Turbo charged Two Blues

EARLY in the third quarter of Saturday’s Prahran v Old Yarra clash at Toorak Park the biggest upset in this season’s VAFA Division 1 was suddenly in the conversation.

Third placed Prahran was under immense pressure from winless Old Yarra.

In a low scoring contest at half-time Prahran on 4-8 led Old Yarra 3-1, but the visitors had all the momentum kicking the last two goals of the quarter.

When Old Yarra scored the opening goal of the third term thanks to a free kick the lead had been trimmed to seven points. The Two Blues forward line was dysfunctional and only its sturdy defence kept them ahead.

What followed was barely believable.

A goal from Jake Stent-Powell at the nine minute mark triggered an avalanche of nine goals in 18 minutes.

The last quarter saw more of the same as the Two Blues slammed on 16 unanswered goals ended by an Old Yarra goal at the 28 minute mark.

So what promised to be a titanic tussle ended in a 111 point rout 21-18 (144) to Old Yarra 5-3 (33).

So did the Two Blues simply emerge from a slumber or did Old Yarra run out of steam?.

To be fair there is truth in both scenarios but the game changed when Prahran’s centre clearance stars turned on the switch in the third quarter. Rory Brodie, Patrick Marks and Mackenzie Mayne were unstoppable with constant forward 50 entries.

Teenager Tom Cotter turned in a 10 minute cameo of three goals in a great sign for the future. Fellow Prahran Juniors teenager Max Stewart was also a constant threat up forward complementing key forward Josh Stefanutti.

The big win saw Prahran rise to second on the ladder on percentage.

PRAHRAN 2-6 4-8 13-12 21-18 (144)

Old Yarra 1-0 3-1 4-1 5-3 (33)

Goals. Marks 4, Stefanutti, Cotter 3, Stewart, Clifford 2, Brodie, Plaza, Bamford, Woods, Stent-Powell, Burke, Giles.

Best. Thomas Cotter, Patrick Marks, Joshua Stefanutti, Rory Brodie, Oliver Burke, Tylar Atkinson

RESERVES

A thumping 157 point win by the Reserves over an undermanned Old Yarra.

Joel Hume, a 2024 Division 1 Seniors star in defence, kicked seven goals and was joined by premiership teammates from that team in Jesse Waters and comebacks by James Musster and Tim Maya so it was little wonder the game was so one-sided.

PRAHRAN 5-5 9-6 16-11 26-12 (169)

Old Yarra 1-0 1-0 2-0 2-0 (12)

Goals. Hume 7, Kam, Devine, Dicker 3, Waters, Burrows, Axford-Wood 2, Phimister, Maya, Loomes, Cornish.

Best. Jackson Devine, Baxter Kam, Jude Penny, James Musster, Joel Hume, Max Howden