Jackas play in two 2026 VAFA men’s grand finals

Jackas fans were out in force on the first weekend in September, cheering on AJAX teams that were in two VAFA men’s thirds footy grand finals.

The Jewish club’s division 4 side, captained by Rafael Tenenbaum and crowned minor premiers a fortnight earlier, faced an equally determined Marcellin side at Elsternwick Park on the evening of September 6 in a nail-biting contest in which the margin going into each break was never more than 6 points.

Doron Segal scored 2 goals for the Jackas, including the game’s opener, but Marcellin hit back with 2 first quarter goals to lead by 14-8.

Both sides scored a goal and 2 behinds in the second quarter, and the Jackas won the third quarter by a single point to trail by just 5 points at three-quarter time.

After each team scored one early final quarter goal and AJAX kicked added 3 behinds, the men in red, white and black hit the front for the first time, by 4 points, when the competition’s equal leading goalscorer Levi Lewis – the team’s assistant coach – scored a goal with just over five minutes remaining.

But Marcellin replied with a goal barely two minutes later, and despite the Jackas charging into each remaining contest and getting one more look at goal, it was Marcellin who added 2 behinds to seal a 7.11 (53) to 7.7 (49) win.

Proud Jackas coach Benjy Cylich told The AJN the entire game was very close, “and we hung in there and got a sniff with five minutes to go, and that five minutes felt like 15 minutes.

“And while we couldn’t get the win in the end, everybody gave it absolutely everything, and that’s all you can ask for.”

He gave special mention to 20-year-old Gavriel Gottlieb “whose work rate in the middle was incredible, and after having to come off on the blood rule, demanded to come back on”, and also praised Shamai Cylich’s contribution as being “one of our best on ground”.

“There’s a lot of young guys in our squad, and its only this team’s second season, so to top the table and play in a grand final, is something they can be very proud of.”

Lewis added, “the theme for our team this season was b’yachad (Hebrew for together), and that was a big factor in our success.”

Inclement weather the previous night at DSV Stadium didn’t stop Jackas fans flocking there to cheer on their team in the thirds division 3 decider against second-placed Williamstown CYMS.

And despite losing by 0.5 (5) to 6.8 (44), the AJAX ‘Saturday’ thirds side, captained by David Feldman, can hold their heads high, having overcome a poor start to the season by making the top four by winning their last six consecutive games, including against the minor premiers Old Brighton twice.

AJAX only trailed by 2 points at the first break, but conceded 3 goals in a pivotal second quarter, 2 more goals in the third, and one in the fourth.

The Jackas finished strongly, gaining good field position, but try as they might, they were denied scoring a goal by relentless defence by Williamstown.

Coach Matt Hendel said, “It just wasn’t our night, but our fans turned up as they’ve done all season, and cheered for every touch, tackle and mark our players made, and we appreciate it.

“Perhaps our grand final was our big prelim final win against Old Brighton, as that left us with a lot of sore bodies.

“But there’s a lot to be proud of this season – the way that when we got players back from travels and injuries mid-season, we won six games in a row against all the top teams.”