Oakleigh travelled to Mt.Eliza and a date with old enemy Peninsula in Saturdays VAFA 11th round and were hopeful of reversing the result of their previous meeting but, after failing to fully come to terms with the wind, the Krushers wasted opportunities in front of goal booting 2-5 to the Pirates 1-1 at quarter time. With the gale playing havoc with the ball Peninsula managed 2-2 when their turn with the wind came as Oakleigh battled hard into it but couldn’t trouble the scorers save for a solitary point going to the long break 3 points behind.
The Oaks fared better in the third term on the scoreboard but were outscored by the Pirates and went to the last change trailing by a goal and with their backs against the wall. The Krushers came out full of fight in the last and assaulted the goals but couldn’t convert and eventually ran out of legs as the Pirates took charge and ran out 30 point victors. Tim Scott led Oakleigh’s goal kicking with 3 and Josh Paola added 2. Gary Bennett, Luke Andreatta and Dermot Cleary were among the Krushers best
The early game saw Oakleigh return to the winners list after a couple of weeks of disappointment. After having a 7 point quarter time lead turned into a 16 point deficit at the long break, the Oaks lifted in the third with 4 goals to the Pirates 2 points and went into the last with a 10 point lead. Concerns about whether it would be enough were allayed quickly as the Krushers defied the wind and added 2 goals before Peninsula could settle. The Pirates eventually got going but were plagued with inaccuracy as Oakleigh applied the pressure and held on to a morale boosting 7 point win. Jake Lever and Tim Michael kicked 2 goals apiece for Oakleigh with Matt Wass, Shaun Taylor and Zac Thiessens among the best.
The U/19s were handed a walkover as Collegians were forced to forfeit.