AFTER reviewing the Associated Public Schools (APS) football competition at the midway point of the season last week, we take a look at how the nine Associated Grammar Schools Victoria (AGSV) are faring.

Assumption College

R1: lost to Marcellin by 71 points
R2: defeated Yarra Valley by 37 points
R3: defeated Camberwell by 69 points
R4: lost to Trinity by 12 points
R5: defeated Mentone by 81 points
R6: Bye
R7: defeated PEGS by 20 points

Assumption has started the season as one of the three sides with four wins from six games. They were belted by Marcellin in the opening round, but have been impressive since, losing to the undefeated Trinity in round four, and have knocked off all other challengers, including the second placed PEGS. Big wins over Mentone and Camberwell showed they have some talent amongst the team, as well as a solid 37-point win over Yarra Valley. Bottom-age Northern Knights tall Owen Sloan, Bendigo Pioneers’ Logan Fitzgerald, and Calder Cannons quartet Shane Skidmore – who has been their best performer – Jesse Taylor, Patrick Mahoney and James Westphal are among the TAC Cup-listed players at the school.

Camberwell Grammar School

R1: lost to Trinity by 54 points
R2: defeated Mentone by 17 points
R3: lost to Assumption by 69 points
R4: lost to PEGS by 70 points
R5: lost to Peninsula by 146 points
R6: lost to Ivanhoe by 88 points
R7: lost to Camberwell by 99 points

The only AGV school without a TAC Cup-listed player on its books, Camberwell has struggled this year, winning just the one match – a 17-point victory over Mentone – a result that turned heads. Camberwell has suffered losses of more than nine goals in each of its other six games. The average losing margin over the past three weeks is 111 points.

Ivanhoe Grammar School

R1: lost to PEGS by 88 points
R2: lost to Peninsula by 41 points
R3: Bye
R4: defeated Marcellin by 20 points
R5: defeated Yarra Valley by 44 points
R6: defeated Camberwell by 88 points
R7: lost to Trinity by six points

Ivanhoe had a shaky start to the season with back-to-back losses including an opening round belting at the hands of PEGS. But since the bye, Ivanhoe have been sensational, notching up three consecutive wins and only dropping its first game in five rounds on the weekend to an undefeated Trinity. Northern Knights’ Tom McKenzie is the top prospect at Ivanhoe and often cops a tag at school football. He is joined at the school by Knights teammates Xavier Naish – brother of Richmond’s Patrick – Charlie Simonsen, Nathan Howard and Ben Nikolovski.

Marcellin College

R1: defeated Assumption 71 points
R2: lost to PEGS by eight points
R3: defeated Peninsula by 27 points
R4: lost to Ivanhoe by 20 points
R5: Bye
R6: defeated Yarra Valley by 37 points
R7: defeated Camberwell by 99 points

Marcellin is one of three sides with four wins from the first seven rounds, with thumping victories over Assumption (71 points) and Camberwell (99 points) in the first and most recent rounds. They narrowly lost to PEGS and went down to Ivanhoe, but have had a solid season overall. Northern Knights’ Lucas Perry, Adam Carafa, Justin McInerney, Kye Yodgee, Xavier Bateman and Aaron Castagna – brother of Richmond’s Jason – represent the school, as do Oakleigh Chargers Trent Bianco and Jake Sticca.

Mentone Grammar

R1: defeated Yarra Valley by 17 points
R2: lost to Camberwell by 17 points
R3: lost to Trinity by 75 points
R4: Bye
R5: lost to Assumption by 81 points
R6: lost to PEGS by 49 points
R7: lost to Peninsula by 74 points

Mentone started its season off on the right note with a 17-point win over Yarra Valley, but it has been tough going since, losing their last five games, including three by more than 12 goals. Sandringham Dragons’ Harry Houlahan captains the side and has played in multiple positions, while Jai Florent – brother of Sydney’s Ollie – Matthew Scott and Christopher Perkins are other Dragons on Mentone’s list.

Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School (PEGS)

R1: defeated Ivanhoe by 88 points
R2: defeated Marcellin by eight points
R3: defeated Yarra Valley by 44 points
R4: defeated Camberwell by 70 points
R5: lost to Trinity by 26 points
R6: defeated Mentone by 49 points
R7: lost to Assumption by 20 points

PEGS enjoyed the honour of having the number one pick attend the school last season with Cameron Rayner becoming a household name in the AGS competition whilst away from the TAC Cup. This season the most notable name is Esssendon father-son prospect Mason Fletcher who is currently out injured and will miss the remainder of the season. He is joined in the side by fellow Cannons’ Harrison Minton-Connell, and Sam Graham who have been the sides’ best, while other Cannons include Tom Cartwright, Jacob Martin and Christos Kosmas. 

Peninsula Grammar

R1: Bye
R2: defeated Ivanhoe by 41 points
R3: lost to Marcellin by 27 points
R4: defeated Yarra Valley by 62 points
R5: defeated Camberwell by 146 points
R6: lost to Trinity by 46 points
R7: defeated Mentone by 74 points

Peninsula have won four games out of their six to start the season. They had the bye in the opening round and enjoyed thumping wins over Camberwell (146 points), Mentone (74 points) and Yarra Valley (62 points), while dropping matches to Marcellin and Trinity in between those matches. Dandenong Stingrays’ trio Finlay Bayne, Jeremy Burton and Daniel Frampton are the three TAC Cup players listed on Peninsula’s team list.

Trinity Grammar School

R1: defeated Camberwell by 54 points
R2: Bye
R3: defeated Mentone by 75 points
R4: defeated Assumption by 12 points
R5: defeated PEGS by 26 points
R6: defeated Peninsula by 46 points
R7: defeated Ivanhoe by six points

Oakleigh Chargers Charlie Beasley – brother of former Brisbane Lions’ player Hugh – is the sole TAC Cup-listed player on Trinity’s list, but it has clearly not stopped them from being ultra impressive this season. They have had a couple of big wins over Camberwell and Mentone, and were forced to fight it out against both Assumption and Ivanhoe. With a 26-point victory over PEGS, Trinity assumed top spot and will face Yarra Valley and Marcellin in the final two rounds.

Yarra Valley Grammar

R1: lost to Mentone by 17 points
R2: lost to Assumption by 37 points
R3: lost to PEGS by 44 points
R4: lost to Peninsula by 62 points
R5: lost to Ivanhoe by 44 points
R6: lost to Marcellin by 37 points
R7: Bye

The winless Yarra Valley have not had a great season, but they can hold firm in the fact they have only suffered one loss above 45 points. They face Trinity and Camberwell in the final games of the season with the latter being considered a winnable match for the school. Yarra Valley have a number of TAC Cup-listed players, most notably Vic Metro representative Xavier Fry. The running defender is joined in the team by Eastern Ranges’ teammates Riley Clausen, Lachlan Gawel and Josh Matthews. Oakleigh Chargers duo Lucas Westwood and Charlie Oglethorpe are also on Yarra Valley’s books.