Round 13 Review: Division 1-4

By Lincoln Edmunds

Division 1 – Round 13 Review

The season script changed sharply once again with some big results throwing the ladder wide open in the race towards finals in Division 1.

Port Melbourne Colts returned to the winners list in sensational fashion with a brilliant come from behind victory over Cheltenham on the weekend. The Rosellas hit the ground running early with six opening quarter majors to put the pressure on the visitors early. The second stanza saw a more even affair but Des Ryan’s outfit was firmly in the box seat with a 27 point buffer at the long break. However, the Colts flipped the script in the premiership quarter with a six goal blitz stunning the Rosellas to leave the game right back in the balance at the final huddle. But the break didn’t holt the Colts stampede as the dam wall burst open in the final stages with six more majors handing the visitors a remarkable 38 point win, 16.10-106 to 10.8-68. Jase Perkins has made a big difference to the Colts forward structure since returning to the side and the spearhead was prominent again with four goals. Kwame McHarg showed why he’s a star of the competition with another best on ground effort that included two majors. It was a concerning second half for the Rosellas but the emergence of young gun Alecsander McComb has been a big plus the past fortnight and he finished with a haul of four snags.

St Paul’s surge in the second half of the season continued with a comfortable seven goal triumph over Mordialloc, 12.15-87 to 6.8-44, at McKinnon Reserve. The Doggies made it three wins from their past four with a dominant last quarter handing them the four points. The home side looked to have the game in control with a 22 point buffer at half time before the Bloodhounds dug deep to cut the gap to under a kick at the three quarter time huddle. But the Dogs rose to the occasion and finished strongly with six final term majors slamming the door shut on the visitors. Ryan Carroll continues to hit the scoreboard with three goals and gun Matt Kreymborg put in a polished display with three goals to boot. Regan Maddaford continued his strong recent form to be the best player for the winners. Remarkably the Dogs are now just two games outside of finals. They couldn’t, could they?

St Kilda City took a big scalp and made a statement in the process with a thumping 79 point win over East Malvern, 20.9-129 to 7.8-50, at the Peanut Farm. The accurate Saints stunned the visitors in the first half with 12 goals to two killing the contest in brutal fashion. A triple figure drubbing looked to be on the cards in the second half before the Panthers held firm late to stop the bleeding. Aaron Edwards was the star Saint once again with another big bag of nine goals. The gun forward has now booted 27 majors in the past three weeks and is firing at the right time of the year for his side. Jordan Tabakman was also strong all game and champion Dane Swan slotted back in for his first appearance in two months with aplomb.

Souter Oval witnessed the pick of the Round 13 action over the weekend as Dingley held on for a 10 point victory over Bentleigh in a closely fought contest. The Demons needed a win to keep themselves in the finals frame but the task before them was arguably the toughest in the SFNL. The top of the table Dingoes have sung the song every time they’ve played at the Den this season and they weren’t about to change things here. The first term set the tone with a sensational contest from both sides seeing the Dees take the slimmest possible lead after an entertaining start. The second stanza was almost a carbon copy bar the Dingoes sneaking in one more major to enter the rooms with their noses in front. The two sides could barely be split once again when play resumed but the Dingoes managed to find the answers in the key moments. The visitors threw everything they had at the home side in the last with a five goal effort but it wasn’t enough as the Dingoes consolidated to claim a brilliant win, 14.18-102 to 14.8-92. The goals were shared around with nine individual goal kickers for the home side with no player booting more than two for the day. Chris Horton-Milne made it back-to-back best on ground performances and Cam Dickie produced an excellent day’s work.

The round wrapped up at Turner Road reserve with Highett breaking through for their first win of the season, the Bulldogs running over the top of Oakleigh District in the second half to win by 17 points, 11.12-78 to 9.7-61. The home side looked hungry for their first dub of the season and should’ve entered the half time rooms with a lead had it not been for some poor conversion in front of the big sticks. They straightened up in the third term with 6.2 to capture a two goal lead. A tense final term ensued but a late Highett goal put the result beyond doubt much to the delight of loyal Doggies fans. The young trio of Scott Vawser, Jack Prosser and Sam Jackson were instrumental in the win, while key planks Will Bodman and Jacob Duscher were involved once again.

