Finals triple treat for Two Blues

PRAHRAN is poised for a triple finals treat after a stellar Saturday at Toorak Park.

The Reserves toppled ladder leader Parkside leaving them two games clear in third place while the Seniors, also third, all but sealed a VAFA Division 1 finals berth with a 20 points win with winless Old Yarra and seventh placed Brunswick to come.

Our women’s team is entrenched in fourth place on the ladder to complete the all finals set.

Parkside and Prahran have formed a formidable rivalry in recent years and with the loser almost guaranteed to miss finals action the Seniors game was always going to be hotly contested.

The Two Blues burst out of the blocks with a Taylor Bamford snap goal in the first minute.

Two minutes later James Gottschalk, a regular defender sent forward,  snapped a ‘miracle’ goal on his left foot from deep in the forward pocket.

Parkside missed some set shots and at quarter time, kicking into the northerly breeze it was advantage Two Blues.

It was the second quarter when the Two Blues established what eventuated into a match winning lead.

Peter Ahern, lively all day in a roaming forward role found Pat Marks who converted from outside 50m.

Marks goaled again courtesy of a 50m penalty, then from the resultant centre bounce clearance Bamford goaled again.

Rory Brodie dominated centre clearances teaming with Mackenzie Mayne and Marks as the Two Blues added five goals to one.

In a predictably low scoring contest that was the buffer needed.

Although the Two Blues added just two goals in the second half they were always in control.

Coach Ash Lever described the win as ‘real team effort’ and so it was.

The previous week against Oakleigh it was hard to find a good Prahran player, by contrast on Saturday there were a host of players performing at, or near, their best.

Again the Two Blues defence, headed by pillars Pat Ribbands and Jayden Williams, proved yet again they are best backline in Division 1 restricting Parkside to just six goals.

The Two Blues disposal around the ground was as good as it has been all season with one blemish, four missed set shots in a goalless last quarter.

The forward line had a more threatening look on Saturday with Riley Hogan’s fast leading from full-forward in the last quarter a clear example.

PRAHRAN 2-2 7-4 9-7 9-12 (66)

Parkside 1-4 2-6 5-8 6-10 (46)

Goals. Bamford 3, Marks, Gottschalk 2, Clifford Selleck.

Best. Patrick Marks, Peter Ahern, Taylor Bamford, Jayden Williams, Scott Frangos, Joshua Taylor

RESERVES

BEST win for the year by the Reserves, toppling ladder leader Parkside.

The Two Blues held an eight point lead going into the last quarter kicking against a northerly breeze.

But Achie Patterson took a strong pack mark in the goal square and converted in the opening two minutes to give the Two Blues breathing space in a low scoring encounter.

PRAHRAN 2-0 4-1 6-3 7-4 (46)

Parkside 1-4 2-5 5-8 6-10 (46)

Goals. Patterson 3, Woods, Elwin, Amalfi, Loomes.

Best. Jackson Devine, Tully Loomes, Archer Patterson, Max Howden, Zachary Wood, Jordan Adams

WOMENS

SO near for the Two Blue Lions falling just five points short of third placed Hawthorn.

PRAHRAN-COLLEGAINS 0-0 3-3 4-4 5-3 (33)

Hawthorn 1-5 1-5 3-8 5-8 (38)

Goals. Collins, Schmidt 2, Crighton.

Best. Mikayla Collins, Molly Crighton, Millie Stonnill, Ruth Sheridan, Aoife O’Driscoll, Trinity Meachem