WEEKEND WRAP-UPS
DIVISION 1 - ROUND 4 WRAP-UP
With Good Will Hunter
Yep, it looks like winter has officially set in, folks. A cold, wet and miserable Melbourne day ruined any chance of a 40-goal shootout, but it couldn’t put a dampener on some awesome Division One action in round four.
The Dingoes continued their white-hot start to the year with a resounding 35-point win over St Pauls at McKinnon Reserve. As expected, it was a hard-fought, low-scoring slog for the first two quarters, but Dingley kept the visitors goalless after half-time while slamming on seven of their own. Luke Bartholomew was again dangerous in front of the sticks with three goals for Dingley while Tim Blackwood was the standout for the Doggies.
East Brighton also remains unbeaten after belting East Malvern by 47 points at Dunlop Reserve. Matt O’Rourke and youngster Tait Sabec starred as the Vampires piled on seven first-half goals to the Panthers’ one, effectively ending the match as a contest by the long break. East Malvern recruit Tremaine Tohiariki also impressed.
Bentleigh broke its Division One duck after edging out Heatherton at Bentleigh Reserve. A five-goal opening stanza laid the foundation for their gritty 11-point win, with Luke Morrison booting three in a best on ground performance for the Demons. Former Dandenong pair Chris Tosin and Cameron Moon played their best games for the Tunners.
In the upset of the round Chelsea Heights knocked off Cheltenham at Jack Barker Oval. Matt Terech and Joel Williams were dominant as the Heighters cruised to a 24-point victory despite a goalless final term. Chris Graham booted three for the Rosellas on difficult day for tall forwards.
The last game saw St Kilda City get the better of Clayton at Peanut Farm. With Gavin Mahony in sublime touch the Saints led from start to finish, holding the Clays at arm’s length all afternoon before running out 15-point winners. Daniel Kirby worked tirelessly to feature among Clayton’s best.
We’re four rounds in now, and already there is a logjam with five sides on 2-2. With such an even-looking division, there will be serious competition for spots in the top five come the business end of the season.
DIVISION 2 - ROUND 4 WRAP-UP
With Jason Barbin
Round 4 is done and dusted and the season well and truly underway. Let’s have a look at the results
Mordialloc remained unbeaten to start the season defeating Moorabbin by 99 points at home. The bloods led from start to finish in a truly dominating performance which started in the midfield. They showed class in the stoppages and were able to move the ball forward at will to the likes of Morris and Pennycuick who bagged 9 goals between them.
Oakleigh Districts won their second game on the trot with a grinding win against Caulfield at Koornang Park Reserve. Caulfield led at every change but were unable to hold on as Oakleigh kicked 3 goals to 1, to emerge victorious by 13 points. Joel Butler kept up his good form in front of goal with 3 for the Bears while Dan Kiellerup played his best game for the season and Will Lemarca continued to impress.
They say bad kicking can cost you games of football and that was certainly the case when Murrumbeena were defeated by Highett in Round 4. After fighting back to take the lead in the second quarter the Beena were wasteful after halftime kicking 3.14. Highett took advantage of the poor kicking to steal the game and win their second in a row, getting their season back on track. David Velardo was again opportunistic in front of goal with 6.
Skye kept their unbeaten streak alive with a tight win against an improving Doveton Eagles outfit. The Bombers led at every change but had to hold out a fast finishing Doveton side to remain undefeated. The Bombers backline once again held on and kept a high scoring Doveton team to only 10 goals. Luke Mcguinness kicked 6 goals for Skye while Marc Frizell was best afield.
While there were several close games throughout Round 4, none of them came close to the final match of the round. Springvale and Hampton provided the SFL with the first draw of the season when the two teams clashed at Springvale Reserve. The Hammer led at every change but it wouldn’t be enough as Springvale kicked 3 final quarter goals to draw level and that’s how the game finished. This result could be pivotal at the end of the season when they top 5 is finalised. Gavin Vasallo was best afield for the Districts and Chris Worner proved his worth in front of goal with 4 for the Hammers.
DIVISION 3 - ROUND 5 WRAP-UP
With Andrew Paloczi
Hallam has leapt off the bottom of the ladder with a home win over Ashwood under lights. The Hawks led by only nine points at the last change, but with three unanswered goals in the final quarter, defeated the Magpies by 27 points. Matt Neve kicked three of the Hawks’ seven goals and Stephen Richards-Gill was their best player. It is good to see all teams with at least one win.
