Round 16 Review: Division 1-4

By Lincoln Edmunds

Division 1 – Round 15 Review

The SFNL returned with an avalanche of goals as the big boys flexed their muscles in powerful displays,
while the race for fifth spot heats up with just three games to go.
Cheltenham wasted no time getting back into the swing of things, the Rosellas crushing a hapless
Oakleigh District outfit by a whopping 177 points in a ruthless display at Jack Barker Oval. The home side
were up and about early, generating a staggering 16 scoring shots to zip in the opening stanza. Only the
quarter time break prevented more pain being piled on the visitors as the Rosellas brought up the ton
before half time. Things remained ugly in the second half as Cheltenham did as they pleased to
humiliate the men in black and white. The final score ugly reading for the visitors, 29.22-196 to 3.1-19.
As you’d expect with such a mammoth score the goals were shared around, with an astonishing 14
individual goal kickers for the victors. Campbell James led the way with six majors and Dylan Weickhardt
dominated with four goals too.
St Paul’s have kept their season alive with a cracking 49 point victory over East Malvern at McKinnon
Reserve. There was no room for error for the Doggies who had to win to keep their fairytale run towards
September alive. They looked like a dog hungry outfit early as they dominated the opening stages to
take a four goal quarter time lead. The Panthers mustered a better response in the second term but
once again lost the quarter to stare down a six goal deficit at half time. Another four goals by the home
side in the premiership quarter blew the margin out to 50 points and they never looked back from there.
The final score, 14.8-92 to 6.7-43, handing the Dogs their sixth win of the season and seeing them just
one game out of the top five. The star of the show was undoubtably Stephen Muller who put the
Panthers to the sword with some individual brilliance to finish with seven goals. It was another
disappointing day for the Panthers who have now lost their past four games and are in serious danger of
toppling out of the finals race.
Port Melbourne Colts notched up win number nine in a big performance against Mordialloc at Murphy
Reserve, the home side far too strong to run out impressive winners, 26.16-172 to 10.3-63. The first half
display from the Colts was as good as you’ll see in local football, the home side running riot to boot 16
goals to three and taking a whopping 86 point buffer. Things slowed down in the second half as the
Bloodhounds clawed some respectability back late with some consolation goals. The Colts A grade talent
was on full display all afternoon with superstar Kwame McHarg notching up another dominant display
and gun spearhead Jase Perkins jagging a big haul of ten majors. The key forward has been sorely missed
at stages throughout the season but is a massive boost for the club on the verge of finals.
It was a similar one-sided story over at Turner Road Reserve as another premiership fancy, Dingley, took
Highett to the cleaners in another big blowout. The Dogs were solid enough in the opening exchange
before the visitors put their foot down in the second stanza to open up an unassailable lead at the main
break. To the home side’s credit, they continued to battle away in the second half but the Dingoes ran
riot once again with a ten goal final term stamping an empathic victory, 29.16-190 to 6.6-42. Stalwart
Dan Farmer was dangerous up forward once again with a bag of seven majors and Liam Hard produced
his best game of the year with four snags. In a shock to no one, Lucas Walmsley and Jackson Peet also
featured heavily to be among the Dingoes best on the day.
An opening term blitz set St Kilda City on the path to victory in their clash against Bentleigh at Arthur
Street, the visitors running all over the Demons early to take a seven goal quarter time lead. It was a

