Round 11 Review: Division 1-4
Division 1 – Round 11 Review
Fans made their way back through the gates at Southern footy this weekend and they were treated to a round of thrills and spills in Division 1 action.
Bentleigh kept their faint finals hopes alive with a pulsating ten point win over East Malvern at Dunlop Reserve. The Demons entered the clash as outsiders but started in brilliant fashion with four early goals to gain the upper hand. The Panthers slowly started to claw their way back but couldn’t break free of the visitor's defensive desperation. The Dees holding on for a gritty and memorable win, 7.7-49 to 5.9-39. Sam Lewin was huge in the win as was Thomas Wynne. Up forward Hudson Thomas and Luke Nunn were the multiple goal kickers with two each. The Panthers will rue their slow start in the first quarter and now find themselves fifth spot on the ladder. Brok Davidson did his best to keep his side in it with three goals but it wasn’t enough.
Fresh off their second win of the season, St Paul’s welcomed Cheltenham to McKinnon Reserve in a clash that promised to be an entertaining one despite respective ladder positions. The Dogs home fans were treated to an absolute spectacle from the home side in the first quarter, as St Paul’s piled on six goals to two to dominate proceedings. The response came from the Rosellas in the second quarter and at half time we had a game on our hands with just two points separating the sides. The visitors managed to edge ahead to ten points in the third and maintained that breathing space right until the final siren, running out with a gritty win 12.11-83 to 11.7-73. Jack Davis and Sean McLaren put in top performances and the visitors found the big sticks through Tom Davis, Cam James and Jack Hutchins who all booted three each. The Dogs were gallant once again but will be sick and tired of competitive losses. Will Clarke the best for the home side.
St Kilda City needed to respond to last week’s disappointing loss and respond they did, slaughtering Mordialloc by 101 points, 20.6-126 to 3.7-25, jumping back up into fourth spot. It was a true four quarter effort from the Saints who won every term on the way to a massive percentage booster. The story of the afternoon was former AFL key forward Aaron Edwards who exploded to kick a bag of ten majors. Edwards had been quiet in recent weeks but returned with a bang to hit double figures for the second time this season. Brayden Irving also chipped in with four majors to take his season tally to 17, keeping his average around two goals a game. Despite the dominance up forward it was Shem Tatupu who took out best on ground honours in his first senior appearance of the season, proving the depth and talent at Matt Hoy’s disposal.
Last time Highett met Port Melbourne Colts they didn’t kick a goal so not much was expected of them when they hosted the Colts on the weekend. But the Doggies played with heart and soul to leave the visitors sweating on the prospect of an embarrassing loss at three quarter time. It was a scrappy first half with Port taking a four goal lead despite being well below their best. Many expected the visitors to turn it up a notch after the long break but it was the Dogs who dominated, kicking the only three goals of the term to trail by just five points at the final huddle. The game opened up in the last as fatigue kicked in with 14 goals traded between the sides in an entertaining climax. But the visitors did just enough to see off the threat, kicking eight final quarter goals to hold on for an unconvincing win 14.14-98 to 12.3-75. Rikki Newton kicked five crucial goals for the Colts while Chris Deluca added another best on ground effort to his CV. The Doggies were brave but showed some promising signs for next season. Mitch Hoar was strong with three goals and Dylan Atkins continued his good run of form.
The final game of the round turned out to be a fizzer as Dingley flexed their muscles once again to crush Oakleigh District 27.16-178 to 8.4-52. There was some hope pre match that this would be a closer affair after District’s recent solid showings against East Malvern and Cheltenham but the Dingoes put that thought to bed with a dominant second term. It rained goals in the second half for the home side as they piled on the pain with 16 goals to two after the long break. Dan Farmer booted seven majors to take his season tally to 36 and Jackson Peet dominated to also finish with three majors.
Division 2 – Round 11 Review
Springvale Districts have kept their unbeaten run alive by the skin of their teeth after they held on for a thrilling two point victory over Chelsea Heights at Beazley Reserve. It was a low scoring, scrappy affair the entire afternoon as neither side were able to sit comfortably in the driver's seat. The Heighters played some of their best footy in the third stanza with three goals to one closing the gap to just two points with a gripping twenty minutes to follow. The scoring dried up once again in a tense finish with just one goal each seeing the visitors hold on for a heart stopping win, 7.6-48 to 6.10-46. George Angelopoulos was crucial to the victory with three goals in a best on ground performance and was well supported by Matt Thompson. The loss is a heart breaker for Chelsea Heights but their season is far from over. Vincent Kovacic was superb and Brad Gilder finished with three goals.
Caulfield wasted no time getting back onto the winners list, crushing Hampton Park by 103 points at Koornang Park. The Bears burst out of the blocks with a scintillating first quarter and never looked back from there. The final score, 22.13-145 to 6.6-42, a complete turnaround from the closely fought match between these sides way back in Round 2. The Bears had a much better spread of goal kickers this week with 11 players hitting the scoreboard with James Backway leading the way with six majors. Jacob Buggy starred with ball in hand and Chris O’Keefe was in the thick of things once again. The Redbacks have endured a reality check post lockdown and need to find something quickly before their season defining clash against Chelsea Heights next week.
East Brighton continued their strong season with another big win, this time over Hampton 13.19-97 to 2.6-18. The Vampires are quietly slipping under the radar below the likes of Springy and Caulfield but have pieced together a superb season in their own right. After missing finals in the 2019, the club has barely missed a beat in 2021 and a top three finish is in sight. They dominated right from the first bounce against the Hammers and could’ve won by more had they not wasted several chances in front of goal. Liam Reidy booted four goals but it was Blair Atkins and Mark Jamieson who impressed with their displays on the afternoon.
