Jackas brave in premier thirds grand final defeat
The AJAX Footy Club's men's premier thirds team played in their first ever VAFA grand final last Sunday.
AJAX fans flocked to Elsternwick Park on August 31 – a proud day for the Jewish club, in which the Jackas’ 2025 men’s premier thirds team played in their first ever VAFA grand final.
Although ladder leader Old Xaverians were too good on the day, sealing the match in the last 20 minutes by kicking the last seven goals to win 17.13 (115) to 9.6 (60), the final score did not reflect how even the contest was for the majority of the game.
In his captain’s speech at the trophy presentation, Jackas captain Zev Aron congratulated Old Xaverians as deserving winners, saying, “You’re the benchmark. You force us to become much better and to put in so much work, so well done.”
He then turned to the large contingent of AJAX supporters in the crowd.
“To our supporters, thank you – you are unbelievable. I can’t tell you just how proud I am, and how proud this group is, to represent this community, and this jumper.
“And to our boys, we made history this year, by playing in our first grand final, which was 13 years in the making. We’ll come out even stronger next year, I promise.”
Old Xaverians got off to a lively start, winning the first quarter by 26-6.
But like they’ve done all season, the men in red, black and white never said die, outscoring their opponent by five goals to two to only trail at the main break by 5 points.
The Jackas’ defence stepped up, with players like Lior Smart – who copped a high shot – putting their bodies on the line for the team.
Amir Meyerowitz kicked his second goal by stepping around a defender, surging forward and kicking straight, Gabe Jotkowitz booted a goal on the run, and Kai Gold, Jeremy Herz and Jacob Jones all kicked long range goals.
AJAX took the lead for the first time in the match, by 1 point, at the beginning of the third quarter, when Josh Jones kicked the first of his two goals in superb fashion, from an incredibly tough angle from the boundary line. Old Xaverians replied with four goals by the end of that quarter to lead AJAX by 72-52.
Jackas fans were in full voice again four minutes into the final quarter when Jotkowitz scored his second goal to reduce the deficit to 14 points, when chasing a kick ahead by Joel Parasol and kicking it, soccer style, between the posts.
But it was all one-way traffic from then until the final siren, with Old Xaverians taking full control, scoring seven unanswered goals.
AJAX fans still have plenty to look forward to this Sunday (September 7) at Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham, when their men’s Premier C reserves face St Bedes Mentone from midday in an elimination semi-final, followed by their Premier C seniors taking on the same club in another elimination semi-final from 2.30pm.