disappointing start by the home who still had plenty to play for but instead saw their season fall in a
heap in twenty odd minutes. They responded in the second stanza but still had a mountain to climb at
half time with the Saints leading by six goals. Any hopes of a comeback victory were empathically ruled
out upon resumption as the Saints slammed through five more majors to well and truly take control. The
final score, 18.17-125 to 8.8-56, ending the Demons season and keeping the Saints entrenched inside
the top three. Brayden Irving continued his fine season in front of the big sticks with four more goals and
Eddie Espinosa also chipped in with three snags. While he didn’t quite reach the individual heights of
recent outings, Aaron Edwards was also an important cog with three goals and man of the people and
former AFL superstar Dane Swan starred in his first away appearance of the season.
Division 2 – Round 16 Review
Caulfield claimed the points in an entertaining stoush against Chelsea Heights at Koornang Park over the
weekend, the home side producing a dominant third quarter to get them over the line, 10.6-66 to 6.6-
42. With their season on the line, the Demons came to play early, kicking three opening quarter goals to
take a slender five point advantage to the first huddle. The arm wrestle continued in the second with
just two points separating the sides at the long break. But the Bears turned up the heat in the third, with
four goals to one opening up a valuable 19 point buffer. It proved to be too much to reel in for the
Demons as the Bears ran out four goal winners to record their ninth win of the season. Forward duo
James Backway and Chris Smith did the damage with six goals between them and Adam Ballard was
instrumental in the result. For the Heighters their season is now officially over from a finals perspective
but Nathan Robinson played out of his skin with his four goals keeping his team in the contest for much
of the afternoon.
Hampton Park secured their spot in finals action with a comprehensive belting of Hampton at Robert
Booth Reserve, 14.23-107 to 4.3-27. It was a scrappy affair in the opening stages but the Redbacks blew
out the cobwebs in the second half with 22 scoring shots to five outlining their utter dominance. Had it
not been for some poor conversion in front of the goal, the home side would’ve been looking at a triple
figure margin but instead had to settle for an 80 point triumph. The Redbacks were able to raffle the
goals around with 11 individual goal kickers with Nathan Carver leading the way with three majors. Zak
Hogton and Enayte Samadi did the damage with the pill in hand and for the Hammers Shakore Bragg-
Taylor continued his excellent campaign with another solid effort to finish with two goals.
Keysborough notched up their ninth win of the season in a convincing display against Skye at Rowley
Allan Reserve, the home side too strong for the Bombers to run away with a 44 point victory, 13.12-90
to 6.10-46. A defensive masterclass from the Burras in the first half saw the Bombers hit the sheds
goalless and with plenty of work to do to chase down a five goal lead. They broke their drought in the
third stanza with three majors but crucially the home side were able to better it with four goals to shut
the door on the Bombers chances. The final quarter played out in similar fashion as the Burras claimed
an important win to keep themselves in the hunt for the crucial double chance. Matt Carnelley booted
three goals and Calum Letcher produced a polished performance for the victors. For the Bombers, their
finals chances are now shot and they’ll be looking to take some good form into 2022 from the remaining
matches. Joel McConville battled hard all day to finish with two majors to be the visitors best.
The final match of the round turned out to be a surprisingly competitive tussle between first and last on
the ladder, as home side Murrumbeena made Springvale Districts scrap hard for an eight goal win,
17.17-119 to 11.6-72. The fact that an eight goal loss seems a relative shock speaks volumes of how far

apart these two teams sit, with no one anticipating the winless Beena to cause any problems for the
premiership favourites. But problems they did cause, with a cracking opening term seeing them hold the
undefeated District to just one goal while slotting three themselves to take the early lead. Of course, the
Demons were always going to respond but they never quite had it their own way for the rest of the
afternoon as the Lions made them earn every major. But the visitors class was always going to prove
tricky to tame and familiar names in Matt Wetering, Peter Heng and Todd Wills turned the game around
in the Demons favour. Wetering booted another half a dozen goals to continue his excellent season and
take his season tally to 64 goals from 12 appearances. For Beena, it was a commendable effort coming
against the benchmark of the competition and Wade King continues to enhance his reputation with
another three goal best on ground effort.
Division 3 – Round 16 Review
A cracking third quarter comeback saw Black Rock claim a 17 point victory over Ashwood, 10.10-70 to
6.17-53, in a see-sawing game of football at Essex Heights Reserves. The Magpies dominated the first
half with 16 scoring shots to six but would’ve been kicking themselves in only taking a four goal lead into
the change rooms. Unfortunately for them, with the door still ajar the Jets burst through with six third
quarter goals to snatch back the lead and turn the game on its head. The final quarter proved to be a
tight, tough and dour affair but once again it came down to accuracy with the visitors converting two
goals from their four opportunities while the Pies went goalless from their four chances. As they say bad
kicking is bad football and so it proved for the home side as they blew a golden opportunity to claim a
big scalp and keep their top two chances alive. The Jets were superb in the second half however and
thoroughly deserved the win as they continue to keep their grip on top spot. Jayden Bradbury was
superb with two goals in a best on ground effort and Patrick Mastertoun also stood up in key moments
for the victors.
Narre South Saints continue to pile on the goals as they recorded yet another crushing victory, this time
on the road at Leigh Park against South Yarra, 30.15-195 to 6.6-42. After a sedate opening the Saints
began to warm up in the second stanza before they blew the Lions away with a stunning surge of 12
goals in the third quarter to stamp their authority. The carnage continued in the last with another eight
goals, as the team fell just five points short of breaking the 200 point barrier for the third time this
season. Up front it was hard to go past Danny Brewster, as the key forward dined out on a disymal Lions
defence with a stunning effort of 13 goals. Brandon Nolan was also busy with five goals and Daniel Chin
had the statisticians scrambling with plenty of the Sherrin.
It was another blowout over at Meade Reserve as Clayton flexed their muscles against Doveton to
record a thumping victory, 28.21-189 to 7.4-46. The Eagles were gallant early before, like many of the
underdogs this round, they were blown away in a twenty minute period as the Clays clocked up ten
second quarter goals. With the contest all but over the Clays took the foot off the gas before enjoying
themselves in the last with ten more majors putting the full stop on another clinical display. Dylan Bone
bore the fruits of his side's superiority with six snags and Paul Tscoucalas continues to chip away with
five goals here. Nick Parisi, Hayden Ross and Gerard Imbriano were also amongst the best.
Endeavour Hills kept their season alive with a powerful display against South Mornington, the Falcons
too good to run out big winners, 16.15-111 to 2.9-21. A solid first half saw the home side take a
comfortable lead before they turned it up a notch in the premiership quarter with seven more goals
ensuring they would record a handy percentage booster to go with the four points. Ben Holland slotted