Another predictable blowout took place over at Rowley Allan Reserve as the much fancied Keysborough made light work of Murrumbeena to win by 73 points. Despite the lopsided score line, both sides generated 12 scoring shots in the first half with Beena holding their own around the football. The stark difference in the sides was highlighted on the scoreboard though with the Burras booting 11.1 to the visitors wayward 2.10. As a result, the game was all but done and the Burras carried on to run out handsome winners 19.8-122 to 6.13-49. Stalwart Matt Carnelley snagged seven goals and Ryan Goodes turned back the clock with a dominant showing.
Skye closed out the round with a solid five goal triumph over Heatherton at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve. It didn’t come without a fright however as the Tunners dominated patches of the opening half to take a two goal lead into the changerooms. An upset looked to be brewing at three quarter time with the visitors nose still in front by five points but the Bombers took off in the final stanza with six goals saving their blushes. The final score 11.11-77 to 6.11-47. It’s a massively important win for the home side who now sit inside the top five with just seven games to go. Jason Ward was enormous in the victory with his three goals going a long way to drag his side over the line.
Division 3 – Round 11 Review
Over at Leigh Park, Clayton walked away with the four points in a competitive clash against South Yarra for the 2021 Pride Cup. The visitors hit the ground running early before the Lions responded in the second, holding the Clays scoreless to claim a two point lead at half time. The men in black and white responded in the premiership quarter to swing the balance back in their favour and held firm in the last to register a gritty win, 13.5-83 to 9.12-66. Paul Tsoucalas had a day out for the victors with a haul of seven goals while Luke Coad put in a polished performance. Jack Callaway did his best for the Yarras with four goals, as did Lachlan Myers who toiled hard all afternoon.
Ashwood returned to the winners list in strong fashion with a big victory over South Mornington, 19.12-126 to 4.10-34. The Magpies kicked into gear in the second stanza with six goals to one giving them a handy 40 point advantage at the long break. The second half followed a similar theme as they rattled off another 11 majors to end the Tigers winning streak in comprehensive fashion. The ton is still in sight for star forward Jack Purcell after he added another five majors and he was well supported by Josh Cardamone and Jonathon Tommasoni who both slotted four goals each.
The match of the round between Black Rock and Narre South certainly lived up the hype as the Jets held on for a cracking 12 point win in an entertaining clash at William Street Reserve. The first half was an absolute corker as both sides went goal for goal in a tight and tough contest. The premiership quarter proved to be a crucial passage in the game as the Jets pulled away with three goals to one opening up a 15 point buffer. The Saints won the final quarter with two goals to one but couldn’t make any significant inroads on the scoreboard. The final score 10.11-71 to 8.11-59, handing a crucial four points to the Jets. Cooper Ferries and Hassan Milaki were exceptional for the home side as was Ned Fallon who finished with four goals. For the Saints, Thomas Smith cracked in as did Tim Phillips.
The final match of the round saw Endeavour Hills utterly dominate Doveton to run out massive winners, 25.24-174 to 4.2-26. It was game over at half time with the lead already a massive 96 points with plenty of pain to come for the home side in the second half. Ben Holland capitalised on the understrength Doveton defence with six goals in a best on ground display with Matt Rogerson also hitting the scoreboard with four majors. The win was an important percentage booster for the Falcons who now sit equal on points with Narre South with just 2% separating the sides.
Division 4 – Round 11 Review
Six wins in a row. That’s what Hallam has achieved after they smacked Dandenong in the second half to claim a 56 point victory at Greaves Reserve, 18.13-121 to 9.11-65. The Redlegs were up for the contest with six goals to eight in the first half before the Hawks flexed their muscles in the third quarter to put the result beyond doubt. Jack Sharlassian continued his impressive run of form in the senior side with half a dozen goals and David Coignet pieced together a solid day's work at the office.
Cerberus held on for an important 18 point victory over a gallant Lyndale at McAullife Oval over the weekend. The home side entered the clash as short priced favourites but could never break the shackles as the Pumas cracked in all afternoon. The first half proved to be the difference as the Three-Headed Dogs claimed a 17 point buffer, of which they would never surrender. Despite being a notoriously fitter side, the Dogs weren’t able to outrun the visitors in the second half with the visitors holding their own to match the home side after half time. The final score 9.9-63 to 6.9-45 a much closer score line than many had anticipated. Despite the sloppy win, Brendon D’Rozario continues to be a positive for the navy boys, finishing with five majors to make it nine goals in his past fortnight.
Lyndhurst returned to the winners list with a 31 point victory over Frankston at Overport Park, the Lightning overcoming a goalless first quarter to claim the four points. The Dolphins started hot early but squandered some chances in front of goal in the first term. The Lightning made them pay in the second stanza, slotting three goals to claim a six point lead at half time. They never looked back from there and gradually took the game away from the home side’s clutches. Jason Twite starred for the victors and Hamish Browning enjoyed a productive afternoon up forward with three goals. The Dolphins now sit two games outside the top four and will have to do something special to make finals from here.
Carrum Patterson Lakes made it nine wins from nine matches in their demolition job of Moorabbin, the home side trouncing the Kangaroos 25.12-162 to 3.9-27. The Lions feasted on the Roos right from the opening siren and never kicked below six goals in a quarter for the entire afternoon. Cailem Jenkins led the way on the scoring front with five majors and Jon McGennisken wasn’t too far behind with four himself. Rohan Bleeker continued his outstanding season with three goals to make it 31 majors for the season.
