ASHLEY SHENKER

AJAX has kept its finals hopes alive with victory over Monash Blues 15.10 (100) to 13.3 (81) on the weekend.

Looking to stay in touch with the top four after three consecutive losses, AJAX made six changes to the squad from last week, with skipper Jason Ritterman, Ronen Heine, David Fayman and Sam Chester among the inclusions.

In a hard-fought contest that saw AJAX lead for most of the day, but fail to pull away, the combination of Ben Kalmus (four goals) and Ben Hershan (three goals) proved the difference with the pair accounting for almost half the side’s score.

AJAX had the lion’s share of the possession a scrappy opening, but the ascendency was quickly wrested and the home side added three goals, while restricting AJAX to just one goal.

Veteran Ben Klein opened the second quarter in fine style, the career defender chipping in with a rare goal followed by majors to Mark Segal and Hershan. AJAX was starting to get first use of the footy and control the game, but costly turnovers saw Monash ahead by two points at the long break.

The third quarter started with some magic from Ben Kalmus, who gathered the ball on the boundary line and sent a floater sailing over the goal umpire’s hat.

Monash quickly got one back before Josh Sacks kicked two quick goals and set up a third to Fayman to lift the team. Monash goaled against the run of play, before Fayman and Hershan kicked truly to give their side a three-goal buffer at the final break.

In the fourth quarter ruckman Ben Rotstein went down with injury and Monash capitalised with a quick clearance and conversion. The sides traded goals after that before Kalmus added two in a row and extended the margin back out to three goals.

AJAX plays Bulleen Templestowe on Saturday at 2pm at Gary Smorgon Oval (Melway: 2N J1).

Seniors

AJAX: 1.3 4.6 10.8 15.10 (100)

Monash Blues: 3.2 5.2 8.2 13.3 (91)

Goals: B Kalmus 4, Hershan 3, Sacks 2, Fayman 2, Ritterman, Klein, M Segal, Chester.

Best: Blieden, Klein, M Segal, Bruce, Hershan, Kalb.

Reserves

AJAX 5.0 6.5 8.7 9.8.62

Monash Blues 3.4 6.8 8.8 11.11.77

Goals: Yudelman 3, Peters 2, Bluzer-Fry, Hoppe, Lewin, Spencer-Laitt

Best: Smith, Godlewicz, Yudelman, Spencer-Laitt, Lewin, J.Rotstein

Under 19

AJAX 9.9.63
Hampton Rovers 16.7.103

Goals: Rischin 2, Ludski, Mendies, Nadler, Nissen, D.Selzer, Segal, Gross

Best: Wloszczowski, Mendies, Nadler, Rischin, D.Selzer, Shafar.