Round 10: Men's Football Review

By Sam Doyle

Division 1: 

Round 10 in the top division shaped as a crucial round for many teams finals aspirations with a number of results that have helped shape the ladder. 

Mordialloc hosted East Malvern in what was a must win game for the Blood’s finals hopes and they got the job done coming away 32 point winners. 

The Panthers who are winless and sit bottom of the ladder took it up to the hosts all day but the end the class of the Bloods shone through. 

Brett O’Hanlon booted 8 goals in a dominant best on ground display and guided his team to victory whilst Lachlan Howes also shone brightly with 3 goals and racking up plenty of possessions. 

The Bloods will now turn their attention to trying to break into the top four in the coming weeks and cement a finals spot. 

Top of the table Cranbourne Eagles continued their dominant start to the season with a 100 point win over Springvale Districts. 

The Eagles raced out of the blocks early with an incredible 11 goal opening term which basically put the game to bed by the first break. 

Mitchell White backed up his last outing with another impressive performance this time with 4 goals in a best afield display whilst Marc Holt continued his goal kicking form with another 4 goals to his name. 

The Districts’ finals hopes now are right in the balance following this loss and will need to start beating teams above them to achieve a finals spot come season's end. 

St Kilda City produced a dominant display at home against Port Melbourne Colts coming away 38 point winners and showcasing their top four credentials. 

The Colts were in the contest all day and proved hard for the Saints to shrug and it took right until the last quarter where the Saints were able to kick away by a few goals and come out comfortable winners but not without a challenge. 

Aaron Edwards booted 6 goals from his 17 possessions while Madison Andrews was named best for the Saints for his 26 disposals and 9 marks performance. For the Colts it was star Callan Wellings who again collected a best on ground performance racking up 39 disposals and slotting 2 goals. 

The Saints now sit firmly in the top four and will be aiming to stay there whilst the Colts’ season hangs in the balance at the halfway stage. 

Bentleigh hosted St Paul’s Mckinnon in what was expected to be an easy one for the visitors and it proved to be that way with the Doggies coming away 63 point winners. 

The Doggies were dominant in the ruck all day recording 45 more hitouts which gave their mids first look, and they used that to their advantage all day. The dominance in the middle resulted in the Doggies recording +21 inside 50’s giving their forwards plenty of looks at the big sticks all day. 

With the forwards getting a good look two main targets up there particularly impressed with Matthew Kreymborg and Stephan Muller kicking 5 goals a piece and proving too much for the Demons defenders to handle. 

VFL-listed Angus Hanrahan was a shining light for Bentleigh, as he racked up 44 disposals off half-back and gave his side plenty of opportunity.

The Demons will now turn to next week's fixture to bounce back as they look for their second win of the year. For the Doggies they sit third breathing down the neck of the top two and will be hoping to break into the top two in the weeks to come. 

In a game that promised so much more than it delivered, Cheltenham comfortably dealt with challengers Dingley in a one sided affair. 

The Rosellas applied the heat early on the Dingoes and held a comfortable 43 point lead at half time and extended that margin throughout the second half to come away 12 goal winners in a commanding display from the visitors. 

The Rosellas controlled the day recording +52 disposals and +42 marks which led to a high number of forward entries which the forwards reaped the rewards. 

Josh Fox impressed again kicking another bag this time with 5, Myke Cook shone brightly taking 10 marks from his 24 disposals whilst Austin Johnson was arguably best on ground kicking 4 goals and recording 30 possessions. 

The Rosellas are eyeing top spot and playing super footy which they will look to continue whilst the Dingoes now sit two games outside the top four and will need to improve on this performance in order to push for a top four finish.

 

Division 2: 

Top of the league Doveton played out a much closer than expected game against seventh placed Hampton Park coming away just 28 point winners. 

The Redbacks produced a spirited display in front of their home fans and took it up to the doves all day in what was a performance that will give the redbacks confidence to take into the next couple of weeks. Nathan Carver impressed for the Redbacks slotting 4 goals. 

With the scores even at the main break it was the Doves’ second half which saw them break the game open kicking 8 goals to 4 in an improved display. Michael Cardamone and James Gascard both bobbed up with 3 goals whilst Luke Daidone was named best afield. 

In the thumping of the road, Heatherton hosted Highett and were completely blown off the park by the visiots losing by a mammoth 143 points. 

The Tonners are still yet to taste victory this season and that task is looking harder to achieve every week with the side proving no match to their opposition week in week out. 

The Doggies raced out of the blocks with an eight goal opening term to stamp their authority on the game and take the game away from the Tonners in the first term. They then continued on their merry-way for the remainder of the game finishing with 26 majors on the board. 

Thomas Mackie booted 6 goals whilst Mitchell Hoar kicked 5 of his own and Samuel Jackson booted 4 goals and was extremely dominant in a best on ground performance. 

In what promised to be the game of the round and delivered, Caulfield Bears produced a fantastic win on the road against Keysborough coming away 11 point victors in a thriller. 

The Burras went into this clash two games above the Bears. The Bears pulled off a brilliant upset win to reduce the gap between them and the Burras and shapes as a season defining win. 

It was a one man band for the Bears in the forward half with Chris Smith kicking 6 goals and not just six goals but six out of the bears’ eight majors which makes it an even more impressive performance. 

Both sides sit in the top four currently and both will be looking to solidify their places in the four in the rounds to come.

East Brighton hosted Skye in what loomed as an important game for the Vampires finals aspirations and they did their finals chances no harm with a solid 5 goal win. 

The Bombers who have recorded just the one win for the year were outclassed in the first half which saw the margin sit at 31 points at the main break but a spirited second half saw them match it with the Vampires in the second half which wll give the group confidence heading into next week. 

