Match Review Highlights - Seniors hit form ahead of finals with 11-goal win - Reserves down by 3 points - Under 19s heartbreaking elimination final loss - Colts to play in prelim after convincing elimination final win Match Reviews Seniors Mazenod tuned up for the finals with a dominant performance against Williamstown CYMS. The 67-point win should give the team confidence as they head into this week’s semi final against Caulfield Grammarians. The Nodders started well with the wind, taking a 21-point lead into the first change, but they really turned the screws in the second. The miserly Mazenod defence, led by Steve Oldman, Dean Izon and Xavier Patti, has conceded fewer points that any other team this year and were again at their best as they defended against the breeze. They kept Williamstown goalless while providing enough run to allow our forwards to kick three goals. At half time, the lead was a comfortable 34 points. With the game in hand, the Nodders continued to press in the second half and ran out 67-point winners. It was a terrific four-quarter effort with standout performances from Xavier Patti, Nick Gentile and Jaydyn Hill. Mazenod OC 4.2-26 7.4-46 13.5-83 17.8-110 Williamstown CYMS 1.1-7 1.6-12 3.8-26 5.13-43 Goal Kickers: B. Phibbs 3, B. Kovac 2, J. Murdock 2, F. Reed 2, R. Thomas, S. Inglis, N. Thomas, D. Izon, J. Devlin, T. Cincotta, S. Welsford, A. Taun-Henderson Best Players: X. Patti, N. Gentile, J. Hill, D. Izon, S. Welsford, R. Mann Reserves The Nodders fell to third-placed Williamstown by three points, but retain second position and will battle Caulfield for a place in the grand final this week. Francis Palleschi and Josh Trounce were best for the Nodders. Mazenod OC 1.4-10 3.4-22 4.9-33 7.10-52 Williamstown CYMS 1.2-8 4.3-27 7.5-47 8.7-55 Goal Kickers: P. Rozanitis 2, F. Palleschi 2, S. Balloch 2, A. McIntyre Best Players: F. Palleschi, J. Trounce, D. Hayes, J. Egan, N. Peck, B. Woods Under 19s The under 19s exited season 2016 in heartbreaking fashion, falling to Ormond by 7 points after a brave fight back. The Nodders were jumped by their opponents early and trailed by four goals at the first break. Despite an improved effort in the second, the deficit extended to 29-points at half-time and all seemed lost. Coach Paul Deegan urged his charges to be bold in the second half and they responded. With ben Gannon and Damian Byrne hitting their straps, the margin was reduced to 18 points at the final change. In a high-quality final quarter, the Nodders drew level with just minutes to play and looked set for a memorable victory, but Ormond found something to kick the final goal and secure a 7-point victory. It was a tough way to finish the season, but the Nodders can be proud of the character they displayed, not only in the second half of the match, but throughout the year. Several players, including Damian Byrne, Aidan Brand-Oliver and Corey Martino, also played plenty of senior football, which bodes well for the future of the club. Mazenod 0.2-2 2.2-14 6.5-41 11.7-73 Ormond 4.2-26 6.9-45 8.11-59 11.14-80 Goal Kickers: D. Fowler 3, M. D''Angelo 3, S. Deegan 2, D. Byrne, D. Di Nezza, A. Brand-Oliver Best Players: B. Gannon, D. Byrne, M. D''Angelo, S. Deegan, D. Wiles, J. Buccella Colts Mazenod progressed to the preliminary final with a win over St. Bedes Mentone on Saturday. The Nodders held the ascendancy for most of the day and may have led by more than 12 points at three-quarter time if not for some wayward goal kicking. St. Bedes threatened to make Mazenod pay in the last with an early-qurater surge, the Nodders were not going to let this one slip and powered away to a 27-point win. Tom Riley put on a clinic, kicking five of Mazenod’s eight goals. He was well supported by Jake Charman and Matt Kovac who were brilliant throughout. Mazenod 2.4-16 4.8-32 5.10-40 8.14-62 St Bedes / Mentone 0.1-1 2.2-14 4.4-28 5.5-35 Goal Kickers: T. Riley 5, J. Mountford, J. Cochrane, N. Nguyen Best Players: T. Riley, J. Charman, M. Kovac, L. McKenna, I. Saina, N. Smith
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