Jackas reserves break their drought
There were high fives and hugs all around at the final siren, as the team celebrated their long-awaited, and thoroughly deserved, win.
Some things in life are worth waiting for. That was certainly the case for AJAX’s men’s development team last Saturday afternoon, when they won their first VAFA Premier B men’s reserve grade match in 665 days, beating Old Trinity in round two by 11.7 (73) to 9.9 (63) at Princes Park.
There were high fives and hugs all around at the final siren, as the team celebrated their long-awaited, and thoroughly deserved, win.
Although down by 20 points at the main break, the Jackas reserves showed plenty of fight, and were able to peg that deficit down to nine points by three-quarter time.
The last quarter was an arm wrestle early, before AJAX hit the lead with 10 minutes left, only for Old Trinity to regain it.
A Daniel Cohen goal edged the Jackas back in front with four minutes remaining, before Jordan Bade-Kennett kicked the sealer with a mercurial snap from the boundary line, with 90 seconds to go.
Brandon Joel responded to his omission from the firsts side with a best-on-ground performance, while Justin Berkowitz was classy off half back, and Brodie Mond booted three goals.
The Jackas firsts had a second straight loss, falling to Old Trinity by 8.12 (60) to 13.11 (89).
A poor third quarter cost the Jackas firsts dearly, and they could not recover.
A moving pre-match ceremony was held before the first bounce, to mark Yom Hashoah.
Still in men’s footy, the club’s Sunday Thirds division two team had their first loss of the year, by 55 to 79, against Williamstown-CYMS.
In women’s VAFA division 3 footy, the Jackettes bounced back from an opening round loss by thumping Parkside by 6.8 (44) to 2.4 (16), which will give them much-needed confidence.
Maya Burstin, playing her 50th game, had a blinder, repelling attack after attack, together with Justine Gabriel and Sally Payne-Gill.
The Jackettes only led by two points at half-time, but took control from then on, only conceding two behinds in the last two quarters, while kicking four themselves.
Lorri Gunn and Ruby Jacobs had fine debuts, Irish import Kim Cobbe kicked three goals, Lindi Nankin two and Caitlin Boylan one.
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