AJAX Under-19 players in the three-quarter time huddle at the preliminary final on September 6.

ASHLEY SHENKER

THE AJAX Under-19 footy team bowed out of the finals race after suffering a heavy defeat to Old Mentonians 12.6 (78) to 23.16 (154) in the preliminary final on Sunday September 6.

After a solid first half where AJAX went into the long break three points up, the team was overrun by the fast-finishing Old Mentonians who kicked 16 goals to AJAX’s three.

Jake Lew starred up forward with six goals and Adam Caplan scored three goals. Josh Ludksi battled hard in the midfield, and Michael Shafar and Joel Gocs were solid in defence.

The first quarter was full of strong tackles and lots of contests around the ground. Captain Ashley Kalb took advantage of a stoppage clearance and kicked the first goal of the game from 40 metres.

Lew kicked the next two goals, but the Jackas lost momentum as Old Mentonians slotted two in a row to reduce the margin.
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ASHLEY SHENKER

AJAX’s season is over after a depleted side went down in a heart-stopper to seventh-placed Parkdale 9.6 (60) to 5.13 (43) in blustery conditions at Gary Smorgon Oval on the weekend. Read the full story

ASHLEY SHENKER

AJAX’s tilt at finals football is all but over, following a disappointing loss to bottom-placed Bulleen Templestowe on the weekend, 9.9 (63) to 16.5 (101) at Gary Smorgon Oval.

With just two games left this season, AJAX finds itself a game and a whopping 27.69 percentage points out of the top four and will need to win well in its remaining fixtures against Parkdale (eighth) and Mazenod (fifth) and have results go their way to sneak into the finals.

A win for fourth-placed Oakleigh against Old Geelong (seventh) this week, will put finals out of reach for AJAX.
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AJAX players in action earlier in the season. Photo: AJN file

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.
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