Football

Vic Country U16 Champs

Congratulations toLachlan Petrie, Ruot Lual and Lachlan Pring who have made the final squad to represent Victorian Country U/16 in the U/16 National Championships to be held over the Term Two holidays. It is a wonderful achievement, and we wish all three student’s well as they ply their trade on the national stage.

Junior Football

SPC Nunan 11 – 19 – 85 def SPC Blue 1 – 0 – 6

Goal Kickers: Ned McCormack 4, Lucas Sheehan 2, Leo Vila Pouca 1, Caius Bull 1, Jordan Korosec 1, Hudson Murnane 1, Conall Plummer 1

Best Players: Lucas Sheehan, Frankie Hill, Jackson McKee, Charlie Bursill, Aaron Vereker

On Wednesday, June 4, SPC Gold played their sixth game of the Year 8 Football Program. It was SPC Gold matched up against St Pat's Blue. After an inconsistent first quarter, the boys were able to turn it around and produce another solid team performance. We were able to gradually draw away from a very competitive and tough Blue outfit after quarter time with some excellent passages of play by the boys especially in a very solid second quarter. 

We were able to keep up the pressure throughout, thanks to the great ball movement initiated by the engine room of Louis Britt, Ollie Wilkie, Finn Clark, Charlie Bursill, Aaron Vereker, Jackson McKee and Frankie Hill. Congratulations to all the boys who played the game in a great spirit and were very respectful to the opposition and the umpire – well done, boys! 

- Mark Stahl, SPC Nunan Junior Coach

Grammar Blue 6 – 2 - 38 def SPC Green 3 – 1 - 19

SPC Green Goal Kickers: Sam Gleeson, Patrick Taylor, Lewis Warland.

SPC Green Best Players: Jackson Noonan, Toby Rewuk, Lachlan Hill, Paddy Sims, Tex Davey, Sam Gleeson.

SPC Green took on Grammar Blue in Round 7 on the Back Oval at Ballarat Grammar. The game was played in beautiful conditions with hardly a breath of wind, making it ideal for clean, contested football. Both sides played the game in great spirit - hard but fair from start to finish.

Grammar Blue started the match strongly, putting scoreboard pressure on early while our side took time to settle. The second quarter saw a strong response from SPC Green, with two goals bringing us right back into the contest. The game remained tight through the third term, but Grammar made the most of their chances in the final quarter to close out the win.

Paddy Sims made a welcome return to the side after his head knock in Round 4 and quickly made his presence felt around the contest. Jackson Noonan was outstanding in the ruck, giving our midfielders every opportunity to get first hands on the footy. Toby Rewuk ran tirelessly through the middle, linking up play and applying defensive pressure.

Lachlan Hill, our Round 7 captain, continued his strong form at fullback, reading the play well and turning back many Grammar attacks. Tex Davey showed great courage all day, throwing himself into contests and working hard at ground level. Sam Gleeson was dangerous in the forward line, providing a strong target and finishing with a goal.

While we didn’t come away with the four points, there was a lot to like in the way the boys competed. Their effort and team-first attitude were on display throughout, and we’ll look to build on this performance in the final two rounds to come. 

- Mr Morris, SPC Galvin Junior Coach

Intermediate

SPC Blue 5 – 7 - 37 def Ballarat Clarendon College 5 – 1 - 31

SPC Blue Goal Kickers: Harry Metcher 2, Damon Cherry, Robert Tedcastle, Jaii Anderson

SPC Blue Best Players: Harry Metcher, Jack Stringer, Lachlan Cameron, Noah Connell, Lachlan Cowell, Kane McInerney, Griffin Edwards, Damon Cherry, Arch Bolt, Gregory Bush

On Tuesday, 3 June, the SPC Blue boys travelled to Ballarat High to take on Ballarat Clarendon College. The boys were lacking some numbers but with some help from the likes of Lachlan Cowell, Kane McInerney, Kai Bellin and Robert Tedcastle the SPC boys managed to put together a full lineup. 

Upon arriving the boys had little time to warm up but managed a scintillating first quarter with some classy goals from Harry Metcher and Robert Tedcastle, followed by a clean set shot from Jaii Anderson seeing the boys up 13 points at quarter time. The Blue team was very quickly confronted by Ballarat Clarendon College, being held scoreless in the second while Clarendon notched four majors. 

The boys were under the pump and down by 12 points at half time. With some changes to our lineup to account for Clarendon’s much bigger size, the boys were ready to attack the second half with all they could muster. The third quarter saw some flashes of brilliance from the likes of Harry Metcher, Jack Stringer, Griffin Edwards and Noah Connell through the midfield but this momentum struggled to convert on the scoreboard with both teams managing just one and two points respectively. This meant the SPC Blue boys were down by 11 points and required two goals to seal the game and they were up for the challenge. 

