Jackas hold off circling Vultures

AJAX has kept its unbeaten start to the season intact, edging bottom-side Parkdale in a thriller 8.19 (67) to 10.5 (65).

Jackas skipper Gary Blieden was the hero for the home side, kicking the sealer with just 17 seconds on the clock in the final term, to give his side its fifth win of the season.

In a scrappy affair at Gary Smorgon Oval, Ajax was well below its best, lacking intensity and concentration. Numerous opportunities in front of goal went begging, and the players failed to consistently hit targets.

Warren Steinberg was the standout for the Jackas, ­filling the hole left by injured players Mark Segal and Sam Bruce. Jake Sharp provided run out of the backline, and Josh Kalmus and Ari Lewski put in strong efforts in the midfield.

The first quarter started according to plan for the Jackas, as Jake Lew kicked truly after the first centre clearance of the game. But Parkdale’s application belied its position on the ladder, the side applying good pressure across the ground, which resulted in a quick reply. Jason Israelsohn let rip with a long bomb from outside 50 that sailed through, and Sam Chester kicked truly from a set shot. But the visitors took advantage of Ajax’s lack of accountability to goal again, before David Fayman kicked his only goal for the game to push the lead out to 17 points at the first break.

Coach Bernie Sheehy was disappointed with the efforts of his players at the quarter-time huddle, imploring his players to “work harder in the forward line”.

But it was all the Vultures at the start of the second, the visitors slotting the first three goals of the term. Ajax responded through Lew, who kicked his second, while Chester marked and goaled soon after.

Still, multiple chances were missed going forward and it cost the Jackas as they went into the long break 17 points ahead.

Ash Kalb started the third term in style by splitting a pack and snapping a beauty on his left, but it was to be the home side’s only major of the term, booting five behinds to go with the goal.

Ill-discipline also cost the Jackas, with a 25-metre penalty gifting Parkdale a goal, before the side added another just before the siren to reduce the margin to 13.

Parkdale burst out of the blocks in the final term, kicking the first three goals of the term, and with just three minutes remaining took the lead for the first time in the match. But Blieden denied the cellar dweller a fairytale finish, kicking the winner in the dying stages.

Coach Sheehy recognised there were “not many good things about the game”, but it was “good to see the captain kicking the winning goal”. He also praised the effort of the gallant Steinberg.

The Reserves notched up a well-earned victory with a massive defeat over Parkdale, 22.14 (146) to 1.6 (12).

The Under-19s, however, suffered their first loss of the season, going down to Caulfield Grammar, 10.2 (62) to 13.13 (91).

ASHLEY SHENKER