AJAX Falcons fly high to win U18 boys div 3 flag

In a fairytale outcome in the SMJFL U17/18 boys’ division 3 grand final on Sunday, September 6 – and an example of what hard work, belief, and teamwork can do – the AJAX Falcons won the flag by comprehensively defeating the Hampton-East Sandringham Rovers by 8.13 (61) to 4.7 (31) at Souter Reserve.

The Rovers had not been beaten all season, while the Falcons had a horror start to theirs, losing their first six games, including the first four in a higher division.

But the Falcons then staged a remarkable turnaround to finish second, by only losing one more regular season game, while notching five wins and one draw.

And although they’d been outplayed by the Rovers a fortnight ago in a qualifying final, the Falcons gained enormous confidence from beating Ormond by 23 points in the preliminary final.

After a tight first quarter in a decider that featured willing defence by both sides, the AJAX boys led the Rovers 7-4.

Then they put their stamp on the game when finding their rhythm in attack in the second quarter, when scoring 3 goals and 5 behinds, to build a 30-11 half-time advantage.

The last two quarters were relatively even, with AJAX scoring 4 goals to 3 to seal a deserved 30-point win.

Zac Alter and Nick Wrobel kicked 2 goals each, and the Falcons’ other goals were scored by Zac Linnow, Jake Wood, Jordan Suss, and Isaac Feldman.

Coaches Ethan Prendergast and Kane Siegel, and team managers Anton Killiner – who dressed up as a falcon – and Benton Segal, congratulated every player for their contribution.

The U17/18 boys’ division 1 decider between Ormond and the AJAX Comets at Boss James Reserve was a much closer contest, with the outcome not certain until the final minutes.

The Comets played with intent from the first bounce, and by quarter-time held what would be the game’s biggest lead, 13-2.

Ormond outgunned AJAX in the second quarter, in which they scored 4 of their 8 goals, to lead AJAX by 6 points.

The last two quarters were close on the scoreboard, with Ormond maintaining a 7-point advantage at three-quarter time, before sealing an 8.7 (55) to 6.10 (46) win.

The Comets had their chances, especially in the third quarter, but kicking 7 behinds and just one major in that period proved costly.

Still, the Comets, captained by Tyler Janover, can be proud of their excellent season in which they won 9 of 11 games, before ousting minor premiers Beaumaris in a qualifying final.

Coach Kaelan Lazaro described his troops as “a phenomenal group of young men that are absolute competitors, characters and conscientious people”.