Report On 2025 Philp Senior Pennant Thus Far

Firstly, apologies for this being my first report, 6 weeks into our season……..I’ve been a little busy as every spare moment I’ve had recently I’ve watched the replay of the 2025 Grand Final. In case anybody has been living under a rock since that last Saturday in September, the mighty Lions won by 47 points. After dissecting the match from every angle, I feel there were a couple of poor umpiring decisions that may have cost us winning by a couple more goals. Anyway, no more footy chat, I promise.

We started the John Philp Senior Pennant season with a target on our backs considering we won the trophy in 2024. We went hard in the pre-season and recruited a few youthful, and skilful golfers as an addition to our 2024 premiership squad.

Welcome to our newbies being ;

– Steve Foulds

– Phillip Bainbridge

– Phillip Elliott

They have blended in well with our existing squad of :

– Glenn Cowden

– Harry Vu

– Michael Hill

– Chris Fischer

– Neil Campbell

– Dave Gooden

– Viet Tran

– Murray Billing

– John Kelly

– Keith Mico

– Glenn McBurney

With 8 clubs playing each other over a 7 week block, and the top 2 after the 7 weeks playing off in the final, it is imperative to get off to a good start to the season. As has been the case in the last couple of seasons, we were somewhat slow out of the blocks for our 2025 defence of our premiership.

Round 1, played at Rossdale, saw us halve our match against Settlers Run 3.5 / 3.5

Round 2, played at Gunnamatta, saw us lose to Rossdale 1.5 / 5.5

After the first 2 rounds, the discussion in the change rooms got around to our end of season mad Monday activities considering our position on the table :

1 – Rossdale – 2 pts

2 – The National – 2 pts

3 – Woodlands – 1.5 pts

4 – Settlers Run – 1.5 pts

5 – Keysborough – 0.5 pts

6 – Spring Valley – 0.5 pts

7 – Southern – 0 pts

8 – Ranfurlie – 0 pts

Things certainly looked grim. It reminded me of the 2025 Qualifying loss of the Brisbane Lions v Geelong, where Lachie Neale limped off with a calf injury. Fast forward to the last Saturday in September and in the lost and found cupboard at the MCG the noticeboard read :

LOST – 1 headband, if found please return to Bailey Smith

FOUND – 1 calf muscle, returned to rightful owner, Lachie Neale

From round 3, the squad has found their fighting spirit and continue to claw their way back to the top.

Round 3, played at Woodlands, saw us defeat Southern 6 / 1

Round 4, played at Settlers Run, saw us defeat Keysborough 7 / 0

Round 5, played at Southern, saw us defeat Woodlands 4.5 / 2.5

Round 6, played at Ranfurlie, saw us defeat The National 5.5 / 1.5

To say we have turned our season around is an understatement.

We currently sit 2nd on the table and this week, round 7, we are up against Ranfurlie (8th on the table) to be played at Keysborough. A win will consolidate our position in one of the 2 top spots which puts us into the final to be held at Spring Valley on Friday 21st November.  A loss and we need to rely on Rossdale (1st) to defeat Woodlands (3rd). 

Our destiny is in our hands. 

STANDINGS AFTER 6 ROUNDS 

1 – Rossdale – 5 pts

2 – Spring Valley – 4.5 pts

3 – Woodlands – 4.5 pts

4 – Keysborough – 3.5 pts

5 – The National – 3 pts

6 – Settlers Run – 2.5 pts

7 – Southern – 1 pts

8 – Ranfurlie – 0 pts

Murray Billing

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