five goals to lead the way up forward and Sam McLean also got on the end of a few to register four
majors. Nick Gay and Jayson Bruce impressed with ball in hand.
Division 4 – Round 16 Review
Greaves Reserve saw Division 4 football return to action with Dandenong and Cerberus clashing in what
turned out to be an entertaining affair. The writing looked to be on the wall early after the Three-
Headed Dogs took a five goal quarter time lead but the Redlegs rallied in the second to rattle on five
goals to cut the margin to just 13 points at the half. The Navy boys kicked back into gear after the break
but only lead by just four goals at the final huddle. Unfortunately for the home side they ran out of puff
in the closing stages as the visitors chalked up five more majors to in the end run away comfortable
victors, 19.7-121 to 10.13-73. Jake Hinder finished with five goals for Cerberus and Jason Daniel also
contributed with three majors.
Frankston chalked up their second victory in a row after a closely fought contest against Lyndale at
Overport Park. Despite both sides being out of the finals race, the first quarter provided plenty of quality
highlights as both sides booted five goals in an entertaining opening. Things tightened up after with
neither team able to grab the momentum for long periods. With the Dolphins leading by just one kick at
the final huddle it was still very much anyone’s game with an exciting twenty minutes to follow. But it
was the home side who finished stronger, trapping the ball in their forward half to deny the Pumas and
notch up a gritty win, 12.13-85 to 10.9-69. The Dolphins shared the goals around with a good spread of
11 individual goal kickers as Scott Stegehuis lead the way with a best on ground effort. The Pumas came
up short in a close affair once again but Khaled Kandakji booted three majors and Branislav Karaga was
superb all afternoon.
The mouth-watering clash between Carrum Patterson Lakes and Hallam lived up to the hype and more
as CPL managed to maintain their unbeaten record by the skin of their teeth is a pulsating three point
victory at Roy Dore Reserve, 9.10-64 to 8.13-61. Many pundits wondered how far the Hawks had come
since their Round 2 drubbing against the Lions and those queries were answered early as the Hawks hit
the ground running to take an 11 point quarter time lead. The Lions challenged, as expected, in the
second stanza but the Hawks held the fort to keep their noses in front heading into the changerooms.
Another tight tussle was in store in the third term with both sides managing just two goals each with the
Hawks spraying some crucial chances in front of goal. The last quarter was a genuine nail-biter with the
result of the match up in the air right until the final siren. Unfortunately, it would be a heartbreaker for
the Hawks, who having led all day coughed up the lead in the final minutes of the game. The final siren
sending the Lions bench into pandemonium and leaving the visitors on their knees. Tyler Neal and Alex
Wilson both hit the scoreboard for CPL with five goals between them and Toby Darma stood up in key
moments to will his side to victory. The result is a cruel blow to the visitors top two hopes but they have
lost absolutely zero respect from anyone, especially not the Lions. Don’t you worry folks, the Division 4
premiership is far from decided!
The final match of the round saw Lyndhurst do what many predicted pre-game, the visitors smashing
Moorabbin to the tune of 136 points in a fizzer of a contest at Widdop Crescent Reserve. The Lightning
laid the foundations in the opening half before piling on the pain after the long break, with 15 goals to
one in the second half outlining their utter dominance. The final score an ugly one for the Kangaroos,
24.17-161 to 3.7-25. It’s an important reminder to the rest of the competition just how effective this
forward line can be when on song and Hamish Browning looks to be hitting form at the right time after a

bag of 9 goals here. Jarryd McGrath also popped up with four majors and Trevor Jarvis added another
best on ground effort to his 2021 CV.