The Vampires broke the game open with a 5 goal second term to see off their opposition but were challenged in the second half. Jack Rennex kicked 5 majors up forward and took a number of strong marks to be the shining light up forward whilst Blake Cochrane was again named best on ground. 

The Vampires are now within touching distance of the top four sitting fifth and will be aiming to break in over the coming weeks. For the Bombers they sit second bottom and will be aiming to take their second half form into next week. 

 

Division 3: 

In the upset of the round and quite possibly the year Endeavour Hills knocked off second placed Black Rock by 4 goals in an impressive display. 

Black Rock who went into this clash on top of the table and with just one loss headed into this clash as warm favorites but were met by a Falcons outfit full of confidence and dare which handed them their fourth straight win in a row knocking off the top team and pressing their claims for a top four finish. 

If it wasn't for Black Rock’s good accuracy in front of goals, the Falcons may have come away with a larger win and put the game to bed earlier. Among the best for the winning side were Alexander Cann who kicked 5 goals and Nick Gay who was named best on ground. 

Black Rock as a result of this loss have lost the top spot but still remain firmly at the top end of the table whilst the Falcons recent form has seen them rise to fifth pushing for a top four spot in the weeks to come. 

In what was an extremely one sided affair Carrum Patterson Lakes took care of lowly placed South Yarra by a large 115 point margin.

CPL jumped out of the blocks early with a five goal to zero first term setting up their big win but it was their third quarter which was most impressive which saw them kick a whopping ten goals in that quarter alone to enhance their margin. 

Rohan Bleeker continued his dynamic start to the year booting 7 goals and collecting another best on ground display which now makes it three consecutive best on performances. 

The Lions, who sit bottom of the table will be aiming to record their second win of the season in the coming weeks as they try to avoid the wooden spoon for season 2022 whilst CPL sit healthy in third position. 

Top of the table Murrumbeena took on lowly placed Clayton in what turned out to be a tighter affair than most would have expected with the Beena’s coming away 52 point winners. 

The Clays took it right up to the league leaders for most of the day and were right in the fight all day but it was the class of the Beena’s outfit which proved the major difference between the two sides with the Beena’s being more clinical around the big sticks. 

For the losing side Paul Tsoucalas maintained his impressive form kicking 3 goals and being named best for the Clays whilst for the winners it was Steve Tolongs who again stood out with 4 majors and James Shirley was stood out in a great team display from the Beena’s. 

 

Division 4: 

In what shaped to be the most even contest of the round between Lyndale and the Moorabbin Kangaroos, it was Lyndale who proved too strong coming away 36 point winners. 

With both sides sitting towards the lower end of the ladder, this game loomed as an important one for both teams and their slim finals hopes. 

Lyndale held a slim 7 point margin heading into the main break and it was their third quarter which broke the game open and saw them kick 3 goals to the goalless Kangaroos which proved the difference between the two sides. Brett Tosh was the standout on the day kicking 2 goals and dominating all over the ground. 

The Kangaroos will be looking to bounce back next week to keep their finals hopes alive whilst Lyndale will be looking to build on the back of an impressive win which could finally kick start their season.

Hallam hosted lowly placed Cerberus in what was always going to be a one sided affair and was with the Hawks recording a thumping 102 point win. 

The Hawks who are pushing for a top two spot had a perfect opportunity to pick up the four points and build that percentage and confidence and thats exactly what they did with this big win. 

It was a stunning first half from the Hawks booting 13 goals to set up the big win, star forward duo Jack Sharlassian and Nathan Jerram both bagged 5 majors in what otherwise was an outstanding team performance. 

For Cerberus, their focus now will be on staying off the bottom of the ladder and recording only their second win in the weeks to come. 

Bottom placed Doveton headed to Marriott Waters Reserve on Saturday to take on flag fancy Lyndale in an expected one sided affair. 

The Lightning came away 121 point winners against the Eagles in what was a dominant performance right from the first bounce until the final siren. 

Star Forwards Jarryd Mcgrath and Hamish Browning continued their dominance this season booting 8 goals and 6 goals respectively. Taking Mcgraths the league's leading goal kicker’s season tally to 47 and Brownings to 30 with the pair proving a handful week in week out. 

The Eagles, will be looking to climb their way off the bottom over the next few games whilst the Lightning are pushing for top spot and are just 4 points behind the Dolphins who sit top. 

Top of the table Frankston Dolphins cruised to another dominant victory this time defeating mid table Dandenong by 139 points in a sizzling display. 

The Dolphins who still remain undefeated and now look a shoe in for the premiership further established their dominance on the league. The Dolphins kicked a whopping 27 goals including 17 of them in the second half alone. 

Destructive forwards Liam O’Donnell and Richard Mathers continued their fine goal scoring seasons by kicking 5 goals each whilst Lachlan Fielding also kicked 5 and amassed plenty of the ball in a best on ground display.

The Redlegs, who have now put in two disappointing performances in the last couple of game will look to get their season back on track next week with a vital win and push for a top four position. 

In what turned out to be the game of the round, Hampton and South Mornington played out a thriller which resulted in a nail biting 5 point win for the Tigers. 

Hampton, who came into this clash as underdogs, produced a fantastic effort which saw them take it up to the Tigers throughout the whole game, almost producing a stirring upset. 

It was an extraordinarily even contest all day with the Tigers’ lead never being more than a few goals and there was nothing to split the sides. In the end it was the Tigers’ midfield which got them over the line against a spirited Hammers outfit. 

The Tigers who sit fourth, have cemented their place in the top four for now and will be aiming to record some big scalps in the weeks to come. For the Hammers who are eighth and are placed in a mid table log jam will be looking to break out of that in the weeks to come.

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