Division 2 – Round 13 Review

Chelsea Heights notched up a much needed win over Murrumbeena at Beazley Reserve, the home side too strong to run out comfortable winners, 19.12-126 to 6.4-40. A strong second term laid the foundations of the win before the Demons blasted through seven goals in the third term to stitch up a percentage booster. Beena battled it out with four final quarter goals but were no match when it mattered most. James Norton had an afternoon to remember with half a dozen goals and Gary Carpenter was at his best with two goals in a dominant display.

The game of the round between Caulfield and East Brighton lived up to the hype and more, as Caulfield clung on for a thrilling two point victory in a tense come from behind victory. The Vampires started brightly to gain the early advantage before a cracking second quarter comeback saw the Bears enter the change rooms with a slender four point lead. The visitors pinched back the advantage with a three goal effort in the third with everything on the line with one quarter to go. In a remarkably tight final term neither side managed a goal as nerves ran high. Fortunately for the home side, their six behinds were enough to squeak over the line and claim the lead right at the death. The final score 9.11-65 to 9.9-63. James Sullivan stood up with four goals for Caulfield and milestone man Chris Smith was influential with two snags. Jacob Buggy doesn’t have coronavirus but he does have leather poisoning after another dominant display with plenty of touches.  The Vampires haven’t lost any fans despite the result and Liam Reidy was awesome with five majors.

Springvale Districts got the job done against Heatherton at Ross Street Reserve, but not without some toil as the home side held firm for three quarters before fading away in the last. The Tunners made the most of their limited opportunities in the first half to trail by under four goals at the main break. The Demons began to pull away in the third term before breaking the game open in the last to do some damage to the scoreboard. The final margin of 76 points, 17.15-117 to 6.4-41, not entirely reflective of how hard the home side made the premiership favourites work for the win. Matt Wetering was at the coal face once again with eight majors and Stefan Feehan chipped in with four goals. Daniel Spence was also superb and took out best on ground honours for the victors.

Keysborough put last week’s disappointment behind them with a gritty ten goal win over Hampton, 14.6-90 to 4.6-30, at Rowley Allan Reserve. The Hammers were up for the fight in the first half and appeared to be on track for a competitive loss before the Burras bashed them up in the closing stages to inflate the margin. Simon Marchese and Anthony Brannan both booted three goals each for the winners and Ryan Goodes continues to put together strong displays.

The battle for fifth spot went to Hampton Park as the Redbacks knocked over Skye, 8.12-60 to 6.14-50, at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve in a massive result both sides. It was a cracking contest in the first half with just four points separating the sides after an entertaining start. The third quarter went a long way to deciding the result as the Redbacks booted the only three majors to take a handy 22 point lead with twenty minutes to play. The Bombers fought hard with two final term goals but it wasn’t enough as they fell to a shattering 10 point loss. Peter Dye and Nathan Carver both hit the scoreboard for the winners with two goals each and Thomas Rees was instrumental in the victory. Anthony Craddock did his best for the Bombers with three goals but it wasn’t enough to secure the four points.

Division 3 – Round 13 Review

The first draw of the season went to Doveton and South Yarra as neither side could be split at the final siren in their clash at Conway Cranes Power Reserve. The Lions were expected to respond strongly following their embarrassing loss to the Falcons last week but things got off to a shaky start as Doveton dominated the first half to shock the visitors with a 13 point lead. Alarm bells were at fever pitch at the three quarter time huddle with the Eagles leading by 17 points and on the cusp of their first victory. The Lions dominated the final term everywhere but the scoreboard, kicking a woeful 2.5 to shoot themselves in the foot and leave the scores locked at 67 each at the final bell. The story of the day lay in scoring shots, with the Yarras unable to claim the win despite having a staggering 10 more scoring shots than the home side. Whilst Doveton didn’t get the win either, they would’ve come away from the result with far more positives than the visitors. Leigh Tannahill deserved to be on a winning side with four goals for the Eagles and David Bonacci also hit the scoreboard with three snags. Josh Johns lead from the front once again, while for the Yarras Ben Gillett was superb and Dillon Taylor booted three majors.

