hopes of another comeback win were snuffed out when Old Brighton came up with the opening two goals of the last quarter when Angus Edgar soccered one through from point-blank range, then Joey Campigli put the result beyond doubt with a precise set shot at the 11-minute mark.
James Stewart finished off his productive season with 2 late goals to bring his season tally to 52 (7 behind Andreas Stefanakis in the League goalkicking) but it was the Tonners collecting their second straight minor premiership with a 42-point win. After last year’s Grand Final Day disappointment, their season starts now.
While the Blues recovered from winning just 2 of their first 11 to finish half-a-game clear of the drop zone in 8th position in Matt Smith’s first season as coach. Darcy Chirgwin rounded out a superb campaign as the competition’s leading ball-winner, averaging 30 disposals per game.
Marcel Bruin (Old Brighton): “Great way to finish the home and away season. Very proud of our group creating another finals opportunity in a couple of weeks.
“It didn’t all go to plan, but we worked really hard to pressure Blues at the contest and took advantage of our own forward entries. They certainly had patches of play throughout the game where they had the best of the stoppages and were able to work to a dangerous forward mix, but we worked to arrest that and got a couple of scores off turnovers to limit the damage through those periods.
“We’re now looking forward to the opportunity we’ve created for ourselves.”
Matt Smith (Uni Blues): “Brighton are clearly a very good side and minor premiers for a reason.
“We had our moments of control; however, we just weren’t able to convert on the scoreboard, missing some easy opportunities. It was pleasing to see us fight it out and not allow a total blowout.
“Our final five games of the year were truer indications of our season than our final ladder position. The Top 2 sides are on a level of their own and are the standard everyone is chasing, but I think we are right up there in the chasing pack and closer than the ladder suggests.
“At the end of the day, avoiding relegation was our main objective and now we have an opportunity to reassess, reset and launch into 2026.”
Old Brighton’s victory meant that Old Xaverians were locked into second spot and they finished their home & away campaign in fine style with a comprehensive win over University Blacks at Toorak Park.
Xavs made an early statement, booting 3 goals in less than 3 minutes to skip out to a lead they would hold for the entire afternoon.
Blacks found their feet after a vital steadying goal 7 minutes in and managed to hang in to remain within 14 points at the first change, before eating away at the deficit with 4 goals to 3 in the second term to arrive at half-time just 10 points in arrears, having dominated the inside contest for the quarter.
But Xavs responded to the challenge and muscled up in the third term as Stirling Phipps-Parsons stepped up to give them some inside dominance of their own. Despite having 2 fewer Inside 50s for the quarter, they booted 5 goals to 1, showcasing their lethal strike power and ability to convert opportunities into goals.
The final term was more of the same, as the Red & Black tuned up for September by taking their chances to post a 7-goal-to-1 quarter and career away to a powerful 68-point win.
Phipps-Parsons, who has spent much of the season with Carlton’s VFL side, finished with 29 disposals, 6 tackles, 10 clearances and a goal, while Sam Conway battled tirelessly in the ruck for the Blues against Alec Spralja, collecting 64 hit-outs and 10 clearances of his own.
Old Xaverians will arrive in September having won 11 of their past 12, with the only blemish a 33-point away loss to the team they will face next for a spot in the Grand Final – Old Brighton.
Uni Blacks had a rollercoaster season, recovering from 4 losses in their first 5 matches to string together a 5-game winning streak, before losing 6 of their last 8 on the run home to slip out of finals contention and finish sixth – but with plenty of positives to build upon in 2026.
Dan Donati (Old Xavs): “After a tight first half where Blacks defended really well and also transitioned the ball at times with some ease, we adjusted after half-time and managed to get the game on our terms.
“These last-round games can sometimes be tricky to navigate. We had Top 2 locked in and Blacks couldn’t play finals, but credit to both sides for the effort and spirit shown from the first bounce.
“We have a number of players wanting to take their opportunity, so what was again most pleasing was our depth shining through, which will give us many options to look at for the Second Semi in a couple of weeks.”
Dale Bower (Uni Blacks): “We fought really hard to hang in there and compete with Xavs for 2-and-a-half quarters. We fell away after that, and they pulled away on the scoreboard.
“Congratulations to our skipper and club legend Cam Moorfield on his 150th on Saturday.
“We have made progress in 2025 and will continue to work hard to improve in the off-season with a clear goal of playing finals football in 2026.”