Jackas pile on the pain with final quarter goal-feast

AJAX has blown Melbourne High School Old Boys out of the water with an astonishing 14-goal-to-none final term to run thumping 27.19(181) to 8.14(62) winners.

Battling to stave off relegation, the cellar dwellers were within six goals at the final break and not without a chance, before the Jackas’ onslaught, which included a scintillating seven-goal haul from spearhead David Fayman, extinguished any hopes of an unlikely comeback. Fayman’s heroics included five in a row in the final stanza, the representative star finishing with 10 goals for the day.

The win was even more impressive given the extensive list of outs for AJAX, although the visitors did welcome back big man Jason Seidl to the fray after a month on the sidelines with a broken thumb.

AJAX jumped the Unicorns early, with forward Jake Lew’s ability to find space inside the forward 50 a highlight. Lew kicked two first-quarter goals and gave off many more, including a sizzling spot-up to Fayman for his first of the afternoon. Fayman, who represented Victoria last weekend in the prestigious VAFA vs Country football match, slotted a miracle snap from the boundary as AJAX pushed out to a three-goal lead at quarter time.

Melbourne High lifted its intensity at the start of the second quarter, kicking the first two of the period. Lew and much improved ruckman Adam Laitt were carried off within minutes of each other, both sustaining heavy knocks to the head in successive contests, however AJAX regained its composure with goals to Warren Steinberg, Fayman and David Selzer. Laitt and Lew both returned to the field and Seidl began to take control of the game at centre half back, the Jackas holding their advantage going into the main break.

The home side started to gain the ascendancy with three quick goals, reducing the margin to just nine. Stung into action, the Jackas piled on four goals in the final few minutes, as Melbourne High’s frustrations began to show.

But no-one could have predicted what was to come in the final term as the Jackas reached deep into their bag of tricks, turning on a dazzling display of skill and precision. Fayman was everywhere, taking huge grabs and crumbing magnificently, while crowd favourite Steinberg also popped up for a cheeky three final-quarter goals. Lew took his tally for the day to six, with two majors as his side completed the 119-point demolition.

AJAX plays Ormond on Saturday at 2pm.
EE Gunn Reserve (s: E7 68).

JOEL MARKOFF