To start the last quarter the game was very contested, with the ball flowing from end to end. It was the team's run at ground level that really set the tone for the quarter, with a goal from Damon Cherry bringing some life back into the squad. With just a few minutes remaining the boys still required a goal for the win. Down by two points the Blue boys burnt the Clarendon squad on the back foot, using pace and precision to earn multiple inside 50s which led to some behinds before a snapping effort from Harry Metcher saw SPC take the lead by five points with only 90 seconds left after trailing since midway through the second quarter. 

The lead was held for the remainder of the game with SPC Blue coming out with a six-point win from behind. Kane McInerney down back and Damon Cherry up forward both starred, with consistent gut-running and effort from Cowell, Metcher, Cameron and Edwards in the midfield helping to get the squad over the line. All the boys must be commended for an outstanding effort! 

- Kristopher Stevens & Andrew Wilson, SPC Blue Intermediate Coaches

BG Blue 4 – 6 – 30 def SPC Blue 4 – 3 - 27 

Goal Kickers: Nicholas Ide 3, Damon Cherry 1

Best Players: Ollie Elliott, Lachlan Cameron, Nicholas Ide, Harry Metcher, Lachlan Cowell, Henry Watson, Nathan Sandles, Xavier Williams

On 10 June, the SPC Blue squad travelled to Ballarat Grammar to take on BG Blue in the last home and away game of the season. The game was hotly contested all day with the boys working tirelessly in the midfield. The scoreline was close all day with no team earning and lead of any more than six throughout the entire game. 

Ollie Elliott and Xavier Williams were brilliant in the backline all-day, showing much needed leadership when they were under the pump. The usual suspects of Cameron, Metcher, Edwards and Cowell were consistent all day against a very good Ballarat Grammar midfield. Nicholas Ide and Damon Cherry put some goals on the board through some clean and creative means. 

The SPC Blue boys fell to BG Blue by just three points in what was a contest that really could've gone either way. Overall, I am extremely proud of how the boys conducted themselves all season and can't wait to see the future footballers these boys will become. - Kristopher Stevens & Andrew Wilson, SPC Blue Intermediate Coaches

BAS First XVIII Grand Final

St Patrick’s College Ballarat 6-3-39 def by Ballarat Grammar 10-8-68

SPC Goal Kickers: Z Evans 2, R Bell, Z Thomas, C Besler, L Lloyd

SPC Best Players: Z Thomas, L Lloyd, H Fanning, L McPhan, C Besler, C Elliot

In what was a fiercely contested BAS First XVIII Grand Final on Ballarat Grammar's Main Oval, St Patrick’s College showed incredible heart and resilience, but ultimately fell short against a fast-finishing Grammar outfit by four goals.

From the opening bounce, SPC set the tone with a ferocious attack on the ball and relentless tackling pressure, forcing Grammar into early mistakes. The first quarter was a tight, fast-paced contest, played mostly between the arcs as both sides grappled for control. SPC’s hardness around the contest was on full display, and their early scoreboard pressure reflected their willingness to compete.

The second quarter saw a shift in momentum as the game opened up. Grammar’s outside runners began to find space, delivering clean and damaging forward entries that tested SPC’s defensive unit. Despite this, SPC’s defenders stood tall under immense pressure. 

The backline unit consisting of Elliot, McPhan, Hoffman, Vansomeren, Fanning, Gunnser and McLeod, worked superbly as a unit to repel wave after wave of attack, showing great cohesion and grit. The midfield continued to battle hard with Atkinson, Bell, Sudholz, Horsburgh, Todd, McGuigan, Besler and ruckman Thomas all fighting to keep SPC in the contest at the coalface. With a late steadying goal at the non-scoring end from a strong pack mark and calm finish from SPC midfielder Rory Bell, SPC were able to go into the break only just behind.

After the halftime break, SPC emerged determined and brought the fight right back to Grammar. Their pressure lifted, and they began to wrestle back momentum. A pivotal moment came when Charleson appeared to have kicked a brilliant snap goal from a free kick advantage, only for it to be called back. Nonetheless, the team didn’t drop their heads. Zavier Thomas followed up moments later with a stunning goal on the run from 50-metres out, closing the margin to just two kicks midway through the third term.

The forward line, led by key targets Lloyd and Evans, worked tirelessly on the expansive ground. Their contested marking and physical presence provided structure, while the small forwards—Reid, Calma Long, Bunworth, Cleary and Svanosio—buzzed with energy, locking the ball inside forward 50 and creating scoring chances through sheer effort and pressure.

