By Paul Daffey
In the final round last year, Old Xaverians defeated Old Brighton in what many spectators said was the best game of amateur footy they’d seen for years. Yesterday’s A-section match at Elsternwick Park didn’t quite reach those heights, but it did have a similar intensity to the 2008 classic at the Brighton Beach Oval.
Old Xaverians jumped to an early three-goal lead and maintained that buffer all match. Xavs coach Simon Lethlean described the game as relentless, “a real grind”, and was pleased to emerge with a 21-point win.
While Xavs and Brighton are on target for a place in the four, another fancied club, Old Scotch, looks to be well off the pace after a dismal performance at Marcellin on Saturday. Former Sydney and Hawthorn forward Luke Brennan played well for Scotch, but former Melbourne defender Nathan Brown was among the many Cardinals who were down on form.
Marcellin, the reigning B-section premier, set up its first win by scorching to an early lead. The Eagles were terrible early in the season, suffering thumpings at the hands of Old Ivanhoe, Collegians and Xavs in the first three rounds, but the return of several premiership players has helped to turn their fortunes.
The club the Eagles defeated in last year’s B-section grand final, Old Essendon, continues to find it tough in its first ever season in A-section. The Bombers remain winless after being thrashed by De La Salle at home.
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