Ashwood claimed a thrilling six point win over Endeavour Hills at Essex Heights Reserve, with a dominant second half seeing the Magpies come from behind. The Falcons were soaring early and looked to be on track with a 16 point advantage at the half time address. But the Magpies struck back with a seven goal blitz in the third quarter to take a one point lead at the last change. The game closed down again in the last as both teams fought for possession with every contest crucial in deciding the result. With goals now at a premium, it was the home side who struck gold with the only major of the term handing the Pies a thrilling victory, 14.7-91 to 12.13-85. David Hickley was rightly named the best player on the field with four goals and had good support from Alex Davies and Pat Carroll.

Narre South’s impressive run of form continued after the Saints smashed South Mornington by 126 points, 29.9-183 to 9.3-57, in a drubbing at Strathaird Reserve. It was sedate start before the home side exploded in the second stanza with their nine goals a sign of things to come. Another 16 goals followed in the second half as the Saints put the hapless Tigers to the sword. To the visitors credit they never threw the towel in and managed to boot nine goals from just 12 opportunities on the afternoon. Danny Brewster was simply the star of the show with his massive haul of 12 goals the clear highlight of the game. Buzz Nolan also slotted a lazy half a dozen and Tim Phillips chipped in with five.

The final match of the round was another corker with Clayton claiming the double over Black Rock with a cracking 11 point victory, 13.14-92 to 11.15-81. The Jets had their noses in front at every change and looked certain to hold on for a gritty victory before the Clays rallied in the last to flip the script. With four goals to one, Jason Smith’s men were simply too good in the dying stages as they went on to record a stirring victory that will grow the belief within the four walls of the club. Dylan Bone put in a fine display up forward with four goals and Hayden Ross was imply outstanding and capped off a great game with three majors. The Jets did plenty right before the final quarter fadeout and will be locking this one away in the memory bank before a potential rematch in the finals. Michael ‘Buddy’ Spohn battled hard with two majors and Daniel Kick was in everything all afternoon.

Division 4 – Round 13 Review

Hallam continued their charge towards finals with a clinical 66 point victory over the lowly Lyndale at Barry Powell Reserve. The Hawks don’t know how to lose and have sung the song every week since Round 3 in one of the great turnarounds in recent memory. Not only are the Hawks now likely to play finals, they can do some damage when they get there. The Pumas were gallant in the opening half before the Hawks flexed their muscles in the third quarter to crush the home side’s spirit. Ben Coutet led the way up front with four goals for Hallam and Jack Sharlassian and Tom Bradley both chipped in with three snags each. The final score 15.7-97 to 4.7-31 a fair reflection in the difference between the two sides.

If Saturday’s game was any indication, Carrum Patterson Lakes have no intentions of taking it easy before finals as the Lions mauled Dandenong by 150 points, 29.15-189 to 5.9-39, at Greaves Reserve. No one expected the Redlegs to knock over the undefeated premiership favourites but the manner in which they were dismantled would have sent shudders throughout the rest of the competition. As you’d expect with 29 goals on the board the Lions forwards raffled around the goals with Rohan Bleeker slotting nine and Alex Wilson putting through seven. With ball in hand Andrew McCormack was in business and Tyler Neal was busy throughout.

Cerberus claimed its best win of the season after the Three-Headed Dogs toppled Lyndhurst by 13 points, 10.8-68 to 7.13-55, at McAuliffe Oval. The Navy boys form had been patchy in recent times but they put all that behind them with a showing more akin to their early season form. However, things weren’t looking so rosy at half time with the Lightning claiming a four goal lead after a strong start. With the game on the line in the third term, the Dogs stepped up and slammed through six goals to turn the tables and claim a 11 point break. The home side held firm in the last to hold on for a cracking win and notch up four crucial premiership points. Jake Hinder was the match winner with six goals and singlehandedly dragged the home side over the line in an inspirational display.

Frankston scraped their way to their fifth win of the season in a tight tussle against Moorabbin at Widdop Crescent Reserve. The Kangaroos were sensing an opportunity with the scores tied up at half time and just ten points the difference at the final change. But the visitors knew they had to walk away with the four points anyway they could and booted five important goals to claim a crucial win in an entertaining climax. The Dolphins running out 11 point winners, 10.10-70 to 9.5-59. Josh Kerrigan booted five goals for the winners and Jake McKinnon was important in the clinches.

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