AJAX placed well in finals race
The close-knit squad has several siblings and cousins among it, and also a few players who play cricket together each summer for Maccabi-AJAX.
With a bye round in VAFA men’s Premier C last weekend, it was AJAX’s two men’s thirds teams that took to the field, and both posted contrasting victories to remain in second spot on their ladders, with just three rounds remaining.
The club’s thirds division 1 side – which only plays on Sundays as many team members are religiously observant – is in particularly great form, and it showed at Gary Smorgon Oval against seventh-placed Collegians.
Despite missing a few troops who are on mid-year holiday trips (many volunteering in Israel) – including the competition’s leading goalscorer Amir Meyerowitz – the Sunday Jackas led from start to finish, extending their half-time lead of 32 to 55 at full-time, to win 11.9 (75) to 3.2 (20).
Joshua Jones kicked three goals, Sam Brygel two, and Best on Ground was Matt Peker, closely followed by Josh Peker, and captain Zev Aron.
It was a special game for team veteran Yehuda Gottlieb, when his son Gavi was promoted from U18s, enabling the two to play a senior game for the Jackas together for the first time.
The close-knit squad has several siblings and cousins among it, and also a few players who play cricket together each summer for Maccabi-AJAX.
Sadya Liberow played with extra pride in his step last Sunday, as he and his wife Melanie welcomed a baby daughter to the world in the week leading up to the game.
The couple first met at AJAX Football Club.
With the team earning a 10-2 win/loss record, Aron told The AJN, “I definitely feel this year that we have the biggest opportunity [to win a premiership] for a very long time.
“I think the big difference has been the extra depth in our squad, as we’ve had a dozen young players who, after completing their junior footy for AJAX and going on shnat programs to Israel, joined us upon returning, and they’ve brought with them so much energy and ruach.
“Our new head coach, Ryan White, has done a brilliant job in guiding their transition from junior to senior footy, and the squad’s mix of some very experienced, older players, and these young guys, is very promising.
“It means we now have more than 40 players in the squad, and when some of the younger guys return from their breaks in the next round or two, we’ll be back to full strength for the finals.
“Amir [Meyerowitz] has been a standout for us in attack, scoring 41 goals … he’d started for us as a midfielder, but when we saw his scoring ability, we quickly moved him to the forwards.”
The team has a big game coming up this Sunday against third-placed St Kevins from 11.40am at Gary Smorgon Oval.
“If we can win that one, we can lock in second place, which would give us a double chance of success in the finals,” Aron said.
“Our team really appreciates the support we get at our games, and we’d love another big crowd this Sunday.”
AJAX’s men’s thirds division 2 south team, captained by Tyler Southwick, is also flying high, after scoring their 10th win by coming from behind to outlast Williamstown 10.13 (73) to 7.8 (50) away from home.
Trailing by 22 at half-time, AJAX reduced their deficit to just one point at three-quarter time, and outscored their opponents by three majors to one in the last quarter, in a gutsy performance.
Jack Lehrer, named Best on Ground, kicked three goals, and Alon Schmidt booted two in the close game.
In women’s division 2 footy, Gypsy Folwell scored the combined AJAX/Old Camberwell’s only goal in their 8-41 loss to fourth-placed Whitefriars.
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