Oakleigh opened their 2014 account with a fighting 25 point victory over Old Camberwell at Gordon Barnard Reserve in Saturdays VAFA Premier C third round. The backlines were on top early as both teams struggled to break the deadlock before the Krushers opened the scoring and managed to take an 8 point lead into the first change.The defence dominance continued into the second term and both teams battled frantically to gain the ascendency with the honours slightly favouring Oakleigh at the main change leading by 9 points.
It was the third quarter that saw the major change in the match as Oakleigh grabbed the initiative booting 4 goals before the hosts grabbed a late goal to go into the final change 25 points in arrears. Old Camberwell hit back in the final quarter putting a scare through the Krusher camp with 4 unanswered goals before the steadying influence of Oakleigh skipper Dermot Cleary in the middle helped the Oaks pull back 2 goals to put the game beyond doubt and maintain the 25 point lead at the final bell. Oakleigh was well served by Aaron Cloke who booted 4 goals with Austin Deneys and Josh Paola adding 2 each and debutant Liam Hard with 1. Luke Andeatta and Andrew Mase were also in the Krushers best.
In the early game, an undermanned Oakleigh battled hard before a superior Old Camberwell ran over the top of them in the second half. With no bench left the Krushers were no match for the hosts and were held scoreless in the final term as Old Camberwell cruised to an 83 point win. Josh Revere, Aaron Binns, Jake Paola and Blake Grizzell celebrating his 50th game worked hard for Oakleigh and were among the best.
The Under 19s travelled to the riverside and a date with MHSOB at the school oval in the U/19 South third round and came away with a 76 point victory. The young Krushers were largely untroubled by Melbourne and had 11 goals on the board by half-time keeping their hosts to 3. Melbourne didn’t help their cause with inaccuracy in front of goal but weren’t really in the hunt and were kept scoreless in the final term as Oakleigh added a further 7 goals in the second half. Jake Bennoiton led the Krushers goal kicking with 5 as Anmol Malhotra and Dan Paola added 4 each. Michael Tate, Sam Ciavarella and Luke Pappon were in the Krushers best.