For the second week running, Mount Waverley had to work hard for the four points when it visited Edinburgh Reserve to take on Sandown. The Cobras were only able to manage five goals for the day, with three of these coming from Jake Chapman, but at the final siren the Mountain Lions were just 11 points clear. Joey Rickard kicked a couple of majors for the winners, and their best player was Richard Mathers.
Second-placed Carrum Patterson Lakes is closing in on top spot with a thumping home win over a valiant but outclassed Endeavour Hills. Trevor March and Joel Dalton marked strongly and booted seven, and four goals respectively. Still, they probably both had to listen to Adam Lello describing his extraordinary goal, which he appeared to strike with the back of his boot. Warren Judd and Chris Mouritz were named the best for the Lions, but it must have been a tough job deciding, with a number of players having a great day. In the last quarter, the Lions scored a scarcely believable 15 goals to none, crushing the Falcons by 135 points.
Dandenong again played well in the first quarter, but fell away dramatically, copping a heavy defeat at the hands of Black Rock. The Redlegs had their noses in front at quarter time, but were outscored by 16 goals to two for the remainder of the match, to lose by 85 points. For the Jets, Tom Dewar had a big day with seven goals, and Kelly Spratt chipped in with four to be named their best performer.
Lyndale retains third spot after beating a determined South Yarra by a couple of goals at Barry Powell Reserve. Trevor Kumetaitis and Matthew Stuart combined for half of the Pumas’ 10 goals. Christian Egan was named best for the winners.
UNDER 19s - ROUND 4 WRAP-UP
With Josh Schonafinger
The Bentleigh train continues to roll on after disposing of Skye by 33 points on the weekend. The Dees led for the entire match, even though the Bombers got the margin back to 11 at the final change. Bentleigh go to four-zip and remain the only undefeated side in the competition.
Dingley reaffirmed their reputation as a high-scoring side with an 89 point victory over St Pauls. Vincent Arena and Timothy Zeler both kicked three goals each in what was a big percentage booster for the Dingoes.
A first quarter brain-fade cost Carrum Patterson Lakes dearly in their match-up against Clayton. CPL went scoreless in the opening term, and couldn’t make up the advantage that they gave the opposition. Daniel Distefano kicked six of the Clays’ ten goals, and was easily one of the best in the 45 point win.
The bottom two teams met when Highett hosted Hampton, so more than just four points were on the line. The Hammers started stronger, and held the ascendency for the entire match, gradually choking the Dogs before keeping them scoreless in the last quarter. Carl Nichols was excellent, helping Hampton to a victory by exactly seven goals.
Lastly, Cheltenham got the better of Chelsea Heights in a low scoring affair, keeping the Heighters to only three goals for the match. The win props up the Rosellas to within striking distance of the top five.
THIRDS - ROUND 4 WRAP-UP
With Josh Schonafinger
‘Wasted opportunities’ would have been the words muttered after the Round 4 Cheltenham and South Yarra clash, where Cheltenham held on by five points. Trailing by two goals heading into the last, the Lions kept the Rosellas to a single point in the last quarter, but kicked zero goals and six behinds themselves, shooting themselves in the foot. It leaves the Lions winless in 2014.
Cerberus continued their impressive form with a big 79 point win over Endeavour Hills. The Cerberus outfit was led by five goals to Jacob MacGregor, while the Hawks could only manage four goals for the match themselves.
Mount Waverley remained equal top of the Thirds ladder with a convincing win over mid-table Sandown. The Cobras actually lead by a solitary point at the first break, but as the Mountain Lions clicked into gear, the result became obvious, which was a 46 point margin.
Hallam and Clayton fought out a great contest at Hallam Reserve, although the Clays got the reward for hard work in the last. Hallam kicked three goals to none in the third to tighten the contest right up, but the Clays were too strong in the last quarter, winning by 23.
Three big results round out Round 4: Dingley beat Moorabbin by 123 points, Black Rock rolled Dandenong by exactly 15 goals, and Skye rocketed to the top of the ladder with a 208 point crushing of Doveton.
