FOOTY

A perfect round for AJAX

This Saturday, AJAX, in partnership with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and Maccabi Victoria, will commemorate Yom Hashoah in a pre-match ceremony with Holocaust survivors.

AJAX men's Premier C reserve grade leadership group (from left) Jonathan Machlin, captain Jordan Tonkin and vice-captain Joel Burston.
AJAX men's Premier C reserve grade leadership group (from left) Jonathan Machlin, captain Jordan Tonkin and vice-captain Joel Burston.

Last weekend’s VAFA round was a perfect one for the AJAX Football Club, with all five of its men’s and women’s teams posting wins.

In men’s Premier C grade, AJAX is equal top with Hampton on the ladder, after its third straight win – a 13.13 (91) to 10.5 (65) away victory over PEGS in Essendon.

The Jackas had a red hot start, leading by 33-7 after the first quarter, but a quality PEGS line-up narrowed their lead to just 15 at half-time.

The last two quarters became a bit of an arm wrestle, but AJAX outscored their opponents by two goals in the third quarter and while injuries took their toll in the last, PEGS could only manage two goals to AJAX’s one.

Strong defence, Best on Ground Justin Vogel’s strong hands around the ground, and the competition’s leading goalscorer Richie Simons’ one-on-one excellence kept AJAX with a comfortable lead.

Simons booted five goals and seven behinds, Vogel kicked three goals, and Toby Sheezel and Brad Caplan two each.

AJAX is also on top of the Premier C reserve grade ladder, thanks to a huge 10.8 (128) to 9.2 (56) win over PEGS.

After a slow start in which they trailed by four points at quarter-time, the Jackas reserves quickly flipped the script, scoring eight of the next nine goals to lead by 31 at half-time, and they scored 10 more goals in the remaining quarters, while restricting PEGS to just five goals.

Maor Chrapot was Best on Ground, and Jesse Velleman, Daniel Cohen and Daniel Goodman booted three goals each.

In women’s division 1, a new-look combined AJAX/Old Camberwell team admirably bounced back from two straight heavy losses, to emerge victorious in round 3, with a well-deserved 6.1 (37) to 2.7 (29) win over Brunswick, followed by joyous singing of the team’s song.

Co-captain Justine Gabriel was named Best on Ground, in a game where new combinations began to show promise.

AJAX’s men’s Sunday thirds division 2 side secured second spot on the ladder, after a forfeit by their opponents the week before, with a 12.20 (92) to 9.8 (62) triumph against Collegians, with coach Ryan White’s instructions to take an attacking mentality paying off.

Best on Ground Amir Meyerowitz scored four goals and also dominated in the disposals department, while Josh Jones booted three goals, and Josh Peker had one of his best games.

And the Jackas’ thirds division 3 North team are equal top of the ladder following their 129-2 thumping of last-placed South Melbourne.

This Saturday, AJAX, in partnership with the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and Maccabi Victoria, will commemorate Yom Hashoah in a pre-match ceremony with Holocaust survivors, from 1.40pm at Princes Park.

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