Lew’s slew gets Jackas off to a flyer

AJAX Football Club had a flying start in the opening round of the 2011 VAFA season, securing an impressive 43-point away win against the Fitzroy Reds 18.11(119) to 11.10(76).

AJAX went into the match without nine of its senior team from last year’s final, with David Selzer, a late inclusion to play his first senior game for the club, alongside fellow debutants Noah Rischin and Michael Shafar.

The visitors led at every change, blowing the game wide open in the second term as Jake Lew put on a goal-kicking clinic, piling on six of his eight majors for the day. AJAX booted 7.4 for the term while restricting the Reds to just 1.1.

AJAX started the first quarter in superb fashion, despite kicking against a strong wind. Rubin Winograd, Evgeni Routman and captain Gary Blieden were in the thick of the action early and gave plenty of supply to the three-pronged forward line of Lew, David Fayman (four goals) and Jason Seidl (one goal).

Fayman lived up to his “Mailman” moniker, delivering for Lew, before kicking two goals from general play. The back line, led by reigning best and fairest Warren Steinberg, conceded only one goal as the Jackas kicked away to a 16-point quarter-time lead.

Coach Bernie Sheehy was pleased with his side’s first quarter, but demanded they continue to “hunt the footy”, and win the contested ball. And so it was in the second term, the Jackas asserting their dominance all over the ground. Ruckmen Jarrod White and Adam Spencer-Laitt’s brilliant tap-work gave midfielders Daniel Freed, Rischin and Routman first use of the ball, but the quarter was set alight by Lew, who did as he pleased. At the main break, the Jackas had a commanding nine-goal lead.

Fitzroy lifted in the second half and kicked seven goals in the third quarter. Ben Hershan, Michael Shafar, Josh Sacks and the Jankie brothers, Marcus and Corey, repelled numerous Fitzroy attacks, but the Reds still managed to get away for the quarter. The lacklustre term left the Jackas just five goals up at the final change.

Fitzroy came out firing in the last term kicking the first two goals for the quarter and clawing back to within just three straight kicks. Fayman then pounced on a loose ball in the pocket and slotted a great dribble goal from a tight angle to steady his team. The goal seemed to lift the AJAX players, who greatly increased their intensity, which resulted in goals to big men White and Spencer-Laitt. Routman put the result beyond doubt with a soccer goal in the dying minutes.

Despite Fitzroy’s late comeback, it was a successful start to the season for the Jackas, with the usual suspects Blieden, Steinberg, Lew and Routman among the best. Next week, the Jackas face Camberwell, with former Collingwood forward Shaun Rusling certain to test the side’s young defence.

The reserves recorded a draw in their first proper hit out of the season, however coach Darren Seidl said the result “felt more like a loss”. Josh Berlinski kicked a goal with only
seconds remaining to tie the scores. The match that was delayed for 10 minutes midway through the game, after Michael Selzer left the field in an ambulance with a strained neck and back pains, following a sickening collision. Jesse Kochen, Geoff Measey and Brett Joffe were amongst the best.

The Under 19s led all day, but in the last moments lost by two points. Captain Ritchie Simon kicked five goals, while the newly created Warriors team lost by 22 points after a gutsy performance.

AJAX plays Old Camberwell on Saturday at 2pm. Gordon Barnard Reserve (Melways: E4 36).

JOEL MARKOFF