Charlton has returned to the winners list – celebrating victory for the first time in 611 days.

The solemn occasion of the 110 year anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops into Turkey, served as a perfect night for a clash between two of North Central Football League’s greatest rivals, Charlton’s Navies and the St Arnaud Saints. Following a short commemoration conducted by Charlton RSL Sub Branch members and bugler Corey Harrison, where players from all three codes came together to pay their respects, Senior footballers took to the rain soaked, flood lit field to assume their own hostilities, the first time a ‘night’ match has been played at Charlton Park.

With both sides winless after the first two rounds of the 2025 season, a hotly contested match was expected, supporters of both teams coming out in great numbers despite the conditions, heavy rain being experienced during the reserves encounter, lightening off for the main game, but still having an impact on players’ ability to handle the ball, and keep their feet. As is often the case in such conditions, the most committed team would most likely prevail – Charlton at home, producing a stirring effort to claim their first victory since round 17, 2023.

It was a day of celebration of locally producted talent, Charlton’s Kris Cliford bringing up game 250 in the Navy jumper, while for St Arnaud it was James McNamee and Sam Male reaching their 100 and 50 game milestones respectively. The Saints from neighbouring St Arnaud were always going to respond to whatever Charlton threw at them, arriving at the struggling Navies home ground, the Saints were close to unbackable favourites, despite also not having won in season 2025. Matches between these two sides are always played in fierce spirit, the sense of occasion not lost on the players, both sides showing a commitment befitting an ANZAC day fixture.

Youngster on the board early

With the ground still looking in great condition despite the heavy rain, Charlton got on the board early through emerging youngster Seb Zagame, just two minutes into his 2nd senior game, kicking the first goal of the game, calmly converting his set shot after illegal contact during a marking contest. The next period of play saw players from both sides feeling each other out, no quarter asked or given, players throwing themselves at the contest, the ball spending most time on the ground.

Zac Phillips finally getting the Saints on the board, some 6 minutes into the first term, a clever snap from the big man bouncing through to level up the scores. Despite the declining conditions making ball handling challenging, when Sam Male, in game 50, kicked the Saints second, also from a clever snap on his non-preferred, the Saints found themselves in front by that goal, only three scoring shots had been registered and incredibly all through the middle of the big sticks.

Charlton were having more of the play in the last part of the opening quarter, however with two behinds their only further scores, they were left to rue missed opportunity to bridge the gap and take a lead into the first break, instead it was the Saints in front by four points.

Stalemate in second term

Game plans were pretty obvious from both sides, with neither side looking like being finals contenders this season, simple footy was the order of the night, don’t over possess, or try to do anything too fancy, the game was all about metres gained through whatever means necessary, a somewhat, similar message as of our ANZAC heroes so long ago.

Charlton’s playing coach, Mitch Collins, in everything from the opening bounce, put his side in front, eight minutes into the second term, while resting forward, calmly slotting what would be the only major of the term. Scoring goals becoming increasingly different with the wet, slippery yellow Sherrin, that single goal to Collins in amongst a run of seven behinds, six of those belonging to Charlton, who despite dominating play for long periods of the term were not able to break the St Arnaud defence, Matt Goode standing strong and denying easy passage, and with regular defender Harley Durward playing off a wing in a largely defensive role, Charlton’s forward entries were wide and shallow, making a night of already challenging scoring conditions even more difficult. Home side supporters, though, excited to be watching a competitive game of football after the opening two weeks, and even more so to have their side in front at half time.

Charlton leading by 5 points as players sought the refuge of the changerooms to reset before resuming hostilities under the gloomy, weeping night sky. Charlton 2.6.18 to St Arnaud 2.1.13.

