Grand Final Match Review

Oakleigh Amateurs U/19s capped off a fine season by holding off a game St.Bedes/Mentone Tigers to take out the VAFA U/19s South premiership at Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham on Saturday. Jumping out of the blocks quickly, the Krushers had 5 goals on the board in the opening 10 minutes before the Tigers could settle and a thumping reminiscent of the second semi-final loomed large. However, the Tigers weren’t about to be swept aside this day and took the game right up to the Oaks hitting back with a couple of goals to trail by 17 points at the first change.

Oakleigh started the second term on the back foot as St.Bedes began to lift, closing the gap quickly before the Krushers managed to stem the flow and answer in kind maintaining a 3 goal buffer at the long break.

The Oaks lifted the tempo in the third quarter and, if not for some wayward scoring attempts, might have put the game out of reach by the last change but the Tigers managed to keep their hopes alive to trail by 21 points going into the last term.

Oakleigh had a sniff of victory though, and they weren’t going to be denied as they refused the Tigers any easy possessions and eventually came away with a 29 point win in what was a very entertaining game of football and congratulations must go to both sides for the way they played the game. Oakleigh captain Michael Tate was awarded Best on Ground.

Final Scores:

Under 19’s: Oakleigh 14.11-95 def St Bedes/Mentone Tigers 10.6-66

Goals:  A.Cloke 5, Z.Pearce-Thomas 4, B.Still 2, M.Tate 2, A.Mase 1, K.Schmauder 1.
Best: M.Tate, A.Deneys, A.Cloke, S.Murray, Z.Pearce-Thomas, B.Still.