Heading into the final term, SPC had played an impressive brand of committed, team-first football with a wide spread of contributors. However, with the scoring end favouring Grammar, they capitalised on their chances late to extend the lead and close out the game.

While the scoreboard didn’t fall SPC’s way, the team’s character, spirit and unwavering fight were undeniable. Every player, including those who were injured or named as emergencies, contributed to a performance that made the College proud.

A heartfelt congratulations and thank you to our outgoing SPC BAS First XVIII Year 12 players: Luke Atkinson (C), Hamish Fanning, Charlie Elliot, Jack Cleary, Zac Evans, Baxter Horsburgh, Max Bunworth, Max Sudholz and Lachlan McPhan. 

Finally, well done and thank you to all involved in another proud chapter of St Patrick’s College BAS First XVIII football, we now look forward to 2026 in the Green, White and Blue. 

- Joe Black & Sean Willmott, Co-Coaches

BAS 2nds XVIII Grand Final

SPC White 4 –10 – 34 defeated by Damascus College 8 – 6 – 54

Goal Kickers: Ky Geljon, Hudson Hobbs, Jed Gurnett and Archie Purtle

Best Players: Miller Vaughan, Charlie Salter, Archie Purtle, Nash Armstrong, Fred Foley and Paddy Stute

Under a crisp, cloudy afternoon sky, our boys strode onto Main Oval for the BAS 2nds Grand Final match against Damascus College. Captain Ruot won the toss, and despite being a few bodies light—and generally smaller—they were ready to rewrite the script from last week.

The opening bounce erupted into a fierce, bone‑jarring contest. Our midfielders fought for every centimetre, matching Damascus’s strength with hard tackles and repeat stoppages. In defence, Kyan Vaughan and Paddy Stute marshalled the backline, repelling wave after wave of attacks. Running out of options, we finally unleashed Ky Geljon, whose searing snap opened our account. Damascus hit back immediately, though, and by quarter‑time we trailed by just a point.

Damascus found another gear. Their crisp ball movement and contested aggression put us on our heels, and sloppy decision‑making gifted them easy goals. For a time, it looked as though the match might slip away—but in the dying minutes, our intensity flickered back to life. A few missed opportunities left us goalless for the term, and at halftime the scoreboard read: Damascus 34 to SPC 10.

In the huddle, our coaches lit the fire. From the first bounce, Miller Vaughan bulldozed through packs to win the hard ball, inspiring teammates to lift alongside him. Fred Foley and Nash Armstrong embraced shutdown roles, blanketing Damascus’s stars and laying bone‑rattling tackles. Finally, Hudson Hobbs soared on a beautiful snap to break the drought. We edged the quarter by two points—and, more importantly, belief was back.

Damascus struck quickly with two early goals—another mountain to climb. Yet our boys refused to relent. A polished chain of handballs from defence to midfield culminated in Charlie Salter’s pinpoint delivery, allowing Jed Gurnett to goal and spark the comeback. Repeat forward entries flowed, Archie Purtle’s relentless pressure led to another major, and suddenly the game was in reach. Time and accuracy, however, slipped away. The siren sounded on a valiant effort—we went down by 20 points.

Yes, there’s disappointment. But there’s pride, too. Our fightback showed what’s possible when intensity, accountability, and teamwork collide. We now look forward to the next challenge, we tackle the Inters champions for a spot in the Herald Sun semi-final. 

The journey isn’t over—far from it. 

- Carly Twaits and Sam Cue, Coaches

BAS 2nd XVIII: Round 5

SPC White 5 – 8 – 38 defeated by Damascus College 8 – 7 – 55

Goal Kickers: Nash Armstrong 2, Ruot Lual, Simon Antonello and Ky Geljon 

Best Players: Miller Vaughan, Cooper Kennedy, Nash Armstrong, Mitch Ward, James Sheehan and Charlie Salter

After a week off due to a Phoenix forfeit, our boys returned to action in a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against Damascus College – a fierce rival and premiership contender. The stage was set on the compact Hill Oval, with a sharp crosswind slicing through the ground and setting the tone for a gritty, hard-fought battle.

From the first bounce, Damascus made their intentions clear. Their bigger bodies took early control, snagging the opening goal within minutes and putting our backs to the wall. But our boys weren’t going to let them run away with it. With the wind at our backs, we wrestled back momentum, and a brilliant goal from Ky Geljon levelled the scoreboard. 

Strong defensive stands from Charlie Salter and Jasper Delaney, along with some dashing rebounds off half-back from Hudson Hobbs, gave us the upper hand in general play – but unfortunately, we couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard.