Third term to St Arnaud

St Arnaud stalwart Mitch Egan giving the visitors the perfect start after the break, putting the Saints back in front shortly after the resumption of play. Charlton’s lack of winning experience looking likely to bite hard as the Saints wrested control of the tempo and possession of the ball, responding to the Charlton challenge laid down to end the first half. Recruits Jay Kirwood and Darby Schilder prominent through the middle of the ground, as was big man Zac Phillips in conditions that were conducive to the taller man’s talents – engaged in an enthralling duel with young Charlton ruckman Ben Lanyon, who is developing into a fine footballer in his own right.

For Charlton, co-Captain Sam Woods was willing his troops on from across half-back, his sure ball handling on full display, his defensive comrade Archie Patterson showing his wares for his new side as well – his straight ahead style perfect on a night of wet weather football. While those two were doing well for Charlton, it was the St Arnaud defenders who winning the battle, led by Goode and well supported by Bailey Durward and Torin Petrie, the Saints were impenetrable during the ‘premiership’ term, denying Charlton as their scoring opportunities completely dried up. Forward entries few and far between for the home side as their forward line became congested, playing into the hands of the St Arnaud defenders, turning defense into attack, the Saints kept on coming, a two goal, two behind quarter enough to take a game high nine point advantage into the final stanza.

Final quarter blitz

Charlton’s first score in over a quarter of football, was yet another behind, play bouncing between defensive half back lines – Sam Woods intercept marking a feature at one end, Torin Petrie seemingly having the ball on a string at the other. However, with Charlton starting to get a little desperate, taking greater risks to move the ball forward resulting in turnover after turnover a sense of helplessness seemed to have fallen on the Charlton faithful. And when Schilder kicked truly for the Saints from a somewhat contentious free kick, the Saints had stretched the lead to 14 and with the home side having only kicked two goals to that point, kicking a winning score looked unlikely. Enter the Charlton youngsters, and Mr. Dependable Tom Finlay. Kicking to the town, and crowd, end, second year Charlton defender, Elliott Fitzpatrick made a telling, dashing run from defence to send the ball sailing through the big sticks to help the Charlton crowd once again find their voice, and breath some life back into the home sides sails, reducing the margin to eight points. Then the veteran Finlay was thrown into the middle by the Charlton bench, and had an immediate impact, willing himself to the ball, he won countless possessions to drive the Navies forward. Second gamer Zagame marking strongly and converting with a kick straight from the Stephen Kernaghan book of mongrels – registering his second of the night and getting the home side back to just two points behind.

The Saints had a chance to steady and re-establish the lead, however a gilt-edged opportunity went begging, when 100 game McNamee’s effort was rushed through on the line. It was then Finlay’s turn to show his wares in front of goal, winding back the clock to produce a sterling effort on his non-preferred left boot to put the home side back in front for the first time since early in the third term. The heat coming onto the ice cool 16 year old Zagame, already the only multiple goal kicker on the ground, earning a chance to ice the game, receiving a free kick for a hold in a marking contest, no doubt a strong mark on the lead moments earlier further up the ground fresh in the mind off his direct opponent. The young man playing up to the crowd after cooly going back, taking his full allotment of time and putting his side up by nine points with 23 minutes and 30 seconds gone in the quarter, Charlton had kicked three goals in 9 minutes to storm to home and record an unlikely victory.

Both sides though not coming out unscathed, Charlton losing co-captain Billy Sexton to a gruesome thumb injury just as his side hit the front, having already been a player down when Rhyen Woods limped from the ground. St Arnaud also forced to count the cost – Mitch Birthisel with an apparent arm injury, and young Owen Lowe suffering an ankle injury that brought his night to an early end.

Final score:

Charlton 6.8.44 to St Arnaud 5.5.35

Best for Charlton: Sam Woods, Tom Finlay, Seb Zagame, Mitch Collins, Ben Xiriha, Archie Patteron, Bailey Kemp St Arnaud: Matt Goode, Jay Kirwood, Harley Durwood, Zac Phillips, Torin Petrie, Mitch Egan

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 29 April 2025.