Lewis plays 150th game for Jackas
AJAX matched their opponents for most of the second quarter, but dropped off close to the main break, and again in the third quarter, deviating from their game plan
In a sign of high anticipation for another action-packed VAFA season, almost 200 AJAX players, fans, life members and sponsors attended the senior footy club’s season launch and jersey presentation last Thursday night at Caulfield Town Hall.
Two days later, Nick Lewis – selected as the Jackas’ men’s Premier B captain for the seventh straight season – ran onto Brandisi Oval surrounded by teammates, to begin his 150th game, against St Bedes/Mentone.
Lewis told The AJN, “The club has been a big part of my life for the last 10 years, and I am so grateful for all it has given to me.
“To be able to captain and lead the team gives me enormous pride.
“I feel very privileged to be able to represent the Melbourne Jewish community in our favourite sport.”
He added, “It is [particularly] timely – with Yom Hashoah this week – but, putting the playing top on, with its Magen David, is a small reminder of the adversity and sacrifices our ancestors before us faced, to give us this fortunate life in Australia.”
Round one results for AJAX were mixed.
The Jackas’ men’s top grade team, under new coach Andrew Jago, had the aid of a strong breeze behind them in the first quarter, but greater intensity in the contests by St Bedes limited AJAX to a seven-point lead at quarter-time.
AJAX matched their opponents for most of the second quarter, but dropped off close to the main break, and again in the third quarter, deviating from their game plan by playing too conservatively.
That enabled a strong St Bedes side to regain control, and lead the Jackas by 29 points at three-quarter time.
AJAX attacked with more purpose and flair in the final quarter, but St Bedes finished on top, winning 15.14 (104) to 9.10 (64).
Jackas’ vice-captain Kane Nissenbaum top-scored for his team with three goals.
After the game, the coaching staff spoke to the players about trusting the new game plan, and not accepting less than the group is capable of delivering.
They face Old Trinity this Saturday at Princes Park, with a bounce time of 2pm, following a Yom Hashoah commemorative service.
In windy conditions at Packer Park versus Glen Eira, the AJAX women’s division 3 side welcomed seven debutants, and one of them, Brooke Tuszynski, scored a terrific early snap goal.
With the Jackettes trailing by 15 at half-time, co-captain Annelise Caplan led by example, lifting her work rate, inspiring the backline to defend fiercely.
Goals to Hanna Goldberg and Lindi Nankin brought the Jackettes within four points of Glen Eira, but a free kick against them led to a late goal, and a 3.4 (22) to 4.8 (32) loss.
AJAX’s men’s development team also had a 10-point away loss (70-80) to St Bedes/Mentone, but there were good signs.
Daniel Cohen, Dylan Rothschild and Reece Israel scored two goals each, and Max Bloom battled gallantly in the ruck all game.
Scores were close in the first two quarters, and after conceding seven goals in a horrendous third quarter, the team responded by keeping St Bedes goalless in the last quarter, while booting five goals themselves.
The Jewish club’s men’s Sunday thirds division 2 side, boosted by greater depth this season and intensive summer training, posted a big confidence-boosting opening round win over Monash University, 15.17 (107) to 2.3 (15), at Albert Park, in a game played in both sunshine and driving rain.
There were eight goal-scorers for AJAX, but Kai Gold and Yakir Havin had the most, with four goals each.
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