The second term saw Damascus take full advantage of the wind. They lifted their intensity and played tough, contested footy. Our boys struggled to match the physicality and were left chasing, as Damascus slammed home five unanswered goals. The halftime break was a crucial moment – we knew what needed to change. Accountability. Effort. Two-way running. It was time to dig deep.

With the breeze in the third quarter, we again dominated possession, with Mitch Ward and Cooper Kennedy leading the charge. Their class and determination stood out, but despite the effort, we could only manage three behinds. Damascus capitalised on our missed opportunities and extended their lead to over 30 points heading into the final term. The mood was flat. The voice had gone quiet. It looked like we were beaten.

A passionate three-quarter-time address from Gracey fired the boys up. The magnets were shuffled, and we went big in the midfield. It paid off immediatelyJames Sheehan and Miller Vaughan combined to win the centre clearance, and, against the wind, we slotted the first goal of the quarter. The fire was back. 

Moments later, Nash Armstrong clunked a strong mark and finished truly. The belief returned. The voice lifted. We were coming. Damascus managed to sneak one more, but the boys weren’t done. Two more goals followed as we surged, closing the gap and finishing with a strong final term. Although the scoreboard showed a 17-point defeat, we had won the last quarter – a crucial mental win leading into next week’s grand final match.

In tough conditions and a bruising contest, we saw glimpses of our best – hard, relentless, accountable footy. With momentum on our side and key players set to return, we’re fired up for next week’s decider. The BAS 2nds flag is within reach.

We’re ready. We’re hungry. Damascus – we’re coming. 

- Carly Twaits and Sam Cue, Coaches

ACC 1st XVIII

Round 4: SPC 6-7-43 def by Whitefriars 7-6-48

Goal Kickers: Cooper Glenwright 3, Harvey Lewis 1, Lachie Lloyd 1, Jack Cleary 1

Best Players: Harvey Lewis, Cooper Glenwright, Levi Munyard, Jake Abrams, Lincoln Koliba, Baxter Horsborough

Slippery conditions greeted the St Patricks College 1stXVIII in their must win match to keep our ACC season alive against Whitefriars. We looked very sharp early. Harvey Lewis was in everything, and if he wasn’t winning the ball, he was pressuring the opposition. He had seven disposals, three tackles and four clearances in the first quarter, along with a whopping 46 ranking points. This would be Harvey’s best game of the season. 

Cooper Glenwright kicked the first goal after a marking contest in the goal square in the first three minutes of the game. We were unlucky to not have two on the board with Kai Watkins snap just drifting wide of the mark. Jack Cleary kicked our next goal, he was very impressive in his 1stXVIII debut. Unfortunately, we let Whitefriars back into the game late in the quarter and they were able to kick two ‘red time’ goals. This would unfortunately happen again in the second quarter.

Whitefriars kicked the first goal of the second quarter, however we were applying great pressure through players like Ollie Potter (eight tackles), Baxter Horsborough (on debut), Levi Munyard, Lincoln Koliba and Rory Bell. Our first goal of the quarter came from a searing kick into the corridor by Lincoln Koliba that ended with a great snap from first game tall Lachie Lloyd. The game was back and forth with both teams kicking goals. 

Cooper Glenwright took a great contested mark in the square and finished from a tight angle to give us goal number four and the lead. However, another ‘red time’ goal would see us go to the main break down by five points.

Despite the conditions improving, the third quarter was a dour struggle with both teams struggling to score. Jake Abrams was a welcome return to our defence and did his best to keep our opponents to a low score. Fellow defenders Archie McLeod (another debutant), Aden McGuigan and Angus Morgan were also doing well at negating their direct opponents. Despite this, Whitefriars kicked their first goal of the quarter and it looked like we were going to go the three-quarter time break with a two-goal deficit. Cooper Glenwright decided that this was not an option and he marked and kicked his third late in the quarter. Three-quarter time score: Whitefriars 6.6.42 to SPC 5.5.35

Despite the scoreline, the boys came into the three-quarter time huddle full of confidence that we could get the win and seal our finals berth. The first half of the quarter we were winning in all areas of the ground, but we just couldn’t kick goals. Levi Munyard was winning plenty of the ball and Harvey Lewis was doing everything he could to get us the win. Whitefriars were defiant and wanted to shut the game down from a very early stage, diving on the ball and creating repeat stoppages. Tashaun Wright went into the midfield and he had an influence in getting the ball into our front half. We kicked a behind and were suddenly within one score late in the game. 

At the 18-minute mark, Levi Munyard kicked quickly forward and Cooper Glenwright (who was terrific all day) marked. He quickly took his shot to tie the game, but the ball sailed over the post for a behind to leave us losing the game and ending our season by a mere five points. 

- Jason Lappin, 1st XVIII coach