By Andrew Paloczi
@Apaloczi
ROUND 3 REVIEW
Springvale Districts 8.15 (63) def Heatherton 5.7 (37)
Springvale Districts proved too strong for Heatherton as expected, winning by 26 points.
However, the Tunners can take encouragement from their first-half efforts.
At the major break the Demons led by just three points.
Unfortunately for Heatherton, its five first-half goals proved to be all the majors it could muster for the game.
It added just four points in the second half.
During that period, Springvale Districts managed a wayward 3.9.
Tom Wilkinson, in just his second game for the club, led the way as the Demons’ best player, and booted a goal.
Springvale Districts’ senior assistant coach Leighton Ross praised Wilkinson’s work as an inside midfielder, suggesting he won 30 plus possessions.
Khaled Kandakji managed three goals for the beaten Heatherton.
Ashwood 15.19 (109) def Hallam 4.6 (30)
Hallam travelled to Ashwood as the underdog.
However, the Hawks registered the only major of a low scoring first term, going to the huddle with a 5-point advantage.
From the time Brett Figas put Ashwood ahead three minutes into the second stanza, the Magpies’ class took over.
Ashwood charged to a 28-point half time lead and went on to a 79-point victory.
Chris Grove topped the winner’s goal kicking list with five, with best afield Jake Chapman just one behind him.
Black Rock 3.3 (21) def by Endeavour Hills 13.11 (89)
After finding form in round 2, Black Rock was expected to make Endeavour Hills work hard.
A competitive first term was promising, with the Falcons leading the Jets by only seven points at quarter time.
Although Black Rock failed to trouble the scorers in the second term, its deficit was still a manageable 17 points at the half way stage of the match.
However, such was the Falcons’ stranglehold they conceded a mere behind in the second half.
Chris Webber inspired Endeavour Hills to a 68-point win as best on ground and chimed in with a goal.
Teammate Jarrod Marolla kicked four goals.
Darcy O’Brien was named as the best contributor for the defeated Jets.
Hampton Park 25.20 (170) def South Yarra 1.2 (8)
Hampton Park continued on its dominant way with a brutal 162-point demolition of South Yarra.
Michael Henry again starred for the Redbacks, carving up the Yarras around the ground and adding five goals of his own to those he set up for teammates.
One of those who benefited from Henry’s classy passing was Nathan Carver.
He was a dominant presence up forward, racking up marks and slotting seven majors.
South Yarra’s Michael Higgins deserves mention for his accurate set shot late in the final term.
Otherwise, his side would have gone the entire game without registering a six pointer.
It is tough to find positives in such an enormous loss, but South Yarra’s first term effort level was commendable.
With a side depleted by a rampant virus, the Yarras took the match up to the Redbacks early.
Ferocious tackling and a number of entries into the forward arc were promising for South Yarra, but the side failed to reap any rewards on the scoreboard.
By the first break, the Yarras had a lonely behind and were 25-points adrift of the Redbacks.
The final score starkly illustrates the void in class between the teams.
