ROUND 18 REVIEW
Caulfield has won through to the Division 2 finals in a do or die battle with East Brighton on Saturday, knocking the Vampires out of the finals race.
Caulfield 9.10 (64) def East Brighton 5.6 (36)
The Bears may not have entered the game in top form and it probably wasn’t their best performance, but it was their most important win of the season, defeating the Vampires by 28 points to finish fifth and book a trip to the finals.
The two sides were locked together at 33 at half time, but Caulfield surged ahead in the second half, putting on four goals to just three behinds to come away with the win.
Offseason recruit Cameron Roughead was best on ground for the victors, bagging three goals, while Sam Edgerton and Christian Trumble were also impressive.
Caulfield got off to a hot start, booting five goals to three in the opening term to lead by 13 points, before East Brighton booted two in the second to level the score going into half time.
The Bears re-gained control of the game in the third, kicking three goals to lead by 20 points at the final change, before adding a single major in the fourth, all while holding the Vampires to two behinds, to walk away 28-point winners.
Mitch Backman and Kai Love-Linay were East Brighton’s best in its final game of the season.
Doveton Eagles 23.16 (154) def Keysborough 8.3 (51)
A rampaging Doveton Eagles has trounced finals bound Keysborough to the tune of 103 points to ensure good form heading into the week off.
The minor premiers held the Burra to four goals after quarter time, while piling on a further 17 majors.
Darren Sheen finished the day with seven majors, while Nick Battle (two goals) and Cameron Carmody joined Sheen among the best players.
A closely fought out first quarter saw Doveton lead by just 13 points at the first change, before the Eagles piled on nine goals to three to stretch the buffer to 52 points by half time.
After the main break it was all Doveton, as they booted eight goals to one in the second half to run out big winners.
Riet Pal and Cory Hargreaves were listed as the Burras’ best.
Murrumbeena 17.8 (110) def Mount Waverley 7.17 (59)
Murrumbeena has emerged unscathed during its final round clash with Mount Waverley and has ensured winning form going into finals with a 51-point win.
The game was won during the first half, where the Beena piled on eight goals to one to establish a 41-point half time lead.
Michael McMahon was best on ground for the victors with four goals, while Jay Bruno, Harley Ambrose and Alaster Bradley (five goals) were also influential.
The first half belong to Murrumbeena as the premiership contenders piled on the goals early to lead by 25 points at quarter time and 41 at half time.
The Lions put together a better second half, booting six goals, but the Beena were simply too strong, finishing with nine to come away with the 51-point win.
Jack Dunn booted three goals for Mount Waverley while James Tighello was its best.
Highett 17.19 (121) def Clayton 3.8 (26)
Highett will enter the finals in strong form after disposing of wooden spooners Clayton by 95 points.
Brett Collins booted six goals for the Dogs and was named among their best alongside Sam Jackson (three goals) and Jordan Thompson.
An inaccurate first half from Highett resulted in just six goals from 17 scoring shots and a 31-point lead at the half time interval.
The third ranked side were much better in the second half, piling on 11 goals from 19 scoring shots, while holding Clayton to 1.4 to come away with the big win.
Jordan Collins and Jack Gavin were Clayton’s best.
Hampton 6.8 (44) def Skye 6.7 (43)
Another unsavoury on-field incident brought an early end to an otherwise cracking contest at the Toolbox.
Hampton were one-point leaders when the match was abandoned late in the last quarter, and subsequently declared winners by that margin.
The results sees the Hammers finish its season with eight wins.
@JBarbin10
